That is why we and so many in our world have so much trouble trusting a God who saves by being executed as a criminal on a cross. We do not want a crucified God. We want Superman. Author Robert Farrar Capon puts it well in these memorable words from his book Hunting the Divine Fox:

“The true paradigm of the ordinary American view of Jesus is Superman: ‘Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. It’s Superman! Strange visitor from another planet, who came to earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men, and who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice, and the American Way.’

If that isn’t popular Christology, I’ll eat my hat. Jesus–gentle, meek and mild, but with a secret, souped-up, more-than-human insides–bumbles around for thirty-three years, nearly gets himself done in for good by the Kryptonite Kross, but at the last minute, struggles into the phone booth of the Empty Tomb, changes into his Easter suit and with a single bound, leaps back up to the planet Heaven. It’s got it all–including, just so you shouldn’t miss the lesson, kiddies: He never once touches Lois Lane.

You think that’s funny? Don’t laugh. The human race is, was and probably always will be deeply unwilling to accept a human messiah. We don’t want to be saved in our humanity; we want to be fished out of it. We crucified Jesus, not because he was God, but because he blasphemed: He claimed to be God and then failed to come up to our standards for assessing the claim. It’s not that we weren’t looking for the Messiah; it’s just that he wasn’t what we were looking for. Our kind of Messiah would come down from a cross. He would carry a folding phone booth in his back pocket. He wouldn’t do a stupid thing like rising from the dead. He would do a smart thing like never dying.”
We want a Superman because Superman does what we all want to do. We want to be able to assert ourselves, take charge of our lives and win the admiration of our neighbors. We want to be somebody. We often feel obscure and ordinary living our humdrum lives unnoticed and unappreciated, like Clark Kent, nerdy looking, mild mannered newspaper reporter. We dream of being able to jump into a phone booth and emerge as a super-hero able to save ourselves and save the world. We may not dream of being in a Marvel comic book or in a Hollywood blockbuster. But how about a pat on the back or a promotion or a new house in a better neighborhood? We just want to be someone because lurking in corner of our hearts is the fear that we don’t matter, that our lives don’t count and that finally our lives will just disappear into the dustbin of history, ignored and forgotten.

Step 3: Final Diagnosis (Eternal Problem): Betrayed by Superman

Of course, it would take the resurrection of Jesus three days later to confirm that. However, through the door of the empty tomb we see that it is the truth, the in-spite-of-evidence-to-the-contrary truth! Pilate’s ironic title for Jesus is accurate.

When the evidence against us is piled high, when we realize that we are there with the leaders ridiculing Jesus, with the soldiers mocking Jesus and the criminal deriding Jesus, instead of spitting back to us what we deserve Jesus offers us that incredible promise: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.” When we are nailed to our crosses, suffering the consequences of bad choices, misguided arrogance or simply just steam-rolled by the injustices of life, Jesus declares, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

Hidden on that cross is indeed Christ the King. We believe that he is King even though we never expected it. We were sure we were lost, but we have been found! How ironic!!!

Step 6: Final Prognosis (External Solution): The Ironic Life

Therefore, when we believe what Jesus says, we “get to” our lives differently. Hidden in the ordinariness of our everyday lives, we “get to” live the ironic life. With honesty and integrity, we can unexpectedly do what is right and not just what is approved by the latest opinion poll. In the midst of an anxiety-ridden world we can live with “the peace that surpasses all human understanding.” We can turn the other cheek and go the extra mile. And most of all, we can actually believe that our dreadful past has been overcome and that our sins are forgiven. No longer ashamed, we can come clean. We can tell the truth because ironically . . . Jesus is King!