Jesus Christ Superstar

February 1, 2003 | 6 Comments
Jesus Christ Superstar

Asking the Right Questions

I cut my teeth on the rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar. It is the first music I remember hearing as a child. I remember many Sunday mornings getting ready for church while my father played Jesus Christ Superstar on the family turntable. To this day, I can quote every single lyric in the entire musical. I believe that my life-long tastes in music have a direct connection to this rock opera. I have always been attracted to concept albums, progressive rock, and ostentatious, over-the-top performances.

I also remember watching the movie over and over as a teenager. Of course I enjoyed the great music, but perhaps even more, the main character fascinated me. Who was Jesus? What was his message? Why did he live? And why did he die?

This afternoon I had the privilege of attending the performance of Jesus Christ Superstar in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was phenomenal! I sat very close to the front (the only tickets I could find last minute). I thoroughly enjoyed the music and the performances. Carl Anderson, the man who played Judas in the 1973 movie, reprised his role for the opera, and he was fantastic. After thirty years, he can shred with the best of them. I could listen to him sing for hours! Sebastian Bach was acceptable as Jesus, although his rock-star posturing seemed out of place at times. However, Sebastian's screams in the cleansing of the Temple episode were perfect! In short, I thoroughly enjoyed the opera and might even see it again when it hits Indianapolis in March.

Some Christians might wonder why I enjoy Jesus Christ Superstar so much. Some Christians completely write the opera off because of its poor theology in certain lyrics. Others do not like the fact that the musical ends with Jesus on the cross, completely failing to mention the resurrection. Others simply can't stomach a Jesus who would sing rock songs.

Whatever the reason, I stand amazed that today everyone in the theater was forced to wrestle with who Jesus was and what he accomplished. I know this to be true because I listened to the conversations around me. I overheard many conversations concerning how Jesus might have been perceived in his day. Others talked about Judas and his reasons for betraying Jesus. This is understandable, for questions about Jesus' identity and accomplishments are at the heart of the musical.

Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ
Who are you? What have you sacrificed?
Jesus Christ, Superstar
Do you think you're who they say you are?

If one approaches this musical from the standpoint of theological precision, then one will surely be disappointed (but not much, in my opinion). But if one approaches Jesus Christ Superstar from the perspective of a seeker, they will most certainly be captivated by the questions posed.

In my opinion, the best way to appreciate Jesus Christ Superstar is to view it from the perspective of Judas. (Sadly, many Christians don't want to do this, thus ruining their chance to understand this opera.) Judas is frustrated by the fact that Jesus does not seem to be meeting his expectations of Messiah. Because of this, disturbing questions arise that ultimately lead Judas to betray Jesus. In the end, however, his questions still remain. In the final song, Judas puts forward these questions in the presence of a suffering Jesus.

Every time I look at you
I don't understand
Why you let the things you did
Get so out of hand
You'd have managed better
If you'd had it planned
Now why'd you choose such a backward time
And such a strange land?

If you'd come today
You could have reached a whole nation
Israel in 4 BC
Had no mass communication

Don't get me wrong
I only want to know

Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ
Who are you? What have you sacrificed?
Jesus Christ
Superstar
Do you think you're what they say you are?

The final questions from Judas get at the very heart of who Jesus is and what he accomplished:

Did you mean to die like that?
Was that a mistake or
Did you know your messy death
Would be a record breaker?

Can't we all agree that one's answer to these questions makes all the difference in the world? Surely, these are the right questions to be asking!

Christians can complain all they want about the poor theology of Jesus Christ Superstar. They can shun it for its rock music. They can ignore it because it doesn't end with the resurrection. But this would be a tragic response in light of what is actually accomplished in the musical -- the right questions are asked, even if the right answers aren't revealed. And doesn't this sound very similar to how Jesus taught in parables -- often provoking questions without giving clear answers. (Indeed, often without giving any answers at all!)

The rock opera leaves us asking the right questions, even though it doesn't hand us all the answers on a silver platter. It respects us enough to let us think through the questions and come to our own decisions. Unlike much Christian propaganda, it doesn't shove the truth down our throat, but simply presents us with the offense of the unjust death of Jesus, thus forcing us to deal with the significance and identity of Jesus.

When Jesus hangs on the cross at the end of the musical, the audience was completely hushed. The point was made quite clearly -- this is an undeserved and tragic death. And, if the audience was listening closely to the lyrics, the right questions were there to provoke a response. Christians should applaud, rather than decry, the parable that is presented.

I am grateful for Jesus Christ Superstar. I find it musically thrilling, dramatically compelling, and spiritually uplifting. I can't think of a better bridge to discuss the person and work of Christ Jesus with others. For, after all, "Who do you say that I am?" is at the heart of the Gospel.

