Overview
The Christmas Rock Opera is set in modern times but it draws on some of the geography and cultural elements of Jesus’ place and time. So the listener may as well imagine it being set in New York as in Israel. Therefore, there are many anachronisms such as electric lighting, recorded music, automobiles, and yes, even Christmas. In this portrayal, Jesus comes into a world that celebrates the holidays much as we do today: with hot cocoa and decorated trees. The characters wear robes and fish with hand tied nets, but they do so in motorized boats.
eulogy to a beginning
this is how we like to end ● atomic tom
voices: james and the brothers of jesus
scene:
It’s a memorial service for Jesus. James walks to the front and begins speaking. Jesus’ body is not present, but photos of him stand on either side. The other brothers join him until all stand at the front of a group of mourners including Mary, the mother of Jesus, and several younger women who obviously have a deep emotional attachment to Jesus. There are flashbacks to Jesus’ life as a child, a young man, and a beginning minister. The child Jesus plays a game, loses his temper and pushes another child down. Jesus argues with a rabbi; the rabbi gets angry throws Jesus out of the synagogue. An older Jesus sees a child fall; he picks the child up to comfort him. The adult Jesus prevents the stoning of an adulteress and pardons her. The final flashback is to Jesus hanging on the cross.
talking ’bout good times
sweet disposition ● the temper trap
voices: peter and james (the apostles), mary magdalene, and the other mary
scene:
After the memorial service, several of Jesus’ closest friends and associates gather at Mary Magdalene’s home to reminisce and comfort each other. In addition to those mentioned above, there are other women and some sinners, publicans, and drinking buddies. Mary is a hospitable host and welcomes these other women who loved Jesus as she did. They all retell stories of their association. There are flashbacks to some of their memories with him: playing pranks on the high priests, his first kiss, Jesus and some buddies acting like buffoons in a tavern, Jesus speaking to a crowd packed into a small home (some members of the crowd hang on every word, others get offended and leave), and women falling in love with him.
god calls dibs and a son is born
maria ● blondie
voices: girl friends of mary, the mother of jesus
scene:
Mary, the mother of Jesus is a young girl. She is going about her chores in a carefree spirit: tending to sheep, visiting the market, fetching water, even visiting synagogue to pray. Everywhere she goes, people notice her; girls and women sing her praises while men are distracted and star-struck. Waving her hands as she dances to music in her head, she climbs a hill near her home and falls on the ground behind a large boulder. Her hair fans out around her radiant face. A bright light encompasses her. The scene ends with her beginning to show her pregnancy and being transported away by her family in order to hide her shame.
whatever, you’re perfect to me
young folks ● peter bjorn and john
voices: jesus and esther
scene:
The young Jesus confides in Esther about some things in his past which he is not proud of. She accepts him in spite of his confession. The two sit together and watch the stars, the moonrise, and shooting stars. They talk about their common interests and frustrations with the local culture.
young love and expectations
i melt with you ● modern english
voices: jesus, martha, and mary
scene:
The adult Jesus comes in from working in the shop. He declares his love for Martha and brightly explains to her some of his hopes and dreams. She echoes his sentiments with admiration. Later, the other Mary, Martha’s sister, comes to visit and begins echoing some of his sentiments also, so he declares his love for her, too. Martha gets jealous. Jesus comforts her and explains that all is well, for there is nothing that he wouldn’t do to make their lives exquisite.
no fear for fairy
tales
unbelievers ● vampire weekend
voice: jesus
scene:
Jesus visits the marketplace and witnesses many disturbing scenes. Jesus begins expressing dissatisfaction with the unwarranted piety of his society. He ridicules their self-righteousness by sarcastically acknowledging that he will be destroyed for his views. He comforts Martha by telling her that at least they’ll be together in hell. Jesus finds a kindred spirit in John the Baptist. John boldly condemns the religious sects for their hypocrisy and vigorously declares repentance. Jesus joins John’s movement, by being baptized himself. However, he eventually realizes that John’s doom-and-gloom approach does not resonate with him. In fact, he begins to question the tales from the past that have been used by religious teachers to control him and others. He tells Martha that he simply wants to live in love and peace but he doesn’t know how to reconcile his religious upbringing with his natural tendency.
disillusionment and new hope
all my heroes ● bleachers
voice: jesus
scene:
Jesus decides to break with John the Baptist. He feels that there is a fundamental and irreconcilable conflict between the true nature of God and the teachings of the rabbis and the prophets. He decides that something must be done about it, but no one is rushing to correct the problem. He doesn’t know exactly what to do about it himself, but he commits himself to working on it.
a message falls on deaf ears
hear me ● imagine dragons
voice: jesus
scene:
Jesus decides to take his ideas to the people. He feels a lot of self-imposed pressure to connect with someone, but no one will listen. He tries again and again. By day, he talks to customers and vendors which he encounters in the normal course of business and he soaks his pillow with tears at night. Martha is at a loss for how to encourage him. He tells her that he must do something, because he doesn’t have forever.
