Jesus Christ Superstar: Musical synopsis
Jesus Christ Superstar synopsis
The musical begins with a display of the presence of the confrontation between Judas Iscariot and his teacher, Jesus, who first considers only a man, not a God or His messenger, and criticizes that Jesus is too uncritically accepting all new followers, fearing that he will gain popularity among the people by following Him. Jesus and his disciples want to go to Jerusalem, planning days, he calls them not to worry too much about the future – there will be what will be. Judas reveals his true commitment to Christ because he worries about his name, and the consistency of the teaching, as Issa has tied himself with a prostitute, Mary Magdalene, whom Judas condemns. But Issa tells him that "don’t judge and will not be judged", and we are not all sinless, which originates in his followers' confusion and anger. When Mary is trying to oil his body with olive oil, Issa is angry that the money could be given to the poor; that is, their current use is irrational. Jesus, at this stage, shows all the features of the ordinary, though very sensible, person, because there is anger, blame, and carelessness about the future present in him.
Several high priests of Rome, watching what is going on with Jesus and his teachings, come to the conclusion that the spread of his doctrine should be stopped, and he destroyed, as an element that threatens to the existence of the socio-political system of Rome. All his followers and even those who do not share the teachings are under attack. Because with the fall of the power of the Roman Empire, statehood and civilization will cease too, causing irreparable harm to the public. High priests want to avoid this in the first place. After the entry of Jesus and his followers in Jerusalem, he becomes an aim of attacks, even up to the point that he wanted to make a coup d’état, which he, of course, denies in those words, that in this city no one knows his real intentions. Issa sees that the city, in which he has entered, has become the center of debauchery, lust, and arms trafficking, and is horrified by this state of affairs. In one of his most famous scenes of rage, he chases the merchants and moneychangers out of the temple, which is a sacred place.
After that, people started to arrive at him, unhealthy physically and mentally, and he began to treat them, but their flow is so great that he abandoned this idea, proclaiming that all they should do is treat themselves. He does not have enough time to rest. Maria discovers that she is in love with her mentor. Judah does not like this situation; he expressed jealousy towards the woman, as he wants the teacher to be close only to him, not knowing that the gift and philosophy of Issa is the property of the whole world. He conspires with the high priests of Rome and sells them Christ for 30 pieces of silver, because he did not want His popularity has increase very high.
At the Last Supper, Judas says bad words to Jesus and comes after custody, so they grabbed Him, while the rest of the followers did not do anything to save Him, falling asleep. Issa goes to pray to God so that he gives him strength, coming into the place where the soldiers are ready to capture Issa. He already wants to go back to God, so he took him, because He feels that he cannot be the salvation for people anymore.
After his arrest, which the apostles could not resist (and Issa told them not to do so), he refused to comment on his further action, is judged first by a court of faith, presided the priests, and then he was sent to the law court to Pilate. Meanwhile, his chief disciple Peter renounces his mentor, fearing for his own life, and then leaves in pilgrimage, carrying word of his faith to other people. Issa is transmitted to the king of those lands, so the latter said his final accusation word, and the king even says that will free him if Issa will show his "tricks" with healing, but because Christ ignores it, the king is beginning to enrage and assigns the court over him to Pontius.
Judas feels bad, understanding that he betrayed his mentor and best friend, wants to repent before the high priests, but chose his own audience very badly and they did not really listen to him and then pushed him out of the temple, dooming him to the terrible pangs of conscience. He gives in to his despair in suicide.
On execution, the crowd calls him to be crucified, and the judges decide that He is no more than an ordinary human being, not a prophet, not a son of God. Pilate appointed Issa a different penalty, trying to satisfy the bloodthirsty mob, although previously he wanted to impose a milder punishment, perhaps even his imprisonment, but kept him alive. But the raging crowd did not allow him to do only some moderate punishment, so he was crucified. All, except of the spirit of Judas, were sad about this event, recalling the changes that Issa had brought in their lives.
Last Update:June, 02nd 2025
Jesus Christ Superstar Lyrics: Song List
- Act 1
- Overture
- Heaven On Their Minds
- What's The Buzz
- Then We Are Decided
- Strange Thing Mystifying
- Everything's Alright
- This Jesus Must Die
- Hosanna
- Simon Zealotes
- Poor Jerusalem
- Pilate's Dream
- The Temple
- I Don't Know How To Love Him
- Damned For All Time / Blood Money
- Act 2
- The Last Supper
- Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say)
- The Arrest
- Peter's Denial
- Pilate And Christ
- King Herod's Song (Try It And See)
- Could We Start Again Please?
- Judas' Death
- Trial Before Pilate
- Superstar
- The Crucifixion
- John Nineteen: Forty-One