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The Beatles were a British rock band that made history, and have now become deified. This article will look at their spiritual mission, and John Lennon’s deep connection with Jesus Christ.

British rock band, The Beatles, is a landmark for rock music. In January there was an announcement that Peter Jackson will direct a new documentary film using 55 hours of never-before-seen footage from The Beatles’ recording sessions between 2nd and 31st January 1969, just before they disbanded. The fans are raving.

The Beatles, comprised of 4 members – John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr – was chosen by The Rolling Stones Magazine as number 1 in the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time list, and the Wall Street Journal’s statistics team placed them as long-time number 1 in the 100 Most Popular Rock Bands of All Time. There is no mistake that The Beatles were a band that dominated the music scene of the 20th century.

 

John Lennon and Jesus Christ

Their innovative sound and style brought a revolution to the music scene, but they swiftly disbanded in the 1970s. Paul and Ringo are still performing on stage, so fans have an opportunity to see the legends at work. But John was killed in 1980 at the age of 40. Before his death, however, he wrote many hit songs, including “Imagine”, that were praised for his singing, musicality, and profound message.

John has remained a controversial figure for just this reason. His infamous comment that, the Beatles were “bigger than Jesus,” the lyrics in his song “Imagine”, and his activism for peace alongside his wife Yoko Ono, have made him a target of criticism. Some argue that he was too much of a pacifist, a radical leftist, or even that he was anti-religious.

Recent events, however, have explained John’s true character. In January the spirit of the deceased John Lennon approached Master Ryuho Okawa, founder and CEO of Happy Science, and a spiritual message was recorded. The message uncovered the incredible truth that John Lennon was a “branch spirit” of Jesus of Nazareth. (Jesus is a spirit of the ninth dimension, and can split his spirit into smaller branches.)

This article will look at parallels in the lives of John and Jesus, and at John’s religiousness, along with interviews of people who were deeply influenced by The Beatles.

 

Rejecting Existing Religions and Faiths

Jesus Christ

In the 3 or so years that Jesus Christ preached his teachings he initiated a revolution in the religious world. Judaism, which was the primary religion in the area 2000 years ago, was a religion that bound people by Moses’ Ten Commandments, and those who opposed them were treated as sinners. They believed that God reigns down punishment on those who cannot follow the Jewish law.

Jesus, on the other hand, preached love and forgiveness. “If any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” “Forgive him, I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.” (RSV). He gave the people peace of mind.

Professor Kazuyuki Kaneko from HSU, who once debuted as the guitarist of a rock band says:

Jesus preached that the true meaning of ‘God’s will is law’ is to act out of love, because love is God’s will. When Jewish precept scholars asked him, “What is the most important precept?” he answered: “From the testament, one is to love your neighbour, and the other is to love the Lord your God.” He got the very heart of God’s will.

 
These teachings of love made him a target of Jewish criticism and fear by Roman leadership on his impact on the people, and as a result he was crucified. But what looked like defeat was not. Christianity is now one of the three great world religions and he has over 2 billion believers.

The Beatles Taught Love Through Music

The Beatles also taught love, but through music. The word “love” appears many times in their songs, and while those at the beginning of their career referred to love for a woman, it later transformed into love for friends and family, and finally for humankind.

The Beatles also spoke out against racism and war. John Lennon was especially passionate about these things, and went straight to activism after they disbanded.

John’s “bigger than Christ” remark from his Beatles years aroused much controversy, but this was not a denial of Christianity like some suppose.
In 1966 just before their U.S. tour, The London Evening Standard published John’s following thoughts:

“Christianity will go,” he said. “It will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue about that; I’m right and I will be proved right. We’re more popular than Jesus now. I don’t know which will go first, rock ‘n’ roll or Christianity. Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It’s them twisting it that ruins it for me.” (The London Evening Standard, 4 March 1966)

 
A few months later this was republished in an American magazine. The people were horror-struck. It had an especially great impact on the Bible belt in the South, and there were protest demonstrations everyday, records were burnt, and 35 radio stations across the U.S. banned Beatles music.

Despite this, The Beatles did not cancel their American tour, and after holding a press conference to apologize and explain the intentions behind John’s remarks, they set off on a tour of 19 concerts over 17 days across 14 venues.

 

Passionate Fans and Haters

In his apology press conference Lennon stated that he was neither an antichrist nor antireligious. His “bigger than Christ” remark was not a simple criticism of Christianity. By that time the Church of England was in decline and no one in the U.K. found a problem with those words.

Junnosuke Kawaguchi is the former bassist of the Japanese rock band, The Blue Hearts, and he was profoundly influenced by The Beatles. He comments on John’s “bigger than Christ” remark thus:

I think John saw that Christianity had no future. There were many fans who loved the Beatles, but at the same time they also had haters who were targeting their lives. That’s just like Jesus and his disciples.

 
On their U.S. tour in 1964, The Beatles took a public stand in support of civil rights. They even refused to perform in certain venues that separated seats between white and coloured people. The following year their performance contract stated that The Beatles should “not be required to perform in front of a segregated audience”.

Back then it was a taboo for musicians to make political comments, but that didn’t stop the Beatles from making their opinions clear to the public. The Beatles had contributed their piece to the American civil rights movement.

 

Music Beyond Races And Religions

In the 2016 documentary film, “The Beatles: Eight Days a Week”, African American actress Whoopi Goldberg shared her reflections on how the band gave her hope. She “never thought of them as white guys,” they were “colourless”.

Kawaguchi explains how The Beatles’ music was revolutionary.

They fused white music with black music. They created a new kind of music that went beyond the prejudices of race and religion. They were white people, but they spread black music around the world. That was a revolution.

