Friday, April 29, 2022

The Greatest Superhero: May 1st Devotional

      

The Greatest Superhero

May 1st Devo

1st Peter 1:9

      Batman. I'm sure that everyone of us have heard of the Caped Crusader, the Dark Knight. This vigilante of Gotham has stood as its "Savior" for eighty plus years (Bruce Wayne has aged pretty well hasn't he). Batman first came onto the scene in Detective Comics # 27 on May 1st 1939 selling for only .10c.  Detective Comics (later to be known simply as DC Comics) built their brand on following the outrageous stories of various different hard-boiled detectives and their enemies.  These detectives would go toe to toe with gangsters, Nazi’s, and other low life criminals.  The introduction of Batman changed the trajectory of the comic industry.  The first story with Batman was entitled “The Case of the Chemical Syndicate.”  Batman has to quickly find the murderer of a chemical industrialist named Lambert before anyone else is hurt.  His quick detective work leads to the arrest of Alfred Stryker, a former business partner of Lambert.  The Batman would continue to be a regular in the Detective Comic series until becoming popular enough for his own series.   Little did this talented team of writers, pencilers, and colorists know that years later this comic would sell for MILLIONS of dollars. This comic started a phenomenon that has continued through multiple versions and story lines for over eighty years. Batman is one of the most commonly known Superheroes. The Dynamic Duo have continued to battle against a variety of different villains like Bane, Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, Two Face, Man Bat, the Riddler, the Penguin, and the list could go on and on.

      Gotham city was a crime ridden city that needed a Savior, a rescuer, a protector. Batman has done a fantastic job over the years but there is one thing that Batman can't save. For that matter, something that no superhero can save, our soul.  Why would our souls need saved? Because we are all sinners and sin separates us away from a God who loves us. We can't work to earn the forgiveness of one sin so God sent one who is totally perfect, Jesus. We needed someone to rescue us, to love us, to save us. 1st Peter 1:9 says "obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." He has paid the price for our salvation through His precious blood. Jesus does what no superhero could ever do. Forgive you of past wrongs and offer a present hope for an eternity with Him.  Batman fights an unending battle with crime to no relief.  Christ on the other hand fought one battle for our sin riddled souls and came forth victorious on the third day.  Christ is the lone hero of our soul.

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