It isn’t blasphemous for Jesus to be played by a woman, it’s inclusive

Grammy award-winning British actor, Cynthia Erivo, will become the first woman to play Jesus in a major production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Emma Gyasi says those criticising the decision shouldn’t judge what they haven’t seen

Hearing that Cynthia Erivo had been cast in the role of Jesus for the upcoming Hollywood Bowl performance of Jesus Christ Superstar filled me with immediate intrigue.

I remember once hearing a question raised in a youth group: “Why did Jesus come to earth as a man and not a woman?” One answer offered was that, during biblical times, women were not afforded parity with men and had very little rights. Therefore, perhaps it would have been much harder to speak to the masses had Jesus been female.