The Mustard Seed Soul Band featuring on vocals (l to r) Kat, Nicola, Fiona and Katy

“Higher and HIgher” (J.Wilson)  Mustard Seed Soul Band from the musical “His Story” recorded and produced by Ross Gill

So how does Risen!- The Musical portray John , “ the disciple Jesus loved?” (John 13: 23) First he is the Musical’s Narrator, helping the audience to know the location of each new scene and also giving explanation and insight. (see blog April 23^rd)

Of course Jesus loved all His disciples – in fact He loves everyone, but there appears to a special bond between Jesus and John, possibly because John was younger than the other disciples, possibly because the two were related, which is something I will explore next week. Some of the references to John in the Bible come before the Risen! The Musical script begins , for example that fact that he was a fisherman, the son of Zebedee who was successful enough to have hired men working for him. (Mark 1:20)  That John came from a fairly “well to do” family seem s to be endorsed by him, not only living in Galilee, but also having his own house in Jerusalem. (John 19:27) John was also known by the High Priest who, during Jesus’ trial, took him into his courtyard, whereas Peter had to wait outside (John 18: 15-16)

At the end of John’s Gospel, Peter asks Jesus what would happen to John – Peter misunderstood Jesus’ reply and so a rumour began that John would not die even though Jesus merely told Peter “If I want him to remain alive until I return what is that to you?”

In addition to his Gospel John wrote three letters included in the Bible and also The Book of Revelation. This, the Bible’s last chapter, is believed by most to have been written by John when he was an old man exiled on the island of Patmos because of his belief in Jesus.

Apart from narrating John is one of the lead roles in the Risen! – The Musical cast and, for example it is he that Mary Magdalene  first tells with Peter  that the stone has been rolled away from Jesus’ tomb; he and Peter  then running  there to see (John 20: 2-9) At the Crucifixion Jesus tells John  to look after Mary, His mother (John: 19:26)

I find it reassuring that in places such as chapter 19 verse 35 and chapter 20 verse 30 John states that he is an eye witness to that which  Jesus did and that his testimony is true. In his Gospel’s final verse he also makes it clear that if he had written everything down that Jesus did “I suppose the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”

John, however was by no means perfect.  In Mark’s Gospel we learn that Jesus called John and his brother James “Sons of Boanerges “which means “Sons of Thunder.” In Luke 9:54 the brothers ask Jesus if they should call fire down from heaven on some Samaritan people who had not welcomed them.

The Risen! – The Musical script has a poignant scene just after Jesus tells His disciples to make disciples of all nations- John becomes desolate as he agonises over whether he will fail Jesus as he has done before – not only for being a “Son of Thunder” but also for running away when Jesus was arrested and furthermore for having the audacity to ask Jesus if he could sit at His right side in heaven. (Mark 10:37)  I personally find it reassuring that someone as revered as St John still displayed typical human frailties and faults.

So next week – was John a relative of Jesus?

Another cover for this week’s featured song – it’s the soul classic “Higher and Higher” by Jackie Wilson – again sung by the Mustard Seed Soul Band (also featured in pic)

“I’m A Believer” (Diamond) featuring the Mustard Seed Soul Band from album “Heart and Soul” recorded and produced by Ross Gill

In the last two blogs I looked at how certain characters in Risen!- The Musical have been portrayed- on April 9^th it was Thomas and on April 16^th Judas. Today is the turn of Mary Magdalene.

Throughout Risen!- The Musical I have kept to Biblical accounts and have not gone down the road of conjecture or fiction.  I am aware that Mary Magdalene has previously been portrayed as a prostitute, for example in  the   musicals “Jesus Christ Superstar” and the recent excellent “Love Beyond” (see blog October 9^th 2014))  This, I believe has partly come from wrongly associating Mary Magdalene  with the woman accused of adultery and about to be stoned.  (John 8: 1-11)  Jesus telling those about to stone her “If anyone is without sin let him cast the first stone.”

Furthermore this false impression of Mary Magdalene having loose morals has come from her being incorrectly regarded as the “sinful woman”, who in Luke 7:36-50, anoints Jesus with expensive perfume and wipes His feet with her tears.  This “sinful woman” is also sometimes wrongly associated with another woman who anoints Jesus; Mary sister of Martha and Lazarus (John 12: 1-8)- the focus of the second scene of  Risen!- The Musical.

