The Bible (2013) s01e07 Episode Script
Mission
1 [narrator.]
previously on the bible [noah.]
god has seen too much evil in human hearts.
He told me to build a boat.
He's cleansing the earth, for a new beginning.
[voice echoes.]
'abraham!' God has spoken to me.
He will lead us to a new home.
- Who are you? - My name is moses.
God has sent me to set you free.
We have new laws preparing us for the promised land.
Jerusalem, our new home.
David, you have forged god's nation on earth.
God is bringing disaster from babylon! The temple's on fire.
Everything we fought for is lost.
I had a dream 'I saw a great beast and it devoured the whole world.
' Greetings, prefect! I hope your time here will be prosperous and peaceful.
I intend to make sure it is.
'mary, you will soon give birth to the son of the most high.
' Lady, I believe your son is the promised king of his people.
- What is his name? - Jesus.
His name is jesus.
As you are cleansed, so all israel shall be cleansed.
People are flocking to this wild man, john.
They think he's a prophet.
I am just a voice in the wilderness, Preparing the way for the Lord.
Baptize me! 'he will bring a new age of righteousness and justice.
'his power will draw all men to a new world.
' All people! Come with me, peter.
Give up catching fish and I will make you a fisher of men.
- What are we going to do? - Change the world.
Encoded by LM2 A Member of IDFL⢠Encoder In the poor backwater of galilee revolution is coming.
For generations, the people of israel have been guided By the pharisees, guardians of the jewish faith.
You should untiringly keep the commandments Of the lord your god and his statutes The pharisees believe the well-being of the nation Depends on strictly observing the laws god gave to moses.
They are loved and admired by the people.
You should do what is right and what is good In sight of the lord.
[boy.]
have you seen him? Over there! But jesus offers a new way So the lord commanded us to observe all these statutes It's jesus! [crowd cheering.]
This way, john.
Keep everyone moving.
[clamor of voices.]
[voices quieten.]
How shall we picture the kingdom of god? It is like a mustard seed Which a man took and sowed in his field, The smallest seed in the world.
Yet when planted It grows up [creaking.]
And becomes the biggest of all plants.
It becomes a tree where birds can come and make their nests.
[boy.]
he's paralyzed.
[clamor of voices.]
Your sins are forgiven, my son.
Did you hear that? He has forgiven his sins.
I thought only god could do that? Isn't that blasphemy? He knows.
It is blasphemy.
Is that your wish, my friend? Well, answer me.
Tell me which is easier To say his sins are forgiven, Or say Get up and walk? [crowd murmurs and gasps.]
Wait The son of man has authority to forgive sin.
[cheering.]
Friends! What is this about? Not even moses himself would've thought he could forgive sin.
You heard what our teacher said.
On what authority does he think he can do this? On his authority.
That is blasphemy.
Only god can forgive sin.
And your friend could be stoned for a false claim like this.
This is just the beginning.
Let's go.
With a growing number of disciples, Jesus moves from town to town, Teaching about god's kingdom and working miracles.
[leper.]
unclean, unclean.
[man.]
he's a leper! [woman.]
get away from him! Please, please [man.]
don't touch him! [crowd gasps.]
I'm clean, I'm clean.
I'm clean! Jesus is a savior to some [man.]
look what he's done! But a potential threat to rome.
The new roman governor is pontius pilate, An ex-soldier turned ruthless politician.
[soldier.]
halt! What's going on? You're in the way! The governor needs to pass.
Pilate won't wait! Will it be much longer? Very soon, my love.
- [soldier.]
prefect - What's the delay this time? It's a broken cart, sir.
What are you waiting for? Get it off the road! [soldier.]
let's get it moved! Move it! Rebellion simmers amongst pilate's jewish subjects, But he allows nothing to disrupt roman rule Or roman taxes.
[man.]
all taxes must be paid in full! We're all jews.
How can they live with themselves? Our own people working for rome? It makes me sick.
Collaborators.
Let's move on.
They're stinking vermin.
You should keep your distance from them.
Two men Went to the temple to pray.
One a pharisee And the other one a tax collector.
The pharisee prayed: "god "I thank you that I'm not like other men, "thieves, adulterers "Or this tax collector.
But the tax collector didn't even look up to heaven.
He said: "god "Have mercy on me, "I'm a sinner.
