Davison's Doodle

Holy Week?

This year my companion and I are home during Holy week so that means we will break out or favorite Jesus movies on Friday and spend a day watching them.  The films we watch on Good Friday are: Jesus Christ Superstar, The Last Temptation of Christ, Jesus of Montreal, and The LIfe of Brian.  Sometimes we throw in Godspell too.  Tomorrow, a day Christians call Maundy Thursday, I’ll probably watch Oh God as it is the most edgy theological film I know that is not trying to depict the biblical story.  Sure, the deity is depicted as an old guy, George Burns, but the theological banter between God and John Denver’s character was fascinating and “liberal” then and is more so here in the 21st century.  Some may wonder why I dont’ watch The Passion of the Christ or The Greatest Story Ever Told?  Some have asked if I’m watching The Bible series on the History Channel.  No, I’m not watching any of that.  Why?  Because the last three mentioned are overtly trying to be history or represent history and that is not what the biblical story is about or trying to be.  These three represent an orthodoxy that cannot be questioned.  In the case of Gibson’s film it is made from a perspective that represents a medieval theological orthodoxy that fuels antisemitism and presumes Christianity to be the only path to the divine, period.  Sacrificial atonement is alive in the 21st century, but it is not what informs my practice of Christianity nor my belief in God.

The films I watch also have a third century CE theology that is mainline Christian orthodoxy, but they also offer places to explore the characters that participate in the story of Jesus including the character of God.  Judas is not always a bad guy, particularly in the Last Temptation of Christ.  Judas, as portrayed in this film, is Jesus’ confidant who is given the task of betraying Jesus at Jesus’ request.  Judas ask, “If you were me could you betray your master?”  Jesus responds, “No, that is why God gave me the easier task.”  And the lyrics from “Superstar”, Jesus Christ Superstar, are words I ponder and questions I would ask.

Enter Diana Butler Bass.  Here are a few of her thoughts on Holy week and a good parsing of “for” and “with” that informs my practice of Christianity.  Her words might help you as you meet Jesus of Nazareth and those that profess to be believers and or followers of Jesus.  Click the title, “Being With God, A Different Holy Week,” to read all of her words.

Being With God, A Different Holy Week
Diana Butler Bass | Huffington Post Religion Blog | 3/27/13

On many a Good Friday, I have sat in a darkened church, listening to readings and music, all focused on the first preposition of the Passion’s equation: Jesus suffered for us, for sinners, for the world, for me. But only rarely have I heard spiritual reflection on the second preposition: Jesus suffered with us, with sinners, with the world, with me.

When we come to the Cross on Good Friday, we probably have some sense of what the Passion was for. Many believe that Jesus exchanged himself for our sins, he is the God who died for me. So I offer myself back — I might get saved or baptized or confirmed or serve the church. As part of the contract, the legal bargain, I escape Hell and go to Heaven. In a way, this understanding of the Cross is not terribly remarkable. People sacrifice and die for something or someone nearly every day. Of course, it is particularly sobering-as in the case of soldiers–when someone sacrifices or dies for my freedom or safety. Indeed, thinking that Jesus died for salvation may give pause, cause us to raise a prayer of thanks, feel sadness or relief; but ultimately, the idea that someone dies for something is theologically and spiritually uncomplicated.