John 18
A play is opening in our town this week
called "Jesus Christ Superstar".
The story is mostly about the relationship between Judas and Jesus
so I feel its a fortunate coincidence (?) this week
that John 18 talks about this,
so I can write about it here.
"Superstar" has really been on my mind lately.
Joh 18:3
So Judas took a detachment of soldiers
and some officers from the high priests and the Pharisees
and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.
I saw Jesus Christ Superstar when I was a teenager,
shown as an evening activity in a drug abuse center.
Although I was raised in the Cathollic church
and attended services regularly until the age of about 16,
it wasn't until this performance
that I began thinking about Jesus as a real living being
who actually walked this planet
without a pillow or possessions
trusting God.
Until that night,
I guess I had been thinking of him
like the most-excellent fairy tale
dressed in pure white
floating through life
exuding sweetness and light
all "bless you my child"
and never breaking a sweat.
A supreme fable with the greatest moral
But "Jesus Christ Superstar" changed that for me.
I saw him differently after that.
I felt realism,
even though it consisted of dancing and rock music
I think the seed that was planted that night
is what grew into my decision to become a christian
twenty years later.
I want other people to have that experience.
I'm so happy that the play has come to our town,
because maybe someone will see him in a different way
and crack the door a little
out of curiosity.
-=-=-=-
Jesus, you promised
that if anyone opened the door
you would come in and abide with him.
I'm asking you to honor that promise
in our little town of Princeton, Illinois
for the next few weeks
I have personally experienced
the power of the story
I've seen you work in my life
I know the change that can happen.
-=-=-=-
Ironically,
I also know of at least one christian
who has worked with the theater festival for many years
who is refusing to participate this year,
because a play is about Jesus.
Jesus Christ Superstar.
Doesn't that seem sadly ironic?
A christian withdrawing
at a time when there's a good chance
that the topic of conversation might be christianity?
At a time when we should be united
to embrace anyone having a personal experience?
At a time when we should be present and available
to new seekers asking questions?
We pick NOW to fade away in discord?
come on...
That makes me sad.
so I want to pray for her, too.
-=-=-=-
I want to pray for everyone who has set you in a box
I want to pray for those who see only a single path to you
I want to pray for those who are fearful
of the wonderous variety of ways you touch people
I want to pray for those who make to difficult
to be one body
with one head.
and of course I want to pray for myself
for the times I've made it difficult
to be one body with one head
I'm a "fringe christian"
and I'll be the first to confess
that my lukewarm life
doesn't shine as a lantern on a hill
I'm weak.
Joh 18:27
Peter again denied it,
and immediately a rooster crowed.
but I can still pray
that you do some miracles this month
in my little town.
amen.
.
called "Jesus Christ Superstar".
The story is mostly about the relationship between Judas and Jesus
so I feel its a fortunate coincidence (?) this week
that John 18 talks about this,
so I can write about it here.
"Superstar" has really been on my mind lately.
Joh 18:3
So Judas took a detachment of soldiers
and some officers from the high priests and the Pharisees
and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.
I saw Jesus Christ Superstar when I was a teenager,
shown as an evening activity in a drug abuse center.
Although I was raised in the Cathollic church
and attended services regularly until the age of about 16,
it wasn't until this performance
that I began thinking about Jesus as a real living being
who actually walked this planet
without a pillow or possessions
trusting God.
Until that night,
I guess I had been thinking of him
like the most-excellent fairy tale
dressed in pure white
floating through life
exuding sweetness and light
all "bless you my child"
and never breaking a sweat.
A supreme fable with the greatest moral
But "Jesus Christ Superstar" changed that for me.
I saw him differently after that.
I felt realism,
even though it consisted of dancing and rock music
I think the seed that was planted that night
is what grew into my decision to become a christian
twenty years later.
I want other people to have that experience.
I'm so happy that the play has come to our town,
because maybe someone will see him in a different way
and crack the door a little
out of curiosity.
-=-=-=-
Jesus, you promised
that if anyone opened the door
you would come in and abide with him.
I'm asking you to honor that promise
in our little town of Princeton, Illinois
for the next few weeks
I have personally experienced
the power of the story
I've seen you work in my life
I know the change that can happen.
-=-=-=-
Ironically,
I also know of at least one christian
who has worked with the theater festival for many years
who is refusing to participate this year,
because a play is about Jesus.
Jesus Christ Superstar.
Doesn't that seem sadly ironic?
A christian withdrawing
at a time when there's a good chance
that the topic of conversation might be christianity?
At a time when we should be united
to embrace anyone having a personal experience?
At a time when we should be present and available
to new seekers asking questions?
We pick NOW to fade away in discord?
come on...
That makes me sad.
so I want to pray for her, too.
-=-=-=-
I want to pray for everyone who has set you in a box
I want to pray for those who see only a single path to you
I want to pray for those who are fearful
of the wonderous variety of ways you touch people
I want to pray for those who make to difficult
to be one body
with one head.
and of course I want to pray for myself
for the times I've made it difficult
to be one body with one head
I'm a "fringe christian"
and I'll be the first to confess
that my lukewarm life
doesn't shine as a lantern on a hill
I'm weak.
Joh 18:27
Peter again denied it,
and immediately a rooster crowed.
but I can still pray
that you do some miracles this month
in my little town.
amen.
.