Superstar?

The Bible presents to us the true picture of who Jesus is.  And, we are to avoid distortions and seek to worship Him in spirit and truth, according to John 4. 1st John 5 states:
20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Jesus is so much more than just a good teacher, a good moral example, or even, as the Broadway musical suggests - a "superstar."  He did not seek to be the best man He could be; as the Son of God, He sought to live His life in a pleasing manner to the Father, so that He could become the perfect sacrifice for our sins.  Through His death and resurrection, He has made a way for human beings to have a relationship with our heavenly Father; in submitting to death, He defeated death so that we, by submitting to Him, can experience eternal and abundant life.

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I think that the Easter season gives people an opportunity to consider and experience the real Jesus, not one who is stylized or redefined, but who is portrayed for us in the Scriptures.  In Matthew 16, we can read:
13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"
14 So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

This is one of those times of the year in which I believe that people's sensitivity is enhanced - it is indeed a special season, a season of great significance to Christians as (hopefully) we pause and reflect on our Savior's death and resurrection.

The entertainment industry weighs in during this time of year, and this year especially, with a powerful triumvirate of faith-related films poised to make an impact.  I Can Only Imagine, after rising to 2nd in the box office sweepstakes on Wednesday, adds hundreds more theaters.  Paul, Apostle of Christ opens today, featuring James Faulkner in the title role and Jim Caviezel, who was a guest on The Meeting House yesterday, playing the role of Luke.  Next weekend, the third film in the God's Not Dead series goes into theaters - stay tuned, David A.R. White, a filmmaker himself, who has played a pastor in the previous two movies and reprises that role in this one, will be on the radio program.

Television will get in the act, as well.  ABC will have its traditional broadcast of The Ten Commandments on Saturday night.  I saw UP TV's lineup for the season, and it includes the cable television premieres of two films that I am quite fond of: Risen, looking at post-resurrection events through the eyes of a Roman centurion, on Palm Sunday at 6pm, and on Easter night, the Erwin Brothers' second film, Moms' Night Out, also at 6.  Other season offerings include: The Passion of the Christ, Heaven is for Real, Son of God, the original God's Not Dead, two Sherwood films, and a movie called, Judas; IMDB gives some plot insight:

A cynical city boy, Judas makes fun of the country bumpkin disciples who follow Jesus but eventually decides to join the band, as well. He and Jesus become good friends, even though they often see things very differently. Ultimately, Judas is convinced that Jesus needs to use his popularity and wonder-working powers to free the Jews from the Romans, and Jesus sees a larger, spritual [sic] perspective.

By the way, next week, you'll hear from Chicago-area pastor Colin Smith, who has written a book about Judas, exploring themes of betrayal, as well as repentance and forgiveness...Smith draws the distinction between regret, which led Judas to take his life, and repentance, which he failed to experience.

One of the more unusual Easter offerings comes from noted Broadway producers and writers Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice - a live presentation of Jesus Christ Superstar, Easter night on NBC.  It actually adds the words, "Live in Concert," implying that dramatic elements may be kept to a minimum.

Now, Fox tried a live Easter presentation with Tyler Perry's The Passion a few years back, which turned out to be a mishmash of the Bible narrative, the integration of pop songs, and a public walk through the city of New Orleans centered around a lighted cross.  Relevant magazine wrote this about the latest offering:

The original 1970 musical—which is based on a very loose interpretation of the Gospel story and the crucifixion of Christ—was extremely controversial, and was even banned in South Africa after its release. The story is told from the perspective of Judas. As with many entertainment industry takes on Bible stories, it was criticized by some for being blasphemous.

John Legend plays Jesus, Sara Bareilles plays Mary Magadalene, and in the role of King Herod: rock superstar Alice Cooper.  Before you sigh here, this superstar has met Jesus Christ - the Savior, not the superstar.  That's right; according to the God Reports website:

Dark-themed rocker Alice Cooper — whose onstage theatrics included handling boa constrictors and staging mock suicides with guillotines — has returned to the God of his childhood after dumping alcoholism and feeling dissatisfied with riches.

“When you get out there and realize you’ve had every car, every house, and all that, you realize that that’s not the answer,” Cooper told CNSnews. “There’s a big nothing out there at the end of that. So, materialism doesn’t mean anything. A lot of people say that there’s a big God-sized hole in your heart. And when that’s filled, you’re really satisfied, and that’s where I am right now.”

Cooper had done missionary work with Native Americans with his dad; his grandfather was a pastor - the story says that Cooper, born Vincent Damien Furnier, "stretched the outer limits of what it means to be a prodigal." He states:

“God has a plan for everybody. I look at my life and I think, ‘How is it possible that I didn’t die?’” he said. “God’s chipping away at your life all the time to try to make you more like Him. That’s what a Christian is, a person that’s being molded and shaped all their life. I think the Lord expects you to do your best in His name. I had to struggle a long time about rock and roll. I realized it’s not really the music. It’s what’s being said with the music. So I think you have to be careful of what you’re writing, what you’re representing.”

He also is quoted is saying, "I think my job is to warn against Satan."

Say what you will, but this is someone who has professed Christ and is apparently seeking to live for Him.  It will be interesting to see how he performs on Easter night in that live presentation.

But, keep in mind, while the real Jesus has invaded Alice Cooper's life, the Andrew Lloyd Webber version seems to certainly be more of a fantasy.  It's a strange juxtaposition, indeed - so while many may be fixated on the Broadway rendering of Jesus and the theological trappings, we have another opportunity to present the truth about Jesus, someone whom at least one of the singers has experienced.

It is interesting, though, to consider that, as we celebrate Palm Sunday this weekend, there were those in Jerusalem who did regard Jesus as a "superstar:" He would be the one to come and free the Jews from the evil Roman oppression.  But, we know the truth that He would free people from their sin. He would teach about, minister, and bring about true freedom through a knowledge of Him.

He is certainly not a "superstar," but a Savior.  He came not to call attention to Himself, but to be a servant; ultimately a servant to death on the cross.

But, in rising from the dead, Jesus has transcended the life of a human - He lived a perfect life in human flesh, but death could not hold Him because He could not be held by it; He was a perfect substitute for us, who could not save ourselves.  He is the greatest human who ever lived, but...He did not seek to become famous, but He wanted to be faithful to His Father.  He is known today because some say He was a great teacher, but we have to acknowledge that He is more than that - He is God, who came in the flesh, so that we might come to know Him.  During this season, it would be my hope that people would discover the real Jesus, not the Hollywood, Broadway, or Washington version of Him.