Love so amazing, so divine

Demands my soul, my life, my all!

Isaac Watts

I often hear children sing a song in children’s ministries across America that I absolutely loath. It is called Jesus, You’re My Superhero. Here are a few of the lyrics:

Jesus, you’re my superhero

You’re my star, my best friend.

Better than Spiderman,

Better than Superman,

Better than Batman,

Better than anyone.

Jesus, you’re my superhero

You’re my star, my best friend.

The song goes on to say that Jesus is better than Yu-Gi-Yo, Barbie and Action Man. Wow, that’s a relief! I’m sure someone out there is probably thinking, “You’re being too negative and nit-picky.” Okay, I’ll grant you that the intent of the song is good—that Jesus is better than anyone else we may idolize. But the lyrics actually end up creating a misinformed message about who Jesus really is by equating Him with a superhero. The words we use do matter. They say a lot about our worldview—which reflects our theology. I recently spoke to a group of children and told them, “Jesus is NOT your Superhero. He is your Savior. Superheroes are not

real—they are make-believe, but Jesus is not only real, He made everything that is real. So worship Him as Savior and God, not a Superhero.”

In contrast, one of the great songs of the faith that does accurately communicate who Jesus is as Savior and Lord is the powerful hymn, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, by Isaac Watts. Every time I sing this noteworthy hymn it conjures up strong emotions in me. I recently heard a powerful choral rendition of it performed by the Village Seven Presbyterian Church choir and orchestra in my hometown. As I sat there tearfully engaged by the stirring musical arrangement and powerful text of this rapturous composition, I was reminded once again of my own unworthiness, that my Savior alone is worthy, and the unfathomable price He paid for my sin. He is worthy of praise, not as a superhero celebrity, but as my Savior.

It also dawned on me that if ever there was a model of a worthy hero, not a ‘superhero’, it was and is Christ. In Him the heroic love of the Godhead is displayed in the Incarnation whereby Christ not only laid down His life for us, but he laid aside His own glory and majesty to become one of us for the sole purpose of offering Himself as a sacrifice, not just for our sin, but the sin of the world. Is there anything more amazing or “divine”? Isaac Watts did not think so. He went on to declare that this amazing, divine love demands my soul, my life, my all! No ‘superhero’ is worthy of that level of sacrificial devotion.

Over the last few weeks we have discussed the character and virtues of true heroes in our world. On this Easter Sunday, let us remember that no one better embodies the measure of a worthy hero than Christ, who is our Savior. It compels me to consider my own life and beg the question, “If Jesus is my Savior, then what about my life testifies to that reality?” Would my children and grandchildren see anything in me that reveals the depth of love and sacrifice that says “here’s my soul, my life, my all”? Please understand, I’m not suggesting that you or I could ever measure up to Christ’s perfection. The apostle John said that only He was worthy to take the scroll and open its seals. Only He was worthy to be called the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

Yet, He calls us to be holy as He is holy. Holiness involves both speaking the truth and living it. It’s the stuff that true heroes are made of—worthy heroes. Jesus is my Savior, not my Superhero. He deserves nothing less than my soul, my life, my all. May the next generations see in you and me how worthy of honor and glory and power and praise our risen Savior is! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!