The new verse: “One night Big Butter got struck by lightning/And it burned to the framewire in a giant grease fire. Some blamed it on Satan, and boy, that would be frightening/But I thought it was Jesus’ father who was in charge of lightning.”
Since the replica statue was completed in September 2004 at a cost of more than $250,000, it drew national attention as motorists slowed along I-75, and some exited their cars, raised their hands skyward and posed for O-H-I-O pictures, using the statue’s outstretched arms as the H.
The statue became an Internet sensation, a comedian’s dream and a landmark more visible than Monroe’s two flea markets and Hustler Hollywood.
It earned more nicknames than a professional wrestler, from Touchdown Jesus to Giant Jesus to 8-Ball Jesus to Big J to Super Jesus, to Drowning Jesus to Quicksand Jesus to Swamp Jesus.
The aftermath of the lightning fire also has sparked a few new nicknames — Terminator Jesus and Torchdown Jesus.
Hopefully He has a sense of humor.
In less than 10 hours, stories and photos related to the statue attracted more than 500,000 hits on the Cox Ohio Web sites, and it was the top story on Yahoo.
Cheryl Heckler, associate professor of journalism at Miami University and a religion reporter for 20 years, including five with a New York Times syndicate, isn’t surprised by the information inferno the fire caused.
She said Solid Rock Church is known for its elaborate music programs and services and, what she called, “Butter Christ.”
The oversized Jesus, she said, became part of the church’s “personality.” For that reason, Heckler believes, some potential members of the congregation were steered away from Solid Rock.
“It’s hard to get past ‘Butter Christ,’” she said. “It’s an in-your-face symbol.” Then she added: “It’d be perfect for Vegas.”
Staff writer Eric Robinette contributed to this report.
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