Senior citizens like me would remember the 1970’s musical by Andrew Webber, “Jesus Christ Super Star”. It was an artist’s creative attempt to recast the Lord Jesus in a modern idiom. But nobody will associate Jesus with the Rolling Stones begun by Mick Jagger in 1962. That’s because Jesus’ association with rolling stones has nothing whatsoever to do with that jazz band. As we approach Easter, the holiest day in the Christian calendar, I am sharing this reflection on two Rolling Stones.
The first is what had been placed at the tomb (not grave) of Lazarus of Bethany with whom Jesus shared a warm personal friendship. Lazarus had already been dead four days when Jesus reached his tomb. He ordered the bystanders to roll the stone away from the tomb and then called Lazarus to rise and come out, which he did.
A spiritual commentator raised a pertinent question, “If Jesus had the power to raise a man from the dead, then surely he had the power to roll the stone away. But Jesus had a hidden message in this – you do what you can do, and I will do what I have to do! Regardless of what religion we profess or by what name we address the almighty, we dumb humans have a tendency to expect God to do everything, moreso in times of adversity. So the first Rolling Stone tells us to do our bit to the best of our ability. As the adage goes, “God helps those who help themselves”.
The second Rolling Stone is at the tomb of Jesus himself. On the third day of his crucifixion on Good Friday (it should rightly be called Holy or Blessed Friday) Jesus rose from the dead. Though he had earlier told his disciples about it they had not understood. Hence they were wondering who would roll the stone away so that they could anoint the body with aromatic spices as per their Jewish custom.
In this instance God takes the initiative, sending angels to do the needful. So we see that God responds differently depending on the circumstances. There is no “one size fits all”.
What of the reactions of the disciples? They were out of their depth; awestruck and afraid. The angel then gives them two important messages. “Why are you looking for the living among the dead”, and again, “He is not here, he has gone ahead of you into Galilee”. When he later appeared to one of them who tried to cling to him he admonished such behaviour.
So what is the message from the second Rolling Stone? Firstly, that we should be more concerned about the needs of the living, instead of an obsession with old traditions and rituals. Secondly, by “going ahead” he is leading from the front, asking his disciples to follow in his footsteps by adhering to his teachings. Thirdly we are expected to abjure all forms of cultic devotions. He doesn’t want to be adulated, but emulated.
Here again I believe that this messaging is universal, not necessarily limited to the Christian community. So I hope and pray that this Easter we will draw spiritual inspiration from the two Rolling Stones in the life of Jesus Christ, Super Star.
APRIL 2023
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