© Richard J. Vincent, February 1, 2003

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6 Comments

Sonia | March 15, 2003 7:42 AM | Reply
Very nice review! Thanks! Sonia
Matt | April 19, 2003 3:18 PM | Reply
Rich, I think you're right on with your review. I'd like to add some thoughts, if I may. I was lucky enough to see this show twice on its current tour, once with Sebastian Bach and again right after Sebastian was fired. The understudy was a rather muscular African-American with dreadlocks and a really amazing voice, and appearance-wise you wouldn't have automatically known it was Jesus because we're used to the light-haired, bearded white guy Jesus. His appearance added something to the character of Jesus that we often forget: initially he looked like everyone else, nothing special. After all, that's why Judas had to point out to the soldiers who Jesus was in the garden so they could arrest Jesus. I also think that the characters in the show serve as a microcosm for spiritual communities, as well as giving a fresh perspective on the last week of Jesus' life. Jesus' character represents the true leader and/or prophet in the community. By prophet I mean someone who is in tune with the spirit of God, not "fortune teller", which is what most Christians think of when they hear the word "prophet". Jesus' gift is so overwhelming that he at times has no idea what to do with it. In the temple scene he lashed out in anger at the defilment of God's house. At the Last Supper he is so frustrated at his disciples pride and self-centeredness that he says that for all they cared, the bread and wine could be his body and blood. This is an interesting take on the eucharist, is it not? The priests and Pharisees, of course, represent those that are so committed to their own doctrinal system and having control over others through that system that they blatantly ignore the true spirit of God, preferring instead to silence it. Judas is the person that has one foot in the tradition and one foot in the truth, so to speak. He is torn between what he knows to be true and what he has believed all his life, but ultimately goes back to what is safe. Only after it is too late does he realize that he followed his head rather than his heart, making the wrong decision. Peter and the disciples represent most people in the church. For whatever reason, their vision is limited, although thier hearts are open just enough to see a kernel of truth. Unfortunately, they let thier human nature guide them and they basically take all they can from the spiritual leader with little or no sense of committment to contribute to the community. Pilate is the unbeliever (I like the term uninitiated) who is all of a sudden slapped in the face with the truth, but has no idea what to do with it. Mary Magdeline represents the faithful who truly understand. She sings "I Don't Know How To Love Him", but in fact she is the only one who does. She tries her best to keep Jesus grounded, helping him rest and encouraging him not to exert himself. We can also see clear examples of this in the gospels. The women got it, and the men didn't. Should this cause us to rethink the traditional position of female leadership in the church? I think so. Anyway, those are my thoughts. I'm glad that someone enjoys this rock opera as much as I do. People may complain about the fact that it does not end with a resurrection, but it reminds us of the real extent of Christ's sacrafice for us.
Yama | April 21, 2003 10:05 PM | Reply
Matt wrote: Jesus' gift is so overwhelming that he at times has no idea what to do with it. In the temple scene he lashed out in anger at the defilment of God's house. At the Last Supper he is so frustrated at his disciples pride and self-centeredness that he says that for all they cared, the bread and wine could be his body and blood. This is an interesting take on the eucharist, is it not? It is interesting, yes, but also doctrinally (and actually) incorrect. In this 'interesting' speculation, you are neglecting Jesus' Omniscience as co-equal with The Father. I know it is tempting to play up on His humanity, but we dare not do so at the expense of making Him one-dimensional, however romantic or interesting a notion it may be. Similarly, Mary is no indicator of whether we should go against Scripture regarding the role of women in positions of church leadership. The Apostle Paul wrote his epistles some 30 years after the events recorded in the Gospels, and he made no consideration for Mary's insight and sensitivity when he penned 1 Corinthians, 1 Timothy, and Titus. An attentive reading of what Paul wrote will show reasons for male leadership that are based on more than sensitivity, although this is, admittedly, a valuable trait. Similarly, a little bit of Greek reveals that there is no possible way that church leaders are to be women. That's not my opinion, nor anyone else's; that's God's Word-infallible, inerrant, and inspired-both plenary and verbal.
Ruth | September 24, 2003 5:20 AM | Reply
Just a quick comment about the ending of Jesus Christ Superstar. It did not end with him on the cross. If you look closely at the lower left, you can see the figure of a man very faintly, walking past the cross, his outline is dimmed because of the light/dust.
starpangledsky | January 13, 2006 4:31 PM | Reply
I was wondering, is the Jesus Christ Superstar on Broadway which Sebastian Bach used to be in from 2002-2003 still available on dvd to purchase? And also the Jekyl and Hyde production and the Rocky Horror Picture Show he was in before?
mike | March 29, 2009 9:55 AM | Reply
Loved this play and want 2 buy the DVD. Where can i find it? Mike Rich: It's readily available. If you can't find it a local Best Buy or Borders, you can find it at amazon.com.

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