“A Christmas Superhero”
Text: John 1:1-18
12-25-2024
In the name of the Incarnate Son of God, dear friends in Christ. Looking back just 10 days ago, we had our Children’s Christmas Program. I don’t know if you fully appreciate it, but the preparations are a daunting task. I commend all the Sunday School teachers and volunteers who take this on because it can often be like herding cats. And every year there are challenges to overcome. Some kids get distracted and forget their lines. Others get stage fright and stand up there petrified. Back at Trinity we had two shepherds that got into a swordfight with their wooden staffs. But just when you think you’ve seen it all, something new arises. One year we ran into a totally new glitch. My grandson, Brody, was about 4 years-old. And he was selected to be one of the shepherds. However, at program practice he refused to try on his costume or participate. He got really quiet, which is very unusual for him. So, Gayleen gently sat him on her lap and asked what was wrong. Turns out, he didn’t WANT to be a shepherd. She quizzed him if he’d rather be an angel or some other character at the nativity. Nope. Can you guess what he wanted to be in the Program? A superhero!
God bless her, Gayleen patiently explained that there were no superheroes at Jesus’ birth. But Brody still insisted. She tried to explain that shepherds protected their sheep from wild animals. And David was a shepherd and he even killed a giant. So, in a way they were superheroes. And angels were too because they’re strong and brave protectors. Brody wasn’t buying it. Gayleen then tried to change his mind by saying that we didn’t have a costume for a superhero. Oh, no problem, Brody says. Mommy can make me one! {Obviously she was Brody’s superhero in this story.} Okay, now you tell me. What would you have done with that?
Well, my creative wife came up with a compromise. Would Brody wear the shepherd’s outfit, sing his songs, and speak his parts if we added his superhero cape to his shepherd’s costume? He agreed. Now I don’t think anyone at the Program ever noticed it. But you know, that cute story leads me to a serious question: Was a superhero at the birth of Jesus? Would it surprise you if I said the answer is, yes?!? It wasn’t the Virgin Mary or Joseph. It wasn’t the angels who appeared in the night sky. It wasn’t the shepherds either. Actually, the superhero was that little baby lying in the manger: Jesus Christ our Lord.
Okay, I can see from the look on some of your faces that you’re not following me. And perhaps that’s because when you hear the term superhero you think of someone like Superman with a red cape and a shirt emblazoned with his initial along with his supernatural powers. But maybe we need to back up a step and start by defining the word hero. And that’s necessary because our society has totally distorted the meaning. Webster’s dictionary defines a hero as: “a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities.” Contrary to what the news media might say, a hero is not someone who has had a sex change or shoots the CEO of a Health Insurance Company. However, a soldier, sailor, airman or marine who risks his life for others fits the definition. When we add the prefix of “super” that takes it to a whole new level because then the hero we’re talking about is exceptional.
With that as the definition, we’d have to say that Jesus most certainly was a super hero. Yes, even as a little baby He was exceptional. What St. John says about Him in our Gospel certainly fits the description. Calling Jesus “the Word” John says that He was not only with God in the beginning, but He also was God. He’s none other than the Second Person of the Trinity. Together with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, He is the Almighty Creator of all things. Well, let’s see. Those attributes of Jesus Christ fit the definition of a hero as possessing “great… or fine qualities.” And without a doubt we can add the prefix of “super” to that, because not only is He exceptional in this regard, but God alone is in this category.
That’s not all! St. John goes on to say, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” He’s speaking of Christ’s incarnation wherein the Son of God took on human flesh in the womb of Mary and was born as the Babe of Bethlehem. That more than fits the definition of a superhero. Think about it. Humans and God are two different species of beings. In Greek mythology, a god is just kind of a superhuman that might come down to earth for a visit. But the Bible tells us that in Jesus, the eternal Son of God was united with human flesh and became one being. He was, at the same time, 100% God and 100% man. He retained all His divine attributes while taking on all the attributes of a human, with one exception: He was without sin. Again, this puts Him in the exceptional category of superhero.
And there’s more. The definition of a hero can also include “brave acts.” The Son of God humbling Himself by coming to earth as a helpless, human baby would certainly fit that description. And we know from Scripture that the Christ Child grew up and went about doing good, healing people, casting out demons, and raising the dead. But His greatest and bravest deed was when He allowed Himself to be arrested, falsely convicted, beaten, and crucified to die a horrible death on the cross. That is the highest possible form of exceptional heroism. And Jesus alone could and did do it. He did it out of His unselfish love for you and me. He did it in order to save us from our sins that had condemned us to hell. He did it to win for us an eternal home in heaven.
Now, you’d think with all this superhero talk that us mere humans would be expected or required to perform some kind of heroic deeds in order to obtain what Jesus has accomplished for us. Well, I’ve got some bad news for you. Even if your Mommy is alive and able to sew for you a superhero cape, you’ll never be able to do enough to make you worthy to receive the benefits of Christ’s saving work. The good news is that you don’t have to be faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful that a locomotive, or able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. All you have to “do” is trust in Jesus as your Savior by God’s gift of faith. St. John says, “But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” That is God’s wondrous grace in action. He has made you His beloved child because of Christ’s heroic deed on your behalf. And it all came about because of that little baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in the manger of Bethlehem. He is your divine and eternal superhero who came to save you. So, it is right for us to bow our hearts before Him as we remember His sacred birth. And with the shepherds we invite all those around us to join us as we say, “Oh come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!” Amen.
Soli Deo Gloria!