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When you think of the word hero, who comes to mind? Who is a hero in your life? Consider who you viewed a hero as a child, and who you presently think of as a hero. Are they the same person, or are they different?

A Harris Interactive survey in 2001 revealed that over half (57%) of all the people mentioned as heroes were public figures. Even though a good number still mentioned their fathers (13%), their mothers (9%) or other relatives and friends, the poll underscores the dominant role that fame, status and popularity have to play in our culture’s understanding of heroics.

How do you define a hero? Dictionary.com defines a hero as:

1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
2. a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal.
3. the principal male character in a story, play, film, etc.
4. classical Mythology.
   1. a being of godlike prowess and beneficence who often came to be honored as a divinity.
   2. (in the Homeric period) a warrior-chieftain of special strength, courage, or ability.
   3. (in later antiquity) an immortal being; demigod.

As we take a look at God’s Word this morning and as we prepare ourselves for the Lord’s Table, we want to take a look again at Isaiah 9:6:

6 For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Have you ever thought that Jesus wants to be your ultimate hero? Jesus is your Mighty God. The Hebrew meaning of this concept is that God is a conqueror. The term is used at least 156 times in the Old Testament alone. It is usually associated with a warrior who is such a strong victor that he becomes legend – known as a national hero. So, God is a hero for each and every one of us in the birth of Jesus Christ.

Part of our difficulty with Jesus being the Mighty God or a hero is that Jesus did not act the part of the conquering hero. As we’ve mentioned before, the Jewish people were looking for a Messiah – a hero – they were looking for someone to save them from the tyranny of other empires. For some positive exposure or positive press makes them a hero. Those who gave their lives trying to save others on 9/11 were considered heroes. When Jesus came to earth, he did not come with great fanfare – CNN did not announce his arrival. When Jesus came to earth, it wasn’t anything like when the royals are born in other countries. Remember all the hype regarding Prince William and his brother when they were born? Jesus wasn’t born in his parent’s home or their palace and Jesus wasn’t even buried in his own tomb. He did not even have a home to call his own – and we call Him a Mighty God? Jesus did not fit the first century version of a hero and for most he doesn’t fit the 21^st century model either and yet the scriptures tell us he is the Mighty God.

The scriptures even tell us that He gave away all the hero stuff willingly. Paul writes in Philippians 2:

6 Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross

. The scriptures even verify that nobody thought a king; a mighty God; could come out of Nazareth. It was a despised place – nothing important. This king didn’t have any accomplishments the world would think important. A Jewish King would come out of Jerusalem. This king arrived in a manger in Bethlehem – surrounded not by dignitaries, but by shepherds and livestock. This king was not visited by the world’s elite – ambassadors and other kings – no some wise men came from the east – some king He was. He even allowed himself to be ridiculed by common people. He was silent even when he was unjustly condemned.

This king did not have a “posse” to follow him around, unless you call those rag-tag bunch of fishermen and tax-collectors a posse. Even those who were closest to Jesus didn’t really know the significance of him walking the earth. Most kings get at least one parade in their lifetime. The only parades – if you could call them that – were Jesus coming into Jerusalem on a donkey and through the streets of Jerusalem as he was going to be crucified. On earth, Jesus was never honored the way he should have been, but that is ok. Because he was obedient to His Father’s plan, something wonderful happened. Paul continues in Philippians 2:

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

So, Jesus – the Son of God given to us this Christmas – is a hero after all! He is a hero because He has conquered everything, including sin and death. He is the most unique hero of the universe because He came to serve, not to be served. No one else can do in your life what the Mighty God can do. He should be our greatest hero. While the crowds never properly acknowledged Him during his time on earth, He wants to acknowledge you before His Father in heaven. The Mighty God – Jesus Himself – wants to help you accomplish “all things” by being your source of strength. Jesus is your biggest fan. He believes in you so much.  He came… He lived… He sacrificed… He conquered… He rose from the dead. Now He sits at the Father’s right hand in heaven.

Just think – the gift of the Servant Jesus the Mighty God is given to you! He will never break. He will never wear out. He will never go out of style.