It was a play on the classic superman “strength” posters developed so many years ago. I thought it was fitting for a man who had played the man of steel in so many movies; Christopher Reeve played the part so well that he became synonymous with Superman-and it made him an overnight star. Known the world over as Superman, Christopher Reeve has become a symbol of strength, a  force for good, with the ability to fly and soar over the problems of man. He was strength and mobility personified to people throughout the world.

Often we hear the term, “art imitating life,” but in this case I think it was life imitating art; Christopher Reeve had really become that “Man of Steel” that we had come to love in the movies. Christopher was always our hero on the big screen but now he had become our hero in real life. You might say that he had super human strength; that he was very much like the superhero that he played in the movies. Yet he was very human in every way and that’s why we could all related to him People really connected with Superman.

Christopher Reeve once said: "I've seen first hand how Superman actually transforms people's lives.  I have seen children dying of brain tumors who wanted as their last request to be able to talk to me, and have gone to their graves with a peace of knowing that their belief in this kind of character is intact.  I've seen that Superman really matters.  They're connecting with something very basic: the ability to overcome obstacles, the ability to persevere, the ability to understand difficulty and to turn your back on it."

He also said: "A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles."

Christopher Reeve was our hero right up until the time of his death on October, 2004 in New York, from a heart attack. We couldn’t do much better for a role model than these two, Superman and Christopher Reeve.

As men, we need positive role models. Forces for good that we can emulate. Men of strong character; courageous, strong and righteous. Men like Christopher Reeve.But where do we look to find our hero’s? Who are the men who we can imitate?

I’d like to talk to you about a hero who was even greater than Christopher Reeve.I’d like to talk to you about a superhero who was even greater than Superman.He was the ultimate man of steel. He was a champion of truth and justice. That super hero was Jesus Christ.

Jesus was truly a superman. As a man, he was strong, courageous and virtuous. Characteristics that we associate with both Superman and Christopher Reeve. There are many similarities between the story of Superman and the true life account of Jesus.Let me point some of them out to you.

Superman first appeared in Action Comics #1 in June of 1938 and eventually became the most popular and well-known comic book icon of all time. Jesus first appeared in Bethlehem some 2000 years ago and eventually became the most popular and well-known holy person in scripture of all time.

Superman’s original name, Kal-El, contains a Hebrew word for "God." Jesus is known as Emmanuel, a Hebrew word meaning “God with us” Superman was nicknamed "The Man of Steel," Jesus was nicknamed “the Rock”

Convinced that their world Krypton will soon destroy itself, scientist Jor-El takes drastic measures to preserve the Kryptonian race: He sends his infant son Kal-El to Earth. Convinced that Humans will soon destroy themselves and eventually the world, God takes drastic measures and sent His infant son Jesus to earth

Jor-El sends his infant son, to Earth, where a yellow sun will fuse with his irradiated molecular density to make him strong, fast, and virtually invulnerable. Jesus is sent to earth where he is strengthened by the Holy Spirit so that he is strong and completely invulnerable to sin.

Superman landed on Earth near the town of Smallville. Jesus landed on Earth near the small town of Bethlehem. Superman was "born" on Earth, and was a "son" of Earth as much as Krypton and was raised like a normal human. Jesus was "born" on Earth, and was a "son" of Earth as much as of heaven and was raised like a normal human. We call Him, “Son of Man” Superman was raised by earth parents, the Kents. He learns to love and obey them as his true earth parents. Jesus was raised by earth parents, Joseph and Mary. He learns to love and obey them as his true parents.

