A simile is a comparison using “like” or “as.” The Bible uses a simile to compare God with a bridegroom in Isaiah 62:5, “and as a groom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you.”

A metaphor is a comparison without the use of “like” or “as,” but stated as a direct correspondence. Mirriam-Webster defines metaphor as a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them.^[1]

There are plenty of metaphors in the Bible for God. Moses declares, “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just” (Deuteronomy 32:4). Isaiah employs metaphor to describe God as a potter, “But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we all are the work of Your hand” (Isaiah 64:8). David poetically compares God to a fortress, “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer” (Psalm 18:2). Perhaps the most famous metaphor in Scripture is when David began the 23^rd Psalm, “The Lord is my Shepherd…” God is compared to a shepherd, which extends the metaphor to us being compared to sheep. Psalm 23:1 is the most commonly highlighted Bible verse in the You Version App. Jesus certainly had read Psalm 23 and had no hesitation calling Himself the Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14).

When is a Metaphor Not a Metaphor?

A sentence with two nouns using the form of the verb “to be” is not necessarily a metaphor. Another option is that one noun is the subject and the second is a predicate nominative. My favorite way to remember this is the way the super-spy introduces himself, “The name’s Bond, James Bond.” This is not a metaphor because it is an expression of reality, not comparison. If a sentence contains a metaphor, it can be restated as a simile through the use of “like” or “as.” The secret agent would not say, “The name is like Bond.”

I contend that some Biblical models that are taken as metaphor should rather be understood as predicate nominatives. Such is the case for considering God to be Father. He is not like a father; He is Father. When Jesus gave us instructions to pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name” (Matthew 6:9), He did not intend the meaning “Dear God, who is like a Father…” He is depicting reality. At the baptism of Jesus, God did not voice from heaven, “This non-binary soul is like my son or daughter.” God proclaimed that Jesus is the Son. It is also not a metaphor to say that God is King. “For God is King of all the earth; sing profound praises to Him” (Psalm 47:7). God does not remind us of a king – He is King!

In the newest Narnia film, director Greta Gerwig has cast Meryl Streep as the voice of Aslan. Some do not see a problem with this because they consider Aslan to be a metaphor of Jesus. In this case, the comparison can still hold true no matter the voice or artistry. In the same vein, the rendition of Aslan in Gerwig’s film is reminiscent of David Bowie’s bisexual character with two different-colored eyes.

Why then is anyone concerned? The answer is that Aslan is not a metaphor for Jesus. Aslan is Jesus. By his own self-revelation at the end of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Aslan comforts Lucy saying that she and the children must learn to know him by his name in our world. Yes, the books are fantasy. Lewis did not intend them to be allegory. The point is that Aslan in Narnia does not merely remind us of Jesus – he is Jesus. Jesus is God, the Son. Any depiction of Jesus making Him appear female or even feminine in any way is an assault on the very Person of God.

When is a Christian not a Christian?

Greta Gerwig was raised as a Unitarian Universalist. In the film Frances Ha, which she co-wrote and starred in, she depicted the Unitarian Universalist church in which she was raised. She said in an interview, “I think religion has always been something that has occupied me as a person, and Unitarianism is the most complete expression of my multiple and, at times, contradictory thoughts about the spiritual life. I think the openness of the community allows for a greater variety of personal faith and ideas.”^[2]The Unitarian Universalist religion has an unorthodox regard for Jesus. Despite a later perusal of religion through a Catholic school, protestant church services, and Quaker gatherings, it is clear that she has never adopted the view of Jesus as revealed in Scripture. In short, she does not know Jesus. That is why her imagination of Aslan is only as a musical lion who sang the world into being. The Unitarian Universalist religion is not a Christian denomination.

In the novel, The Magician’s Nephew, Digory Kirke’s uncle Andrew follows him into Narnia but his closed-mindedness will not allow him to appreciate the world’s wonder. When Aslan speaks to him. Uncle Andrew only hears a lion roaring. His character is a sad foil to the children Digory and Polly who grow to love Aslan. Gerwig read the books and studied the life and writings of Lewis. She claimed to have read what Lewis wrote and what he read. One wonders if that includes the Bible, which Lewis certainly read. She read about Aslan, but since she doesn’t know Jesus, she doesn’t know Aslan. She only sees a lion. Here is a metaphor about the movie – Greta Gerwig is Uncle Andrew.

