The musical phenomenon Jesus Christ Superstar hit the stage with much fanfare in 1973. Not only was it a hit in America but in other parts of the globe as well. Why? Because there seems to be a constant fascination with the person of Jesus Christ. I was a freshman in Seminary college at the time and was intrigued along with other seminarians.
The musical is loosely based on the last week in Jesus’ life according to the Gospel of St. John. It isn’t meant to be a theological tretise on the person of Christ, and should never be viewed in that way, but a kind of free interpretation of the various characters we are so familiar with in the life of Jesus: Mary Magdalene, Pontius Pilate, King Herod, the Apostles, and the crowds.
The music is emotive. Mary Magdalene’s struggle to understand this “man” Jesus in her solo, I don’t know how to love him, may be an indication of how we feel at times. Jesus is mysterious, that is a given, yet at the same time deeply attractive to us. While the Magdalene’s song can be interpreted either way, I suppose, I think we can see the words in a more personal sense as a crisis of faith – I want to know him, to love him, but I don’t understand him.
As is not uncommon with artists Andrew Loyd Weber takes a bit of artistic license and adds a scene from the Gospel of Luke, where Jesus is sent to King Herod by Pontius Pilate from (Lk 23: 8-12). Luke tells us, “Herod, together with his guards, treated him (Jesus) with contempt and made fun of him. . .” In the musical, Herod mocks Jesus and this scene from the Gospel is well portrayed:
“Jesus I am overjoyed to meet you face to face
You’ve been getting quite a name all around the place . . .
Prove to me that you’re divine – change my water into wine . . .
Oh what a pity if it’s all a lie . . .
Prove to me that you’re no fool walk across
my swimming pool . . .
I’m dying to be shown that you are not just any man . . .
Feed my household with this bread – you can do it on your head . . .”
The words may disturb us but they capture the tone of Herod’s disdain, in a contemporary style, to make fun of Jesus as the Gospel tells us he did. But also to understand who is this Jesus of Nazareth who stands silently before him? Is he divine? Is he human? Does he really claim to be a King? If so, what kind of King and is he guilty of treason? Do he and his followers plot to overtake Herod?
The question of Jesus’ true identity is posed to us this weekend in our scriptures. The Apostles themselves, pre-resurrection, likewise had various opinions about Jesus’ purpose, the right use of his divine power, and just exactly where they fit in to his “plan.”
The first reading from the prophet Zechariah 12: 10-11; 13:1, presents the scene of a suffering servant: “. . . and they shall look on him whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for an only son . . .”
Although we should be careful not to presume this prophet specifically referred to Jesus, since the community has “pierced God” by their unfaithfulness, sin brings its own sadness when confronted with the truth. Yet, we Christians cannot help but see the vision of Christ’s death on the cross. Jesus’ life climaxed its meaning and purpose on that cross, which leads us to the Gospel.
The Gospel is a familiar one but we may be more acquainted with Matthew’s version in Mt 16: 13-20. This Sunday, however, we hear from Luke 9: 18-24. Jesus, after a time in deep prayer to his Father, asks his Apostles, as we hear in JC Superstar, “What’s the buzz you hear?” – “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
The Apostles reflect the word on the street: “They said in reply, ‘John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen . . .’” There’s a lot of talk about this Jesus but no universal consensus about him. Reflective of the Apostles themselves? Perhaps and certainly reflective of the tension in the early Church about the nature of this Jesus of Nazareth. Heresies abounded in the first few centuries once the first witnesses of the resurrection (Apostles) had gone from the scene and a new generation of leaders, who had never known Jesus in the flesh, took the reigns of the Church. The next question Jesus’ poses, however, is most reflective of those early times and of our present age.
Our Lord asks them: “Who do you say that I am?” As we hear in Matthew, Peter states, “The Christ of God.” The “Christus” – the anointed one – the Messiah we have awaited. Good for Peter – he may at times have stumbled and had to “eat crow”on occasion but in this case, he got it right. As Matthew relates, Jesus said to Peter: “No mere man has revealed this to you – but my heavenly Father. . .” (Mt. 16: 13 ff).
Jesus goes on to prophesy that he will suffer and die at the hands of religious and secular authorities in Jerusalem, “ . . . be killed and on the third day be raised.” Then, he connects discipleship to that foreboading event: “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily . . .”
Such words must have cut to the heart of the Apostles. Or, at best just added to confusion and fear all the more because the cross was a shameful event. So, the followers of Jesus should prepare to be shamed as his disciples? Still, Jesus closes on a positive note: “. . . whoever looses his life for my sake will save it.”
If Jesus were trying to market this message in light of today’s emphasis on youth, beauty, and a culture that promotes pleasure and convienence, how effective would he be? I think most analysts would tell him to “lighten up” a lot if he hopes to sell his product. Yet, the Gospel hasn't changed. But, is minimizing the call of discipleship the answer? Isn’t there still something attractive about doing something because it is hard? The statistics on marriage are appalling – 50% failure but people still get married. Vocations to the priesthood and religious life are counter-cultural but men and women still answer the call – although in lesser numbers.
Recall the words of President John Kennedy who on September 12, 1962 challenged this country to embrace an almost unimagineable goal – to put a man on the moon within ten years time. Kennedy said:
“We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade, and do other things not because they are easy, but because they are hard . . . because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others too.”
Those words mobilized a nation around that common goal – which was achieved despite herculean odds. While I am not comparing Kennedy to Jesus, I think the tone of challenge is the same; even more in the case of “the Christ of God” as Peter states in the Gospel because it involves not just something of this world but the achievement of the next.
Jesus marketed the hard choice, the narrow way, the high road, the one less traveled. While every day we fight against our desire to be popular, to be loved, to be affirmed, and to be honored in some way, we should understand that as wonderful as life can be at times, we must still embrace the cross in whatever form it comes to us and therein lies the path to holiness. And to be holy is to transform the world around us after the example of Jesus, the "Christ of God." It's a tall order!
So, “Who is Jesus for you today, at this time in your life?” is a question for us all. As priest and pastor, I hear all sorts of opinions on what the Church should do and what direction we should go. “You are the Christ of God,” is the beginning point for us all.
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