At least the above stories have come from Biblical accounts, albeit in my view misguided; however there is no Biblical basis whatsoever for suggestions that Mary Magdalene and Jesus were married. This is pure fiction concocted to sell books such as the “The Da Vinci Code”

That Mary Magdalene had real issues prior to meeting Jesus is, however clear.  Luke tells us in chapter 8 that Jesus cast out from her seven demons.  Luke also makes clear that she, together with many other women, helped support Jesus out of their own means i.e.  Mary Magdalene was a loyal follower of Jesus; something I trust Risen!- The Musical makes  clear.

Mary Magdalene is the only person mentioned in all four Gospels to have been present at the cross when Jesus was crucified and in John’s Gospel we are told that she was the first person to see Jesus after He was resurrected. (John 20: 1-18.)  Risen!- The Musical focuses heavily on John’s account of that first Easter morning.

Risen!- The Musical also uses  a piece of recitative from John to highlight the significance of Jesus first appearing to a woman; for women  in Jesus’ day had  no social standing. If Jesus or His disciples had felt proof was needed to show that He was alive He would surely have first appeared to a man, not a woman.  So appearing to Mary Magdalene would only make sense if that is indeed what happened.

So it’s Mary who Jesus first would see, but a woman why would He not first appear to a man? Jesus treated women with respect and dignity, taught they had equality in the sight of God. But in law their testimony would count for nothing if the authorities tried to deny He had risen.  No, there’s only one reason why first appearing to a woman would make any  sense and that is if it were true and it is- I can assure you there is no  pretence. But of course Jesus also appeared risen-  alive to  men –  and here are two on the Emmaus road  it’s Cleopas and his friend …. 

This week the featured song is again a cover version from the Mustard Seed Soul Band  – the classic “I’m A Believer”  written by the legendary Neil Diamond and made famous by the 60’s band  “The Monkees” and  also the film “Shriek.

Next blog I will look at how Risen!- The Musical portrays the disciple John.

“Lean on Me” (Bill Withers) Mustard Seed Soul Band from CD “Heart and Soul” recorded and produced by Ross Gill

In last week’s blog I said I had felt that Thomas had been given a “bad press” by being called “Doubting Thomas” for so many years.  It was for this reason that in Risen!- The Musical I tried to redress the balance and explain his reasons for not believing his friends when they told him that they had seen the Lord. (see blog April 9^th)

So what about Judas- how does Risen!- The Musical  portray his betrayal?  I am aware that some people feel a degree of sympathy for Judas wondering if it really was his fault if, as John’s Gospel tells us, “Satan entered into him.” Others believe that disillusionment was Judas’ motive.  Judas may have expected Jesus to be a “Warrior King” who would rid the people of Roman occupation – when he realised that Jesus was in fact a “Servant King” who even humbled Himself to wash the feet of his disciples – this may have taken Judas “over the edge.”  There is also the idea that by  betraying Jesus, Judas was simply making Him “play His hand” and so, under the threat of death,  reveal Himself as the  long awaiting supernatural Messiah who would herald in a new age for the Jewish nation.

When writing Risen!- The Musical I decided it wisest to stay clear of conjecture  and instead  stick only with what the Bible tells us.

For example, I highlight  greed as part of the reason for Judas betraying Jesus-  for handing Him over to them Judas was given  30 pieces of silver from the chief priests. (Matthew 26:15)  Furthermore Judas’ greed is alluded to by the disciple John who in chapter 12 of his Gospel tells us that Judas was a thief – he was keeper of the money bag and helped himself to what was put into it.

Jealously is another reason I give for the betrayal – Judas may have resented the fact that Jesus was closest to John, James and Peter who had, for example, being given the privilege of being with  Jesus on the mountain when He was transfigured  before them (Matthew 17) It certainly seems that Judas felt less close to Jesus than the others, referring to Jesus as “Rabbi – teacher” rather than “Lord.”

One thing we do know to be true is that as soon as Judas saw that Jesus was condemned he was filled with remorse and tried to return the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests exclaiming “I have sinned, for I have betrayed innocent blood.” He then went away and hanged himself.  (Matthew 27)  In Risen!- The Musical Judas’ suicide is brilliantly portrayed by Paul Clements and the musical arrangement  by  Joffy Girling is really very powerful.

However I am not going to feature the Judas suicide track today – you will just have to buy the CD !! www.risenthemusical.com or wait to download it from ITunes (sorry for the delay but ITunes have been asking for information we did not realise was necessary) Today instead I thought I would feature a cover song – it is “Lean on Me” first sung by Bill Withers. It is a brilliant acapella version by Nicola, Fiona, Kat and Katy of the Mustard Seed Soul Band and comes from the Mustard Seed CD “Heart and Soul.”