By the way, I will be taking these opinions to anyone who will listen and to the realm of social media. If not for expressing opinions like this, what is Meta for? See what I did there?

^[1] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metaphor. accessed 10.20.26.

^[2] Cynthia Littleton, “Greta Gerwig, UU Film Star,” UU World, Fall 2013, 52. https://www.uuworld.org/articles/gerwig-uu-film-star, accessed 10.16.26.

As a career educator, I have attended many presentations of “best practices” for the classroom. I have also survived more than a few rounds of teacher evaluations. These evaluations are designed to never have a teacher achieve a perfect score but always leave room for improvement. Most of the “best practices” are adaptations of the manner in which Jesus taught His disciples. Jesus would receive a perfect evaluation. In a third round of questioning by the religious authorities, the man born blind, perhaps mockingly, asked his interrogators if they would also like to become Jesus’ disciples. (John 9:27). The man who had been healed recognized Jesus as a teacher.

The Nearly Universal Acclaim

If people have heard anything about Jesus, they have probably heard that He was a teacher. Jesus’ most famous sermon is called the Sermon on the Mount, but it begins with a mention of His teaching, not preaching (Matthew 5:1-2). Jesus taught by direct discourse, by explaining the Scriptures, by use of colorful analogy, and by parables. He also taught by example as He perfectly lived the lessons He spoke.

Is Moral Teaching Enough?

An Oxford University research team studied 60 diverse societies and found some basic moral values present in all of them.^[1] Anthony O’Hear reflected on these findings and compared what he called the great moral traditions in the religions of the world. It is not a surprise that he found common moral ground among the major world religions. Still, he concludes, “Human beings are weak and prone to all sorts of wickedness, even the best of us.”^[2]

Morality will never be enough to satisfy the soul of man. This is precisely why the moral teaching of Jesus will never succeed separated from the Person of Jesus. Jesus’ moral teaching is dependent on His power and strength to override our human weakness. The philosophers and researchers that examine Christianity along with all the world religions tend to consider that morality is the goal of Jesus’ teachings. They consider morality to be the goal of religion in general. With Jesus, an elevated morality is a by-product of a new inner life.

Jesus Cannot Be Only a Teacher

It is inconsistent to accept Jesus as a good teacher only. A person who is accurately described as a good teacher would be one who not only delivers their content accurately, but one who delivers accurate content. In 2016, the Oxford English Dictionary declared the word of the year to be “post-truth.”^[3] Without delving too deeply into a philosophical abyss, some arenas of “post-truth” would simply be absurdity.

To illustrate, a person may be a popular teacher or a good motivator without being a good teacher. It would be absurd to consider a person a good teacher despite the content of their teaching. A math teacher who gave a test and counted every answer correct if it contained at least one number or letter may indeed become a popular teacher, but would hardly be a good teacher. Random numbers and letters make good passwords, but not good math scores. A football coach who teaches a player to take the ball and run in any direction they chose, would lose every game and would eventually lose his job. A music teacher could not be considered a good teacher if they taught the wrong way to play an instrument. Blowing into the wrong end of a trumpet will not make any music.

Furthermore, good teachers do not assign impossible tasks. Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount does not deliver to us a difficult ethic; it delivers an impossible one. John Stott says of the Sermon, “Its ideals are noble but impractical, … attractive to imagine but impossible to fulfil.”^[4] It is not merely difficult to conduct one’s life never getting angry, worrying about anything, and loving one’s enemies – it is beyond human ability. That is, however, Jesus’ point. The standard set by God is too high for any to achieve without God’s help.

