What Defines A Hero?

This week, we're going to take a look at some of the characteristics that define what a hero is, and then apply them in order to find out what a true hero looks like. Webster's dictionary defines the word "hero" as "a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities".  People throughout history have always searched for heroes, for those who raised the bar, who, through selfless dedication, saved others, and inspire us to be better people. We consider firefighters and police officers to be heroes, and they certainly merit this distinction. Our military veterans are heroes, as well, and should be honored as such. The bible is filled with people who fit this description. From the inspiring faith of Abraham to the leadership of Moses, from the bravery of David to the loyalty and allegiance of Ruth, the Old Testament is filled with heroes. Likewise, the New Testament has many heroes. The selflessness of John the Baptist, as he paved the way for the Messiah, and the fierce courage of Paul as he endured so many hardships for the sake of the gospel are but two of the examples of heroism in the New Testament. However, there is one man whose entire life was filled with heroic acts, and who truly deserves the title of "hero". Of course, we are speaking of Jesus Christ. Let's take a look at some of the deeds, as well as the character traits of Jesus, and how His life, as well as His death, solidify His distinction as the greatest hero who has ever lived.

First of all, Jesus was, and still is, a healer. Not only a healer of physical infirmities, but of mental and spiritual sicknesses, as well. There are many instances recorded in the gospels of Jesus healing those who were blind, lame, deaf or dumb, as well as those who were possessed by demons, and even raising the dead. When we read these accounts, we imagine the joy that the recipients of these miracles must have felt, to have their sight restored, or to be able to walk for the first time, or to be freed from the control of demonic forces. 

However, one aspect of the healing power of Jesus which we fail to take into account is the fact He gave of Himself each and every time that He healed someone. It was a selfless act, and required Jesus to pour out some of Himself in order to make another person whole. Nowhere is this more evident than in the case of the woman with the issue of blood, found in Luke 8:43-48..."And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace."  The fact that Jesus "felt virtue go out of him"  shows us that healing was, to some degree, draining upon His body and spirit while He was here on earth. We read many times that Jesus, after having performed miracles or healing the sick, would separate Himself from the crowds and even from His disciples in order to refresh His Spirit. He was fully God, but also fully man, and His many instances of healing show not only His compassion, but also His selfless nature.

Secondly, Jesus was fearless. He never possessed a spirit of fear, and His confidence was never shaken, although He knew the terrible fate which would befall Him. He was even tempered, and never lost control of Himself. In fact, the only instance we read of in which Jesus ever showed anger was in defense of the House of God. We read in Matthew 21:12-14..."And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them." It is interesting to note here that the anger of Jesus did not blind him to the needs of others. Immediately following His righteous indignation, He resumed His path of compassion and healing. As to His fearless nature, He faced Satan head on in the wilderness, after having fasted forty days, and rather than depend upon His own strength, He relied on the everlasting Word of God, as He replied to Satan, "It is written..." Though Satan threw everything he had at Jesus, He never faltered. Jesus faced the same temptations that we all face, and many that we will never have to endure, and His reliance upon God brought Him through every trial. There are those who feel that Jesus was not tempted to sin, or that His divine nature in some way gave Him a supernatural advantage that the rest of us are not given, but this is simply not the case. Bear in mind the fact that Jesus was fully human as well as fully God, and that in order to be our intercessor, He had to endure the same temptations that we all must endure. We read in Hebrews 4:15-16..."For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." It is the mercy and grace which is only found when we boldly approach God's throne which will bring us through temptations and trials. This is where Jesus got the strength to carry on, and nowhere was His reliance on God made more profoundly evident than in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus knew that the time of His crucifixion drew near, and that He was about to be betrayed into the hands of the Romans. He went to the Mount of Olives, in the Garden of Gethsemane, to pray. As He kneeled down, He prayed, "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." A beautiful and inspiring example of selfless humility, as Jesus lays aside His own will, in deference to the will of the Father, for the benefit of us all. His prayer was so intense that we are told that "his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." This passion was not a result of fear, but of sorrow. Sorrow not only for what He would endure, but even more so for the persecutions which His followers would face, and not only the disciples of His day, but also those who would come after. His empathy and compassion is everlasting, as He intercedes even now on our behalf. He is the only One who is qualified to do so, having endured temptation and knowing our weakness firsthand. Hebrews 7:25 tells us..."Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."

Finally, Jesus saves. In fact, He gave His life to save. The salvation of mankind is of paramount importance to God, and is the very reason that Jesus came to earth. He is the Creator of the universe, and yet, in the ultimate display of humility, He submitted Himself to the will of the Father, and was born in human flesh, and made subject to the frailties and weaknesses of man. We read in Phillippians 2:5-11..."Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Let us be ever mindful of the fact that Jesus gave up the glory of heaven to come to this earth to suffer, to live a perfect sinless life, to be betrayed and crucified, to die a horrible death, and ultimately to be raised from the dead in order to defeat death, as we read in Hebrews 2:9..."...we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." The simple fact is, Jesus took our punishment upon Himself. He paid the price for us, in our stead, in order to make a way back to God for us. The miracles and the healings which are recorded in the Gospels are merely a sampling of the good which He did, as we read in John 21:25, the last verse of the book of John..."And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen." 

So, we see that Jesus is a healer, that He can heal us of not only our physical ailments, but of our spiritual infirmities, as well. He is a fearless and selfless Shepherd, a fierce mediator, claiming and defending before God all those who believe on His name. He is our Savior, our Redeemer, and our Friend, and we are promised that He will never leave us, and never forsake us. These traits prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is the greatest hero that has ever lived. May we be inspired, encouraged, uplifted, and led by His Spirit to share His love with the world around us.