Superman learns his mission from the spirit of his true father, Jor-El. Jesus talks daily to his Father by his Spirit and He learns of his mission on earth. As Superman grows to manhood, he learns that he possesses super-powers that must be used for good. He hides his powers from ordinary mortals. As Jesus grows to manhood, He possesses super-powers that must be used for good. He hides his powers from ordinary mortals until His “time has come” (Cana passage: “woman, what is that to me? my time has not yet come”)

Superman possessed superhuman powers,  he can fly, outrun a train, and lift up a One-ton truck. Jesus possessed superhuman powers, he can heal, forgive sins, cast out demons, raise people from the dead. Superman’s mission: "To fight for truth, justice and the American Way of Life". Jesus mission: "To fight for truth, justice and the Gods Way of Life". Both Superman and Jesus were champions of truth and justice.

Archenemy Lex Luthor, plans to take over the world, and Superman is the only one who can stop him. Archenemy Satan, plans to take over the world, and Jesus is the only one who can stop him.

Superman is one of the most "human" heroes ever conceived. He shrugs off bullets, bombs, and death-rays, but he cannot shrug off his emotions; He is a man with an incredible depth of feeling in the face of the bigotry and cruelty around him. Jesus is also one of the most "human" heroes ever considered. He became one of us and shrugged off beatings and cruelty because of His deep feelings of compassion for us; He understood our weaknesses, vulnerabilities and temptations.

But the thing that  reveals most about Jesus as the true man of steel was his passion and death. Here’s Jesus, completely silent as they sentence him to death. Matthew Chapter 27:12 reads: “When he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?" But he did not answer him one word, so that the governor was greatly amazed.” Jesus silence continued as he was beaten, spat upon and flogged. Every inch of His flesh was torn wide open  with steel hooked straps, yet, He didn’t say one single word.

Now, come on guys, let’s be honest with each other. If any one of us had been in His place, would we have remained silent? Wouldn’t you want to do something; maybe scream at them, or curse them, or cry out, or beg for mercy? I mean, SOMETHING!!! As they ridiculed Him, spat on Him, inserted a crown of thorns on His head, nothing but silence. As they flog him, beat every inch of skin off his body, nothing! As they lay him down on the cross and drive nails thru his hands, no begging, no cursing, no threats, nada! Then He hung on the cross, an excruciatingly painful way to die. Still nothing.Unbelievable! Incredible! Beyond human comprehension!

Who was this man? Sacred Scripture spoke of Him 500 years before His passion. Isaiah 53:7  says: “He was oppressed and afflicted,  yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,   so he did not open his mouth.”

Talk about the strong, silent type! This man Jesus was no wimp. This was no sniffling coward. This was a true man of steel! This was a true super hero. This is a role model for men.

And when Jesus finally did speak those first words would be very powerful. When a man of few words does eventually speak, He usually has your full attention. It seems to me that this was God’s plan. Jesus kept His silence to get our attention. To have us ask: What kind of a man is this? Why is he not like other men? What is He trying to say to us?

Jesus first words would speak volumes. He could have called for a revolution to overthrow a corrupt and cruel Roman government. He could have called on God to revenge his death by bringing down death and destruction on the heads of his killers He could have just said the word and the cross itself would have disappeared before their very eyes. Yet these were not His first words; His first words from the cross were these: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”

Jesus first words were words of forgiveness for all who abused Him, for all who had spat on Him, for all who had abandoned him. This is radical! This is unheard of! This is not how men are supposed to act. As men, we are told to retaliate. We need to avenge our loss; we need to take an eye for an eye. Yet, Mahatma Gandhi once said, “An eye for an eye, makes the whole world blind.”

What was Jesus trying to say to us with His first words on the cross? Jesus was trying to show us a better way. A way out of the madness. a way to move beyond  revenge, bitterness, unforgiveness, and unhappiness. Jesus shows us the way, Jesus shows us that He is the Way, Jesus tells us He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He shows us the Way to the Father and that nobody comes to the Father except thru Him.

Jesus is the ultimate role model for men. Jesus was the man that we, as men need to be. Jesus was not a better man, but Jesus models the very best that we, as men can be. Jesus was the ultimate man of steel. Jesus is our superhero.

Jesus; is SuperGod and Superman.