The ultimate hero’s journey

September 18th, 2022 – Communion Meditation

Have you ever thought about those stories, whether new or old, that are sometimes referred to as “hero’s journeys”?

These kinds of stories often follow this kind of pattern:

• An unlikely hero ventures forth on an adventure (from something ordinary to something astounding, moving from the known to the unknown).
• They encounter significant challenges and temptations.
• They experience a crisis which brings them to the end of themselves.
• They receive some kind of revelation.
• They achieve a decisive victory.
• They are completely transformed.
• They return home, empowered in a new way to be able to help others.

We can think of many recent examples – Lord of the Rings, The Wizard of Oz, Harry Potter. And some far older examples – Pilgrim’s Progress, Cinderella, the Tortoise and the Hare.

I think the reason that these kinds of stories exist in all times, all places, all cultures, and the reason why they resound so deeply within every human heart, is precisely because these hero journeys echo the ultimate hero’s journey. This ultimate hero’s journey is the best and truest story in all of human history. It’s what is sometimes referred to in philosophical circles as the “true myth.” A myth is essentially some kind of truth that is best conveyed in story form. A myth is an expression of the sacred in words, reporting realities and events from the origin of the world that remain valid as the basis and purpose of all there is. The true myth, the story of Jesus Christ, is the explanatory story that makes sense of all other stories and all of life.

God could have revealed Himself to us in countless ways. He chose to come as one of us, as a baby, Jesus, fully God and fully human, born to a virgin in a small village in a remote corner of the Roman Empire. This Jesus lived a fairly ordinary life as a Jewish carpenter until He was 30 years old. A whole lot more happened after that, too much for a Communion Meditation. But the astounding conclusion of this ultimate hero’s journey is that this same Jesus became the Savior of the world. Jesus made a way for every person who has ever lived, is living, and will ever live, to receive God’s immeasurable love and life without limit.

Let’s ponder this key part of the ultimate hero’s journey today. Jesus is the ultimate hero. We don’t need to and can’t bear the burden of being a savior in our own lives or in anyone else’s lives. That’s too heavy a load for anyone to carry. Jesus is the ultimate hero. We don’t need to put any kind of expectations, shame, or judgment on anyone else to be anyone’s savior. Jesus is the ultimate hero. We can keep our focus on Him and seek to follow Him faithfully with simple trust and obedience. And let’s keep telling this story, the best and truest story of all, as we do small things with great love, for the greater glory of God.

On the night that Jesus was betrayed, He took the bread and said, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (eat)

Again, Jesus took the cup and said, “This is my blood of the new covenant poured out for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (drink)