" God blessed the tax collector Not the pharisee.
Anyone who praises himself will be humbled, And anyone who humbles himself will be praised.
MatthewCome.
See, now he even calls the sinners to follow him! One has to wonder of the sins committed By his other followers.
[indistinct voices.]
Tax collectors! There's not a thread of good in any of them.
Thomas, jesus has not come for the good, but for the sinners.
He gives people a second chance.
We should too.
'blessed are the poor, 'for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
'blessed are the meek, 'for they shall inherit the earth.
' Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see god.
Pray to him and he will listen.
And how should we pray? Like this Our father who is in heaven, Hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses As we forgive those who trespass against us.
[man.]
stone her! She's a whore! [crowd jeering.]
[man.]
you know what it says in the scriptures.
- Here! - [man.]
adulteress! The law commands us to stone such a woman.
What do you say? It's a trap.
I'll give my stone to the first man who tells me That he has never sinned.
Thank you, thank you.
Go, and sin no more.
This cannot continue.
He ridicules our laws, Insults the traditions of our fathers.
Everything that we have fought so hard for, Our faith, Our communities, Everything god has given.
- Caiaphas! - Nicodemus.
I've had reports of a young prophet, a jesus of nazareth.
He has a big following in galilee.
It's rumored he'll come to jerusalem.
Galilee? - He works miracles.
- They all do.
[laughter.]
Nicodemus, don't worry, Nothing important ever came from galilee! [mocking laughter.]
[cheering and laughing.]
[boy.]
jesus! Jesus! This looks like a quiet place.
- Lock it off.
- Rabbi, let me help you.
[cheering.]
They've come a long way.
It's late.
They say they're hungry.
Give them some food.
But how? We have nothing.
Just a few fish and come bread.
Bring them to me.
[cheering subsides.]
Thank you, father, for what you bring us.
Our father in heaven Feeds the birds of the air.
How much more will he give to you? [crowd gasps.]
Don't worry about daily needs, god will provide.
Put god first and everything else will follow.
If you hunger for righteousness, You will be filled through me.
He said ask And it will be given.
[laughter.]
From god.
From god.
It's from god! Messiah! Messiah! [crowd chants.]
messiah! Messiah! [chanting.]
messiah! Messiah! They want you to be their king.
King of the jews! You can lead us like an army.
We are strong enough to beat the romans! No, this is not the way.
Not by force.
[chanting continues.]
[woman.]
where is he going? What's wrong? Five thousand came to see him.
Five thousand.
Now they shout, "messiah.
" The people today, they called you "king", They think you are a messiah.
But you seemed to ignore them.
Aren't you going to be our king? Who do you think I am? You are the son of god.
You can't have known this by what you know of me, peter.
It has been revealed to you by god.
You are peter, And on this rock I will build my church.
Tomorrow I'll meet you on the other shore.
Why did he walk away just when we're getting strong? Surely a messiah wouldn't leave us like this.
A messiah should be a warrior, a conqueror like david.
Judas! Force is not the way.
So tell me what the way of the messiah is? He's different.
But mary, what if he's not the one? We're risking our lives, for what? He has shown us his power.
We must have faith in him.
- Come on.
- He'll not fail us.
He said he'd meet us on the other side.
Let's go! [ominous rumbling.]
Bring the sail down! Tie everything down! This is too dangerous! We should turn back while we still can.
You heard what he said, he wants us to cross.
What is that? It's a ghost! No, thomas.
It's jesus.
He is the messiah! [jesus.]
peter Peter, what are you doing? Don't be afraid.
Come.
Peter! No! [jesus.]
'peter 'you of little faith.
'why did you doubt? 'you need to be strong.
' Mary! He's here! - Who? - Jesus! He's back at last.
Ever since the angel gabriel came to jesus' mother, She's known her son's true purpose.
It's time for others to learn.
[hebrew chanting.]
In the synagogue, jesus reads From one of the most popular scriptures of the time, A prophecy describing the coming of the messiah.
"the spirit of the lord is upon me, "because he has anointed me "to preach good news to the poor.
"he has sent me to declare freedom for the captives "and recovery of sight for the blind, "to set free those who are oppressed.
" Today This scripture is fulfilled.
[crowd gasps and mutters.]
