SUNDAY: Bible Study - 9:00 AM | Worship - 10:00 AM | PM Worship - 6:00 PM WEDNESDAY: Bible Class - 7:00 PM ~ 8110 Signal Hill Road Manassas, Virginia | Office Phone: 703.368.2622

Batman            A new installment of Captain America’s adventures is due on the big screen soon, as the Marvel Comics juggernaut sails full speed ahead. I wonder if Stan Lee ever imagined his brand of graphic storytelling would come to dominate our entertainment media so thoroughly. Marvel Comics, and to a slightly lesser extent DC Comics are providing for yet another generation of readers and viewers a mythology no less powerful than that popularized by Hesiod and Homer.

            In fact, one might argue that the complex story arcs of Tony Starks and Bruce Wayne are superior to those of Zeus and Hermes because Iron Man and Batman are essentially moral figures, whereas,  Zeus and Hermes are amoral. If humanity needs saving, better to turn to the Avengers, or the Justice League than the Greek Pantheon. Members of the Greek Pantheon rape, murder, deceives, generally encourage debauchery, and tend to punish those who would help advance humanity.

            I would argue that the reason both Tony Starks and Bruce Wayne are moral (in recent cinematic outings as Iron Man and Batman,  both sacrificed themselves to carry a nuclear device away from New York City) is that their stories were written after the Cross.  Hesiod and Homer wrote (or sang) before it.

            After the Cross Event, after the life of Jesus, we can only think of a hero in terms of self-sacrifice.  Over and over again we tell ourselves about the hero who is willing to die that others might live – Gandalf, Harry Potter, Obi Wan Kenobi, Sidney Carton, Robert Jordan, et cetera, et cetera…. The story of Jesus is that imprinted on our collective consciousness.

            I believe the story of Jesus is so thoroughly imprinted on us because it addresses a basic need. We know we need a savior. Each of us wishes we had Commissioner Gordon’s Spotlight so we could call Batman at a moment’s notice. I believe this is more than pandering to a wish-fulfillment fantasy we have, which persists from childhood.  We know we are at risk.  We know we are in need.  We know that by ourselves we are not sufficient to face the forces of evil. These are facts, and they are unsatisfied by fantasies.

            Tony Starks, Bruce Wayne, and Peter Parker are fictional characters. Their stories are fantasies which provide a poor substitute for the Hero we truly seek. Jesus is real. He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13.5). He will be with us all the way, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28.20). He has been given all power (Matthew 28.18). He has already conquered evil (John16.33, Philippians 3.21). Therefore we do not fear (Psalm 27.1, Luke 12.32), because he makes us conquerors (Romans 8.37).

            Beyond confidence in the personal victory we have through Jesus, we must share the story the world is truly hungering for. There is no need to keep making up tales about the Hero willing to die to save an unworthy and often hostile humanity - because it has already happened – while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5.6). This is fact, not fantasy. 

NewManassas Side

8110 Signal Hill Road | Manassas, Virginia

Let us know about your interest in Studying the Bible

Members Login

Bible Study

biblestudysd

Top
                                                                       © 2013 Manassas Church of Christ