Act I

The apostle Judas Iscariot expresses in musical monologue his concern over Jesus' rising popularity as a "king" and the negative repercussions that will have ("Heaven on Their Minds"). While Judas still loves Jesus, he believes that Jesus is just a man, not God, and worries that Jesus' following will be seen as a threat to the Roman Empire which would then punish both Jesus and his associates. Judas' warning falls on deaf ears, as Jesus' followers have their minds set on going to Jerusalem with Jesus. As they ask Jesus when they will be arriving in Jerusalem, Jesus tells them to stop worrying about the future, since whatever will happen is determined by God ("What's the Buzz?").

Recognizing that Jesus is irritated by the badgering from his followers, Mary Magdalene tries to help Jesus relax. Judas is concerned that Jesus is associating with Mary, who is a prostitute. It seems to Judas that Jesus is contradicting his own teaching, and he worries this will be used against Jesus and his followers ("Strange Thing Mystifying"). Jesus tells Judas that unless he is without sin himself, he should not judge the character of others. Jesus then reproaches his apostles for being "shallow, thick and slow" and exclaims that not a single one of them cares about him. Mary Magdalene tries to assure Jesus that "Everything's Alright" while anointing him with oil. Judas angrily insists that the money used to obtain the oil should have been used to help the poor. Jesus sadly explains that he and his followers do not have the resources to help every poor person.Meanwhile, Caiaphas (the high priest), Annas, and other Jewish priests meet to discuss Jesus and his movement. Jesus' growing following consists of Jews unwilling to accept the Romans as their rulers, and the priests believe that Jesus may be seen as becoming a threat to the Roman Empire. If the Romans retaliate, many Jews will suffer, even those who are not following Jesus. Caiaphas states that the only real solution is to kill Jesus ("This Jesus Must Die"). As Jesus and his followers arrive in Jerusalem, they are confronted by Caiaphas, who demands that Jesus disband them. However, Jesus replies that putting an end to it is impossible ("Hosanna"). Jesus is approached by his apostle Simon the Zealot, who suggests that Jesus lead his mob in a war against Rome and gain absolute power ("Simon Zealotes"). Jesus rejects this suggestion, stating that none of his followers understand what true power is, nor do they understand his true message ("Poor Jerusalem").

Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea, has dreamed of meeting with Jesus and has seen that he, Pilate, will receive all of the blame for Jesus' death ("Pilate's Dream"). Jesus arrives at the Temple in Jerusalem and finds that it is being used for selling everything from weapons to prostitutes and drugs. He is furious and demands that the merchants and money changers leave the temple ("The Temple"). Angry and tired, Jesus wanders off but is confronted by lepers, cripples, and beggars, all wanting to be healed. Their number increases, and Jesus is overwhelmed. Unable to solve everyone's problems, Jesus tells the crowd to heal themselves. Mary Magdalene finds Jesus upset and tells him to rest ("Everything's Alright"). While Jesus is asleep, Mary acknowledges that she is in love with Jesus, but he is unlike any man that she has loved before ("I Don't Know How to Love Him").

Judas seeks out the priests and promises to help them against Jesus, while emphasizing that he is acting with unselfish motives ("Damned for All Time"). Caiaphas demands that Judas reveal the location of Jesus so that the authorities can apprehend him. In exchange for the information, Judas is offered money ("Blood Money"). Judas initially turns down the offer, but he agrees when Caiaphas tells him of charities to which he can give the money. Judas decides that it would be better to turn Jesus in before his popularity leads to the deaths of Jesus and his followers, Judas included. Judas reveals that on Thursday night, Jesus will be at the Garden of Gethsemane.

Act II

At what Jesus knows will be the Last Supper, he pours wine and passes bread for his apostles. He tells them that they should think of the wine as his blood and the bread as his body, and in the future should eat this meal together in remembrance of him. He predicts that Peter will deny him three times. When Jesus states that one of them will betray him, Judas confesses that he is the one. Judas, still angry at Jesus, goes to bring the Roman soldiers to arrest Jesus ("The Last Supper"). The remaining eleven apostles fall sleep, and Jesus implores God to not let him suffer the horrible death God has planned for him. He feels disillusioned with his quest as the Messiah and wishes to give up. Receiving no answer, Jesus realizes that he cannot defy God's will. Jesus pleads for God to take his life quickly ("Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say)").

Judas arrives with Roman soldiers and identifies Jesus by kissing him on the cheek. Jesus is arrested, and his apostles attempt to fight the soldiers. Jesus tells them to let the soldiers take him to Caiaphas. On the way, a mob (acting like modern-day news reporters) asks Jesus what he plans to do, but Jesus declines to comment. When Jesus is brought to trial before the Sanhedrin, Caiaphas asks if he is the son of God. Jesus responds: "That's what you say, you say that I am." This answer is affirmative according to Jewish custom, and that provides enough justification for the high priests to send Jesus to Pontius Pilate ("The Arrest"). Meanwhile, Jesus' apostle Peter is confronted by an old man, a soldier and a maid, and Peter denies to each that he knows Jesus. Mary asks Peter why he denied Jesus, and Peter responds that he had to do it in order to save himself. Mary wonders how Jesus knew that Peter would deny him three times ("Peter's Denial").

Pilate asks Jesus if he is the son of God. Jesus gives the same answer that he gave Caiaphas: "that's what you said." Since Jesus is from Galilee, Pilate says that he is not under his jurisdiction and sends him to King Herod ("Pilate and Christ"). As Jesus is dragged away, the chorus asks where Jesus' power has gone ("Hosanna"). King Herod asks him to prove his divinity by performing miracles, offering to free him if he complies; but Jesus ignores him. Herod decides that Jesus is just another phony messiah and sends him back to Pilate ("Herod's Song (Try It and See)"). The apostles and Mary Magdalene remember when they first began following Jesus, and wish "Could We Start Again, Please?" Feeling extreme guilt for Jesus' harsh treatment by the authorities, Judas expresses regret to the priests, fearing he will forever be remembered as a traitor. Caiaphas says that what he has done will save everyone. Left alone, Judas blames God for choosing him to be the one to betray Jesus, and he commits suicide ("Judas' Death").

At Jesus' trial, Pilate asks the crowd if they would crucify Jesus, their king, and they declare: "We have no king but Caesar!" Pilate remembers the dream he had about the crowd and the unjust execution of Jesus ("Pilate's Dream" instrumental). Pilate tells the crowd that, while Jesus should be imprisoned, he does not deserve to die. Pilate demands that the crowd give him a reason to condemn Jesus, and the crowd breaks into a pep rally-style cheer about how Jesus has defied Rome. Pilate calls the crowd hypocrites, as he knows they hate Roman rule. He attempts to satisfy their bloodlust by having Jesus whipped, counting thirty-nine bloody strokes. Pilate pleads with Jesus to defend himself; but Jesus weakly says that everything has been determined (by God), and Pilate cannot change it. The crowd still screams for Jesus to be crucified, and Pilate recalls his duty to keep the peace. He reluctantly agrees to crucify Jesus ("Trial Before Pilate (Including the Thirty-Nine Lashes)").

As Jesus prepares to be crucified, he sees the spirit of Judas. Judas questions why Jesus chose to arrive in the manner that he did, and if what happened to him was really part of a divine plan ("Superstar"). Jesus is put on a cross and slowly dies ("The Crucifixion"; "John Nineteen: Forty-One").