What story do you know well? So well that you could tell it in your sleep? Or what thing can you do that you no longer need to practice? You know, the one that just comes so easy it is like breathing? Do you know all there is to know about it? You might say yes, but we both know the answer is no.
I took my family to see a musical today called “His Story” (you can check it out here: https://hisstorythemusical.com/). It is a pop musical based on the life of Jesus. Some historical liberties were taken with a few of the characters, but the heart and soul of the story of Jesus and His love were there. I didn’t know what to expect when I went in, but a few songs in, I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I know the story of Jesus well. I grew up in the church and have considered myself a believer for over 40 years (I made a confession of faith at a very young age and have never doubted it). When I encounter old stories and gain new insights, I get very excited. I love discovering that there is more depth, more to know, and more to believe.
This happened in two ways during the musical.
Mary Magdalene: I am not sure if the portrayal was historically accurate. However, it was a stirring portrayal of a woman who was far away from God and then encountered the love of Jesus. The Book of Luke tells us that Mary had been freed from seven demons. In the musical, she said that she was too broken to be loved. In the Bible and in the musical, Jesus loved her anyway. He cut through all the brokenness and mess and restored her. He loved her with a God-sized love.
There was a line in the song between Mary Magdalene and Jesus that struck me. Jesus looked into her eyes and told her, “Your darkness doesn’t scare me.” How many times have I felt that I have done things that are too much for God’s love? Have you ever felt that way? And then He looks at us and reminds us that He is the light that drives out the darkness. It doesn’t scare Him. This scene moved me today.
Judas: The musical portrayed him as the tragic character he was. But in the show, he knew he was tragic. He believed he was unredeemable and broken, just like Mary Magdalene did. He was portrayed with that self-awareness before his encounter with Jesus and then appeared to almost believe. Just when he was almost there, the enemy came in and reminded him of who he thought he was, and Judas believed it.
Please note, I said who Judas thought he was. He never fully grasped the picture of who he could be if he had fully surrendered to Jesus. The Bible tells us he was crooked. He was the treasurer of the group and loved to line his own pockets. I am reminded of the scene from “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” where Friar Tuck asks the Bishop if he is a man of God or a man of Gold. Judas most certainly was a man of gold. Well, silver anyway.
In today’s presentation, he was more human than I have ever seen him. I have tried before to see through his eyes, to understand what the betrayal at the end must have felt like. The actor helped bring that out in a new and fresh way. “Tragic” only begins to tell the story.
All in all, I was blown away by what I saw and heard. If you are in the market for a new show to see, check out the link above and give it a watch. You won’t be disappointed.
David Willis 