back to basics: the sun and the rain
spaceman ● 4 non blondes
voice: jesus
scene:
Jesus rises from another sleepless night. He sneaks out of bed and retreats to the hills to be alone and to contemplate his course in life. He watches the stars until only the morning star remains. A cold breeze blows and then the sun rises. He is overwhelmed by the beauty and wonder of nature. He declares to the sky that these are the only sermons that God preaches for himself. If only he could be like God, like that, infinitely gracious and generous with everyone. He wonders if there’s a better way.
lamenting the lost years
let it go ● blue october
voice: jesus
scene:
Working in the shop, Jesus takes a break to ask himself some serious questions. It starts with him looking through the doorway up to the sky, as if addressing himself to God. Then there are surreal flashbacks to scenes pictured through the eyes of Jesus: holding a woman’s hand, wiping Esther’s tears away, praying in synagogue, brushing his hands over heads of matured wheat. Intermittently, he is seen again in his shop scrutinizing his tools and wooden parts that he has built. The scene ends with him busting a board over a workbench and bending over with his head buried in his hands.
tried everything? now try this
march to the sea ● twenty one pilots
voices: jesus and a fisherman
scene:
Jesus walks to the Sea of Galilee and joins a random fisherman carrying some gear. Jesus helps him carry the gear and strikes up a conversation. He tells the fisherman what he sees, which he uses as an allegory for the state of human life. The fisherman tells him what he sees which is rather tangible and obvious. The two carry on in this fashion for some time, with Jesus insisting on relating the visible world to something metaphorical. The fisherman often humorously interjects something into Jesus’ dialogue to bring him back to earth. When Jesus starts speaking of things that he sees in the sky, it’s a little too much for the fisherman. The fisherman thanks Jesus for the help and takes his leave. Then Jesus continues with a monologue of what he hears in his head: a calling.
one love, one god, one life to give
40 day dream ● edward sharpe & the magnetic zeros
voices: jesus, mary, and martha
scene:
Jesus returns from spending forty days in the wilderness. He bursts into the home with a declaration of the great understanding that he has obtained. Mary is happy to see him, as is Martha, although Martha pretends to be offended. He tells them how utterly smitten he is with love for them both. He claims that the love he feels for them transcends this life, thus overcoming his fear of death. Soon everyone is dancing for joy. They’ve never seen him this happy before.
the sage gets his groove on, yeah!
pocket of dreams ● royal bliss
voices: jesus and random people in the street
scene:
Jesus immediately dances out into the street, grabbing people and expressing his empathy for them. He congratulates them because whatever struggles they are coping with will soon transform into blessing and joy. Faces that haven’t genuinely smiled in years crack with optimism. Some even cry for joy to hear the good news which he brings them.
let’s go see this one they speak of
cut it out ● kitten
voices: mary magdalene, a friend, and random others
scene:
Mary Magdalene grew up in a wealthy family, but she is unsatisfied with the control her parents try to exert over her. She never pleases them and she has never found what pleases her, either. She hears about Jesus from a friend who tells her how positively he has affected her life. She goes to listen to him and is immediately smitten by his message, but she has no direct contact with him at this time. Word spreads quickly and before long, large crowds are gathering to listen to him.
it’s here, but people don’t see it
starman ● david bowie
voices: jesus and mary magdalene
scene:
Mary Magdalene seeks out and meets Jesus. He speaks of how God appears in all things but few notice him. God is powerful but humble and reluctant to reveal himself. He is vitally interested in us, however, and attentive to us continually. There is no need to wait for some later event; enter now into the joy of the Lord.
the prince of peace pings on radar
guns for hands ● twenty one pilots
voices: jesus and the high priests
scene:
Jesus begins by commenting on the hidden motives of the heart. Some people put up facades of purity and devise wicked acts inside. He denounces violence and coercion. This catches the attention of some of the religious leaders who feel targeted by his preaching. As he is teaching, they secretly repeat some of his phrases as self-directed accusations in a sinister plot against him.
live. love. hurt. learn. repeat.
invisible prisons ● zeale feat. justin furstenfeld
voices: jesus and random followers
scene:
Jesus teaches his disciples to love their enemies, to return good for evil, to give liberally to those who ask, and to comply with vexatious requirements and conditions with an extra dose of grace.
greater love hath no man
bleeding out ● imagine dragons
voices: jesus, his disciples, and the high priests
scene:
Jesus becomes increasingly aware of the enmity between him and the religious leaders. As he declares his love for his disciples and his willingness to die for them, the scene cuts to the high priests conspiring and sneering about their motives to end this sensation, Jesus, who is drawing away many of their people.
nowhere to rest his head
superman (it’s not easy) ● five for fighting
voice: jesus
scene:
Jesus secludes himself in a garden to pray and pours out his heart. During his prayer, there are flashbacks to various occasions when Jesus did some heroic deed for people: healing their sick, saving the weak from violence, or merely lifting the spirits of the downtrodden. Unbeknownst to most of them, Jesus himself was sad and bending under the weight of his own grand message. Nevertheless, he vows to continue bearing the good news to people in need.
let the children come to me
things we don’t know about ● blue October
voices: jesus and several children
scene:
Jesus calls for a child to come to him. He declares his never-ending love for her and teaches her to look for God in the mysteries of existence. Other children join the two of them and he tells them that he wishes he were more like them.
