Jesus in Jeans, Singing in Streets of New Orleans: Why This Isn't as Radical as You Think
On Sunday night, a lot of people turned on their televisions to tune into FOX's The Passion, a live musical retelling of Christ's final days on earth, His trial and His journey to the cross. For some viewers, this might have been their first exposure to a story that many believe changed the course of human history. Some likely celebrated the fact that this production brought the story into their living rooms. Others probably saw this as a curiosity. But another small group was likely offended by the retelling of Christ's passion through modern rock songs by denim-clad actors, substituting the streets of New Orleans for the sacred Via Dolorosa.
But to those who would decry it as sacrilegious, let me try to make the case for why it is not.
Throughout history, the Bible has been the source for inspiration for artists in a variety of disciplines. From Da Vinci's depiction of "The Last Supper" to Rembrandt's "The Blinding of Samson," Scripture has always inspired art. One of history's most celebrated artists, Michelangelo, drew inspiration from the Bible for many of his greatest creations — from the stirring sculpture of a crucified Christ in Mary's arms ("The Pietà") to the powerful depiction of a young King David ("The David"), from his marble sculpture of Moses ("Moses") to the stunning "The Creation of Adam," which adorns the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
History is replete with examples of composers creating music to honor God and share the Gospel story. Bach, Handel, Rachmaninoff were all inspired to compose songs honoring the God of the Bible. Hymn writers used music to teach the Bible to a largely illiterate population. Enslaved Africans sang songs as they labored in fields to share the stories of the Scriptures. And today, Christian artists share their Bible-themed songs via radio and Internet channels. The tempo of the music may vary, but the message remains the same.
So it should come as no surprise when, in our day, a group of actors, writers, musicians and other artists come together to create a new way of sharing the story of Jesus' final days on earth. While FOX's The Passion may not present this story in a way that is familiar or comfortable to some, maybe that is a good thing.
In 1966, American Bible Society published The New Testament in Today's English. The organization took a lot of flack from those who believed the sacred Scriptures only belonged in the elevated language of the King James translation. But, over time, most people came to recognize that by making the Bible available in more accessible language, a larger audience could now engage with it.
As American Bible Society celebrates its 200th anniversary this year, we have been looking back over our two centuries of Bible ministry. I'm proud to say that it is a history of innovation. In addition to creating a translation of the Bible in modern English, the ministry also created the first version of the Scripture for the Blind, released the first audio-presentation of the Bible and pioneered new avenues for distributing this life-changing message.
The truth is that sometimes you need to hear a message in a different way or see something from a different angle to gain a more complete understanding or a greater appreciation of it.
And that's why I was so excited about The Passion. By retelling the story of Jesus' final days and minutes on earth in a modern setting, a 21st century audience is given a fresh — or even first-time — perspective on the events of that time.
Whether viewers see too much or too little of the Bible in the production, I hope they can relate to the search for truth. So while Jesus didn't actually wear denim, that depiction of Him may allow us to see a deeper truth: Jesus was seen as a regular guy. And while he didn't walk the streets of New Orleans singing, it is true that He went into cities and drew large crowds by speaking the language of His day. Art has always had the strange power to convey deeper truth precisely by helping people see that truth in creative and beautiful ways.
Most of us don't think of ourselves as jaded, but it is difficult to live in this age without building up a bit of world-weariness. As a result, we have to make an effort to rediscover a sense of awe and wonder. For those of us wanting a deeper understanding of the events of Good Friday and Easter, we can and should revisit the actual stories of the passion and the resurrection found in the Bible. But it is also valuable to allow Bible-inspired art — whether a renaissance sculpture, a Baroque concerto or a modern musical — to spark a new appreciation for the ancient story.
