Mary Magdalene introduces the classic picture of the Christ being baptised by John in the Jordan. It is here that the spirit descends into the word made flesh. Although physically male Jesus is often believed to have been filled with the female spirit or “Sophia”.

Here we find clear class structures and gender divides. Judas welcomes us to this scene and speaks for many when he cries in hope for a new leader to come and change the status quo.

Jesse (our female Jesus figure) walks down the beach where she finds Simon-Peter and Andrew and tells them to drop their nets and follow her. “fishers of men” becomes “fishers of people”. Simon-Peter finishes the narration of the scene.

These are the well known “blessed are the …” teachings of Jesus founds in the Gospel of Mathew and Luke. Jesse leads the people much like the “Lord of the Dance” (Sydney Carter 1963).

“Amalya” (which means-Work of God)

This is similar to the Biblical account of Jesus healing Peter’s Mother-in-law which shows the poor woman, having just been healed getting up and serving the men around as she would be expected to do. Our retelling has Jesse firstly show real concern for who she is and her identity by asking her name, not her title. Jesse then hears her story and heals her with the condition that she finds new respect for herself and learns how to serve without being a slave.

Mary narrates as Jesse heals many with different afflictions. In each case there ailment is nothing in comparison with the alienation and rejection they feel from society. Jesse brings them one by one back into contact with others.

This is the woman who has been suffering from haemorrhaging for many years. This makes her the ultimate outcast as blood, particularly to do with menstruation is seen as unclean. Similarly her story is heard and her name re-found, but in this retelling the female Christ can show true empathy for her situation.
We then meet Jairus, the Pharisee, who shows great desperation and humility coming to ask Jesse for help. However his daughter is already dead, but Jesse is able to resurrect her. This is an interesting situation as one daughter meets another and in both cases they will experience resurrection due to the loving acts of the parent.

The Pharisees consult their scriptures and laws only to find that Jesse can’t really be doing what she is doing because she’s a woman!

Judas Questions Jesse’s legitimacy as a prophet or even a Messiah on the grounds that scripturally important characters are always male, they should be part of a male lineage and woman have a different role in society and therefore should not be religious leaders.

This is the story of the Syrophoenician woman who shows incredible courage by asking a Rabbi for help when she is a gentile. Our retelling is almost straight from the Gospel account but takes on a new feeling in our context. We then continue to closely follow the Bible as Simon-Peter is asked by Jesse who he thinks she is.

Simon Peter expresses his inability to hear Jesse talk of Dying at the hands of the authorities let alone allow it to happen. Despite believing himself to understand her better than others he still can’t understand why she would let this happen.

Jesse feels the weight of the desires of those around her weighing heavily on her shoulders. The people want more healings, the Disciples want answers and the Pharisees want her downfall. None of them really understand. 

Jesse questions the Disciples, God and herself as she prepares to make the move to Jerusalem, which will surely bring her into conflict with the authorities.

Jesse comes into Jerusalem surrounded by a joyous crowd baring palm leaves. An entry into a city on the back of a horse was associated with victorious generals. Jesse therefore makes quite a statement but the war she is waging will not play itself out in the way the crowd expects.

 The Temple in Jerusalem had several levels of exclusivity. The first courtyard could be entered by all Jews, the second only by male Jews and the central part could only be entered by the priests. Jesse is therefore prevented from going any further than the first area. The classic story of Jesus overturning tables because of the money lending, becomes in our re-telling, a story about gender exclusivity rather than financial exclusivity. It is important to note that a comment on Jewish culture is not at all intended here, only an analogy of the way in which gender issues play themselves out in Christianity.

“Because She’s a Woman” (Reprise)

The Pharisees, disgusted by Jesse’s behaviour in the temple, plot to do away with her. However they also see a problem with naming a woman as a powerful leader of a dangerous rebellion, when they teach that woman cannot effectively lead, therefore they look for a scapegoat.

“The Fig Tree” & “Harvest of Deceit”

Jesse, upset by the state of affairs at the temple, uses a curse on the fig tree as an analogy for those who call themselves religious but fail to deliver God’s will. However all parables can be read in many ways, and Judas sees the withering of the tree as proof from God that Jesse (the real fig tree) must be done away with before she offers others false hope.

 The Sadducees who do not believe in physical life after death think that they can bamboozle Jesse by asking which husband a woman would belong to in heaven if she had been married four times. 

Jesse replies to the Sadducees riddle by saying that heaven is about freedom and therefore no one will belong to anyone.  Simon Zealot is enraged by the way the Sadducees mock Jesse and seeks physical revenge. He also sees that the Romans watch on at every turn and wants Jesse to start the rebellion against them, which will finally liberate their people. Jesse tries to show Simon what real strength is by showing the widow (an outcast of society as an older woman with no husband who is also poor) giving what little she has to the temple. Simon doesn’t listen.

“Give us a War”

Simon Zealot leads other men in a war song about past triumphs and the need for an imminent military victory over the Romans.

“Moth to a Flame” (reprise)

The head Pharisee quickly shows his true colours. He wants Judas to betray another of his male friends by naming them as the leader of this religious movement and therefore push Jesse into obscurity. Judas quickly realises that he is in a situation, which is no longer in his control and runs the risk of being instigated himself. He must complete the deal despite its twisted motives and bloody outcomes.

“Sabbath Night”

The disciples gather in the upper room for the last supper, only to be told that certain members will betray Jesse. They then witness a bizarre symbolic act, which leaves them confused and upset.

“All the Rest”

Both feeling betrayed by the other, Jesse and Judas sing about their dismay. They both believe that they are in an inescapable situation and it is largely down to the others actions.

“The Arrest”

The Disciples sleep while Jesse prays, then the Priests arrive with Roman escort. Judas approaches to kiss Jesse as is expected. The Romans then take the accused and whip them, bind them and nail them to a crucifix.

“Oh Missiah”

Mary sings at the foot of the cross of what she has seen in this life and death.