Jesus’ Teaching Beyond Morality

Without question, Jesus taught a heightened level of morality. However, to accept Him as teacher is also to accept what He taught about Himself. Over and over again, Jesus taught that He was equal to God, specifically the God of the Old Testament. This most vividly depicted in His use of the phrase “I Am” in reference to Himself. This is the covenant name of God given to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:15). It was and is regarded by Jews as too holy to even pronounce. Therefore, when Jesus used it of Himself, the hearers were so shocked that they attempted to stone Him for blasphemy (John 8:58-59). Although Jesus used the phrase repeatedly in the Gospels, He identified Himself with it seven times metaphorically. These are:

1. I Am the Bread of Life (John 6:35).

2. I Am the Light of the World (John 8:12).

3. I Am the Door of the Sheep (John 10:7,9).

4. I Am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11, 14).

5. I Am the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25).

6. I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).

7. I Am the True Vine (John 15:1).

Conclusion

Jesus certainly was a great teacher. The Christian claim is that He is the best teacher that has ever been. Consequently, the content of His teaching must be considered accurate. Therefore, when He taught that He is equal to God (John 10:30) and that He is the only way to heaven (John 14:6), His teaching must be taken as accurate. He is a Teacher like no other.

Bibliography

Norris, Kristopher. “Teaching Truth in a Post‐truth World.” Dialog. 59, no. 1 (March 2020): 9–11. doi:10.1111/dial.12535.

O’Hear, Anthony. “Morality, Reasoning and Upbringing.” Ratio. 33, no. 2 (June 2020): 106–16. doi:10.1111/rati.12260.

Stott, John. The Message of the Sermon on the Mount. Lisle: IL: InterVarsity Press, 2020.

^[1] Anthony O’Hear, “Morality, Reasoning and Upbringing,” Ratio, 33, no. 2 (June 2020): 106–16, 108. doi:10.1111/rati.12260.

^[2] ibid., 115.

^[3] Kristopher Norris, “Teaching Truth in a Post‐truth World” Dialog,59, no. 1 (March 2020): 9–11. doi:10.1111/dial.12535.

^[4] John Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Lisle, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2020), 24.

In June of 1938, Action Comics released its first issue and the world met Superman. Although there had been a few earlier comics about a hero with super-human strength, it was the advent of Superman that set off an explosion of interest in super heroes. Recent technological advances in film making have made movies about super heroes extremely popular and financially lucrative. These did not add an element to the human experience; they merely awakened the human desire for a hero, a special man.

In June of 1938, Action Comics released its first issue and the world met Superman. Although there had been a few earlier comics about a hero with super-human strength, it was the advent of Superman that set off an explosion of interest in super heroes. Recent technological advances in film making have made movies about super heroes extremely popular and financially lucrative. These did not add an element to the human experience; they merely awakened the human desire for a hero, a special man.

Jesus was making quite a stir around Galilee in the early part of His ministry and people were debating how to understand His nature. Everyone knew He was a man, and many considered Him a special Man, a holy Man. Matthew 16:14 records that many considered Jesus a prophet. As the authorities continued to interrogate the man who had been born blind about the nature of his healer, the man expressed that he considered Jesus to be a prophet (John 9:17). As the healed man reflected on his experience with Christ, he realized that Jesus was no ordinary man. He reasoned that Jesus must be a prophet.

Holy Men Through The Ages

Through the years, there have been men regarded as holy. Some of these were known primarily for their wisdom, like Confucius. Some were known for uncommon strength, as the proverbial Samson. Some were known for a perception of greater spiritual insight, like Siddhartha Gautama, a.k.a. the Buddha. More recently, men have become known as prophets who purported to have a special connection to a deity. Mohammad is referred to by Moslems as “The Prophet.” Joseph Smith is revered by Mormons as a prophet. There have also been countless cults led by men and women claiming this special status.

The Old Testament Expectation

The Old Testament tells of many prophets and holy men, yet it always anticipated the coming of a particular holy man. This was a prophesy given to the first people in the Garden of Eden. As a consequence of the first couple’s disobedience, they were given punishments. A greater punishment was meted out upon the serpent who had deceived them. The prophesy given in Genesis 3:15 is known as the “Protoevangelium,” and has long been understood as the first promise of the Gospel.^[1] Here it is promised that someday, mankind would have its hero, a descendant of Eve who will crush the head of the serpent.

