"The dialogue between Jesus and God is without doubt the pinnacle of the human drama that goes on in this musical. It gazes into Jesus' very human soul! We see Jesus for who he is as a human, all his fears and doubts laid bare... Jesus contends with God, and at the end of the prayer there is submission (as in Job).
However, unlike Job, Jesus' suffering is not instigated by his external circumstances, such as natural disasters, heartbreaks, or diseases. Jesus brought the suffering upon himself, knowingly and willingly. The source of suffering is the darkest depths of his own soul. "Why me? Why should I die?" Jesus asks (another human would likely ask the same question). He indeed is the archetype of humanity... He is a man with a death mission, "caught in the squeeze between the varying expectations of his contemporaries and the demand of God... [who] remains faithful to his divine call in spite of his lack of understanding" (Tatum,126,127).
On a personal note, I loved the heartbreaking reconstruction of Gethsemane, because in many other films I remember it being excessively brief and fleeting in the midst of all the other events. The so-called 'pious' films that elevate Jesus to the divine status do not pay much attention to what anguish, what agony their God had to go through. Webber's Jesus does not hide from affliction and woe; not only can I relate to him as a fellow human being, but it makes me respect Jesus even more.
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Although Mary and Judas say that Jesus is "just a man", I don't think we can oversimplify Webber's message with such a statement. I think the message of the film itself is more complicated and open-ended than that. Surely, Webber emphasizes Jesus' humanity and invites the viewer to contemplate more about it. The film's message, in my opinion, is that one should not transform the image of Christ into just an ideal, whether it be God or a prophet, a social reformer or a moral teacher. The words, actions, and struggles of Christ emerge with a greater complexity in this film than in others, and the film invites us to think more about that complexity."
As I struggle on with fears, wrestle with doubts and contend with God, that scene in the Garden of Gethsemane lingers in my mind. It may not have been an orthodox portrayal, but what agony our Lord had to go through! It brings me to thank our God in that we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
I asked that He will not cast me away from His presence tonight.
God's love is so great that He cast His own Son away from His presence so that you and I might be saved.
Lord, You are my Lord and always will be. Let Your will be done. How can I wish any other?
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