Since 2013 NBC has been airing live musical events starting with The Sound of Music. I have enjoyed a show here and there but certainly, haven't caught them all. This past Easter, however, the network aired a presentation I was particularly interested in watching: Jesus Christ Superstar.

Early Memories

Jesus Christ Superstar has always been a part of my life, as early as age three or four. In fact, to the best of my knowledge, the soundtrack for the musical is one of the first albums I ever heard. I have fond memories of listening to it in the car during long road trips with my parents. Back then we had an 8-track tape player. If you are familiar with 8-tracks then you know that the tape would just run in a continuous loop. Because of that, I had an incorrect understanding of when the story actually began. For some reason, I had in my mind that the crucifixion was the beginning of the story. This was probably due to the fact that this scene immediately followed the song "Superstar," which I must have assumed was the first song of the show. It was the name of the album, after all. Furthermore, because of the deep, drawn-out notes and echoing, wailing voices, I imagined "Crucifixion" taking place in a dark cave with ghosts all around.

Another misconception I had from many listening hours was that Jesus was the "King of the Juice." Chalk that one up to misheard lyrics and the fact that I wasn't even five years old.

By the time I reached my teenage years, I had all that straightened out. It was around that time the rock opera became a part of my personal rock-and-roll fantasy. I would listen to the soundtrack through my headphones at ridiculously loud volumes and imagine that I was performing the songs on stage. In my mind, I usually played the part of Judas. This isn't surprising when you understand I was agnostic at the time and had a particularly critical view of religion.

A Critical Analysis

Now that I am older and have become a Christian I still enjoy listening to Jesus Christ Superstar. However, I now analyze the story through the lens of scriptural criticism. I have no idea what the full motivations were that drove Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber to write this particular musical, but I would assume they were more creative than spiritual, since the two often pulled from other works (i.e. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Cats, Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, etc.). Regardless of the motivations, when one compares this Rice/Webber work to the Bible we find a Jesus that differs significantly from scripture. Superstar leaves us with a Jesus that is stripped of his deity and falls short of being the perfect sacrifice necessary to take away the sin of the world.

The Resurrection is a pivotal moment in the life of Christ and the key event that validates his ministry. Jesus claimed to be God and, on at least three different occasions, pointed to his future resurrection as proof of this claim (Luke 9:22-27, 9:43-45, 18:31-34). Without the Resurrection, Jesus becomes simply a man whose words are reduced to either lies or the megalomaniacal ravings of someone who is mentally unstable. Even so, Jesus Christ Superstar does not allow for the possibility of the Resurrection to occur. The final song of the production is entitled "John 19:41". That verse reads:

"Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid." (ESV)

The show ends with Jesus' death. In fact, he doesn't even make it to the tomb. (That occurs in verse 42.) Of course, it is possible that Webber and Rice simply chose to end their narrative in that spot but never intended to imply that the story stopped there. So this alone isn't enough to show that Superstar is a departure from scripture. Instead, we need to examine the character of Jesus Christ himself.

During Christ's ministry, the sick often approached him for healing. Sometimes it was a one-on-one encounter. Other times it was in the midst of a great crowd. Never do we see Jesus turn someone away who came to him for healing. In fact, if anyone tried to turn anyone away it was his disciples, an act that earned them a rebuke from their teacher. (Matt. 19:13,14)

In Superstar we see something different. During the song "The Temple" Jesus is surrounded by the crowd of lepers looking to be healed. Feeling overwhelmed, Jesus cries out:

There's too many of you...Don't push me.
There's too little of me...Don't crowd me.
Heal yourselves!

Compare that to the same account in Matthew 21, verse 14.

"And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them." (ESV)

Besides the fact that, in the musical, Jesus turns the crowd away instead of accepting them as he did in the Bible, there are other issues with these lyrics. First is the statement, "There is too little of me." This would be understandable if Jesus was simply a man. However, Jesus is God and his healing comes from the Omnipotent God. There would never be "too little."

