The Ultimate Hero

 

This discussion board really hit close to home for me. I was raised in the church, but really struggled to live my faith during high school. I didn’t even know if this, this idea of Jesus saving the world, was MY faith. But since my arrival in Austin and my activity in Austin Stone Community Church, I have learned that this truly is MY faith. I do believe that “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Jesus, “was made flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). He gave up his life in heaven to be born in a manger and to die on a cross. This is the ultimate image of altruism, of selfless sacrifice, of love. Throughout his life, he pursued a faithful relationship with God, never wavering or going against the will of God. Gawain searched for the Green Knight and the inevitable death that awaited him, as Jesus prepared his ministry and his disciples for the painful and public death that was to await him. Garrison pointed out that “Jesus showed hesitation and begged God to relieve him of his burden. So while he might not be perfect, Jesus is still one of the more perfect heroes” (Garrison). I disagree with the statement that Jesus is not perfect. Jesus asked God to relieve him of this burden, if there was any other way, IF it was God’s will. Assuming that “sin” is defined as going against the will of God, Jesus never sinned and was the only perfect and blameless hero that this world has ever seen.

 

1 The Greatest Sacrifice the World Will Ever See

 

The message that Jesus came to bring seems these days to be overlooked. Religious zealots who condemn everyone to hell or con-artists who use the money donated to their ministry as a way to live extravagantly have overshadowed the message of truth, a liberating truth. Jesus came to free us from the weigh of our sins, “for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23). Brad and Eric wrote about the commercialization of Jesus and the breaking of his message into “bite-sized chunks for the masses,” in effect dissipating the mysticism that surrounds Jesus. In my opinion, Jesus wasn’t here to show his power and might and create this cloud of mysticism. He wasn’t here to say “Look at me. I am going to make the biggest sacrifice this world will ever know.” He was sent as “the true Light, that all men through him might believe” (John 1:7).  John states “fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:16-17). He was sent to bring a message of “grace and truth” and salvation from God and to share it with the masses, and if the breaking down of the complexity of the Bible into “bite sized chunks” brings that message to more people, then I am all for it.

 

                    

2 The Commercialization of Jesus

 

 

The sacrifices and actions of Socrates and David do not hold a candle to those of Jesus. However, I don’t now believe that Jesus should be the standard by which we judge whether people are good people or whether they are heroes. There is no way for us mere mortals to be exactly like Jesus. I think that what is important is the true intentions of our hearts and what we strive for in life. We will stumble and fall; it is inevitable. It is how we respond to the bumps in life that determines our characters. We must rise and keep walking and fighting, fighting for good and keeping our hearts open, full of love and grace.

 

3 Jesus Brings Message of Love