Jesus Christ Superstar
My church, finally, is preparing a production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Although I don't do showtunes, this is one of my favorite plays and, with Easter approaching, I'd like to discuss this fantastic musical.
In it, Jesus, as you may have guessed, is a superstar. When we want to elevate a famous person, what do we call them... a rock star. It is the highest desgnation there is. When Bill or Hillary Clinton are called rock stars it means they are famous beyond politics, they have personal cache that elevates them above other politicians. Orrin Hatch would give his left ball, and has, to become a rock star.
When Jesus entered Jerusalem he was hailed as the Messiah, the biggest of the big, the rock star. In fact, of all the stories ever told about Jesus, only one, that I know of, is rock. Jesus Christ Superstar is a rarity in the world of musical theatre in its rock sensibility and sound. But of course, Jesus was the original rock star and he was treated like one in his own lifetime... at least for the last week of his life. How quickly things change. Within days he aroused the ire of the establishment. He went into the temples and turned the tables on those who sought profit in the name of the Father. He was a threat to the social order precisely because of the power his rock star staus brought him and he had to be taken down.
It wasn't hard. Once the adoring public heard his message, they turned on him. They wanted their new Messiah to tell them what they wanted to hear, to give them reasons to believe their shallow little lives were better than they thought, or at least could be. They wanted him to solve all their problems, cure them, heal them, resurrect them, turn their water into wine. But, that's not what he had in mind. He wanted THEM to do the work. He literally turned the tables on them. He wanted them to examine their lives, make changes, grow, get in touch with themselves and God, instead of thinking about money and status. So, many turned on him, especially the rich and powerful, listening to the propaganda of the day, that he was a threat and must die.
Would Jesus get any different treatment today? Well, if not dragged off to the looney bin first, he would be dragged through the courts instead of the streets. He may have escaped the fate of Kennedy, King, Sadat, he may have even risen above the fate of Cobain or Hendrix or Joplin... but, if he were truly of the stature he seemed to be, he would not survive today. People have not changed, our human foibles are today the same they always were. The Bible is filled with sagas of dysfunctional families, favoritism, cronyism, bickering, betrayal and jealousy.
We aspire, awestruck, at the lifestyles of the rich and famous. They keep getting richer, and the poor keep getting poorer. The more that is shoved in the faces of the people, the more they have of this unending paradox of admiration coupled with resentment. The bigger they are, the harder they fall. It's such a cliche I almost hate to say it, but most truisms persist for a reason... we build them up and then we tear them down. We love to read about anything bad about the rich and famous. That is what sells.
It's not just the tabloid journalism which is a multi billion dollar industry filtering into every news outlet, but even the bloggers. We love to read about some problem Bush or Gates or Rove might have, if they ever have any, other than us Communists.... and this is what is on the blogs every day.... it's all about ways to take Gates down....but I digress. This is about spirituality and just cause Jesus said a rich man has about as much chance of getting into heaven as a camel has to fit through the eye of a needle... is no reason bring money and power mongers into it.
Speaking of misguided power mongers, the saddest part is that the murder and desecration of Jesus has continued unabated till today, probably forever. Because so many still see him as the Messiah, he is just as ripe for those who want to speak in his name and co-opt his message today. When the power hungry few seek to influence the many, they use the best tool there is... fear. We fear death, we fear the unknown and cling to the belief that someone holds the answers for us. For billions, that someone is Jesus Christ. And how do most seek to know Jesus? Through their churches, their families, society, the Bible. Always an intermediary.
But, the message of Jesus, all the prophets, is to look for God within. Jesus confronted the church elders as a twelve year old, questioning their authority to interpret God to him. This is what Jesus modeled for us. This is what his life teaches us to do. So, as we celebrate the season of rebirth, something humans have done throughout time, well before Jesus, let's think about growth and rebirth in our own lives. Let's call on ourselves to do more than attend church this Sunday. Let's think about the simple things God wants for us, to follow our hearts, to love others, to love ourselves, to listen, enjoy, create, share and mostly, think.
Life doesn't have to be so difficult or complex. We can each of us choose to model our lives after Christ's and not simply laud and glorify him as Jesus Christ Superstar.