“Unless I see nail marks put my finger into His side, I shall not believe that He is alive ” Thomas after hearing from the disciples that Jesus is alive.  Taken from Risen!- The Musical.

“How Great Are His Signs” featuring Thomas (played by James Townend)  and The Original Cast from Risen!- The Musical

Jesus Christ Superstar has, of course, been immensely successful over four decades, however it does not include the Resurrection of Jesus. Stephen Schwartz’s 1970’s musical Godspell  is  regarded by most as “Christian” as it is based on the parables told  in St Matthew’s Gospel,  however,  even in Godspell , the Resurrection of Jesus can, at best, be described as problematic.

There is nothing problematic about the resurrection appearances featured in Risen!- The Musical whose double CD was released  11 days ago, in fact the majority of the 110 minute production focuses on the many appearances Jesus made to His followers during the 40 days from His Resurrection on Easter Sunday to His Ascension to heaven.

In John’s Gospel we learn that the first person to see Jesus alive was Mary Magdalene- that was very early on the morning of what we now call Easter Sunday. Luke’s Gospel tells us that later that afternoon He appeared to Cleopas and his friend as they were walking to the village of Emmaus. Later that evening Jesus again appeared to His disciples but John tells us that Thomas was not with them. When the disciples  exclaim to  Thomas “ We have seen the Lord” (John 20:25) Thomas  does not believe them and  says “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were and put my finger into His side, I will not believe it.”

And this is why poor Thomas has forever been referred to as “Doubting Thomas.”  I had always felt this to be completely unfair – we learn from John 11:16 that Thomas was, in fact, a courageous man who told the rest of the disciples that they should all follow Jesus into danger when Jesus decided to travel to Bethany near Jerusalem- in fact Thomas said to the disciples “Let us also go that we may die with Him.” – hardly the words of a man who doubted Jesus!  Risen!- The Musical portrays Thomas’ “doubt” as being caused  by him being  so overcome with grief, after seeing Jesus crucified, that he just did not dare believe the disciples when they told him that Jesus was alive. He did not want his hopes dashed yet again.

John tells us that Jesus appeared to the disciples again one week later and this time Thomas was with them and proclaimed to Jesus “My Lord and my God.”  In Risen!- The Musical  I took a little poetic licence and imagined what Thomas would have done in that week between hearing from his friends that Jesus was alive and then seeing Jesus Himself.  I have portrayed him going somewhere in solitude, immersing himself with those Psalms that focus on trusting God and then returning to the rest of the disciples reassured that what they had told him could, in fact, be true – in fact Risen! -The Musical has Thomas leading the disciples in a worship song, the words of which come from the Book of Daniel, Chapters 4 and 6. This is the featured song for today “How Great Are His Signs.”

Next week I hope to have news of how the rehearsals are going with our cast from the London College of Music and we should also have the Risen! – The Musical double CD available to be downloaded from ITunes and Amazon.

Download  Risen! the title track from  Ken Shearsmith’s  Risen! – The Musical – the perfect song for today, Easter Sunday for only 99p.

Please share with friends

Full album available to download later this week – hard copies available from www.risenthemusical.com
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You may need QuickTime to play this track, you can download free and direct from Apple here https://www.apple.com/uk/quicktime/download/ this is completely safe.

” Judas”

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The full double CD of Risen!- The Musical can be purchased by visiting www.risenthemusical.com

Ken Shearsmith is offering you a free track for Good Friday  from his new musical Risen!-The Musical – “One Day A Crown” – please share with your friends

 “One Day a Crown” featuring Mary wife of Clopas, Mary Magdalene, John and Peter – Introduction from John  

Please share with your friends. If you would like to purchase the full CD, please visit www.risenthemusical.com

PS Look out for another track for Easter Sunday 

“Bath Abbey”

“Jesus You Are Everything” featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album ” I Look Up To The Heavens” recorded and produced by John Hodgkinson

Rev. Peter Hancock, the Bishop of Bath and Wells received a Risen!- The Musical CD and made these amazing comments:

St Paul was very clear when he wrote these words to the Church in Corinth: “And if Christ has not been raised then our preaching is useless and so is your faith”. These are the words that inspired Ken Shearsmith to write and compose Risen!-The Musical. It tells the story of the last week of Jesus’ life, on to the wonder, surprise and joy of the resurrection appearances and then finishes with His Ascension.  It is a moving, uplifting and inspiring portrayal of the Biblical accounts and the words and music capture the drama, excitement and emotion of those events.

