Perseus and Jesus

I offer a little reflection on Greek mythology and Jesus. I see some similarities but a major difference in one story.

Perseus is a son of a god.

Jesus is the Son of God.

Both men suffer, and both do saving work.

The power of Perseus is the subject of the adventure movie Wrath of the Titans, a movie released in 2012. A sequel to Clash of the Titans, this film stars Sam Worthington as Perseus, the son of a god named Zeus and a human woman named Danae. Perseus is trying to live a quiet life as an angler when a supernatural war breaks out -- the fighting is between the gods led by Zeus and another group of gods called the Titans. According to Greek mythology, Zeus and his brothers Hades and Poseidon had overthrown their father Kronos, and put him in prison along with his fellow Titans. Zeus became known as "the father of gods and men," as well as the god of sky and thunder.

As the story begins, humans are turning away from Zeus and his allies, and the power of the Titans is rising. In addition, Zeus's brother Hades defects to the other side, making a deal with Kronos to capture Zeus. The Titans get stronger, Zeus becomes weaker, and chaos breaks out on Earth.

Enter, Perseus. This son of a divine father and an earthly mother embarks on a dangerous quest into the underworld to rescue his father Zeus. With sword in hand, he faces the challenge of overthrowing the Titans and saving humankind.

To hear the rest of the story, you will have to buy a movie ticket.

Story of Jesus would have sounded familiar to people of the ancient world

After growing up with the mythological tale of Perseus, the Greeks of the Mediterranean world would have found it easy to understand the story of Jesus. Divine father and human mother -- check. Powerful father god in heaven -- check. Disobedient humans -- check. Hero with a mission of saving humankind -- check.

In many ways, the gospel of Jesus Christ seems like the same song with a different tune.

However, when you scratch the surface, you discover that there is a world of difference between Perseus and Jesus.  

- According to translator Robert Graves, the name Perseus probably comes from the Greek verb meaning "to waste, ravage, sack and destroy." He is a warrior, after all, usually portrayed with a sword in his hand. The name Jesus comes from the Hebrew word meaning, "God saves." When an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph before the birth of Jesus, he says, "You are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). Jesus is a great high priest who "offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins" -- the gift of his own body on the cross (Hebrews 10:12).

- Perseus saves with a sword. Jesus saves with a sacrifice. 

            Lent is a time when the church focuses on the significance of the statement in the creed: Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scripture. Hebrews 5:5-10 refers to Jesus as Son and High Priest, who offers up prayers on our behalf. He would learn obedience through suffering. Salvation comes in way most of us would consider an unexpected way.