In it, Jesus, as you may have guessed, is a superstar. When we want to elevate a famous person, what do we call them... a rock star. It is the highest desgnation there is. When Bill or Hillary Clinton are called rock stars it means they are famous beyond politics, they have personal cache that elevates them above other politicians. Orrin Hatch would give his left ball, and has, to become a rock star.
When Jesus entered Jerusalem he was hailed as the Messiah, the biggest of the big, the rock star. In fact, of all the stories ever told about Jesus, only one, that I know of, is rock. Jesus Christ Superstar is a rarity in the world of musical theatre in its rock sensibility and sound. But of course, Jesus was the original rock star and he was treated like one in his own lifetime... at least for the last week of his life. How quickly things change. Within days he aroused the ire of the establishment. He went into the temples and turned the tables on those who sought profit in the name of the Father. He was a threat to the social order precisely because of the power his rock star staus brought him and he had to be taken down.
It wasn't hard. Once the adoring public heard his message, they turned on him. They wanted their new Messiah to tell them what they wanted to hear, to give them reasons to believe their shallow little lives were better than they thought, or at least could be. They wanted him to solve all their problems, cure them, heal them, resurrect them, turn their water into wine. But, that's not what he had in mind. He wanted THEM to do the work. He literally turned the tables on them. He wanted them to examine their lives, make changes, grow, get in touch with themselves and God, instead of thinking about money and status. So, many turned on him, especially the rich and powerful, listening to the propaganda of the day, that he was a threat and must die.
Would Jesus get any different treatment today? Well, if not dragged off to the looney bin first, he would be dragged through the courts instead of the streets. He may have escaped the fate of Kennedy, King, Sadat, he may have even risen above the fate of Cobain or Hendrix or Joplin... but, if he were truly of the stature he seemed to be, he would not survive today. People have not changed, our human foibles are today the same they always were. The Bible is filled with sagas of dysfunctional families, favoritism, cronyism, bickering, betrayal and jealousy.
We aspire, awestruck, at the lifestyles of the rich and famous. They keep getting richer, and the poor keep getting poorer. The more that is shoved in the faces of the people, the more they have of this unending paradox of admiration coupled with resentment. The bigger they are, the harder they fall. It's such a cliche I almost hate to say it, but most truisms persist for a reason... we build them up and then we tear them down. We love to read about anything bad about the rich and famous. That is what sells.
It's not just the tabloid journalism which is a multi billion dollar industry filtering into every news outlet, but even the bloggers. We love to read about some problem Bush or Gates or Rove might have, if they ever have any, other than us Communists.... and this is what is on the blogs every day.... it's all about ways to take Gates down....but I digress. This is about spirituality and just cause Jesus said a rich man has about as much chance of getting into heaven as a camel has to fit through the eye of a needle... is no reason bring money and power mongers into it.
Speaking of misguided power mongers, the saddest part is that the murder and desecration of Jesus has continued unabated till today, probably forever. Because so many still see him as the Messiah, he is just as ripe for those who want to speak in his name and co-opt his message today. When the power hungry few seek to influence the many, they use the best tool there is... fear. We fear death, we fear the unknown and cling to the belief that someone holds the answers for us. For billions, that someone is Jesus Christ. And how do most seek to know Jesus? Through their churches, their families, society, the Bible. Always an intermediary.
But, the message of Jesus, all the prophets, is to look for God within. Jesus confronted the church elders as a twelve year old, questioning their authority to interpret God to him. This is what Jesus modeled for us. This is what his life teaches us to do. So, as we celebrate the season of rebirth, something humans have done throughout time, well before Jesus, let's think about growth and rebirth in our own lives. Let's call on ourselves to do more than attend church this Sunday. Let's think about the simple things God wants for us, to follow our hearts, to love others, to love ourselves, to listen, enjoy, create, share and mostly, think.
Life doesn't have to be so difficult or complex. We can each of us choose to model our lives after Christ's and not simply laud and glorify him as Jesus Christ Superstar.
posted by Intervision at 7:15 AM
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