What are you saying? What are you saying? That you have achieved all this? That you are the messiah, the chosen one sent by god? No! I'm saying you must accept god's word.
How dare you? That is sacrilege.
He has never studied the law.
This man knows nothing! His healing is the work of demons! It has begun.
[pharisee.]
he undermines our faith! - He recruits adulterers - [jesus.]
peter! Turn the other cheek.
You'll pay the price for this! Like your friend, john the baptist! You haven't heard, have you? He was executed.
Beheaded! - He was a good man.
- Yes, and now he's dead.
[john.]
'baptize me.
' John was the greatest teacher I ever knew.
He was more than a prophet.
Our work goes on.
Soon we go to jerusalem.
Jerusalem? - It's too soon.
- It's too dangerous.
We're not ready.
Judas, why are we all here? To take the easy path? We must take the message to jerusalem.
Right to the heart of power.
[groans of agony.]
Prefect, you're needed.
There's trouble.
Roman scum! Roman thieves! Let's show them! Roman thieves! [man.]
make way for the high priest! Make way for the high priest! [shouting and screaming.]
Malchus! Malchus what's happening.
It's another protest, high priest.
We need to get you out of here, it's turning into a riot.
Get the master back to his residence.
Quick as you can! - What is all this about? - The aqueduct.
The people are furious that the romans used our temple funds To build it.
Hundreds are heading to complain to pilate.
He'll have them cut down before they can get anywhere near him.
He said he'd listen to their grievances.
It's a trap, nicodemus! Can't you see that? [crowd chanting.]
thieves! Scum! Thieving scum! [shouting subsides.]
Jerusalem needs water.
You think your god brings it? No, he does not.
Rome does.
It's time you understood what your masters do for you! [screaming and shouting.]
[caiaphas.]
pilate's keeping us in our place.
[woman sobs.]
Imagine what he could do at passover.
[martha weeps.]
Martha, what's wrong? My brother is dead.
You're too late.
Show me the tomb.
[snorts in recoil.]
How long has he been dead? He's been there four days.
Lazarus I am the resurrection And the life.
Anyone who believes in me Even if he dies He will still have life.
[sucks in breath.]
Lazarus! [crowd gasp.]
Whoever believes in me shall never die.
Believe in me and you will see the glory of god.
Caiaphas! They say this jesus has raised a man from the dead.
What? He will be here in jerusalem for passover.
No? But if he comes with thousands of supporters, The city will already be breaking at the seams With those arriving for the festival.
Nicodemus, you are right.
The romans will step in.
We must not allow this miracle man, this fraud, To disrupt passover.
Does pilate know? Hmm [narrator.]
passover is the biggest jewish festival Of the year.
Thousands come to jerusalem To thank god for releasing their ancestors From egyptian slavery.
[boy.]
looks, it's jesus the messiah! Jesus' entrance creates a storm.
[shouting and cheering.]
The prophet zechariah predicted that a new king of the jews Would enter the city on a donkey.
[crowd cheers.]
[crowd chants.]
messiah! Messiah! Messiah [low muttering.]
Where is he now? He's just entered the city.
On a donkey.
"see, your king comes to you, "righteous and victorious, "humble and riding on a donkey.
" - Where's he headed? - Towards the temple.
This agitator from galilee, he's trouble.
The crowds, how are they responding, hmm? Have the romans made any move yet? - No.
- Well.
So far He must not interfere with passover.
God will bring his wrath down upon all of us.
And, who knows what pilate will do, If the crowds run out of control.
Nicodemus, go with malchus.
If he enters the temple, watch him.
Do not blink.
I need to know everything.
Go.
[crowd cheering.]
The kingdom us coming! The kingdom us coming! Messiah! - It's barabbas.
- Messiah! The king of israel, why don't you make us free? Save us from the romans, lord.
We come in peace, barabbas.
[crowd chants.]
messiah! Messiah! Messiah! - Move! Get out of the way! - Get back! [man.]
he's going into the temple! The temple is the holiest place in the bible.
During festival times, selling sacrificial animals And changing money has become a thriving business.
- Do you exchange money here? - Yes, yes.
[man.]
change your money here! Two, five [man.]
what are you doing? [crowd shouting.]
Jesus, please! Is it not written? Wait! Is it not written? "my house "my house shall be called a house of prayer.
