Unholy Sh+t: the people were ready for Jesus to choose violence... many people still wish he would

Here is the story about the time I met Jesus.

I've struggled a great deal over the years with my understanding of who Jesus was and is. During Holy Week, I always think about my life as a priest and reflect on how my life has changed since. One of the things that changed my whole understanding of Him was watching Ted Neeley's performance as Jesus. I grew up watching Jesus Christ Superstar with my mom as a kid. So, when I heard that Ted Neeley was reprising his role for a touring show, there was no question that I would be going! The entire family went. After the show, we waited around for a while to see if we could meet Ted. Right after my mother left, someone approached us and said, "Mr. Neeley had not prepared to meet guests this evening, but he heard a priest was here. He would like to meet you and your friends.”

I immediately called my mother, and she rushed back. My family was taken into the theatre to wait. When he came out to greet us, he immediately gave us all a big hug. We talked for a long time. He shared a story with me about the bible thumpers who used to protest the show back in the '70s and how he would reserve seats for them and invite them in. He said none of them ever took him up on the offer.

The most humbling part was when he asked me, "I've been doing this show for decades. It's offended a lot of people, it's meant something special to many more. In your theological opinion, what is offensive? Is there anything I could do differently in how I portray Christ?" I told him, "Change nothing. For many, it's the first time they saw Jesus in a way that felt human." I know it was for me. Coming to terms with the humanity of Jesus was one of the most profound experiences of my life.

It’s Palm Sunday, and my question on this day is, do you hear, “Hosanna, hey sanna, sanna sanna ho. Sanna hey, sanna hosanna. Hey JC, JC, won't you smile at me?. Sanna ho, sanna hey, Superstar” in your head or was your family normal?

Unholy Sh+t: An Irreverent Bible Study

Passion Week - Palm Sunday

Today’s reading: Matthew 21:1-11

Today is the beginning of the holiest week on the church calendar, aptly known as Holy Week, which begins with what I like to affectionately call the International Day of Riding A$$.

How is it possible that I could make such an awful joke on one of the holiest days of the year? How crass of me! Well, I learned it from the boss, the OG: JC himself. Today might be a day of extreme reverence (or of obligation if you’re Catholic), but in reality, it is one of the biggest pranks Jesus ever pulls. He is being profoundly snarky and irreverent, but some even view his act as sedition.

Let’s rewind a bit.

Jesus has been upping his rhetoric over the last little while. The people surrounding Jesus are starting to see him not just as a prophet or healer but also believe that he is the Son of God, even God himself. A radical fringe group known as the Zealots is beginning to think that the Messiah will come to overturn the Roman government by force. Some of the Zealots are starting to wonder if Jesus might be the man for the job.

All eyes are on Jesus to see what he will do: call for peace or insight a riot. Everything he does from this point on will be seen as a sign of his next move, and everyone is starting to take sides. This also means that Jesus is beginning to have dissent within his own ranks. Judas is becoming outspoken against some of Jesus’ actions (John 12:4-6), but Jesus also has a Zealot within his own disciples known as Simon (not Rocky.)

It is clear to everyone around Jesus that the mood is shifting and something will happen, but the question is, what?

The most prevalent opinion is that Jesus will charge the city, overthrow the Romans, and begin a regime known as the Kingdom of Heaven. Because nothing is new under the sun, some began to translate the prophets in such a way that they believed the Messiah would arrive by way of violence and riding on a victory horse to reclaim the land for the oppressed by cutting down the oppressors.

How Jesus chooses to arrive at the city gates will send a clear message about his intent. If he rides in on that horse, there are those who are ready for a fight. The disciples also wait to see how they will arrive in the city because they usually arrive together in one Accord.

Jesus calls some of his disciples to tell them, “Listen, go into the town, and you’ll find a baby donkey. I want you to steal it.”

The disciples ask, “Bro, what do we do if we get caught?”

And Jesus is like, “Just tell them I need it.”

Surprisingly, this plan works, and Jesus goes into the city. Everyone is losing it and waving palm branches. At the time, palm branches are seen as a sign of victory. Does this show the intent of the people who arrived to greet him? Some have speculated that they throw the palm branches down so that the donkey's feet would never touch the ground. But is it possible they threw down the branches because Jesus arrived on the donkey? Has he let them down? Have they realized he isn’t looking for the fight the people were hoping for?

Jesus's arrival on a donkey is not what many hope to see. The riding of a donkey is seen as a sign of peace, not aggression. This is the big joke; they are waiting for the arrival of the Warrior King, and Jesus is sauntering in the least aggressive mode possible. For the Zealots, this is considered a big blow, but for others, this is seen as a fulfillment of prophecy (Zechariah 9:9)

*Leans into the mic* That’s the joke.

Many folks are upset and saying, “This isn’t how it’s supposed to go!”

Through his actions, Jesus is saying: "Do not cite the Deep Magic to me, Witch. I was there when it was written.”

Jesus is setting the tone for the rest of the week that would follow. Whatever expectations you might have about what will happen next, you will be profoundly disappointed. Jesus is leading those who are watching on a journey with an unlikely destination. They were hopeful that this potential Messiah would bring the sword, that he would restore all things, but he wasn’t marching toward what they would see as a victory. He is marching to his death in what would be considered one the greatest and shortest defeat in military history.

Except the jokes on everyone: Jesus isn’t fighting an earthly battle or trying to overthrow the government. He’s fighting an old enemy, and to win that battle, he must leave this plane of existence to take his fight to this oldest foe: Death.

(To be continued…)