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Men of Steel

… And saviors shall come up on Mount Zion …; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S. (Obadiah 1:21)

Everyone loves a good story about notable feats or heroics, particularly supernatural ones. I, for one, am an avid lover of stories that end in triumph and feature selfless or intrepid acts to alleviate suffering or aid in rescuing others. As an even-keeled individual, my proclivity towards “feel-good, touchy-feely” endings that leave me inspired, motivated, or enthralled is somewhat surprising, the former evidenced by the warm fuzzies evoked while reviewing potential movie clips for this article (spoiler alert!), which were undoubtedly my favorite aspect of this writing.

The 2013 eponymous depiction of the metaverse’s first superhero (by stringent superhero standards) is one of my all-time favorites in its category. Although unimpressed with the dark cinematographic aura cast by all sorts of diabolically-inspired creatures, this version conveys the protagonist’s similarity to Jesus Christ with striking eeriness. The original DC comic strip creators must have deliberately mirrored the life and mission of Christ in devising the storyline or were divinely inspired to do so unknowingly. Either way, no other depiction elucidates these striking parallels more (in my opinion).

Some notable similarities include his lineage from the house of El (the Hebrew name for God, often compounded with other words to give a complete descriptive of His many attributes; e.g El Shaddai {the All-Sufficient, Self-existing, Strong One; the God Who is More than Enough; God Almighty}, El Roi {the God Who sees me), El-Elyon {the Most High God – greater in power than all powers that exist}, El Olam {the everlasting, unchanging God} …; etc.), his direct sonship to Jor-El (Jor presumably being a cinematic derivative of “Jah” or more accurately, “Yah” or “Yahweh,” a well known Hebrew name for God), his assignment as the sole emissary to a foreign planet to live among and save its inhabitants from their enemies and their own self-destructive ways, his dual nature as a Kryptonian and an earthling, his life’s purpose as the savior of the world, the rejection, unbelief and mockery from those to whom he was sent, the constant tension between being in the world but not of the world (i.e. loving humanity but needing to identify and stay connected to the superior world from which He came), his humble earthly background, the time-sensitive disclosure of his identity to the world (it could be no sooner than the appointed time), his age of thirty-three years at the unfolding of major life events, his super-human powers, including laser-sharp vision and fiery eye emissions, his super-attuned senses and abilities to operate beyond the sensory realm, his espousal and representation of the concept and constancy of hope1 (represented by the attention-grabbing, otherworldly S-shaped symbol proudly engraved on his chest), his antithetical stance toward the dishonorable and power-craving evil forces who were previous inhabitants of his originating homeland, his jaw-dropping levitation, awe-inspiring cosmic flights; etc.

These and several other parallels seem to be clear allegories of Jesus through the widely acceptable, wholly relatable, and easily discernible lens of cinematography, even if such parallelism is entirely unintentional.

The Science of Steel

Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon containing less than 2% carbon and 1% manganese and small amounts of other elements. It is the world’s most important engineering and construction material2 and is used in every aspect of life; in cars and construction products, refrigerators and washing machines, cargo ships and surgical scalpels, etc. It is the world’s strongest alloy (a metal made by combining two or more elements, usually metallic with non-metallic, or a metal with an inferior element) with the express purpose of producing greater strength or resistance to corrosion)2. In other words, it is a hybrid material; part-metal, part carbon, part gases.2

Iron, steel’s metallic component, is the fourth most abundant element in the earth’s crust. It is a non-toxic, essential element for all forms of life. The average human contains about 4 grams of it, the majority of which is in hemoglobin, an essential component of red blood cells. Hemoglobin is the chief transporter of oxygen from lungs to the cells, where it is utilized for tissue respiration. Iron is an enigma – it rusts easily, yet it is the most important of all metals. Ninety percent of all refined metals are iron. Most of it is used to manufacture steel, which in turn is used in civil engineering and mass manufacturing.2

Carbon, the other major component of steel, is one of the most important elements for all living things. It is the basis for organic chemistry, as it occurs in all living organisms (i.e., it is a basic/building block element of their composition).3 Carbon atoms are unique because they can bond together to form very long, durable chains that can have branches or rings of various sizes and often contain thousands of atoms.3 It is the fourth most abundant element in the universe and can bond with itself and many other chemical elements, forming over ten million compounds. Because it forms more compounds than any other element, it is sometimes called the “King of the Elements.”4 As a result of this, carbon compounds have limitless uses, for example, in its elemental form, diamond is a gemstone and is also used for drilling and cutting; graphite is used in pencils, as a lubricant, and to protect against rust; while charcoal is used to remove toxins, unpleasant tastes, and odors.4 Pure carbon exists free in nature and has been known since prehistoric time. While most elements known since ancient time only exist in one allotrope (two or more different physical forms in which an element can exist), pure carbon forms graphite, diamond, and amorphous carbon (soot). The forms look very different from each other and display dissimilar properties (for example, graphite is an electrical conductor while diamond is an insulator).4

