In society, heroes have always been glorified as the best and most moral people. However, the Christian worldview teaches that “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23, Christian Standard Bible.) If all have fallen short of God’s perfect standard, then the traditional qualities and traits of a hero, often referred to as heroism, cannot be based on personal morality, because no one is close enough to the moral standard even to be considered a “good person”. If this is the case, then the only way to find a definition for a hero would be to look at the one man who lived a life that fulfilled God’s moral standard, Jesus of Nazareth.   Through looking at the life, teachings, and death of Jesus Christ, heroism is defined ashumility, suffering servanthood, and serving God rather thanoneself.

Jesus of Nazareth was and will forever be the only perfect man to live. Jesus of Nazareth accomplished this through having two natures, a divine nature and a human nature. Meaning He was fully man and fully God. This idea is best supported in the New Testament verses, Colossians 2:9, “For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ,” which confirms Christ’s divinity, and 1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus,”which confirms Christ’s human nature (CSB). For Jesus of Nazareth to be the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of mankind, He had to humble Himself by limiting His divine nature and becoming fully man. To descend from the throne room of heaven and become a human child is the ultimate act of humility and heroism. A hero is not prideful but instead humble in knowing his purpose is to glorify God. 

The second way Jesus of Nazareth shows the true definition of heroism is through His teachings and actions, which deal with becoming a suffering servant. Jesus of Nazareth taught throughout His life that true leadership and heroism comes from suffering and serving, not the acquisition or exaltation of power. This is taught clearly in Mark 10:42-45. This verse follows two of Jesus’ disciples asking if they could sit at the right and left hand of Jesus when they enter His eternal kingdom. 

Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as ​rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over ​them. But it is not so among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among ​you will be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all. ​For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ​ransom for many.

Jesus of Nazareth uses the gentile kings, who pagans regarded as heroes, as an example of sinful and ungodly leadership. He makes a stark contrast by flipping society’s views on kings and heroes upside down. The kings that acquired power and exerted it on other people, were not true heroes. The true hero is the leader who serves all his friends and especially his enemies. Jesus of Nazareth is the only true hero in history, and His purpose was never to conquer and exalt power over His subjects, but instead to serve them and suffer for them as he is crucified and resurrected and becomes the propitiation for our sins. 

The final way Jesus of Nazareth is the ultimate example of heroism, is through who He served. Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God; this is taught in John 10:36 where Jesus of Nazareth is being questioned and persecuted for claiming that He is the Son of God. “… because I said I am the Son of God?” Jesus claims to be the Son of God and that He does everything He does toglorify His father in heaven. In John 17:1-4 Jesus of Nazareth teaches that all that He has done and everything He will do is in line with God’s plan, and that all He does is for the glory of God. ​Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come. ​Glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you gave him authority over all ​people, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him.  This is eternal ​life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent—Jesus ​Christ. I have glorified you on the earth by completing the work you gave me to do.

Jesus of Nazareth shows this again when He prays in the garden of Gethsemani. “Going a little farther, he fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39, CSB). Jesus shows and teaches that heroism is serving and glorifying God, through glorifying God and aligning His will with God’s will. Jesus served God, that is the righteous example of heroism.

The qualities and traits of heroism are not possible for sinful humans to fully apply to their lives. However, the Christian perspective teaches that, while it is impossible to be perfect, the goal of everyday life for a follower of Christ, is to imitate Jesus the Messiah in everything they do and speak, as they are sanctified through the works of Jesus Christ. The definition of heroism is, humility, suffering servanthood, and a life that glorifies God. This is taught and shown through the life, teachings, and death of Jesus of Nazareth.