" But you You have made it a den of thieves! [nicodemus.]
who are you to tell us this? We teach the law, not you.
You pray lofty prayers And love your shows of piety in the temple.
Hypocrites.
You cannot serve god and money.
This is outrageous.
And you were little help! He's clever.
The crowd worship him.
There's something unusual about him.
There's nothing unusual about him Apart from his ability to cause havoc! If he returns, challenge him.
Make his supporters see their messiah For the simple-minded peasant that he is.
[narrator.]
in the week leading up to passover, Jewish pilgrims visit the temple daily.
Alms for the poor! God bless you.
Jesus also returns to preach to ever larger crowds.
It is much harder for a rich person To enter the kingdom of god, Than it is for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.
The most important thing is that you should love your neighbor As you love yourself.
Teacher! They say you are learned.
So, tell us Should we pay taxes to the romans? No! [crowd.]
no! It's a trap.
Well, teacher Should we? Pay the romans taxes or? Not pay! Not pay! Not pay! [chanting.]
israel! Israel! Israel! Tell him! Whose face is on the coin? Caesar's.
Then give to caesar What is caesar's.
And give to god What is god's.
[shouting and cheering.]
Messiah! Messiah! High priest.
That man, there with jesus.
He approached me.
He wants to help us.
Really? That could be useful.
You let him get the better of you.
Yet I may have found a way to deal with him.
[jesus.]
teachers of the law, obey them.
Do everything they tell you.
But don't do what they do.
They don't practice what they preach.
Everything they do is done for others to see.
'you have only one father, 'and he is in heaven.
'you only have one teacher, 'and heIs the christ.
' Messiah! Messiah! Messiah! Do you see all these great buildings? Not one stone of this place, not one stone, Will be left standing.
[man.]
he said he'd destroy the temple! He said what? Not one stone will be left standing.
He threatens to destroy the temple.
We must move swiftly, but softly.
We cannot arrest him openly or his supporters will run riot.
No, not at passover, no! We must bring him in quietly at night, before passover.
Malchus, what was the name of that follower you pointed out? - Judas, high priest.
- Judas, yes Bring him to me.
Here.
- Sir? - We're eating! Sir, a jew has been causing trouble in the temple.
So? Yesterday he attacked the money-changers.
Today he says he will destroy the temple.
[pilate snorts.]
He has a large number of supporters.
What's his name? They call him jesus of nazareth.
My servants talk about him.
He's caiaphas' business.
But you keep an eye on the crowds.
If they get out of hand, I'll shut the temple.
Festival or no festival.
[indistinct dialogue.]
Rabbi? I am nicodemus.
- Welcome.
- I come here of my own accord.
The high priest knows nothing of this.
What's he doing here? Surely he doesn't want to sit with us.
Judas.
Your friend from galilee has caused quite a stir.
One cannot deny that he has followers, Especially amongst the less well-educated element.
But you, judas I'm intrigued.
He He has a power.
It's hard for me to put into words.
A power to cause trouble.
To stir things up.
Attacking money-changers, Threatening to destroy the temple, The holy of holies.
If he were the son of god, If, Would he abuse the house of god? The true messiah will unite israel, not divide it.
What do you want with him? Just to talk.
If the romans step in, can you imagine the slaughter? It will mean the end of the temple, The end of our faith, The end of our nation.
Is that what you want, judas? Judas, you are his friend.
Bring him here.
Discreetly.
Let us try to stop this, while we still can.
And what's in it for me? [coins jingle.]
Good.
We shall expect to hear from you presently.
They say you can perform miracles? That you have seen the kingdom of god.
You can see the kingdom of god.
But you must be born again.
Born again? How can you be born again? You must be reborn, Not in the flesh But in the spirit.
[wind picks up.]
The wind blows where it wishes.
You don't know where it comes from, Or where it goes.
And so it is when the spirit enters you.
God so loved the world, That he gave his one and only son.
Believe in him and you will have eternal life.
[narrator.]
the closer it gets to passover, The tenser it gets in jerusalem.
Just thirty years ago, the romans killed thousands During passover demonstrations.
Roman scum! Roman thieves! [crowd jeering and shouting.]
This is a mess! I must inform pilate.
Since I've been prefect, You jews have tested my patience to breaking point.
