“Take This Cup”

Musical Explorations of Jesus’s Prayer in Gethsemane

Listen to each of the four musical treatments of Jesus prayer. Each is based on the gospel of Matthew, yet each also adds or transforms the text in its own unique way.

For each, consider the following questions:

1.) How would you describe the “mood” or overall “emotional landscape” of the selection? Use any adjectives that come to mind.

2.) Which word(s) or phrase(s) seem to be the most important? What is the selection communicating by emphasizing them?

3.) What do we learn about Jesus’s character from this selection? What do we learn about his relationship to his Father?

4.) What is your personal response to this musical setting? Does it affect your own understanding of this scene in the Gospel? Does it impact you spiritual life in any way?

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice

Jesus Christ Superstar (1970)

Concept Album/Rock Opera

Background Information

“Gethsemane”: Start at 51:00

Jesus:

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
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?

But if I die
See the saga through and do the things you ask of me,
Let them hate me, hit me, hurt me, nail me to their tree
I'd want to know, I'd want to know, my God
I'd want to know, I'd want to know, my God
Want to see, I'd want to see, my God
Want to see, I'd want to see, my God

Why I should die
Would I be more noticed than I ever was before?
Would the things I've said and done matter any more?
I'd have to know, I'd have to know, my Lord
Have to know, I'd have to know, my Lord
Have to see, I'd have to see, my Lord
Have to see, I'd have to see, my Lord
If I die what will be my reward?
If I die what will be my reward?
Have to know, I'd have to know, my Lord
I'd have to know, I'd have to know, my Lord

Why should I die? Oh why should I die?
Can you show me now that I would 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 to keen and where and how, but not so hot on why

Alright, I'll die!
Just watch me die!
See how I die!
Then I was inspired
Now, I'm sad and tired
After all, I've tried for three years, seems like ninety
Why then am I scared to finish what I started
What you started, I didn't start it

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

Toll no bell for me Father

But let this cup of suffering pass from me

Send me no shepherd to heal my world

But the Angel - the dream foretold

Prayed more than thrice for You to see

The wolf of loneliness in me

...not my own will but Yours be done...

You wake up where's the tomb?

Will Easter come, enter my room?

The Lord weeps with me

But my tears fall for you

Another Beauty

Loved by a Beast

Another tale of infinite dreams

Your eyes they were my paradise

Your smile made my sun rise

Forgive me for I don't know what I gain

Alone in this garden of pain

Enchantment has but one truth:

I weep to have what I fear to lose

You wake up where's the tomb...

"I knew you never before

I see you never more

But the love the pain the hope O beautiful one

Have made you mine 'till all my years are done"

Without you

The poetry within me is dead.

IV. IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE

Listen from the beginning to 5:15

Soprano: trees want to rest wind never stops

Chorus: wu...wu...wu... Eli Eli Lamala

Soprano: in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus said to his disciples:

Soprano & Bass: let me pray

Jesus (Bass): sorrow, bitter sorrow, take this cup of suffering from me!

Soprano: he returned to disciples and found them asleep.

Jesus (Bass): the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

Soprano: the disciples still slept.

Jesus (Bass): wake up!