 
On top of this, John Lennon married a Japanese woman: Yoko Ono. Those were times when there was severe discrimination against coloured people, especially Asians. But John went around with his wife and created many projects with her at his side. This attitude defied white supremacy tendencies that were prevalent in the West.

 

Combating Discrimination Through Doctrine and Music

Returning to Jesus, he defied the Jewish teaching that only Jews were the Chosen Ones, and instead preached that all people were equal in the name of the Lord.

At the time the Samaritans were victims of harsh discrimination, but Jesus taught that there is salvation even for the weak and poor, and made many miracles happen to those who believed it.

Professor Kaneko comments thus:

Jesus’ disciples were not highborn people and some of them were even targets of discrimination, such as fishermen and tax collectors. The woman who he kept by his side, Mary Magdalene, was said to be a former prostitute. This proves that Jesus loved all people equally regardless of their race or status.

The Beatles also held strong beliefs, and for their 1964 tour they announced in the newspapers that they refused to perform to a segregated audience. At their press conference they spoke about the pointlessness of racism.

Jesus, through his teachings, and The Beatles through their music, tried to overcome differences in races and religions.

 
Jesus’ teachings of love were also a yearning for peace. His conviction in the power of love to bring about peace is reflected in his words: “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s,” and “The kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

A notable scene from the New Testament is when, just before Jesus was to be crucified, Peter took his sword and cut off the ear of a high priest’s servant. He did this to prevent the arrest of Jesus. But Jesus said to Peter “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword,” and healed the servant’s ear.

Jesus was the embodiment of love itself. He opposed violent revolutions and sought peace.

 

Against War And Violent Revolution

John Lennon’s peace activism is well known through his song “Imagine” and his countless projects with wife Yoko Ono, but his passion for world peace had already begun during his Beatles years.

With the outbreak of the Vietnam War, the members publically pronounced their antipathy, and when asked in an interview whether they will ever sing anti-war songs, they replied that all of their songs are anti-war.

They took a stance against various global conflicts and oppressions.

In 1967, The Beatles performed “All You Need Is Love” on the world’s first live global satellite television link “Our World,” where the BBC had the master control room.

Through the song they sent an immensely positive message to the world: that, while we go through many difficulties in life, we have to remember that the most important thing is love. If there is love, anything is possible.

Fourteen countries in 5 continents contributed to the program, and it was broadcast live in 24 countries around the world. It is said that around 70 (MILLION ?? – RHL) people were watching.

Additionally, The Beatles protested against what was going on in China in their 1968 song “Revolution”. The lyrics go, “We all want to change the world/ But when you talk about destruction/ Don’t you know that you can count me out,” and “But if you go carrying picture of Chairman Mao/ You ain’t going to make it with anyone anyhow.”

This song was included in the B-side of the “Hey Jude” single, but it is said that John wanted “Revolution” to be on the A-side.

At the time, China was in the midst of the Cultural Revolution. The Red Guards had been mobilized and were destroying religious buildings while carrying photographs of Mao, and massacring tens of millions of monks and intellectuals.

Professor Kaneko says that the song “Revolution” was The Beatles’ protest against communism:

The song is open to many interpretations, but there is no mistake that they were speaking up against communism, totalitarianism and violent revolutions. They saw the inherent danger in these ideologies, and were driving a wedge into those ideologies through their songs.

 

Music: A Non-Violent Revolution

The Beatles records were not sold in China during the Cultural Revolution due to Mao’s phobia of Western culture.

But The Beatles were successful in bringing attention to those problems through their music, and advocating peace, love and harmony. They were probably hoping that people in countries where The Beatles were popular would be able to help spread peace and freedom.

Spreading love, peace and harmony throughout the world, perhaps The Beatles were aiming to accomplish Jesus Christ’s ideals of a non-violent revolution.

 

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Colum

 

Paul McCartney A Missionary of Love

In John Lennon’s spiritual message, it was disclosed that Paul McCartney was Paul the Apostle. The synergy of John and Paul’s artistic tastes created the songs that The Beatles sang, but they weren’t simply old friends from school. Paul always said that he was a great fan of John, and loved his personality, ideas and talents. Their relationship was Saint Paul’s dream come true: to learn directly from Jesus.

Hiroshi Mutou, a Japanese scholar of English Literature Studies, comments that the lyrics of the song “Got to Get You into My Life,” (which Paul mainly wrote) is “emblematic of the Western age-old religious conversion.” When one from being “alone” and seeks “another road”, one “suddenly see[s]” new things. One discovers a religious transcendent being: God. The lyrics remind us of Saint Paul’s conversion.

Now in his 70s, Paul still continues to tour the world. He is still fulfilling his mission as a missionary of love.

 

Interview: Junnosuke Kawaguchi

The Beatles Created A New Logic

Jesus and John were innovators who provoked people through creating a new logic: Jesus through new religious teachings; John through new music. John’s soul asks, “What is lacking in the people of the world?” and prompts the people to realize in the existence of “love”.

Innovators create new directions for the world. Innovators make us realize what needs improving in the world – whether it be the prevalent social values, the rules in society, or the management system. And they bring about change.

Just like Jesus’ words changed the live of many people, The Beatles’ music also changed the lives of many people.

In his spiritual message, John was in a complaining mood, and I think innovators have this critical cynical complaining characteristic about them. Looking at the flip-side of this quality, it means they’re good at questioning society and finding faults.

But instead of accepting things as they are, they think of how they can resolve these problems. I feel as if John is saying, “Feel what I am: then you can imagine Jesus.”