- Now I'm beyond it.
- Yes, but prefect I'm speaking! If the disturbances today are repeated tomorrow, I will shut the temple immediately.
There will be no passover.
I will put this city under curfew.
I will crush any rebellion.
Do I make myself absolutely clear? [indistinct dialogue.]
We thank you, lord, By whose word everything comes to be.
Amen.
This is our last meal together Before I die.
What do you mean? I'm going to be betrayed to my enemies, Arrested And condemned to death.
[caiaphas.]
malchus, any word from judas? Nothing, high priest.
I won't wait any longer.
Malchus, we arrest this false prophet tonight.
How do we know he is a false prophet? Has he fulfilled any of the signs of a true messiah As written in our scriptures? Well, nicodemus, has he? He will be tried according to our law.
We remove this man or the romans destroy everything.
Remove? Execute? Yes, nicodemus.
The life of one peasant for the future of god's nation.
Don't be afraid.
Trust in god.
Trust in me also.
You know the way to where I am going.
We don't know where you're going.
How can we know the way? I am the way The truth And the life.
Take it.
Eat.
This This is my body.
This is my blood.
Remember me by doing this.
I'm going to the father, But I will always be with you.
But now I must tell you That one of you here will betray me.
Who? Whoever eats this I will not.
I will not betray you.
Do it quickly.
Let him go.
[retches.]
You will all fall away.
Rabbi I will not fall away.
I will lay down my life for you.
Will you? I will.
Peter, I tell you Before dawn You will deny me three times.
- Judas.
Where is he? - I Do you know where he is now? I know where he's going.
Lead my servant to him.
Wake up.
And keep awake.
The time has come.
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
I must pray.
Father Father I know It must be as you will it.
Father, take this from me.
Spare me? Lord, I know you are pleased with me, For you sustain me in sincerity.
We thank you, our ancestors, for watching over us.
Father Praise the lord, god of israel.
Everlasting and everlasting.
Amen and amen.
If you will it, father.
If you will it Your will Is mine.
Do what you came for.
Traitor! Take him! Take him! Run, jesus! Run, jesus, run! Run, jesus! Peter He who lives by the sword, Dies by the sword.
[groans.]
Run! Come on, you, move! Move it! Take him back.
- What about this one? - Get out of here! Come on! - I won't leave him.
- Peter! Come on! Come on, mary! [shouting.]
Keep him moving.
[groaning.]
Drag him! - Tell caiaphas we have jesus.
- Yes, sir! Not you.
"therefore, night trials involving death penalty "may not be held on the eve of sabbath "or on the eve a feast day.
" The best scholars say we must hold our trials by daylight, But the trial is tonight.
You cannot go through with this.
It is not legal.
Our scholars say it must be in court, in daylight, in public.
- It is necessary.
- Why the rush? You know why.
Pilate will close the temple.
We must be rid of this jesus.
But what if he really is who they say he is? We are to decide precisely that, now, with god's guidance.
God demands we obey the law! Let me remind you what the law says: "anyone who shows contempt "for the judge or for the priest shall be put to death.
" Anyone.
Tell me, speak to me.
Why are you letting them do this to you? No, no, no, get back! Have you seen the man they arrested? Have you seen the man they arrested? Get back! [indistinct murmuring.]
Brothers, thank you for coming at this hour.
You know I would not have asked you if it were not so serious.
Ah.
.
Get him up.
Jesus of nazareth, You are charged with blasphemy.
Mary? Oh, mary What has happened? Where is my son? - Jesus has been arrested.
- Arrested? We don't know where they have taken him.
Arrested? At night? They want to keep it secret.
They don't want any protests.
He has employed demons to heal.
He has threatened to destroy the temple of our lord.
But brothers, we must listen before we judge.
And so I invite the prophet to speak.
Tell us the message you bring from god.
Nothing? Nothing to say? Surely Tell us this Are you the chosen one? Are you the son of god? I am.
And you will see me coming with the clouds of heaven, Sitting at the right hand of god.
This is repulsive! With god? Imposter! Fool! Blasphemer! We have heard enough.
There is only one verdict.
Guilty.
This is wrong! This brings shame on our council.
- Does it not? - Brothers The sentence is death.
I have been born and come into the world To testify to the truth.
be thanked.
