What do the Son of Krypton and Son of God have in common? (A bit more than sporting wavy locks and mourning the early death of their adopted fathers, I’d argue.)
The restart of the DC universe has begun with the release of the new Superman film, and along with some expert digital effects and a Nick Holt masterclass, I couldn’t help but see some divine easter eggs and nods to the Almighty during the two hour and nine minute runtime (let’s go—bring back shorter movies!). Because, while the two characters may not look the same on paper, I believe the lives of the Man of Steel and Jesus of Nazareth echo a similar tale—and discovering how can allow us to know God in a deeper and more profound way.
Now, am I implying that a prophecy of Clark Kent exists in the earliest manuscripts of the Good Book? Not exactly. But in the words of the ancient philosopher St. Augustine, “all truth is God’s truth,” and I think Augy is onto something: anything in creation that reflects the very nature of God is a path to finding him, no matter how silly or fantastical that thing in creation may be.
So whether or not you’ve read the comics (nerd!) or seen the dozens of adapted shows and previous films (guilty), I believe we can all spot some of Jesus in that multi-colored Kryptonian suit—and as a result, know truth more deeply, see the character of God more clearly, and understand how the fingerprints of Heaven know no bounds.
Grab your popcorn, Bibles, and Letterboxd apps—this looks like a job for…us!
How Superman Reminds Me of Jesus
1. An Alien in Disguise
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” – John the Baptist (John 1:14)
“Hmm—now that I stop to think about it…that’s the dumbest disguise I’ve ever seen!” – Clark Kent (Superman #330)
Clark Kent may seem like a mild-mannered reporter, but don’t let the glasses fool you (they probably don’t). He’s actually an alien from the planet Krypton, and was raised on Earth by adopted parents who were (mostly) the only ones who knew his real identity—a god.
The original man behind the, er, spectacles, though, was Jesus, and his disguise was not Warby Parker, but flesh and bone. Scripture tells us He existed since before the beginning of time, and some thousands or millions of years later (I’ll let y’all debate that) chose to put on skin and “move into the neighborhood”, as one translation puts it. That getup would’ve fooled me, to be honest.
He was quick to avoid people discovering his real identity, and spent his early years as a mild-mannered carpenter. Although He was God in the flesh, he kept a low profile and focused on loving and serving others, rather than seeking status. And while many loved him for it, his superhero efforts didn’t resonate with every type of audience…
2. Rejected By Mankind
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.” – Jesus (John 15:18)
“You’re scared of me because you can’t control me. You don’t. And you never will. But that doesn’t mean I’m your enemy.” – Superman (Man of Steel, 2013)
Nothing makes people more uncomfortable than something they don’t understand. In Metropolis, it’s a flying nuclear weapon dressed in tights. In our world, it’s a grounded miracle worker who claimed to be God.
For all the good Superman did, he was often an outcast among those who feared him. And he needed the words of his father to help push him through the darkest of times, when he felt all of his work and duties were a waste: “You will be different, sometimes you’ll feel like an outcast, but you’ll never be alone” (Superman: The Movie, 1978).
And for all the good Jesus did, he too found himself in a similar boat. His life was threatened by a maniacal king at birth, was later rejected by his hometown, had siblings mock his deity, and was betrayed by his best friends and, ya know, publicly crucified. But through it all, Jesus kept in mind a similar commissioning from his Father: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)
Both heroes were feared due to their potential for destruction, their constant breaking of societal norms, and perhaps a hint of envy. They were just different. And different scares people, even if that “different” is…good:
3. Use Their Powers For Good
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Jesus (Mark 10:45)
“… my parents had sent me here to serve the people of Earth and to be a good man. I’m not here to rule over anybody …” – Superman (Superman, 2025)
With great power comes great…wait a second; wrong universe. However, the point remains: the history of the world is riddled with men and women who, with even the slightest grasp of power, unleash terror, destruction, and manipulation upon those beneath them. Heavy is the head that holds the crown, and unfortunately, it is often self-interested and evil, too.
Despite possessing the ability to destroy the planet and not think twice about it, our heroes decide to use their powers for good. If I were in charge, I’m not sure I could do the same. I was given a 150-per-month text limit on my first cell phone and blew through that in an hour—how do you think I would’ve done balancing the scales of the planet?
Superman fights for the protection of Earth from all her enemies, and Jesus does the same—and then some. He conquered sin and death on the cross, providing a way for humankind to be with him in eternity (and live life to the full right now). Despite not having to fight for good, Jesus set the standard for it and invites us to do the same.
Up, Up and Away! (Toward the Heavens)
Whether it’s finding truth in Superman (or any Hollywood project, Banksy painting, or Jane Austen novel), I want to continue to dig up traces of my Creator in my everyday life, including summer blockbusters, in hopes of knowing more about him (fine, twist my arm, I’ll keep watching more sci-fi movies).
To give the microphone back to our friend St. Augustine, this search helps bring our souls into a state in which they were designed: “Our souls are restless until they rest in [God]”. I don’t know about you, but I want more rest for my soul—but also more joy, purpose, and freedom too.
To know God, according to Jesus, is to find life itself (John 17:3). I want more life. And I want more sodium-packed popcorn while finding it. This summer, I’m going up, up, and away to seek the face of God. And just maybe, I’ll find a cape or two along the way.
(Photo Credit: DC Studios. via IMDb)
Disclaimer: This article is 100% human-generated.
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