together is a better inheritance
timeless ● the airborne toxic event
voices: jesus, mary magdalene, and other disciples
scene:
Jesus begins singing in the street as he approaches an inn at dusk. He enters to find Mary and several disciples gathered at a table eating supper. He joins them, breaks bread, pours some soup, and shares their wine. They join in with him in expressing their mutual affection. Jesus says that they make him want to live forever. He and Mary exchange loving glances. He reaches for her hand and asks her to stay the night with him.
wise as serpents, harmless as doves
careful ● guster
voices: jesus and martha
scene:
Martha returns after cooling down following an argument with Jesus. He tells her that his love is not fickle like that of some of her friends. He warns her to be as tenacious in clinging to hope and joy as they are in attempting to snatch her away from it.
consider the lilies of the field
turn ● travis
voices: jesus and several disciples
scene:
Jesus and his disciples are sitting under the shade of a tree. Jesus teaches that the kingdom of heaven is like various things with which they have common experience: seeds, trees, and lilies growing in the field. He makes God’s domain sound like it is present, in that very spot, just waiting to be perceived. They ask various questions to which he gives obvious or silly responses. He tells them that they will only learn the answers to their questions by earnest inquiry.
anointed for death
the heartache can wait ● brandi carlile
voices: mary (martha’s sister)
scene:
It’s a foggy night in Jerusalem. The scene transitions to a memory of Jesus’ last time spent home for the holidays. It is set months prior, when Jesus was back in Galilee. Mary washes Jesus’ feet and anoints his head with oil. Her tears fall on his cheek. There’s a fire burning on the hearth and the sound of bells in the town. She tells him that she can’t bear the thought of him leaving. She’s afraid that he won’t come back. She pleads with him to stay. The scene ends with Jesus walking in Jerusalem on the same foggy night.
the gethsemane & the cross
bleed out ● blue October
voice: jesus
scene:
The foggy night of the previous scene continues with Jesus visiting the garden of Gethsemane to pray. In anguish, he pleads with God to spare his life. Jesus doesn’t perceive the high priests or the Romans as the true threat. God is the one calling the shots. Jesus has vigorously declared God’s goodness and generosity. It occurs to him that if he would be like God, he must give liberally, without complaint, without demanding recognition, and without a whimper. Jesus only has one thing left to give and as the soldiers appear to take him away, he resigns himself to his fate. The scene ends with Jesus being raised up on the cross.
magdalene shakes things up
the queen ● lady gaga
voices: mary magdalene
scene:
With a mix of sorrow and righteous indignation, Mary washes the body of Jesus.She affectionately cleans his wounds and broken skin. She and others prepare his body for burial with oil and herbs and cloth. As she does so, she vows to remain true to Jesus’ teachings and warns the world that she will rise to the capacity which lies inside of her. The scene ends with several assistants carrying Jesus’ body into the sepulcher as she and a few others follow.
miracle of miracles, he lives!
a kind of magic ● queen
voices: jesus, mary magdalene, the apostles
scene:
Jesus rises from the dead. The first person to see him is Mary Magdalene. She tells the apostles and he appears to them also. The scene is one of great celebration and rejoicing.
words written and sealed upon hearts
eye of the needle ● sia
voices: martha, mary (martha’s sister), and other women who loved jesus
scene:
The women sing apart from each other in the course of their normal activities which they can hardly carry out because the grief is too immense. Something as mundane as shopping at the market, or breaking bread brings back a memory that shakes them. They declare that Jesus will forever be their great love. The scene ends with each retiring to their beds.
when the silence screams
no way ● the naked and famous
voices: martha, mary (martha’s sister)
scene:
It is morning; the sun is rising. The two women rise from their beds and meet in the kitchen. They decide to strengthen each other by sharing their pain through the grieving process.
decadent king has no real friends
fifteen feet of pure white snow ● nick cave & the bad seeds
voice: king herod
scene:
King Herod wakes in a fright in the middle of the night. He seems paranoid. He goes out to the balcony. His breath condenses in the freezing air and snow has covered the earth. He remembers many people who were involved in the movements of John the Baptist and Jesus who are now dead. Herod either mocked or sentenced many of them to death. In his frightened state, he seems to have found some value for them, but it’s too late. Herod concludes that each person must look out for him-or-herself.
cast fire upon the world until it blazes
you are a tourist ● death cab for cutie
voices: jesus and the apostles
scene:
The apostles are gathered to discuss their predicament. Jesus appears to his apostles to offer words of comfort and encouragement. He tells them to keep the movement alive and to spread it upon the earth.
figs are not gathered among thorns
right behind you ● brandon flowers
voice: jesus
scene:
The apostles are scattered about spreading the word. Jesus appears incognito to each separately as they experience individual trials or hardships to offer some words of advice or comfort. When they realize that it is Jesus speaking, he disappears.
waiting for the second coming
man of the hour ● pearl jam
voice: peter
scene:
As Jesus ascends into heaven for the final time, Peter gives his own tribute to his old friend.