Jesus Christ Superstar

Jesus Christ Superstar, a rock-opera, emerged from the imagination of Andrew Lloyd Webber (music) and Time Rice (lyrics),which was later brought to life on the big screen by director Norman Jewison in 1973. Filmed on location in Israel, the movie is centred around the last seven days of Christ’s life, from the time he arrived in Jerusalem up until his crucifixion. The movie is truly from the point of view of Judas Iscariot, one of the most infamous of all the 12 apostles. In the film, Judas portrays Jesus, not as a miracle worker, but as a real human being with faults, doubts, and most importantly, a superstar edge. “The play is a baroque fusion of styles, rock rhythm with ballad narrative, dramatic characterization with rollicking choreography, and operatic star performances that together paradoxically succeed in communicating a humble theme of love and acceptance.”¹

The holy theme of divinity is combined with biblical history and a modern perception to produce a musical of heavenly proportions. Although there is some “divine” symbolism in the film, it never once shows Jesus embodying any immortal characteristics. The movie tends to focus on the realistic aspects of Christ’s lasts days on Earth.

The last days of Jesus’s life, in Jesus Christ Superstar, is comparatively close to the what is written in the Bible. Jesus, a rabbi, lived in Israel during the Roman rule. “Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry”(Luke 3:23). He taught for approximately three years about a just, all-loving, and merciful God that offers forgiveness of sins and eternal life. He spoke of the honesty of spirit, fullness of right purpose, and that the poor and suffering shall be blessed. He did this all while claiming to be the Son of Man. “We are told that Jesus taught a new idea-that the prophecies of the Torah [a document that recorded the basis of Judaism] were not to be fulfilled at some indefinite time in the future but were unfolding in the present.”² As Jesus made his way toward Jerusalem, the number of his followers had increased dramatically and his name was known throughout the land, he had literally become a “superstar.” Rumours spread that Jesus had performed miracles beyond belief such as healing the cripple and bringing life to the dead. Jesus eventually upset the priests of Jerusalem, Sadducees, due to the fact that the number of followers Jes...

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...; “A man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was coming in from the country just then, and they forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha. They offered him wine drugged him with myrth, but he refused it. Then they nailed him to the cross.” (Mark 15:21-24) Jesus was nailed to the cross early in the morning and the Roman soldiers nailed a sign above Jesus’ head that translated meant, “The King of The Jews.” All those who passed Jesus mocked him and verbally abused him. Then, around three o’clock in the afternoon, Jesus screamed out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Then Jesus yelled out again and took his last breath.

After Jesus’ death, his remaining followers began to spread the word about him. They eventually came into a dispute with Paul of Tarsus (St. Paul), who was never afraid to advertise his “anti-Christian” opinions. He eventually converted to Christianity and later became a saint. The old pagan gods were being dismissed and the new faith, Christianity, began to grow immensely.