A bigger issue, however, is Jesus' command to, "Heal yourselves!" This very much comes across in the production as an exclamation made by someone who is frustrated and at his breaking point. Jesus doesn't want to be bothered so he turns the crowd away with an impossible command. Now, there is a place for righteous anger and earlier in this same song Jesus drives the money-changers from the temple with just such an anger. However, in this case, his anger is borne out of a personal desire for peace and comfort. Instead of righteous, it is potentially sinful. And if Jesus did indeed sin, then he can no longer be the perfect sacrifice God demands for our sin. (2 Cor. 5:21)

The part of the musical, however, that most exposes the fact that the Jesus in the show is not the true Jesus of scripture is the song "Gethsemane." In the Bible, we read about the hours leading up to Christ's arrest. One of the things he does during that time is pray. Well aware of what he is about to endure, he prays:

“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:42-44, ESV)

In his humanity, he honestly shared his desire that there was another way. In his deity, he immediately knew there was no other way and he gave the situation up to God. There was no debate. Jesus continues his prayer (recorded in John 17) to recount how he faithfully fulfilled his mission and petitioned God to strengthen, protect and build up those who put their faith in him.

Contrast that to the prayer sung in "Gethsemane."

I only want to say,
If there is a way,
Take this cup away from me
For I don't want to taste its poison.

So far, so good. But things shift quickly.

I have changed.
I'm not as sure, as when we started.
Then, I was inspired.
Now, I'm sad and tired....

I'd want to see ...Why I should die.
Would I be more noticed than I ever was before?
Would the things I've said and done matter any more?...

If I die what will be my reward?
Why should I die?
Can you show me now that I would not be killed in vain?
Show me just a little of your omnipresent brain.
Show me there's a reason for your wanting me to die.
You're far too keen on where and how, but not so hot on why.

Clearly, these are not the words of someone who shares the mind of God. Instead, it sounds like Jesus was just following marching orders without knowing why he was doing so or what the ultimate purpose was. Coupled with this is uncertainty over whether or not what he is doing will even work ("I'm not as sure.."). The Biblical Jesus knew his purpose and what his death would accomplish, going all the way back to Genesis.

We also see a difference in motivation between the two versions of Jesus. In scripture, Jesus' sole motivation was to fulfill God's will (Luke 22:42b) and glorify Him ("glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you," John 17:1b). In Superstar Jesus asks what his reward will be. He wants to be noticed and remembered and not be killed in vain. While it's true that the true Jesus would want his teachings to be remembered, musical Jesus' question comes across as self-serving. "What do I get out of this?" These thoughts are bordering on a sinful selfishness, another thing that would disqualify him from being a suitable sacrifice for the world.

Finally, this fictional Jesus gives up, defiantly agrees to go through the final stage of his mission and threatens to change his mind if God doesn't move fast, thus fouling up the whole plan.

Alright, I'll die!
Just watch me die!
See how I die!...
Nail me to your cross and break me,
Bleed me, beat me,
Kill me.
Take me, now!
Before I change my mind.

In the end, we're left with a Jesus who had some good ideas and cared for others but was as self-focused, unsure, and confused as the rest of us ultimately are.

There are several other indications throughout the entire show that suggest that the character of Jesus is not the Jesus that is presented to us in scripture. The three I just discussed, however, are some of the most significant as they deal with Jesus directly.

Assessing the Value

In light of this, apart from a means of entertainment, does Jesus Christ Superstar hold any value to either the Christian or secular viewer? Some Christians would say no, claiming any work that offers a skewed or incorrect version of the Bible only harms people, leading them away from the truth. In some respects, I understand their position. If an unbeliever is seeking spiritual truth they will not find it in the lyrics of Superstar. Furthermore, if anyone, Christian or not, relies primarily on pop culture products for their understanding of spiritual matters, that person will probably have a view of God that is very distorted from the truth God revealed to us in scripture.

That being said, I would not go as far to say that Superstar is completely devoid of any spiritual value. For starters, even in my youth (back when I imagined portraying Judas on stage), I would often open up the gospels to compare the events of the musical to what was actually written in the Bible. While I may have questioned its truthfulness, I was at least reading the Word of God. Later, after I became a believer, listening to the musical motivated me to study scripture to reinforce what I already knew, and possibly learn more about the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. Finally, since several of the views presented in the show are the same views held by many people in the world, comparing it and scripture helps me be better prepared to discuss these issues with others should the conversation ever arise.

While Jesus Christ Superstar has undergone some lyric and song changes since its inception, for me the original cast album from 1970 will always be the definitive, true version. Even so, I greatly enjoyed watching this most recent production featuring John Legend and Sara Bareilles. It was the first time I saw it on stage and I found myself singing along throughout. If you've already seen, or are planning to see the NBC presentation, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. However, I would urge you not to simply settle for Legend, but to look further and seek out the Truth.