φωνὴν μεγάλην (Mark 15:37)

I'm currently researching Markan motifs for the Gospels class I took at the start of June. In some of the reading, I've come across some very interesting interpretations. The most noteworthy thus far concerns the centurion's confession at Jesus' death. Robert H. Gundry explains that the centurion's confession that Jesus is Son of God is not brought about by seeing Jesus suffer and die (he had probably witnessed that a hundred times), but is "evoked and defined, rather, by the supernatural strength that enables Jesus at the moment of his death to shout with a superhumanly loud voice and with exhalant force so powerful that it rends the veil of the temple. . . he sees Jesus die in a way that defies naturalistic explanation. It is Jesus' overcoming the weakness normally caused by crucifixion, not dying itself by crucifixion, which evokes the centurion's declaration." (Gundry, Mark: A Commentary on His Apology for the Cross. Eerdmans, 1993, 974).

Programming Code and Gospel Motif

An odd combination for sure. I guess that because these are my two worlds right now --- tracing Markan motifs that climax in Jesus' death, and immersing myself in the various coding languages of the internet --- I've begun to see parallels between how the two of these things operate. Both seem to ebb and flow like well-written classical music. Just yesterday I was listening to CBC Radio 2, whose host was playing John William's score from "Return of the Jedi". I found the flow of the music so interesting. Elements of the highly recognizable themes of Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker are introduced and pulled back, repeated, reinforced, interwoven, and finally brought to a climax that makes goosebumps suddenly form. There is foreshadowing and echoing and finally full-blown revelation.

I have found that Gospel motifs work like this too, as the author introduces a theme, develops it slowly, and in the case of motifs leading to Jesus' death, brings them to such a head that they can hardly be ignored. Maybe an analogy to Visual Basic programming is a bit of a stretch (and I don't know if I understand it well enough yet to give a very helpful explanation), but here too, the first module contains a sub-routine that points forward to the next module containing the actual commands referenced in the first module. The second module's sub-routine might include a reference which propels the program to the third module, and so on. With each move forward, the program always returns to the beginning to find its instruction, forming a continuous cycle of forward and backward movement until the program fulfills its mission and the program ends.

If nothing else, thinking about similarities between code syntax and narrative development helps to keep coding interesting. (And I think I'm beginning to understand how Dr. Karen H. Jobes of Wheaton College made a transition from computer science to exegesis...)

The Importance of Syllabi

I'm in the last week of preparation before my first Seminary class begins, and I just realized that I have become far too prepared... Part of the requirements of the upcoming class on the Gospels is to lead an hour-long seminar on one of the various topics given in the syllabus. Over the past several days, I dug (hundreds of pages) deep into all sorts of secondary sources to get to know my topic (reader-response criticism) very well, only to find out that the one most important source I should have read was: my syllabus.

If I had started there, I would have learned that the seminar is to be based mostly on the three articles for the seminar topic in the required reading. It's not exactly an 'open-ended' assignment. So, I guess this will be much easier to prepare for than I anticipated... At any rate, I guess I'll be (overly) prepared if people have questions outside of what the syllabus requires!

Superman, the Illegitimate Savior

I've been a fan of Superman for a long time. In the comic book world, he's usually recognized to be the greatest of all heroes. Though the original creators of Superman didn't aim to connect Superman with Jesus, over the past 70 years the mythos has taken on attributes that make allusions to the Gospel. However, there is a fundamental difference that negates any of these connections. But first some similarities. 


Superman, or Kal-El, is the only son of Jor-El. He was sent by his father from Krypton to the earth in order to save its people. In the 1978 movie, Superman, Jor-El tells his son, "They're a great people Kal-El; they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you, my only son." 

Kal-El is raised on the earth by human parents, Jonathon and Martha (in place of Joseph and Mary), who give him the name Clark Kent. They teach him virtues such as peacemaking, the sanctity of human life, and the importance of self-sacrifice. Superman spends his life saving people from calamity and defeating evil doers by amazing feats of physical strength. Ultimately, Superman dies in a battle with the great Kryptonian destroyer, Doomsday, but, because of his unique heritage, he is resurrected some time after.

In the more recent movie, Superman Returns, Superman sacrifices his life by hurling a mountain of kryptonite off of the earth to foil an evil plot of Lex Luthor's. As the poisonous mountain fades into space, Superman floats back toward the earth in crucifixion pose. After a few dramatic scenes, we find that Superman has been resurrected once again, alive once more to save earth for another day. 

In the pilot episode of the TV series Smallville, Clark is strung up on a wooden cross like a scarecrow, as part of a high-school hazing ceremony. He hangs there in a noticeably cruciform pose. In the show's 9th season, Clark is described as the one who gives hope to the world, and is compared to Jesus Christ by Tess Mercer (a hench-woman of Lex Luthor's). She desires to see him fight Doomsday (whom she likens to Judas Ischariot), claiming that once he has overcome his great betrayer, he can go on to accomplishing his greatest challenge -- that of saving the world.


Superman first 'took flight' in the early days of WWII, as many wished for a mighty hero who could defeat the Nazis and end the growing war. This savior was born of the wisdom of man, wishing for a strong savior who could defeat any enemy just by sheer force, perhaps much like what Jesus' disciples hoped for in a Messiah. However, the Savior God has sent was humble and meek, and, with regard to the world's understanding, weak and helpless, as a lamb led to the slaughter. The words of the Lord to Isaiah ring very true here: "My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways" (Isaiah 55:8).

Here is the fundamental break-down precluding any legitimate connection between Superman and Jesus. The 'salvation' that Superman brings is accomplished through power and strength -- his "powers far beyond those of mortal men." In this way, Superman is quite distinctly opposite to Jesus. Jesus came in weakness, putting away his heavenly glory. He refused to enlist the help of the multitude of angels who would have raced to his aid in Gethsemane, had he called for them. He submitted to a passive death, not defending himself. He was born in shame, to a mother accused of adultery, and died the most shameful way possible, on a cross. The hope of the world is bound up in a crucified Savior, rather than in a mighty Superman.

However 'cool' the comic book world may be, I'm glad I live on this side of the page.

Official Things

Today two good and official things happened that spur on my plans for the next little while. My passport arrived, which allows me to go to the US, which allows me to attend the Wheaton Theological Conference in under a month. Secondly, I completed my application to Briercrest Seminary. I'm hoping to start my seminary studies with Wes Olmstead's Gospels Seminar, which kicks off May 31. It's nice to have these important details down. Now I can just focus on getting the necessary reading done.