An Easter Story
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A Breaking Story in Jerusalem
Omaha World-Herald Editorial Page by Chip Maxwell
Holy Saturday, April 11, 1998
Imagine if a television crew had covered the crucifixion of Jesus:
Anchor: Can you confirm for us that Jesus, worker of miracles and self-proclaimed Son of God, is dead?
Reporter: Our crew was on the scene yesterday afternoon when a soldier thrust a spear into the side of Jesus. He may have been dead before the spear thrust; there was no doubt afterwards.
Anchor: Just days ago Jesus seemed to have hit a new high in popularity. A cheering multitude turned out to welcome him to Jerusalem.
Reporter: That's true, but some of Jesus' followers had begged him not to enter Jerusalem. The religious authorities had been angry at Jesus for some time because of his claim that he was the Messiah. Rumors of Jesus' impending arrest began circulating shortly after he arrived in Jerusalem.
Anchor: Jesus seems to have invited a final showdown.
Reporter: It seems he was aware that something big was imminent. Sources at a Passover meal he attended two nights ago told me Jesus made comments, startling and puzzling to them at the time, about his body being broken and his blood being spilled as part of his mission.
Anchor: Initially the civil governor seemed more annoyed than threatened by Jesus. Why did he order the execution?
Reporter: Some groups hostile to the occupying forces of Rome had been trying to turn the Jesus movement into a political independence movement, characterizing Jesus as a warrior king. Jesus' enemies convinced civil authorities that Jesus was a threat to state security.
Anchor: Was he?
Reporter: Several times over the years questioners tried to draw him into political debates, but Jesus preferred to provide general moral guidelines and leave to individuals the task of applying those guidelines to politics and other aspects of life. Of course, some would say his teachings implicitly challenged much about the established pattern of human institutions.
Anchor: What is the state of the Jesus movement?
Reporter: Disintegration of the core group appears to be total. Within hours of Jesus' arrest, Peter, the big fisherman thought to be Jesus' staunchest disciple, was on the three major networks vehemently disavowing any connection with Jesus. Apparently it's every man for himself.
Anchor: So, another weird fringe group flames out?
Reporter: Apparently so, though a surprising number of respected leaders embraced Jesus' teachings. One of them, Joseph of Arimathea, handled the burial. That's the tomb behind me, sealed by a giant boulder.
Anchor: Seems rather quiet there.
Reporter: Most of Jesus' followers are lying low, afraid for their lives after what happened to their leader. And remember that it is the Sabbath. Some of Jesus' followers are planning to visit the tomb tomorrow to conduct the burial rituals that had to be skipped last night in the haste to dispose of the body before sundown and the onset of the Sabbath.
Anchor: Jesus was unquestionably a charismatic figure, but even his most devoted followers would have to admit that he let things spin out of control.
Reporter: I suppose so. Having covered him, I must confess some personal sadness at seeing this man cut down in his prime. He might have been able to accomplish something concrete had he moderated his views and cultivated allies in high places. Whatever his administrative weaknesses, he offered a compelling vision of a universal human community with no gender, social, or political distinctions before a loving God.
Anchor: Nonetheless, he is dead and his movement has collapsed literally overnight. Thank you for that report. It appears we've heard the last of this Jesus character.
Omaha World-Herald Editorial Page by Chip Maxwell
Holy Saturday, April 11, 1998
Imagine if a television crew had covered the crucifixion of Jesus:
Anchor: Can you confirm for us that Jesus, worker of miracles and self-proclaimed Son of God, is dead?
Reporter: Our crew was on the scene yesterday afternoon when a soldier thrust a spear into the side of Jesus. He may have been dead before the spear thrust; there was no doubt afterwards.
Anchor: Just days ago Jesus seemed to have hit a new high in popularity. A cheering multitude turned out to welcome him to Jerusalem.
Reporter: That's true, but some of Jesus' followers had begged him not to enter Jerusalem. The religious authorities had been angry at Jesus for some time because of his claim that he was the Messiah. Rumors of Jesus' impending arrest began circulating shortly after he arrived in Jerusalem.
Anchor: Jesus seems to have invited a final showdown.
Reporter: It seems he was aware that something big was imminent. Sources at a Passover meal he attended two nights ago told me Jesus made comments, startling and puzzling to them at the time, about his body being broken and his blood being spilled as part of his mission.
Anchor: Initially the civil governor seemed more annoyed than threatened by Jesus. Why did he order the execution?
Reporter: Some groups hostile to the occupying forces of Rome had been trying to turn the Jesus movement into a political independence movement, characterizing Jesus as a warrior king. Jesus' enemies convinced civil authorities that Jesus was a threat to state security.
Anchor: Was he?
Reporter: Several times over the years questioners tried to draw him into political debates, but Jesus preferred to provide general moral guidelines and leave to individuals the task of applying those guidelines to politics and other aspects of life. Of course, some would say his teachings implicitly challenged much about the established pattern of human institutions.
Anchor: What is the state of the Jesus movement?
Reporter: Disintegration of the core group appears to be total. Within hours of Jesus' arrest, Peter, the big fisherman thought to be Jesus' staunchest disciple, was on the three major networks vehemently disavowing any connection with Jesus. Apparently it's every man for himself.
Anchor: So, another weird fringe group flames out?
Reporter: Apparently so, though a surprising number of respected leaders embraced Jesus' teachings. One of them, Joseph of Arimathea, handled the burial. That's the tomb behind me, sealed by a giant boulder.
Anchor: Seems rather quiet there.
Reporter: Most of Jesus' followers are lying low, afraid for their lives after what happened to their leader. And remember that it is the Sabbath. Some of Jesus' followers are planning to visit the tomb tomorrow to conduct the burial rituals that had to be skipped last night in the haste to dispose of the body before sundown and the onset of the Sabbath.
Anchor: Jesus was unquestionably a charismatic figure, but even his most devoted followers would have to admit that he let things spin out of control.
Reporter: I suppose so. Having covered him, I must confess some personal sadness at seeing this man cut down in his prime. He might have been able to accomplish something concrete had he moderated his views and cultivated allies in high places. Whatever his administrative weaknesses, he offered a compelling vision of a universal human community with no gender, social, or political distinctions before a loving God.
Anchor: Nonetheless, he is dead and his movement has collapsed literally overnight. Thank you for that report. It appears we've heard the last of this Jesus character.