Johnny, Ponyboy and Dallas are heroes for rescuing the children. Why is it ironic when Jerry Wood says they were sent from heaven?

Johnny, Ponyboy and Dallas, the main characters of Susan Hinton's novel, The Outsiders, have never been mistaken for angels. They are greasers, one of the lowest of the social classes in 1960s Tulsa, Oklahoma. Johnny and Ponyboy are on the run after killing a rival Soc nearly a week before. Dallas has a rap sheet in both Tulsa and New York City. The boys have accidentally set fire to the church, causing the situation which has endangered the young children picnicking there. Yet, when the boys come to the rescue and save the kids from burning, all their faults seem tiny in comparison to their heroic deed. Jerry is right. The greaser outsiders were like angels sent from heaven--or else "just professional heroes or something."