THE world has ever had and still has its heroes, its leaders, its demigods, to whom it has bowed in humble adoration or followed in faithful devotion. Some of them never dreamed of the homage which would be paid them. They simply did duty as they saw it, and became great. Generally their worth was not recognized during their life save by a few. Some of these heroes were men of blood, and built their road to fame over the bodies of slain humans, lighted by burning cities. Some of these heroes have rushed across the political sky like a brilliant meteor, and live now only in ancient chronicle or mythical lore.
Mr. Byam Shaw has portrayed in his great picture, "The Greatest of Heroes Is One," reproduced by permission on this page, the typical heroes of various ages and peoples. The picture will bear study.
BYAM SHAW'S GREAT ALLEGORICAL PICTURE, “THE GREATEST OF HEROES IS ONE”
In the center, at the head of the great white stairway, stands Jesus, the Christ, a truly commanding figure. On the one side bows in worship a mighty angel, on the other a mighty man. The rest are represented as honoring the Master, men of slaughter tho they have been. For instance the great Greek hero Perseus is represented in the ancient astronomical chart of the sky as a mighty warrior holding in one hand the dripping head of the Gorgon Medusa, that he has just slain, and in the other a drawn sword. Many a woman, unhonored and unknown, has done nobler and more blessed work than the beatified Maid of Orleans, who led the French armies to victory. Alexander slew his myriads in his world-conquering career. Sir Galahad lives in
Tennyson's ideal. The Black Prince was a great fighter, and so was Charlemagne, Siegfried, and others.
But the world's mighty heroes die. The empires they built have mostly fallen or are in decay. They were all creatures of frailty, and some of them were cruel beyond conception. At the most and best they helped the world only a little while; and many of the heroes of earth have been an unmitigated curse.
High above them all, stands Jesus, the Anointed of God. Him we present as worthy of all our homage, our devotion, our worship. He is more than hero, more than a mere performer of great deeds. He has more than courage and prowess and strength.
His earthly career is not His only claim. He preexisted as God's Fellow. In Him were created "all things" "in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or4principalities or powers; all things have been created through Him, and unto Him; and He is before all things, and in Him all things consist." Col. 1:16, 17.
When sin entered God’s universe, our Hero stepped down from the eternal throne of the Godhead to the creature plane to demonstrate in humble serving that God is love, and to fight as we must if we win the battle of righteousness under the eternal principle of right, not for Himself, but for every creature of the universe. Through angelic nature to the human, the sinful human, even to the ignominious death of the cross, our Hero passed, demonstrating that God is love, and that righteousness might win glorious and eternal victories where sin was incarnate.
In His humiliation and death He took the place of those who deserved to die, that in Him they might live forever. Out of that death He rose triumphant, vindicating the government of Jehovah, and making it possible for the sons of Adam to achieve everlasting victory through Him.
Creator, voluntary vicarious Substitute for the sinner, Redeemer, Life-Giver, effective High Priest, He is coming again, our King. Then all His transcendent glory of character will shine forth in glory supernal, a glory which will be shared by all whom He has saved from sin and death through the eternal sacrifice of His infinite love.
This is the Hero that the SIGNS OF THE TIMES presents to its readers, that it will especially hold before them in the series of which this is the first number. He lived in the past; He lives to-day. He ever lives to intercede for, to help, to save, to glorify those who follow Him. What an ideal Hero is Jesus, the Christ! How it ought to appeal to every young man who admires and wishes to follow a true hero! We know Him, we commend Him — Jesus, the Way, the Truth, the Life.
