Traveling in Place

Already but Not Yet

If spring is the time when Mother Nature wakes up from winter, she’s hit the snooze button several times this year. Actually, she got a bit restless back in February and acted like she was getting up early, then went back to sleep.

The Vernal Equinox represented the official arrival of spring back in March. But we’ve been waiting ever since to see the evidence – sometimes while we are driving through white-outs from sudden snow showers. I wonder if we are feeling at all how the disciples of Jesus felt in those days between Jesus’ departure into heaven and the Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon them. Just before his ascension, the disciples asked Jesus, “Is thisthe time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” They had been waiting since Jesus’ resurrection for some sign of the consummation of the kingdom, but as yet, nothing had changed. Jesus, in fact, had said that the kingdom was already among them. But clearly, it was not yet fulfilled.

Then, the Holy Spirit came upon those waiting disciples and lots of things started happening. The disciples were channeling the very power of the risen Christ with their preaching, teaching, and healing. Thousands were responding to their message of God’s forgiveness, and the church was born.

But even all the heady excitement of those early years of the church movement did not bring about the fulfillment of God’s reign. In fact, we are still waiting.

Rethinking "Jesus Christ Superstar"

After a full morning of celebrative worship on Easter Sunday, I was glad to rest for the remainder of the day. In the evening, I watched NBC’s live production of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” featuring John Legend in the role of Jesus, Sarah Bareilles as Mary Magdalene, Brandon Victor Dixon as Judas, and Alice Cooper as Herod Antipas.

My recording of the original “Superstar” soundtrack was pretty well worn out before I graduated from college. I knew every word of every song in this captivating rock opera that retold the story of Jesus’ passion through the lens of the cultural upheaval of the 1960s and early 70s. (Here is an analysis I wrote six years ago of how “Superstar” reflected the culture of the time it was written.) It’s amazing how well the music and lyrics still hold up. They don’t seem at all dated. And the live audience gathered for this performance was made up of young people who cheered with all the fervor they would have given their favorite contemporary artists.

It was fun to watch it, sing along with it, and see how a new cast would interpret it. But it’s been a while since I listened to “Superstar.” And although the Broadway hit is both celebrated and reviled as a non-traditional portrayal of the days leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion, I was struck this time by how much Tim Rice’s lyrics are based on tradition and legend rather than the gospel narratives themselves. In some ways, this is just imaginative storytelling. In other ways, however, “Superstar” perpetuates unhelpful myths that need to be deconstructed.