At about 18 the young Superman hears a message from his heavenly father instructing him about his mission and he decides its time to leave home and he travels north. He settles in Metropolis where he works at the Daily Planet as a reporter, but publicity threatens to reveal his secret identity. There he begins his career as a public saviour, defending America against its enemies. He soon meets up with his arch-rivals, Lex Luthor and Batman. Lex claims to own the town, he is free to nurture or destroy it.
In a recent comic series, The Death of Superman, Superman's death is followed by his resurrection. In this storyline, Superman dies, saving the world from a ghastly super-villain called Doomsday. Yet some time after Superman's death people start to report seeing him. Eventually, some of his friends break into his tomb. They find it empty. The resurrected Superman continues his career as public saviour as though nothing has happened.
This story, created by two young Jewish men one day over a meal at a restaurant, has mad them millionaires. As I read the story and maybe even as you heard the details of the story this evening you may have been amazed at some of the parallels to another story, although this story is true, it was not made up by humans. It is the story of the Christ-Event.
This true story begins in eternity past. God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). He created humans to live in relationship with him, but they soon chose to rebel against him and faced certain destruction (Genesis 6:5,6). The true God in heaven, Elohim, has an only Son who he decides to send to earth on a mission to seek and to save the lost. Jesus is born to a human couple, Mary and Joseph, although Joseph has nothing to do with the conception. They are a Jewish couple from a small village called Bethlehem (Luke 2:4-7). He grew up in relative obscurity in a small town called Nazareth and at around 30 years of age he hears his Fathers' voice affirming him as his son and confirming his mission (Luke 3:21-23). He spent the next three years travelling around Palestine (Luke 5:15-16) doing good and spreading the good news of the kingdom of God. Right at the start of his ministry he meets up with his arch rival, the Devil (Luke 4:1f). Eventually it seems that the Devil wins the battle as Jesus is crucified on a cross (Luke 23:44-46). After three days, his friends go to his tomb and find that he has risen from the dead (Luke 24:1-8).
While I am not trying to draw any parallel between the superman story and Jesus Christ, it is interesting that there are a number of details of similarity - maybe it was the creators of Superman's way of presenting a more modern and contemporary saviour for mankind. What is more significant is the difference between the two: The fact that Superman has little to do with us today, whereas the death and resurrection of Jesus has everything to do with us. The Christ-Event relates to you personally and directly. God had created us to enter into a personal relationship with him, but our sin cut us off from him - it created a huge gulf between us and God. God created us to enjoy intimacy and friendship with us, but his holy or perfect character makes him unable to enter into a relationship with someone who is sinful. What a dilemma. God desires fellowship with us, but a relationship is hindered because of the presence of sin. Jesus Christ came to earth to live and die for us. His death was the way in which a relationship with God was made possible (Romans 5:6-8). In order to enter into a relationship with God we must make a response of faith to God. Faith is not a leap in the dark, but a relationship with Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8,9 and Romans 10:17).
It is a relationship with God through Jesus Christ that will bring us true meaning and fulfilment in life. Nothing is able to take the place of this relationship. We may try to find meaning in wealth, popularity, wisdom, our physical appearance, or friends, but even if we obtain these things we will still be left with an emptiness. Jesus said, "I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full."
What are you going to do with Jesus' gift - he offers you salvation - a way to be reconciled with God, like two friends who are alienated to each other, being reunited by a mediator. Your choice is to accept or to reject the gift. The response is yours! You may have other chances to receive his gift, but I can;'t guarantee that this will be the case. I do know however, that he is here is offering to you the gift of salvation!
Written by Mark Tittley: Email
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