I wish they knew that Jesus rose from the dead! “They” being Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
I remember listening to my sister’s Jesus Christ Superstar album over and over when I was young. We had every song memorized and took turns singing the parts of the various characters. I never got to see it on Broadway, but I loved the music.
After all these years I got to see it “Live” . . . on NBC a few months ago. As I watched, every song came back to me – each one so familiar. The choreography and set contributed to the power of the presentation. The performers were outstanding. It was powerful. I was moved. Right up until the end. I knew it would end at the Cross, but I was still disappointed.
If a spoiler is telling someone the ending before they have a chance to see it, what do you call it when you know the ending, but they don’t show it?! I wanted to hear someone say, “See the dramatic conclusion after our next commercial break!” Except I knew they wouldn’t. They had performed the show as written – as intended.
But what if Rice & Webber had learned the truth? What if there was one more scene . . . . Can you imagine how powerful the resurrection scene would have been depicted in the show?
But what if Rice & Webber had learned the truth? What if there was one more scene . . . . Can you imagine how powerful the resurrection scene would have been depicted in the show? Well, not as powerful as it was in real life!
Imagine if they had written one more song . . .
Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ
Now I know why You have sacrificed
Or would it be the rock opera version of Up From the Grave He Arose?
If only they knew how it really ended. Not just the writer and composer, but the cast and crew, the studio audience, everyone watching from home, the whole world. . .
Maybe that’s why His last words were: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every nation.”
Nobody likes a spoiler, but this is one ending everyone needs to know.
written by Lt. Col. Pat LaBossiere, Secretary for Spiritual Life Development, USA East