 I have been moved and encouraged by listening to Risen!-The Musical and I hope many people will also have the chance to hear it and will be equally inspired to follow the Lord Jesus whose life it depicts.  As you listen you will find yourself drawn into the events that have shaped the history of the world and more importantly you will discover, some perhaps for the first time, the love of God who sent Jesus to live and to die for us.

 It is my hope that Risen!-The Musical will help many people grow in their faith, live out their faith and share that faith with others. 

 ‘The Lord is risen’.  ‘He is risen indeed.  Alleluia!’

Wow – how great an endorsement is that?!  So please consider purchasing a CD yourself – they are available now – just visit www.risenthemusical.com  Alternatively look up  Risen- The Musical in ITunes and/or Amazon as it should be available to download in the next day or so- as soon as it is we will send you a link.

Featured song for today is “Jesus You Are Everything” sung by Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album “I Look Up To The Heavens.”

Hope you have a wonderful Easter.

“What Would Jesus Do” featuring Yvette Page and the Mustard Seed Girls Choir from the CD “Uplifted”

The double CDs of Risen!- The Musical will be delivered tomorrow and so we will be able to make the Palm Sunday release date- which is great news- well done to Tim Courtnell and all at Sound Performance Ltd for making the deadline.

From Sunday March 29^th The CD’s will be available to download via ITunes and Amazon but if you would prefer a hard copy please visit  www.mustardseedsongs.org.uk where the CDs can be purchased on- line for only £9.99. That’s pretty good value  for 110 minutes of music so please go ahead and buy one.

The other good news is that we are close to getting a cast for the Pentecost May 23^rd stage production of Risen!- The Musical in Coventry and for the forthcoming autumn show at the New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth.

Last blog I told you that the Risen! CD was mastered by Andrew Bourbon, a Senior Lecturer at the London College of Music (LCM) which is part of the University of West London based in Ealing. Andrew was so impressed with the show that he told his friends in the Performing Arts Department.  I met one in London, Niamh Mcguckin, who Lectures in Voice (which means singing too) and she too was so impressed that she has taken it upon herself to form a cast from LCM students and post -graduates together with fellow professionals. She has acquired the use of the LCM facilities (which are amazing) for rehearsals and intends to have a least 10 rehearsals on Wednesdays and Sundays before the Pentecost production.  LCM students have aspirations of performing in the West End so this cast will be amazing – I appreciate that you may not be able to get to Coventry but please, please try to get to the production at the New Theatre Royal in Portsmouth which, as I say, will be in the autumn once the £9m refurbishment is complete. Oh by the way Niamh, who is a committed  Christian, is directing the show and I am expecting her to also sing the part of Mary sister of Lazarus and Martha. Thank you so much Niamh!!

Next week I am visiting Crofton Hammond Infants School in Stubbington to talk to the children in assembly about the work of mustard seed songs. Some years ago, in our previous musical His Story children from Hammond Infants sang “What Would Jesus Do.”  It is this week’s featured song and comes from our CD “Uplifted” sung by Yvette Page and the Mustard Seed Girls’ Choir.

“The Girling Family” (not pictured, Charlotte) – will be much missed- thanks for everything.

“Glorious in His Humility ” Featuring Lucy Stimpson-Maynard with backing vocals from Kat Hands from CD “Love Is The Way” recorded by John Hogdkinson.

Sorry for short blog this week but I have been laid low with a wicked flu type bug. Feeling a bit better today but now by lovely wife Caroline has gone down with the same thing.

I was especially upset to have missed the leaving party at Holy Rood for our Vicar, Rev.  Stephen Girling and his family- leaving after 14 years of fantastic service.

Among many things for which I am extremely grateful, Stephen married Caroline and myself in a wonderful service nearly seven years ago, conducted Caroline’s unforgettable baptism in the Solent and is, of course, father to Joffy, without whom there would be no Risen !- The Musical.  So I wish Stephen, Diane and all the family every good wish for their new life in Bath.  Stephen will be working in Bath Abbey, teaming up with his old friend Peter Hancock, who is Bishop of Bath.

Fortunately I was not laid low until Saturday 14^th so I was ok to travel to London on the Friday for the last day of mixing Risen! with Andrew Bourbon and Joffy at the London College of Music.  That went really well, but I also met with Niamh Mcguckin, a Lecturer in the Performing Arts Department. To say the meeting went well would be a huge under -statement but I will wait till next week, when hopefully back to full strength, before telling you the whole exciting story.

In the meantime I hope you enjoy this week’s featured song “Glorious In His Humility.” This was sung by Lucy Stimpson- Maynard at that concert for Roberta Cousins I talked about in last week’s blog -and later recorded on the album “Love is the Way.”