We have convicted a dangerous criminal.
his name: Jesus of nazareth.
they're going to kill him.
[grunts.]
[screams.]
crucify him.
you'll live to regret this.
he'll be forgotten in a week.
father, forgive them.
For they know not what they do.
you will be silent or you will be silenced.
paul of tarsus.
I could flush this scum out for you.
Tell all your friends that I will find you.
I have chosen him to proclaim my name To the world.
when everything else disappears, Faith, hope, And love remain.
[smacking and grunting.]
there will be no more death Or mourning or crying Or pain.
I am coming soon.
previously on the bible [noah.]
god has seen too much evil in human hearts.
He told me to build a boat.
He's cleansing the earth, for a new beginning.
[voice echoes.]
'abraham!' God has spoken to me.
He will lead us to a new home.
- Who are you? - My name is moses.
God has sent me to set you free.
We have new laws preparing us for the promised land.
Jerusalem, our new home.
David, you have forged god's nation on earth.
God is bringing disaster from babylon! The temple's on fire.
Everything we fought for is lost.
I had a dream 'I saw a great beast and it devoured the whole world.
' Greetings, prefect! I hope your time here will be prosperous and peaceful.
I intend to make sure it is.
'mary, you will soon give birth to the son of the most high.
' Lady, I believe your son is the promised king of his people.
- What is his name? - Jesus.
His name is jesus.
As you are cleansed, so all israel shall be cleansed.
People are flocking to this wild man, john.
They think he's a prophet.
I am just a voice in the wilderness, Preparing the way for the Lord.
Baptize me! 'he will bring a new age of righteousness and justice.
'his power will draw all men to a new world.
' All people! Come with me, peter.
Give up catching fish and I will make you a fisher of men.
- What are we going to do? - Change the world.
Encoded by LM2 A Member of IDFL⢠Encoder In the poor backwater of galilee revolution is coming.
For generations, the people of israel have been guided By the pharisees, guardians of the jewish faith.
You should untiringly keep the commandments Of the lord your god and his statutes The pharisees believe the well-being of the nation Depends on strictly observing the laws god gave to moses.
They are loved and admired by the people.
You should do what is right and what is good In sight of the lord.
[boy.]
have you seen him? Over there! But jesus offers a new way So the lord commanded us to observe all these statutes It's jesus! [crowd cheering.]
This way, john.
Keep everyone moving.
[clamor of voices.]
[voices quieten.]
How shall we picture the kingdom of god? It is like a mustard seed Which a man took and sowed in his field, The smallest seed in the world.
Yet when planted It grows up [creaking.]
And becomes the biggest of all plants.
It becomes a tree where birds can come and make their nests.
[boy.]
he's paralyzed.
[clamor of voices.]
Your sins are forgiven, my son.
Did you hear that? He has forgiven his sins.
I thought only god could do that? Isn't that blasphemy? He knows.
It is blasphemy.
Is that your wish, my friend? Well, answer me.
Tell me which is easier To say his sins are forgiven, Or say Get up and walk? [crowd murmurs and gasps.]
Wait The son of man has authority to forgive sin.
[cheering.]
Friends! What is this about? Not even moses himself would've thought he could forgive sin.
You heard what our teacher said.
On what authority does he think he can do this? On his authority.
That is blasphemy.
Only god can forgive sin.
And your friend could be stoned for a false claim like this.
This is just the beginning.
Let's go.
With a growing number of disciples, Jesus moves from town to town, Teaching about god's kingdom and working miracles.
[leper.]
unclean, unclean.
[man.]
he's a leper! [woman.]
get away from him! Please, please [man.]
don't touch him! [crowd gasps.]
I'm clean, I'm clean.
I'm clean! Jesus is a savior to some [man.]
look what he's done! But a potential threat to rome.
The new roman governor is pontius pilate, An ex-soldier turned ruthless politician.
[soldier.]
halt! What's going on? You're in the way! The governor needs to pass.
Pilate won't wait! Will it be much longer? Very soon, my love.
- [soldier.]
prefect - What's the delay this time? It's a broken cart, sir.
What are you waiting for? Get it off the road! [soldier.]
let's get it moved! Move it! Rebellion simmers amongst pilate's jewish subjects, But he allows nothing to disrupt roman rule Or roman taxes.