One of the earliest of the Bible books is the book of Job, at least in its origin if not in its final form. Gary Long comments, “Job’s world, fashioned within the text, points to a hoary antiquity, a time similar to, if not before, the world of the patriarchs encountered in the pages of the Bible.”^[2] In the middle of his suffering and the miserable comfort of his companions, Job expresses his faith in a hero, a Redeemer. He says in Job 19:25, “I know that my Redeemer lives.” 
As the nation of Israel was poised to enter their Promised Land, Moses knew he was not going to be their leader. He had been told by God that he must leave that designation to another. The book of Deuteronomy contains a series of farewell speeches to prepare the nation for their new life. In Deuteronomy 18:18, he foretold of the rise of a Prophet, another leader who would deliver the word of God to the people. This promise entered into the national identity of Israel, as they began to look for a Messiah. After feeding the 5,000, many in the crowd recognized Jesus as the Prophet, the fulfillment of Deuteronomy 18:18 (John 6:14).

The Common Cry

Everyone has been in a position of feeling stuck and unable to free themselves. Everyone knows what it is to wish for a hero, a deliverer. On a national level, this is how leaders come to power and generate a following. On a personal level, people seek help from all manner of difficulties from finances, health, depression, and emotional issues. If this were not true, no one would listen to songs like “Help” by the Beatles, “Help Me Make it Through the Night” by Kris Kristofferson, “Cry for Help” by Rick Astley, or a myriad of others.

The man healed from blindness knew that his help had come from a holy man and was poised to follow Jesus as a prophet. Christians understand that mankind’s greatest need is spiritual. All humans need help with the burdensome effects of sin. Other men through the ages that have been hailed as prophets never healed a person who had been born blind. Still, Jesus’ greater work is freeing people from their self-destructive treadmills and leading them to a new way of life.

Conclusion

Are people still interested in heroes? Certainly! The first Superman comic recently sold at a private sale for $15 million.^[3] It is the most expensive piece of pop culture memorabilia ever sold. We love heroes because we know we need a hero. Jesus is the Hero we need; He is a Holy Man like no other.

Bibliography

Certified Collectibles Group. “CGC-certified Action Comics #1 Sets New Record with Surprise $15 Million Sale.” Posted January 9, 2026. https://www.cgcgrading.com/news/articles/action-comics-superman-record-6qZRvkTFzJ8,mfQgWMX0SjP/.

Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch, s.v. “PROTOEVANGELIUM.” Edited by T. Desmond Alexander, and David W. Baker Downers Grove, Il: InterVarsity Press, 2002.

Long, Gary A. Commentary on Job: From the Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids, IL: Baker Books, 2019.

^[1] Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch: A Compendium of Contemporary Biblical Scholarship, edited by T. Desmond Alexander, and David W. Baker (Downer’s Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002), 535.

^[2] Gary A. Long, Commentary on Job: From the Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids, IL: Baker Books, 2019), 11.

^[3] Certified Collectibles Group, “CGC-certified Action Comics #1 Sets New Record with Surprise $15 Million Sale,” posted January 9, 2026, https://www.cgcgrading.com/news/articles/action-comics-superman-record-6qZRvkTFzJ8,mfQgWMX0SjP/.

As a youth, I was a consumer of adventure stories, particularly of Robin Hood and King Arthur. As I approached adulthood, I experienced a bit of sadness realizing these were characters in legends and were not historical figures. Actually, there may have been real people that inspired the legends, but the stories I fell in love with were not history. Now, as a Christian, I love and revere the stories of Jesus and rail against the efforts to place them in the same category as a sword pulled from a stone or splitting an arrow at an archery contest.

Jesus is not a figure from Hebrew mythology; He was a real person in history. He was a man. The seventh chapter of the Gospel of John records some debate about Jesus as He taught in the temple. His words reflected the Old Testament in such a way that some considered Him the fulfillment of prophesy while others wanted to arrest Him. That is a debate that is still going. When healed of congenital blindness, the man told the authorities he had been healed by “a man called Jesus” (John 9:11).

Jesus is Mentioned in Secular History.

MacDonald has compiled several ancient nonbiblical sources which refer to Jesus or reflect the context in which he ministered, and some of them confirm historical elements about Jesus that are in the canonical Gospels.^[1] These include the Roman historians Tacitus, Seutonius, Pliny the Younger, and Celsus. Even pejorative depictions of Jesus in graffiti give evidence that Jesus existed.

