Kurt pointed me at a post on Killing the Buddha by John Hooten, The Gospel According to Johnny Cash. Hooten, a theologian, says of Cash's Hurt video:

“At the end of the piece, scenes from Cash's 1973 movie The Gospel Road, depicting the crucifixion of Jesus, are edited into the rapid fire closing sequence of footage that includes Johnny spilling crimson wine from a goblet over a table set for a feast, perhaps his Last Supper. The implication is clear: Johnny shares more with Jesus Christ than the initials of their names. The song and video are not simply about an old man getting older. Their true message involves cultivating a close personal relationship with one's source of salvation and freedom. It is not simply that Johnny needs Jesus to absolve his transgressions; Johnny is Jesus, he who can wash away his own damn sins. ”

Go read the rest.

The video was powerful enough when it was made, before Johnny's wife June Carter Cash died, and before he died. I had only seen clips of it here and there, as I'm not much of an MTV viewer these days. But watching it now for the first time was like being at his deathbed, hearing his parting advice; it had me crying by the third minute.