[man.]
all taxes must be paid in full! We're all jews.
How can they live with themselves? Our own people working for rome? It makes me sick.
Collaborators.
Let's move on.
They're stinking vermin.
You should keep your distance from them.
Two men Went to the temple to pray.
One a pharisee And the other one a tax collector.
The pharisee prayed: "god "I thank you that I'm not like other men, "thieves, adulterers "Or this tax collector.
But the tax collector didn't even look up to heaven.
He said: "god "Have mercy on me, "I'm a sinner.
" God blessed the tax collector Not the pharisee.
Anyone who praises himself will be humbled, And anyone who humbles himself will be praised.
MatthewCome.
See, now he even calls the sinners to follow him! One has to wonder of the sins committed By his other followers.
[indistinct voices.]
Tax collectors! There's not a thread of good in any of them.
Thomas, jesus has not come for the good, but for the sinners.
He gives people a second chance.
We should too.
'blessed are the poor, 'for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
'blessed are the meek, 'for they shall inherit the earth.
' Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see god.
Pray to him and he will listen.
And how should we pray? Like this Our father who is in heaven, Hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses As we forgive those who trespass against us.
[man.]
stone her! She's a whore! [crowd jeering.]
[man.]
you know what it says in the scriptures.
- Here! - [man.]
adulteress! The law commands us to stone such a woman.
What do you say? It's a trap.
I'll give my stone to the first man who tells me That he has never sinned.
Thank you, thank you.
Go, and sin no more.
This cannot continue.
He ridicules our laws, Insults the traditions of our fathers.
Everything that we have fought so hard for, Our faith, Our communities, Everything god has given.
- Caiaphas! - Nicodemus.
I've had reports of a young prophet, a jesus of nazareth.
He has a big following in galilee.
It's rumored he'll come to jerusalem.
Galilee? - He works miracles.
- They all do.
[laughter.]
Nicodemus, don't worry, Nothing important ever came from galilee! [mocking laughter.]
[cheering and laughing.]
[boy.]
jesus! Jesus! This looks like a quiet place.
- Lock it off.
- Rabbi, let me help you.
[cheering.]
They've come a long way.
It's late.
They say they're hungry.
Give them some food.
But how? We have nothing.
Just a few fish and come bread.
Bring them to me.
[cheering subsides.]
Thank you, father, for what you bring us.
Our father in heaven Feeds the birds of the air.
How much more will he give to you? [crowd gasps.]
Don't worry about daily needs, god will provide.
Put god first and everything else will follow.
If you hunger for righteousness, You will be filled through me.
He said ask And it will be given.
[laughter.]
From god.
From god.
It's from god! Messiah! Messiah! [crowd chants.]
messiah! Messiah! [chanting.]
messiah! Messiah! They want you to be their king.
King of the jews! You can lead us like an army.
We are strong enough to beat the romans! No, this is not the way.
Not by force.
[chanting continues.]
[woman.]
where is he going? What's wrong? Five thousand came to see him.
Five thousand.
Now they shout, "messiah.
" The people today, they called you "king", They think you are a messiah.
But you seemed to ignore them.
Aren't you going to be our king? Who do you think I am? You are the son of god.
You can't have known this by what you know of me, peter.
It has been revealed to you by god.
You are peter, And on this rock I will build my church.
Tomorrow I'll meet you on the other shore.
Why did he walk away just when we're getting strong? Surely a messiah wouldn't leave us like this.
A messiah should be a warrior, a conqueror like david.
Judas! Force is not the way.
So tell me what the way of the messiah is? He's different.
But mary, what if he's not the one? We're risking our lives, for what? He has shown us his power.
We must have faith in him.
- Come on.
- He'll not fail us.
He said he'd meet us on the other side.
Let's go! [ominous rumbling.]
Bring the sail down! Tie everything down! This is too dangerous! We should turn back while we still can.
You heard what he said, he wants us to cross.
What is that? It's a ghost! No, thomas.
It's jesus.
He is the messiah! [jesus.]
peter Peter, what are you doing? Don't be afraid.
Come.
Peter! No! [jesus.]
'peter 'you of little faith.
'why did you doubt? 'you need to be strong.
' Mary! He's here! - Who? - Jesus! He's back at last.
Ever since the angel gabriel came to jesus' mother, She's known her son's true purpose.
