Why a Hero?

“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.” Romans 1:19 ESV

The idea of needing or desiring a hero is undeniably prevalent in our current culture; I can’t even keep up with all the Marvel films out now, or the attempts by DC to follow suit. People want and desire a hero, but why?

The Bible tells us. We may not understand the desire if we have never been introduced to Jesus or the Gospel, but the inkling of something…someone greater is there in EVERY human heart. Take music for example, I was curious about how many songs mention a hero either in title or lyrics, so I did some research. The numbers are in; 20,124 lyrics, 32 artists, and 50 albums mention “hero” in title or lyrics.

I was a teacher for 11 years in the middle school setting and had the enjoyable task of teaching English. I say enjoyable because I love to read and enjoy instilling that joy in others. I particularly enjoyed teaching the Hero’s Journey through each of our book studies. In narratology and comparative mythology, the Hero's Journey, or the Monomyth, is the common template of stories that involve a hero who goes on an adventure, is victorious in a crisis, and comes home changed or transformed. Every heroic story is told from the Hero's Journey. In my opinion the origin of the Hero’s Journey can be found in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The problem with heroes, invented or earthly, is they don’t hold up. If we idolize someone, like when you are a child, eventually you will see something or learn of something that person has done that will cause you to become un-enamored or disillusioned. Heroes have limitations, weaknesses, or attributes of normal people that make them seem more human to us. Sound familiar?

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-8).”

Jesus Christ was the most “human” human to ever walk the earth. He is the second Adam; humanity as it should have been. Though Jesus never emptied himself of his Deity (He can never cease being God) he emptied himself in other ways. Firstly, He voluntarily accepted the limitations of being a human being. Second, His glory was hidden from the people. Third, He gave up the independent use of His divine relative attributes (all-knowing, all-powerful, everywhere present, etc.) and depended on God the Father and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is the only true hero that voluntarily abstained from using innate powers for our benefit. He has no fatal flaw or weakness, only perfect love for his bride. He is the hero that can hold up. The more deeply one comes to know the person of Jesus, the more enamored one becomes.

I remember reading the 5th installment of the Harry Potter series. One of my favorite parts was the battle between Voldemort and Dumbledore inside the Ministry of Magic. Voldemort is the embodiment of Satan in this book series and is dangerously powerful, killing without mercy. In fact, he relishes it, he has only ever openly feared one other wizard: Dumbledore. In the book Dumbledore is not worried or taxed in the battle in the slightest. His power is greater, and he blocks and parries Voldemort’s savagely lethal attacks with a seemingly effortless approach. In the battle, Dumbledore hasn’t the least concern for the fierce opponent he faces, knowing the battle is his. When the 5th movie came out, I was most excited about how the filmmakers would translate this battle. I was, and still am, sadly disappointed. Dumbledore was portrayed in the exact opposite light; a tired, outclassed old man, struggling to protect the ones he cares for. He was frightened and against the ropes. I have read many books and watched many movies that left me feeling the same way about the main protagonist. The feeling can be best summarized by Daniel 5:27, “Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting.” 

We all want “that hero”, the one who has no rival, whose power is immeasurable, who is utterly and wholly good and true. One who will face down the enemy head on without fear or hesitation because he knows the battle is his. One that is driven by a purpose greater than himself and is totally devoted to seeing that purpose accomplished regardless of the personal price he must pay.

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” John 6:38-ESV.

That ONE is Jesus.

I went to watch the LOTR movie “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” with some friends when it first debuted in theaters. As I watched, I was struck by the scene in which Balin says this of the true Dwarven King, Thorin Oakenshield, to Bilbo.

“Don't mind him, laddie. Thorin has more cause than most to hate Orcs. After the dragon took the Lonely Mountain, King Thror tried to reclaim the ancient dwarf kingdom of Moria... but our enemy had got there first. Moria had been taken by legions of Orcs, led by the most vile of all their race, Azog the Defiler. The giant Gundabad Orc had sworn to wipe out the line of Durin. He began by beheading the King. Thrain, Thorin's father, was driven mad by grief. He went missing, taken prisoner, or killed; we did not know. We were leaderless, defeat and death were upon us. That is when I saw him; the young dwarf prince facing down the Pale Orc. He stood alone against this terrible foe, his armour rent, wielding nothing but an oaken branch as a shield... Azog the Defiler learned that day that the line of Durin would not be so easily broken. Our forces rallied and drove the Orcs back; our enemy had been defeated... but there was no feast or songs that night, for our dead were beyond the count of grief. We few had survived, and I thought to myself then 'There is one I could follow. There is one I could call King’.”

I had tears running down my face. Not because of the cinematography or music of the movie exactly, but because the realization hit me all at once; all these hero stories are because of Jesus. That desire for the good guy to win, for evil to be defeated once and for all, the reason I wanted to be a hero as a kid; was all because of Jesus. It is His story told over and over through the lens of fallen humanity, but the theme and elements are there. We are children, often unknowingly imitating our heavenly Father. Nothing is new under the sun. We can only imitate the story we know to be true in our secret hearts. Deep down every human being knows God exists, we know His story, we just refuse to see and believe despite the longing within ourselves.

I often get overwhelmed with life; whether it is the daily grind, the sin of the world, or my own personal sin and shortcomings, it can get me down. When this happens, I remember that I am forgiven. Jesus is more than my sin. My Jesus is coming back. The King will return and all will be made right. This is not my home, but the One True Hero, Jesus, has prepared a place for me, an eternal home where I will be in His presence for eternity. When I think about the person of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I think back to Balin’s quote, “'There is one I could follow. There is one I could call King’.”

Ironically enough, Jesus invites me to do both, and so I will strive to do both, second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour, and day by day until He returns or my life here ends, I go to Him.