To the non-science-inclined reader, please bear with this very technical description. It is a deliberate attempt to highlight the hybrid nature of the world’s foremost Savior and His representatives;  juxtaposing divinity with humanity and observing how their fusion into one superior substance (being) can produce magnificent, far-reaching results. I am a firm believer in the fact that God can be introduced and eventually known through the doorway of His creative works, just as a composer, artist, architect or innovator can be showcased through their respective symphonies, artwork, architecture or inventions. Anyone who genuinely desires and pursues knowledge of the truth as it relates to Him will eventually find it (and Him), guaranteed.5,6,7,8,9

Stalwart, Seismic & Salient: Steel Steals The Show!

The book of Hebrews is one of my favorites in the New Testament, being immensely revelatory in nature and containing many covert nuggets relating to humanity and divinity that simpler disclosures fail to capture. In a recent time of study, I reviewed some previously penned notes on some of its verses which I found quite telling and compelling. Below is an excerpt of those which highlight the core of this discourse:

~ The deity of Jesus undeniably affirmed 

~ The Apostleship & Priesthood of Jesus powerfully confirmed

~ The humility (servanthood) of Jesus insightfully unveiled

~ My relationship with Jesus carefully detailed (as intricately bound with and to Him; part & parcel of Him such that I am a peripheral version of His centrality {Malachi 4:2 —> Being the Sun [light & energy source] of righteousness, I absorb, radiate & reflect everything that He is; i.e. I am one of His brethren, co-heir, co-priest, co-savior, co-representative of God; I am a co-performer of signs, wonders & miracles, etc. —> As He is, so am I in this world … Heb 2:11 —> I am one with Christ, of the same stock and trade …)

~ The centrality of Jesus (to the cosmos & humanity’s existence) irrefutably portrayed

It is astounding to compare the Jesus lover’s homogeneity with the ultimate Savior, Jesus, and to contemplate this against the backdrop of the parallels seen in Steel’s composition. I am unaware of any exposition that could be more relevant to the Jesus-lover’s purpose and function while simultaneously opposing and severely disrupting satan’s agenda for humanity. Correspondingly, its pertinence to our topic and subtopic is too obvious to restate.

The Science of Saviors

https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx_OjYXcS_mCTm391NmfhvMMwjKNIsU5UP?si=cT0I05qJyrSh8eoC

The concept of Jesus-lovers as modern-day saviors may seem arrogant or presumptuous to some. Springing off the basic laws of science, most can agree that like begets like. No one argues with the fact that humans beget humans (except, of course, evolutionists, whose unique concept of science is beyond the limits of my comprehension of sound scientific reasoning), birds beget birds, fish beget fish, mango trees beget mangoes, microbes beget microbes, etc. With this in mind, the concept of Jesus-replicating saviors is not as far-fetched as it may seem to some. Premised on the aforementioned principle, it is entirely logical and should be in no way surprising that God begets gods10,11,12,13, and as such, saviors.14,15,16,17,18

In no way a means of advocating the hedonistic god complex often seen in sociopaths, psychopaths, and other personality and mental disorders, our subject matter embraces a healthy sense of self, divine identity, and a rational acceptance, acknowledgment, and ownership of who and what a lover of Jesus is created to be, as defined by the One from whom everything in existence is derived. It is no different than a masterpiece such as Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, or Michelangelo’s David, regally remaining in their respective places so they can radiate the poignancy and beauty they were designed to emit. Anything other than that would be renegade.

If objects had a will of their own and these exquisite works of art decided they were to be displayed other than so all could enjoy their sublimity, or, decided they were something else altogether (e.g., a car, cat, notebook, or girl), they would lose their earthly relevance and eternal significance, having abdicated their potential as notable standards of reference in our world today. It would be as ludicrous as King Charles or Prince William of England deciding that their life-long grooming as heir apparents to the most notable monarchy in the world was a sorry byproduct of personal hubris and wishful thinking, or worse still, that they were of a different bloodline altogether, leading to the relinquishing of their rights and duties as royals in favor of trivial pursuits and hoodlum-style living. Although extreme, this very apt spiritual parallel is the sad plight of many who rebel against God’s original plan for their lives today, deciding that they are something other than what God originally intended them to be, and pursuing these trifling and ephemeral ends to the detriment of the eternal glories they could have enjoyed.

