Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)

Ted Neeley: Jesus Christ

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Quotes 

• Jesus : If you knew all that I knew, my poor Jerusalem, you'd see the truth, but you close your eyes. But you close your eyes. While you live, your troubles are many, poor Jerusalem. To conquer death, you only have to die. You only have to die.

• Jesus : Why I should die? Would I be more noticed than I ever was before? Would the things I've said and done matter anymore?

• Jesus : God, thy will is hard. But you hold every card. I will drink your cup of poison, nail me to your cross and break me, bleed me, beat me, kill me! Take me now, before I change my mind!

• Lepers : See my eyes, I can hardly see. See me stand, I can hardly walk. I believe you can make me whole. See my tongue, I can hardly talk. See my skin, I'm a mass of blood. See my legs, I can hardly stand. I believe you can make me well. See my purse, I'm a poor, poor man. Will you touch, will you mend me, Christ? Won't you touch, will you heal me, Christ? Will you kiss, you can cure me, Christ? Won't you kiss, won't you pay me, Christ?

  Jesus : [simultaneously]  There's too many of you. Don't push me! There's too little of me. Don't crowd me! Leave me alone!

• Jesus : [singing]  I only want to say, if there is a way, take this cup away from me, for I don't want to taste its poison, feel it burn me, I have changed, I'm not as sure as when we started...

• Jesus : [last words]  Father... into your hands... I commend... my spirit!

  [dies] 

• Jesus : Can you show me now that I will not be killed in vain? Show me just a little of your omnipresent brain! Show me there's a reason for your wanting me to die! You're far too keen on where and how, but not so hot on why!

• Pontius Pilate : [after the 39 lashes]  Where are you from, Jesus? What do you want, Jesus? Tell me! You've got to be careful; you could be dead soon. Could well be! Why do you not speak when I have your life in my hands? How can you stay quiet? I don't believe you understand!

  Jesus : You have nothing in your hands. Any power you have comes to you from far beyond. Everything is fixed, and you can't change it.

• Jesus : Father, forgive them... they don't know... what they're doing!

• Apostles : What's the buzz? Tell me whats-a-happening? What's the buzz? Tell me what's-a-happening?

  Jesus : Why should you want to know? Why are you obsessed with fighting times and fates you can't defy? If you knew the path we're riding you'd understand it less than I.

• Jesus : Surely you're not saying we have the resources to save the poor from their lot? There will be poor always, pathetically struggling, look at the good things you've got! Think while you still have me, move while you still need me. You'll be lost and you'll be sorry when I'm gone!

• Jesus : My temple should be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves! Get out! Get out!

• Jesus : Will no one stay awake with me? Peter? John? James? Will none of you wait with me? Peter? John? James?

• Jesus : Why, then, am I scared to finish what I started? What you started... I didn't start it.

• Pontius Pilate : Then you are a king?

  Jesus : It's you that say I am. I look for truth, and find that I get damned.

  Pontius Pilate : And what is "truth"? Is truth unchanging law? We both have truths. Are mine the same as yours?

• Jesus : I'm amazed that men like you can be so shallow, thick and slow. There is not a man among you who knows or cares if I come or go!

  Apostles : No! You're wrong! You're very wrong! No! You're wrong! You're very wrong! How can you say that? How can you say that? How can you say that? How can you say that?

  Jesus : Not one. Not one of you!

• Jesus : Why waste your breath moaning at the crowd? Nothing can be done to stop the shouting! If every tongue were stilled, the noise would still continue! The rocks and stones themselves would start to sing!

• Jesus : The end is just a little harder when brought about by friends. For all you care, this wine could be my blood. For all you care, this bread could be my body. The end. This is my blood you drink, this is my body you eat. If you could, remember me when you eat and drink.

• Jesus : [singing]  Then, I was inspired. Now, I'm sad and tired. Listen, surely I've exceeded expectations, tried for three years, seems like thirty. Could you ask as much from any other man?

• [Jesus' parting words to the disciples] 

  Jesus : Put away your swords! Don't you know that it's all over? It was nice but now it's gone. Why are you obsessed with fighting? Stick to fishing from now on.

• Pontius Pilate : Talk to me, Jesus Christ! You have been brought here, manacled, beaten by your own people! Do you have the first idea why you deserve it? Listen, King of the Jews, where is your kingdom? Look at me! Am I a Jew?

  Jesus : I have no kingdom. In this world, I'm through.

  Crowd : Talk to me, Jesus Christ...

  Jesus : There may be a kingdom for me somewhere, if you only knew.

• Jesus : My God! My God! Why have you forgotten me?

• Jesus : You liar, you Judas!

• Jesus : For all you care, this wine could be my blood. For all you care, this bread could be my body.

• Jesus : Hurry, you fool! Hurry and go. Save me your speeches, I don't want to know. Go, go!

• Jesus : Judas... Must you betray me with a kiss?

• Caiaphas : Jesus, you must realize the serious charges facing you. You say you're the son of God in all your handouts. Well, is it true?

  Jesus : That's what you say. You say that I am.

  Annas : There you have it, gentlemen. What more evidence do we need? Judas, thank you for the victim. Stay a while and you'll see him bleed!

• Jesus : [singing]  My time is almost through, Little left to do, After all I've tried for three years, Seems like thirty, Seems like thirty...

• Jesus : [singing]  Let them hate me, hit me, hurt me, nail me to their tree.

• Jesus : [singing]  I must be mad thinking I'll be remembered, yes, I must be out of my head! Look at your blank faces! My name will mean nothing, Ten minutes after I'm dead!

• Jesus : Leave her, leave her. Let her be, now. Leave her, leave her. She's with me, now. If your slate is clean, then you can throw stones. If your slate is not, then leave her alone!