Superstar

As I continue to read scripture and write my Lenten devotional blog The 40 Day Adventure in preparation for Easter, I am continually amazed at how quickly the people turned on Jesus during the final week of his earthly life.  It was such a short ride from the glory of the triumphal entry to the hatred of  "give us Barabbas!"  There were lots of reasons for this (not least of all God's plan), but the one that keeps coming back to me is "expectations."  The Jewish people in Jerusalem, the ones who had begun to follow Jesus and hope that he could possibly be the promised Messiah, were ready for the Nazarene to have his Braveheart moment.  They were ready to hear him shout "FREEDOM!"  I believe they really thought he was finally coming to town to kick butt and takes names.   And when they saw that he not there to lead the kind of revolution they were expecting, they quit on him and sold him out.

And they were not alone.  The Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical Jesus Christ, Superstar captures this feeling well.  Judas was expecting a revolution.  The Pharisees wanted Jesus to prove he was God.  Even the local leaders like Herod were just asking for some kind of sign so they could believe.  The following words are from the song Herod, a truly pivotal moment in the musical:

Jesus, I am overjoyed to meet you face to face
You've been getting quite a name all around the place
Healing cripples, raising from the dead
Now I understand you're God- at least that's what you've said


So you are the Christ
You're the great Jesus Christ
Prove to me that you're divine
Change my water into wine
That's all you need do
Then I'll know it's all true
C'mon King of the Jews


Jesus you just won't believe the hit you've made around here
You are all we talk about, You're the wonder of the year
Oh what a pity if it's all a lie
Still I'm sure you can rock the cynics if you try


So if you are the Christ
Yes the great Jesus Christ
Prove to me that you're no fool
Walk across my swimming pool
If you do that for me
Then I'll let you go free
C'mon King of the Jews


I only ask what I'd ask any superstar, What is it that you have got
That puts you where you are? Oh, ho ho
I am waiting, Yes I'm a captive fan
I'm dying to be shown that you are not just any man


So if you are the Christ
Yes the great Jesus Christ
Feed my household with this bread
You can do it on your head
Or has something gone wrong?
Jesus, why do you take so long?
Aw, c'mon King of the Jews

And then Herod sends him back to Pilate to be judged.  There would be no signs and wonders that would lead to a political revolution.  The Jesus Revolution would be something completely different- a revolution of the heart. 

Sometimes I think we haven't learned much in 2000+ years.  We are still waiting for Jesus to prove to us that he is the Son of God.  Far too many Christians are still waiting on a political revolution, one where the laws of the land will force people to believe Jesus is LORD.  Far too many of us approach "religion" with a "seeing is believing" kind of attitude, when in fact scripture is clear that "believing is seeing."  Far too many of us still go to Jesus in prayer with Herod's words: "If you are the Christ..."  We so often pray for healing, financial help, relationships and everything else not with power and conviction, but with a test phrase- "If you are the Christ..."  We have religion but no faith.  If there is to be a true Jesus Revolution in our day, then it will happen because we have not the faith of the religious leaders of Jesus' day, but the faith of the Roman Centurion.  Our prayers will begin with, "Because You are God, I know all things are possible!"  The revolution must take place in our hearts.  And we need to get on with it.  I don't claim to understand much about the second coming of Christ, but I do get this part- next time He will be kicking butt and taking names, and we will know without doubt that he is indeed a Superstar.  I am not waiting until I see him.  I am going to believe right now.  Are you ready to chose Jesus? 

Because of Jesus,