What Draws Us to Superheroes?

This past weekend, my family and I watched the new Superman movie. I’ve been drawn to superheroes since I was a kid. I remember my great grandmother pinning a towel around my neck to make a cape when I was a small child so I could run around the yard in my underwear pretending to fly. Probably shouldn’t do that nowadays. But I still enjoy the movies––not just because of the action, the costumes, or the special effects, but because of what these characters represent. They’re symbols of hope, justice, courage, and sacrifice. They stand up for the vulnerable, they fight against evil, and they remind us that strength is meant to serve others, not dominate them.

So it’s got me thinking: Why are we so drawn to superheroes? I think it’s because deep down, we are wired to long for a Savior. Someone who can do what we cannot. Someone who steps into the brokenness of the world, confronts evil head-on, and sets things right. Superhero stories tap into that part of us that knows things aren’t the way they’re supposed to be — and they give us a glimpse, even in fiction, of what it might look like for the world to be rescued.

But here’s the thing: our hope isn’t found in a cape or a mask or some superhuman strength. Our hope is found in Jesus Christ. He is the one who truly embodies everything we long for in a hero — not with superpowers, but with perfect love, boundless grace, and the power of resurrection. He doesn’t just save the day. He saves us.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “At just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6) That’s not just a good story. That’s our story. Maybe that’s why we love superheroes so much. They’re shadows, echoes, and glimpses of the One true Savior. They remind us that the world needs saving — and that, thanks be to God, it already has been.

May God hold you,

Rev Chris Hester