The Quests for the Historical Jesus are Problematic.

Since the 1980’s, there have been several attempts to outline the life and times of the “historical” Jesus. On the positive side, the scholars and historians involved in these projects agree that there was a real person in history named Jesus at the center of the movement that bears His name. On the negative side, these successive quests for the historical Jesus have held in common that the depiction of Jesus in the Gospels is not to be taken as historical reality. As James Dunn writes, “If the quest of the historical Jesus is characterized by one feature above all others, it is the contrast between ‘the historical Jesus’ and ‘the Christ of faith,’ or probably more accurately, the antithesis between ‘the historical Jesus’ and ‘the Christ of faith.’”^[2].

This stands in opposition to the evangelical tradition of seeking to know the real Jesus by simply reading the Bible. Still, after discounting the religious elements of the Gospels, historians generally agree on some central items. As the non-Christian historian Adele Reinhartz lists, “Concerning the historical Jesus, I would suggest that we are on solid ground with regard to six points: (1) he was born in Galilee (2) sometime right before or right after what we refer to as the turn of the eras; (3) he was baptized by John; (4) he gathered a following, and (5) he was crucified on the order of Pontius Pilate. Finally, (6) we can say with certainty that Jesus was a Jewish man.”^[3] Most people that want to know more about Jesus may be skeptical of the religious elements, but reading the Gospel narrative is the desired avenue of inquiry. Gary Habermas said, “the New Testament has always been and still remains the best source for the historicity of Jesus.”^[4]

Jesus Has Had an Impact on History.

J. Warner Wallace claims that Christians have been key initiators of every major field of scientific study and spends several pages listing the categories.^[5] He demonstrates the same level of impact on education and the arts. For centuries, years have been reckoned as being B.C. (before Christ) or A.D. (in the year of our Lord). Recently, efforts to downplay the impact of Jesus have led to these terms being replaced by B.C.E. and C.E. These acronyms can stand for “before the Christian Era” and “Christian Era,” or, alternatively, “before the Common Era” and “Common Era.” The effort is moot, because the life of Jesus is still the dividing line.

The Dangers of Discounting Jesus’ Divinity.

As we see, the main objections Christians face is not against those who claim Jesus was a man. The greater issue is with those who say Jesus was only a man. As the crowds were confronted with Jesus teaching in the Temple in John 7, some considered Him a good man and others, a troublemaker (John 7:12). Others were amazed and curious. The officers sent to arrest Him did not serve their warrant. They said, “Never has a man spoken like this!” (John 7:46). No other man ever can.

Conclusion

Robin Hood and King Arthur may or may not have been men. Jesus was certainly a man, but He was certainly also more than a man. The man healed from blindness was correct in calling Jesus a man, but he came to realize that Jesus is much more. He is a Man like no other.Subscribe

Bibliography

Dunn, James D. G.. A New Perspective on Jesus (Acadia Studies in Bible and Theology): What the Quest for the Historical Jesus Missed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2005.

Gary Habermas, Evidence for the Historical Jesus Is the Jesus of History the Christ of Faith Cambridge, OH: Christian Publishing House, 2020.

McDonald, Lee Martin. The Story of Jesus in History and Faith: An Introduction. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013.

Reinhartz, Adele. “Beyond the Jewish Jesus Debate” in The Next Quest for the Historical Jesus. edited by James Crossley, and Chris Keith. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2024.

Wallace, J Warner. Person of Interest. Grand Rapids, MI: 2021.

^[1] Lee Martin McDonald, The Story of Jesus in History and Faith: An Introduction, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013), 127.

^[2] James D. G. Dunn, A New Perspective on Jesus (Acadia Studies in Bible and Theology): What the Quest for the Historical Jesus Missed (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2005), 16.

^[3] Adele Reinhartz, “Beyond the Jewish Jesus Debate” in The Next Quest for the Historical Jesus, edited by James Crossley, and Chris Keith (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2024), 71.

^[4] Gary Habermas, Evidence for the Historical Jesus Is the Jesus of History the Christ of Faith (Cambridge, OH: Christian Publishing House, 2020).

^[5] J. Warner Wallace, Person of Interest (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2021), 200.