In last week’s wholly unplanned but pleasantly corroborating post (this having been penned before that), we observed how spiritually cognizant and connected individuals (and may I add – highly trained19), i.e., sons of God20 – are His provided solution to the chaos of the cosmos resulting from the widespread identity and connectivity crises. Another term for these sons is “saviors,” the current day heroes who are supposed to be representative of Christ on earth today. These saviors are men and women who keep their Source as their standard and allow Him to define their identity, ancestry, purpose, and progeny. This is what makes their impact eternally riveting and relevant, resulting in profound ramifications that outlast their immediate circles and lifespans!

Saviors To The Rescue!!

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxymIcxDrl5hrQMFT_UBoga4wxPOiq7HW7?si=CPoXEEibVWjK6ibu

Creation and human innovation 21,22,23 supply a plethora of evidence that acknowledges an ultimate Creator and Savior, and even Fantasy contributes its fare share of flair to this concept, providing a highly imaginative and acquiescing nod to God’s existence and saving interventions. Despite the characteristic reticence of a generally reluctant world in admitting such, the logical course of nature and science itself present a very plausible cause for conviction. If the seemingly divergent elements of life can converge on these possibilities, how much more should mind-possessing, logically thinking, men and women of a super-information and ultra-intelligence age possess sufficient astuteness to weigh the corroborating evidence before them and arrive at a final and accurate verdict?24

Superman Returns (1/5) Movie CLIP - Plane Heroic (2006) HD

Dear reader, have you asked Jesus to be the Commander-in-Chief over your life, allowing Him to replicate divinity in you? Are you merely resigned to day-to-day “what will be, will be” living, or are you cognizant, energized, and purposefully empowered to live out your savior assignment to a lost and dying world? Have you submitted yourself to adequate and appropriate training that equips you to fully live out your savior mandate, irrefutably convinced of your potential for transgenerational and eternal impact? 

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxecO1oWxmuNtwL94XEct15_BIYUew_SqQ?si=HrGrlbiFhyMpiF2k

You may not physically transport buildings five hundred times your size or intercept airplanes thousands of times your weight anytime soon, but your assignment as a savior is actual, transformative, relevant, and abiding in the real world, and every bit as crucial and impressive as any fictional superhero feat!

**To all the male-gendered Men of Steel out there – your world, women and whelps need you! Connect to your Savior by inviting Him to be your Commander-in-Chief so you can enjoy His pulsating, purpose-filled, life-giving person, and be empowered by His invigorating presence! Go on to (first) get trained, and then do the great “savior” exploits you were created for, one thing, person, city, county, state, region, country, continent, and planet at a time!**

Bibliography

  1. 1 Peter 1:3-4;13; 3:15; Colossians 1:27; Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:24-25; 15:13; etc. ↩︎
  2. Iron (The Royal Society of Chemistry); retrieved on 6/16/24 from: https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/26/iron ↩︎
  3. NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory; retrieved on 6/3/24 from: https://gml.noaa.gov/education/lesson_plans/The%20Unique%20Carbon%20Atom.pdf ↩︎
  4. Ten Facts About Carbon; retrieved on 6/3/24 from: https://www.thoughtco.com/carbon-element-facts-606515#:~:text=Carbon%20is%20a%20nonmetal%20that,%22King%20of%20the%20Elements.%22 ↩︎
  5. Romans 1:19-20 ↩︎
  6. John 7:17 ↩︎
  7. Acts 14:16-17 ↩︎
  8. Acts 17:23-31 ↩︎
  9. Psalms 19:1-6 ↩︎
  10. 1 John 5:4 ↩︎
  11. 1 John 4:7 ↩︎
  12. 1 Peter 1:23 ↩︎
  13. Psalms 82:6; *John 10:33-36 ↩︎
  14. 1 John 4:17 ↩︎
  15. *Hebrews 2:13b; Isaiah 8:18 ↩︎
  16. Matthew 10:25 ↩︎
  17. John 8:12; Matthew 5:14 ↩︎
  18. *John 20:21-23; *Luke 5:20-26 ↩︎
  19. https://thewordofhisgrace.com/conscripted/ ↩︎
  20. A generic term for both male and female children of God – Galatians 3:28; Romans 8:19 ↩︎
  21. Psalms 76:10 ↩︎
  22. Psalms 2:1-4 ↩︎
  23. Genesis 11:6 ↩︎
  24. Josh McDowell, Evidence That Demands a Verdict: Life-Changing Truths for a Skeptical World (Thomas Nelson, October 2017). ↩︎

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