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Posted on 04/02/2018 2:03:16 AM PDT by daugs2
Anybody watch Jesus Christ Superstar tonight?
Then I got saved in 1981.
Saw the film around the late 80's and it didn't match my memory of the picture(s) the album drew.
My born again Christianity got in the way of promoting it, although in the beginning, I LOVED the album.
How's THAT for growth, eh ?
No. Sticking with the Book.
No. Watched re-runs of “Wicked Tuna”.
>>>My born again Christianity got in the way of promoting it, although in the beginning, I LOVED the album.<<<
Isn’t it amazing how getting saved pretty much spoils you for the things we did before we knew Christ? Back then we didn’t have an anchor for our faith and just sort of drifted from one experience to the next even though they were unhealthy for our soul.
Isn’t it also amazing how that after we were saved, we didn’t leave our old friends - they just sort of left us because they couldn’t take all the joy that was pouring out of our soul.
We tried to tell them . . . but they just wouldn’t understand so they distanced themselves from us.
Along with all that is the sudden discernment from the Holy Spirit where He pretty much tells us . . . that isn’t good for you!
And it gets pretty uncomfortable for us when we try to ignore that ‘still small voice.’
God bless!
The narrative is from the perspective of Judas. So of course Judas would be seen as the hero. Context is everything. Once you realize this is The Book of Judas, it all makes sense.
I expect nothing less from the world. What disturbs me are those who claim Christ yet find blasphemy acceptable entertainment. I believe in Christian liberty. However, anyone entertained by such needs to do some real soul searching.
I distinctly remember my dad warned me about Jesus Christ Superstar in the 70’s. I am ever thankful for my parents’ godly wisdom.
I struggle with my old music up to the early 70's.
Some very innovative technology and artists produced fantastic sounds and lyrics.
Did I watch?
No.
Nope. Don’t care for blasphemy.
The constant noise from the audience ruined it, unfortunately.
You obviously didn't watch the production. At the very end, after Christ is crucified, he slowly rises into the "heavens" while illuminated in soft white light. The symbolism is obvious.
Let’s see - Jesus as a fame hungry “superstar” - no thanks in 1970 and no thanks now. Further - on NBC with a bunch of actors who hate God.
During my own period of time away from the Church, this musical did a lot to keep Christianity in my mind and I believe to eventually aid my return.
I'd like to answer some of the points you listed. Please don't think I'm attacking you or that I mean any anger or derision towards what you've said. It's my intention to just have discussion on the topic.
1. The play contains many elements that are, in fact, biblical, but upon closer inspection, its failings become very apparent.
I agree. The play does take some license with the bible. Some of this license I'm not happy with, but I don't think it's enough to put the play in the negative category.
2. Judas has the honor of singing the first song, and complains that Jesus is caught up in His own fame.
Judas, obviously didn't understand what he was part of. I'm not happy with accusing him accusing Jesus of being caught up in His own fame, but I have always seen that as projection. It's really Judas who is caught up in the whole thing.
3. Mary Magdalene sings one of the rock opera’s most famous songs, “I Don’t Know How To Love Him”. In it she sings that He is “just a man”.
In the bible, Mary Magdalene is surprised when she finds the tomb empty and assumes that someone has stolen the body. This would not have been her reaction if she fully understood the divinity of Jesus.
4. Judas warns Jesus of scandal because of His proximity to Mary Magdalene. Jesus’ response is to say “enjoy the good” while he has it.
Jesus understands his role and his future. He knows that his Apostles will have to be without him. In the play, Jesus is not talking about enjoying Mary as the good. He is talking about when she cares for him when he is tired.
5. Judas is portrayed as an advocate of the poor. No mention is made that he is a thief.
This point is true, but Judas is portrayed negatively. He whines in every scene, he betrays Jesus, and when he realizes the extreme gravity of his actions, he hangs himself.
6. Jesus enters Jerusalem on foot, not on a donkey. He is lifted up by the crowd on a pallet.
In this version of play that's true, but in the movie and in other versions He does ride a donkey. I don't think we can trash the play as a whole just because this version was incorrect.
7. The praise of the crowd is not spontaneous. Jesus initiates it by singing.
This comment isn't correct. Jesus and the crowd all start singing Hosanna at the same time. Jesus doesn't initiate it before them.
8. Jesus teaches the crowd about the Kingdom of God by saying “You can win it.”
I don't have a problem with this. "Win" is just another way of saying "attain". In my own mind, I believe that despite all of my good efforts and any others that I might have done, I still am likely to fall short of what is expected of me. If I were to attain Heaven, that would be the greatest prize I could imagine.
9. The next scene shows Jesus ending the celebration of an adoring crowd by telling them that death can only be defeated by dying. There is no mention of His resurrection.
I also don't have a problem with this. I'm definitely looking forward to the possibility of Heaven after death. Also see my comment about #14 below.
10. Jesus tells a crowd of people who want to be healed, “There’s too many of you. There’s too little of me. Leave me alone!” He doesn’t heal anyone.
I'm not happy with those lines. They are one of the big negatives of the play, but Jesus did become tired from spreading the word and from healing people. He also did become angry at other times in the Bible. I think the other positives in the play more than offset this.
11. Jesus tells the disciples at the Last Supper, “I must be mad, thinking you’ll remember me!”
Even as witnesses to His works, the Apostles were confused and scared after Jesus was crucified. They definitely didn't understand the big picture. I can't imagine Jesus speaking like this, but I don't think it's enough of a negative to turn away from the play.
12. When Jesus prays in the garden He says He is no longer inspired. He says He is “sad and tired”. He ends His song with “Take me now, before I change my mind.”
Jesus did ask his Father to take the cup away from him. I think that "sad and tired" would be a good way to describe him at that point. I'm not happy with, “Take me now, before I change my mind”, but I think the good message of the play is more than enough to counterbalance some of these negatives.
13. Pilate makes accusations against Jesus, instead of saying that he finds no fault with Him.
In the play, Pilate specifically says, that Jesus is, "not a thief, I need a crime", to be able to crucify Him. In the play, Pilate knows that Jesus is guilty of no crime.
14. The play ends with the crucifixion, but it doesn’t represent the resurrection.
The Stations of the Cross end with the crucifixion, but don't represent the resurrection, and the Church does them every year.
Once again, it's difficult to show tone over typed text. I don't mean any snarkiness. I'm just having a conversation with my fellow Freepers.
I did watch it and I went in not expecting to like it at all. But I really did enjoy it. Alice Cooper’s Herod was the weakest link for me, as I suspected it would be.
Ian Gillan, Murray Head, Yvonne Elliman vs. John Legend, Sara Bareilles? How can one even compare?
I got a kick out of the audience singing along with the choruses. The opera has become one of the key cultural artifacts of the 20th Century. And it appears to be hanging on quite nicely in the 21st.
The sound track was/is impressive, I guess the other stuff was O.K.
Tim Rice wrote “The Passion According to Judas,” and Andrew Lloyd Webber set it to music.
>>Ian Gillan, Murray Head, Yvonne Elliman vs. John Legend, Sara Bareilles? How can one even compare?<<
Easy.
Ian wins.
That is why all the followers didn’t even TRY to hit the notes he did.
But the others were excellent as well, just not as good.
IMHO, of course.
:)
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