Did you see BBCs Rev this Easter?
Did you cry like a baby like I did?
Did you sit in amazement as the BBC surpassed themselves?
No? Weren't you watching the same programme as me?
I sat down to be entertained as I always am by Rev but right from the outset it was clear this was going to be different.
I started angry.
So angry that the LLM (Reader) would report his ministerial colleague without so much as even talking to Rev Adam. How could the BBC depict our ministry so badly (not that I hadn't thought that before). What were they thinking? They couldn't bring down Rev Adam.
And then he has to visit the Bishop and suddenly a penny drops. He's on trial. He's being judged by the Emperor and he's been in investigated by Pilate. And they're quoting old testament at him. Did you see it? Or is it just me?
And so the powers that be (the temple leaders so to speak) move in and they start the process of dismantling Rev Adam's Church. Sound familiar?
And Adam stands up for his church and it's congregation. You get it now Yes?
Rev Adam is not allowed in his church or to talk to his congregation (disciples by any other name). He is removed from his work and his friends. He is alone and everyone else seems to be against him. Colin even denies their friendship; three times I believe.
And Rev Adam breaks. He can't take anymore and so he takes the church cross to the neighbouring parish. This is when the tears start to roll down my cheeks. This is when the reality of Jesus' last day is shown in 21st century London loud and clear.
He is brought down by the weight of his mistakes. He almost buckles under the weight of the cross.
He falls and he can't get up.
He is jeered at
and spat at
and abandoned.
Yet he's also offered help by a stranger although he doesn't accept it.
It's the stations of the cross on the screen in all its sadness.
Eventually Jesus (I mean Rev Adam) reaches the top of the hill and he is done.
It is done.
He can do no more.
He sings and dances and is joyful or mad or both.
And suddenly he's not alone.
There's a bloke in a shell suit (I know but let's not go there) and he's singing and dancing as well and they know each other and they talk together and it hits me between the eyes
"It's God!"
And God is full of these trite motivational statements and I silently pray that He'd never do that. He wouldn't would He?
But then God utters these words
"We all have our crosses to bear. I understand Adam. I'll always be here."
And I cry.
I weep.
I let go so much of my own sadness knowing that those words are so true. Especially true because Jesus did all this for us.
But it didn't end there.
No.
Jesus comes back and he meets his friends again and he helps them start his Church and the rest is history (or Acts anyway) right?
No. Wrong. He resigns.
This is not how easter ends and it can't be how Rev ends can it?
He can't just give up.
He can't just go.
Can he?
I'm hoping the next episode sorts it out.
But come what may this episode has done something I've never seen before. It's brought Jesus' death on the cross into the 21st century on TV.
You did get it didn't you?
