This article explores what we learn about Jesus’s character from “Gethsemane”, the extraordinary song from the rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar.” It is a continuation of this column.
JESUS’S CHARACTER TRAIT #1: HONESTY
So what does “Gethsemane” reveal about Jesus’s character?
First of all, it shows me that Jesus is honest – especially with God. When he prays, he’s not afraid to reveal exactly what is on his mind. He doesn’t hide his feelings – even though they aren’t pretty. And he doesn’t hide his opinions. His prayer isn’t simply a lament: it’s an argument. It’s a debate to which Jesus brings both his heart and his mind. He tries to rationalize with God. He marshals evidence in support of his case. He spars with God using the full tools at his disposal. After all, his life is on the line, and he knows he has one mind to convince. But, most importantly, he doesn’t lie. He doesn’t tell his Father what he thinks he wants to hear. He doesn’t pretend that accepting his fate is easy. He doesn’t offer a deal in exchange for his life – a deal which he knows he can’t honor. Standing at rock-bottom, he doesn’t give in to temptation. With the whole world screaming him that the ends justify the means, he covers his ears. And he continues to speak the truth.
Of course, maybe Jesus is so honest because he knows God can see into his heart. But the intensity of the music and the lyrics of this song blast that possibility out of the water. This is agonized, passionate, heart-on-your sleeve music. It’s not music that hides anything. Instead, like a sonic magnifying glass, it amplifies the truth. It shows that Jesus’s prayer is spilling out directly from his heart, his mind, and his soul. (We’ll explore a number of other prayer songs in a later chapter. They will teach us a lot.)
JESUS’S CHARACTER TRAIT #2: FAITHFULNESS
Jesus’s honesty with God – especially at this darkest moment – reveals a second aspect of his character: his faithfulness. Now, it may at first seem like the opposite is true. If Jesus had real faith, why would he pray this prayer at all? Why wouldn’t he just trust his Father’s plan? Why wouldn’t he just “let go and let God?” Those questions, however, aren’t the right ones here. They point to an understanding of faith that is abstract, often irrelevant, and – frankly – unhelpful. The faithfulness that Jesus shows in this moment is practical, relevant, and helpful – to him and to those of us looking at him as a model. When Jesus prays, he brings his entire being to God, placing it in front of his Father. And he knows God is listening – and that he will keep listening. When Jesus starts to get angry, he’s not afraid that God will punish him, like a child talking to his parent. Instead, he trusts in God’s goodness, forgiveness, and patience, and he opens himself completely to his Father. In short, Jesus’s prayer shows us the depth of his trust and knowledge of his Father. It shows us that his relationship with him isn’t based on fear, but on deep knowledge of his character. Ultimately, it shows us that he has the kind of love for God that God has for him: mature, honest, and real.
“Gethsemane” shows me Jesus’s honesty and faithfulness in ways that make sense to me. It does so by giving me realistic and dramatically compelling contexts in which to understand them. It shows me that Jesus isn’t just honest in principle; he’s honest when the temptation to reject it is nearly irresistible. It shows me that that he isn’t just faithful; he’s faithful when faith seems impossible. At the same time, this song shows me the complexity and depth that undergirds each of these aspects of Jesus’s character. Honesty isn’t just telling the truth, but telling the truth under pressure. Faithfulness isn’t just certainty in God, but knowledge of God’s true character.
The Jesus that emerges in this song is a Jesus that sets my heart ablaze. To know him is to love him. And to love him – that is, to love him with a love that is based on real understanding – is to want to follow him. So, understanding the depth of Jesus’s honesty inspires me to follow in his footsteps: maybe I, too, can look for opportunities to live my life with honesty woven deeply into the tapestry of my being – even when facing the temptation to rip out that thread and throw it in the trash. And maybe comprehending Jesus’s faith will encourage me to remember God’s lovingkindness, mercy, and forgiveness – especially when I’m faced with a desire to run and hide from him.
JESUS’S CHARACTER TRAIT #3: COURAGE
There is one other aspect of Jesus’s character that “Gethsemane” reveals: his courage. That’s because the song shows just how difficult Jesus’s decision was. The Biblical account of the prayer in the garden, compressed and efficient, makes it easy for me to ignore the messy humanity of Jesus’s prayer. But “Gethsemane” puts it front-and-center. The frothing orchestra, the wailing guitars, the passionate vocals: they all reveal intensity of his fear. The lyrics then put that intensity into words, giving us a Jesus who scratches and claws at his Father, screaming at him and taunting him. “Gethsemane” is the musical manifestation of his tears of blood. When I hear this song, one simple truth screams back at me: Jesus did not want to die. And he would do anything to avoid it.
Almost anything, that is. Because, of course, we know that Jesus does in fact die. He takes a final sip from his Father’s cup. He ultimately accepts his fate. He offers his hands to the nails and his side to the spear.
Jesus faces his mortality head-on. And that is the definition of courage. Courage is faithfulness in practice. It’s what faith in God actually looks like. And “Gethsemane” – a song in which Jesus reveals his powerlessness, vulnerability, and fear – shows us just how much courage Jesus needed as he took his steps to Golgotha.
But wait a minute. Isn’t Jesus’s “courage” ultimately just acquiescence? Isn’t it essentially just “giving up?” Why should he get credit for ultimately giving in to God’s will – even if he initially tried to resist it? Is his courage here really a virtue? And if so, why does it matter?
Despite how they may look, these questions aren’t actually cynical. In fact, they are ultimately life-giving. That’s because they illuminate the unique power of Jesus’s character and his message. They point to the questions that I need answered if I’m going to understand how to follow Jesus. How does Jesus’s character show me what it means to be a Christian? What is unique and powerful and truthful about Jesus and the religion he inspired? And why should I follow him, anyway?
To answer these questions we need to look beyond Gethsemane. We need to journey with Jesus further into the darkness of Holy Week. Stay tuned for another post at another time…
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