Superman: Living life as a beacon of hope

As Superman soars through cinemas, Ivan Radford reminds us that even in our flaws we can be beacons of God's love.

‘I question everything and everyone. You trust everyone and think everyone is beautiful.’ That’s how Lois Lane describes Clark Kent in 2025’s Superman, currently in cinemas. When we first meet Lois, a journalist, she is already aware of Clark’s alter-ego, the Man of Steel, and they are both already aware of Superman’s real strength: not having powers, but being a visible, radical symbol of hope, peace and truth in a world of cynicism, lies and division. As he puts it, ‘that’s the real punk rock’.

This new incarnation might come with a flying dog, but that truth remains key to Superman’s identity, as he lives out a bumbling human existence each day as Clark Kent. The 2025 film sees Superman’s dual life upended by his nemesis, billionaire Lex Luthor, who takes a message from Superman’s home planet and uses it to manipulate hostility towards the outsider. Suddenly, Superman is not just facing extra-terrestrial danger but a society tricked into thinking he has nefarious motives beyond helping others.

At its heart, Superman is the story of someone resisting the lies of who the world says they are and instead choosing truth and kindness. Throughout, Clark isn’t an indifferent, impervious figure, but a flawed individual doing his best.

‘I am as human as anyone,’ he declares. ‘I love, I get scared. I wake up every morning and, despite not knowing what to do, I put one foot in front of the other and make the best choices that I can.’

People have often drawn parallels between Superman and Jesus, but the 2025 incarnation feels particularly striking for Christians today, as it emphasises the importance of a shared experience of humanity. All too often, we can think of God as someone ‘over there’ to look up to – rather than someone who ‘became flesh and lived among us’ (John 1:14 International Standard Version).

The Salvation Army’s fourth doctrine says: ‘We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the Divine and human natures are united, so that he is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.’ Stop for a second. Isn’t that amazing?

Hebrews 4:15 says: ‘We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all – all but the sin’ (The Message). How many times have you sung the words ‘Jesus knows our every weakness’ (SASB 795) and been comforted that you have a friend, as well as a Saviour, in Jesus?

During Jesus’ physical ministry on Earth, he was an icon for a radical, countercultural way of life rooted in love and hope. Today, as he lives and works in, with and through us, we naturally become visible beacons of that love and hope in a world being pulled apart by deceit, greed, pride, fear and distrust (see Matthew 5:14–16).

That doesn’t mean we’re instantly flawless and Christlike: our discipleship is an ongoing journey of faith, filled with choices about what we should say and do at every step. Jesus understands that intimately because he’s been in our shoes. When we focus on him, he helps us and gives us the strength to resist the lies of the world – that we aren’t enough, that we don’t belong – and instead choose the truth of Jesus’ hope, salvation and friendship.

Are you a beacon sharing Jesus’ love with the people around you? Why wouldn’t you choose to share it? After all, that’s the real punk rock.

Reflect and respond

• What difference does it make to you that Jesus became human and knows your every weakness?
• Read Matthew 5:14–16. As members of The Salvation Army, how can what we say, do and wear help us stand out as signals of faith, love and hope to others?
• Listen to Lauren Daigle’s ‘You Say’ or reflect on the lyrics. Who does the world say you are? What does God say of you? Which do you listen to?