Superman, Snyder, and the Christ Like Savior
Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith first. The trust part comes later.
Superman being portrayed as a Christ-like figure is nothing new. The story of a supernatural being sent to earth to show humanity a better way to live life is a bit on the nose if you ask me. But it's not really surprising that filmmakers and artists would take it in this direction, especially when the original creators of Superman happened to be Jewish immigrants, who drew a lot of their creative from their own experiences and religion as they moved into a foreign country.
I would say that they bar quite a bit of Kal-El's story from that of Moses—the story of a Hebrew child sent away, discovered, and raised by Egyptians—which he does come to eventually discover his true heritage and saves his people.
But it's this savior-like presence that becomes something more in the Superman story. And if you are someone who has studied the Bible, you begin to realize that Moses' story and the story of Jesus, as well as Superman, are very similar in becoming saviors of their people.
Snyder’s Superman: A Christ-Like Vision
What does all of this have to do with Zack Snyder's iteration of the Big Blue Boy Scout?
For me, Snyder has been the filmmaker who spent the most time focusing on the similarities of Jesus and Superman. This could be why his films Man of Steel and Batman v Superman are some of the most divisive superhero movies to ever release. Zack has spoken about how he had a very, very specific vision with these films.
He wanted to really focus on the idea of superheroes being god-like. And specifically, his take on Superman was that he was the ultimate being, a Jesus Christ-like figure.
Man of Steel and the Journey of Faith
Throughout Man of Steel, there are some amazing moments that I love to point out to people—some that may be a little on the nose, while others are not so easily noticeable.
One that some don't necessarily pick up on is his search for his place in the world. Early on, we see Clark searching for who he is. He's essentially gone on a journey to find himself. He comes across different types of humans, tempted in different ways of being good and evil. Because he kept pushing forward, he eventually found his father and was able to find his place and discover who he was.
I look at this as a similar story to that of Jesus, specifically mentioned in the Book of Mark as he headed to the desert for 40 days and 40 nights.
“A story that teaches us all challenges that we face in life mend us and create who we are, and depending on how we handle them, can either weaken or strengthen our relationship with God.”
Further in the same film, we see a moment where Clark is faced with what appears to be an impossible decision—whether to turn himself over to the authority to save the people of Earth or to keep himself hidden. He is seen here talking with a preacher in a church in front of a beautiful stained glass rendering of Jesus Christ in the garden of Gethsemane.
After he turns himself in, he is handcuffed and marched to persecution. My favorite moment is when his father tells him that he can save everyone, and he does a Jesus pose as he flies out the alien ship.
These moments are all about establishing that this Superman is the savior of the world. But it also sets up a world that would begin to question what they do with this information.
Batman v Superman: The Conflict of Divinity
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is different in tone. While Man of Steel was about the birth and reveal of Superman—or Jesus—to the world, BvS is about the conflict of such a being within the world.
We see establishing shots of Superman being praised, being looked at as a god, as a savior. But also many scenes of people looking at him as a false god. Again, this is very much a play on the life of Jesus Christ.
While many followed Jesus and believed in him and his teachings, there were those who did not and looked at him as a threat—specifically those in power. Much like the build-up to the crucifixion in the Bible, the mob of people began to turn on Superman.
The difference, though, is that Superman in this film has not yet accepted his place in this world. This humanizes him, adding conflict viewers can connect with. Toward the end, during the final fight with Doomsday, Clark finally accepts this world as his and sacrifices himself for the people of his world.
As Superman lies defeated, Snyder puts everything wide open and on display: the three crosses, Superman being lowered down, and unmistakable religious imagery.
Justice League and Resurrection
Justice League may have the least amount of Christian iconography in Snyder’s films, but there are still strong connections to Christ’s resurrection.
Shortly after being resurrected, the first real conversation he has is with Lois—just as Jesus first confronted Mary Magdalene. He then returns as Superman, emerging out of his ship from darkness, similar to Jesus emerging from the tomb.
Using Superman to Teach Faith
While I love to show these connections, the point of this isn’t just to highlight symbolism. The point is how this content could help teach important lessons about God and the Bible.
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
— Romans 12:12
Between Man of Steel and Batman v Superman, we see a Superman introduced to the world. His insignia, the “S” on his chest, is literally defined as hope. Yet from his introduction to his death, the world isn’t sure what to make of him. Can he be trusted? Should he be trusted?
It’s easy to find the bad and negative in the world—even in a world with Superman, or in our case, a world with Jesus. But the films show us that what people are truly searching for is hope.
On the flip side, the films also portray the non-believers: the pessimists, the skeptics. Those who question how an all-powerful being could allow so many bad things to happen. It all comes down to faith.
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:7
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
— Proverbs 3:5-6
Superman Isn’t the True Savior
As I said, making Superman Christ-like isn’t new. But Snyder’s exploration of what a being like him in the world would mean is rare in comic book movies. Step back, and you realize—we already have our Superman.
Our symbol isn’t a man in blue and red tights. Ours is Jesus Christ.
He is our symbol. He is our symbol of hope. He is our guiding light. People need to know that Jesus came to bring hope, that he is our hope, and that our hope is alive.
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
— Romans 12:12
