Musically, "Jesus Christ Pose" has been described as grunge[5] and alternative metal.[6] It was performed in the key of D minor, with the guitars in drop D tuning, in 4/4 time at a tempo of 134 beats per minute.[7] Regarding the song, Thayil said, "The song's groove reminds me of helicopter blades. I bent the strings at the beginning and end of the song."[8] The band explained that the lyrics for "Jesus Christ Pose" concern the exploitation of religion for personal benefit. The song is a criticism of how public figures use religion, particularly the image of Jesus Christ, to portray themselves as being "better" than others, or as "martyrs". Chris Cornell specifically mentioned Jane's Addiction's frontman Perry Farrell[9] as an influence on the song, explaining, "It became fashionable to be the sort of persecuted-deity guy."[10] In an interview with Spin magazine in 1992, Cornell explained the term "Jesus Christ Pose":

Description: scwib -emerald- my back hurts