Okay, so maybe the high priests are the antagonists, but anywho.
The big controversy with Jesus Christ Superstar is that Jesus is seen as the antagonist while Judas is the protagonist. And, sure, that may have been the writer's intent (though I really don't think so), but for some reason, I see Jesus Christ Superstar (like the 2012 Broadway Revival, not the movie form the '70s), and I constantly side with Jesus AND Judas in various points in the musical. I mean, sure, we Christians are never supposed to side with Judas and Jesus is always right, but JCSS really brings out some imperfections of the savior that show the thing we tend to forget: Jesus was human. So, maybe JCSS's intent was not to antagonize Jesus, but bring a human element to The Bible we rarely see.
Okay, so, hear me out.
From the beginning, we get that Judas is definitely the protagonist. I mean, the way the musical goes, Judas began this thing with Jesus. They were in it together. Kind of like an indie band, let's parallel with that. So, Jesus is like "wanna form a band? We'll never sell out and be weird rich people. We'll stay true to ourselves!" (Again, this is just kind of how it was laid out in the musical) So, Judas is on board! He goes around with Jesus and Jesus helps the people and it's awesome. But then Jesus starts getting all weird and like "my name is Jesus, come check me out." Just so we're clear, this is how I saw the musical. I just feel like I have to say that after every sentence. Anywho! Judas is weirded out by it. Judas is like "shouldn't we be helping the poor and stuff!?" And Jesus says "we can't make the poor rich!" (meaning we need to make the rich humble and stuff, but that's not really highlighted in the musical, but it can be). And Judas gets all mad and is so confused because Jesus and he started this thing together and then Jesus, like sold out. He's got the disciples worshiping Him too, and Judas is just not about it. He sees it as not what they wanted.
So, that's Judas.
Then we got the superstar Himself.
Throughout the musical, Jesus is seen putting on a strong face for the crowds, but then sort of breaking at some points under the pressure and constant persisting people. The way Jesus sees it, He's going around saving people by The Word, but people are constantly thinking about the material things and wanting physically healed in one way or another. There is this piece in the musical in which there are people from all over, coming out of the woodwork, asking to be healed. Once He touches one to heal him or her, five more come forward. Totally crowding Him, begging to be healed. He goes around as much as possible, trying to heal all He can. The music speeds up, the voices get louder, more people crowd Him until He is flooded with people all around Him. Finally, He breaks. "Heal yourselves!" Of course, for those who aren't super familiar with The Bible, it seems kind of rude. Even people who ARE familiar with The Bible think it's rude. But I saw it as "you guys are missing the point! Just love and glorify God!" Which He says ALL THE TIME in The Bible. Plus this song that is Him praying in the garden before they arrest Him, and it just sums up everything He's been thinking. And the whole song is this MAN asking why he was the one that had to do it? Why did He ask him? And it's just beautiful, but I digress.
So, the thing between Judas and Jesus seems like a big miscommunication and misunderstanding than protagonist/antagonist relationship.
Okay, so yes, it's just a musical. But it's like the only one out of Andrew Lloyd Webber's canon that I actually like. And this subject matter is so close to my heart. And the relationship seems so clear to me. Judas was scared and confused and frustrated was not evil. Jesus was scared and confused and frustrated and not evil. And, yeah, maybe this whole piece isn't chalk-full of theology, but I'm saying a production could be!
And don't even get me started on that Mary Magdalene love triangle.
Okay, so Jesus is a little angsty in this one for my taste, but I love the Judas in this one!
The big controversy with Jesus Christ Superstar is that Jesus is seen as the antagonist while Judas is the protagonist. And, sure, that may have been the writer's intent (though I really don't think so), but for some reason, I see Jesus Christ Superstar (like the 2012 Broadway Revival, not the movie form the '70s), and I constantly side with Jesus AND Judas in various points in the musical. I mean, sure, we Christians are never supposed to side with Judas and Jesus is always right, but JCSS really brings out some imperfections of the savior that show the thing we tend to forget: Jesus was human. So, maybe JCSS's intent was not to antagonize Jesus, but bring a human element to The Bible we rarely see.
Okay, so, hear me out.
From the beginning, we get that Judas is definitely the protagonist. I mean, the way the musical goes, Judas began this thing with Jesus. They were in it together. Kind of like an indie band, let's parallel with that. So, Jesus is like "wanna form a band? We'll never sell out and be weird rich people. We'll stay true to ourselves!" (Again, this is just kind of how it was laid out in the musical) So, Judas is on board! He goes around with Jesus and Jesus helps the people and it's awesome. But then Jesus starts getting all weird and like "my name is Jesus, come check me out." Just so we're clear, this is how I saw the musical. I just feel like I have to say that after every sentence. Anywho! Judas is weirded out by it. Judas is like "shouldn't we be helping the poor and stuff!?" And Jesus says "we can't make the poor rich!" (meaning we need to make the rich humble and stuff, but that's not really highlighted in the musical, but it can be). And Judas gets all mad and is so confused because Jesus and he started this thing together and then Jesus, like sold out. He's got the disciples worshiping Him too, and Judas is just not about it. He sees it as not what they wanted.
So, that's Judas.
Then we got the superstar Himself.
Throughout the musical, Jesus is seen putting on a strong face for the crowds, but then sort of breaking at some points under the pressure and constant persisting people. The way Jesus sees it, He's going around saving people by The Word, but people are constantly thinking about the material things and wanting physically healed in one way or another. There is this piece in the musical in which there are people from all over, coming out of the woodwork, asking to be healed. Once He touches one to heal him or her, five more come forward. Totally crowding Him, begging to be healed. He goes around as much as possible, trying to heal all He can. The music speeds up, the voices get louder, more people crowd Him until He is flooded with people all around Him. Finally, He breaks. "Heal yourselves!" Of course, for those who aren't super familiar with The Bible, it seems kind of rude. Even people who ARE familiar with The Bible think it's rude. But I saw it as "you guys are missing the point! Just love and glorify God!" Which He says ALL THE TIME in The Bible. Plus this song that is Him praying in the garden before they arrest Him, and it just sums up everything He's been thinking. And the whole song is this MAN asking why he was the one that had to do it? Why did He ask him? And it's just beautiful, but I digress.
So, the thing between Judas and Jesus seems like a big miscommunication and misunderstanding than protagonist/antagonist relationship.
Okay, so yes, it's just a musical. But it's like the only one out of Andrew Lloyd Webber's canon that I actually like. And this subject matter is so close to my heart. And the relationship seems so clear to me. Judas was scared and confused and frustrated was not evil. Jesus was scared and confused and frustrated and not evil. And, yeah, maybe this whole piece isn't chalk-full of theology, but I'm saying a production could be!
And don't even get me started on that Mary Magdalene love triangle.
Okay, so Jesus is a little angsty in this one for my taste, but I love the Judas in this one!
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