It's time for others to learn.
[hebrew chanting.]
In the synagogue, jesus reads From one of the most popular scriptures of the time, A prophecy describing the coming of the messiah.
"the spirit of the lord is upon me, "because he has anointed me "to preach good news to the poor.
"he has sent me to declare freedom for the captives "and recovery of sight for the blind, "to set free those who are oppressed.
" Today This scripture is fulfilled.
[crowd gasps and mutters.]
What are you saying? What are you saying? That you have achieved all this? That you are the messiah, the chosen one sent by god? No! I'm saying you must accept god's word.
How dare you? That is sacrilege.
He has never studied the law.
This man knows nothing! His healing is the work of demons! It has begun.
[pharisee.]
he undermines our faith! - He recruits adulterers - [jesus.]
peter! Turn the other cheek.
You'll pay the price for this! Like your friend, john the baptist! You haven't heard, have you? He was executed.
Beheaded! - He was a good man.
- Yes, and now he's dead.
[john.]
'baptize me.
' John was the greatest teacher I ever knew.
He was more than a prophet.
Our work goes on.
Soon we go to jerusalem.
Jerusalem? - It's too soon.
- It's too dangerous.
We're not ready.
Judas, why are we all here? To take the easy path? We must take the message to jerusalem.
Right to the heart of power.
[groans of agony.]
Prefect, you're needed.
There's trouble.
Roman scum! Roman thieves! Let's show them! Roman thieves! [man.]
make way for the high priest! Make way for the high priest! [shouting and screaming.]
Malchus! Malchus what's happening.
It's another protest, high priest.
We need to get you out of here, it's turning into a riot.
Get the master back to his residence.
Quick as you can! - What is all this about? - The aqueduct.
The people are furious that the romans used our temple funds To build it.
Hundreds are heading to complain to pilate.
He'll have them cut down before they can get anywhere near him.
He said he'd listen to their grievances.
It's a trap, nicodemus! Can't you see that? [crowd chanting.]
thieves! Scum! Thieving scum! [shouting subsides.]
Jerusalem needs water.
You think your god brings it? No, he does not.
Rome does.
It's time you understood what your masters do for you! [screaming and shouting.]
[caiaphas.]
pilate's keeping us in our place.
[woman sobs.]
Imagine what he could do at passover.
[martha weeps.]
Martha, what's wrong? My brother is dead.
You're too late.
Show me the tomb.
[snorts in recoil.]
How long has he been dead? He's been there four days.
Lazarus I am the resurrection And the life.
Anyone who believes in me Even if he dies He will still have life.
[sucks in breath.]
Lazarus! [crowd gasp.]
Whoever believes in me shall never die.
Believe in me and you will see the glory of god.
Caiaphas! They say this jesus has raised a man from the dead.
What? He will be here in jerusalem for passover.
No? But if he comes with thousands of supporters, The city will already be breaking at the seams With those arriving for the festival.
Nicodemus, you are right.
The romans will step in.
We must not allow this miracle man, this fraud, To disrupt passover.
Does pilate know? Hmm [narrator.]
passover is the biggest jewish festival Of the year.
Thousands come to jerusalem To thank god for releasing their ancestors From egyptian slavery.
[boy.]
looks, it's jesus the messiah! Jesus' entrance creates a storm.
[shouting and cheering.]
The prophet zechariah predicted that a new king of the jews Would enter the city on a donkey.
[crowd cheers.]
[crowd chants.]
messiah! Messiah! Messiah [low muttering.]
Where is he now? He's just entered the city.
On a donkey.
"see, your king comes to you, "righteous and victorious, "humble and riding on a donkey.
" - Where's he headed? - Towards the temple.
This agitator from galilee, he's trouble.
The crowds, how are they responding, hmm? Have the romans made any move yet? - No.
- Well.
So far He must not interfere with passover.
God will bring his wrath down upon all of us.
And, who knows what pilate will do, If the crowds run out of control.
Nicodemus, go with malchus.
If he enters the temple, watch him.
Do not blink.
I need to know everything.
Go.
[crowd cheering.]
The kingdom us coming! The kingdom us coming! Messiah! - It's barabbas.
- Messiah! The king of israel, why don't you make us free? Save us from the romans, lord.
We come in peace, barabbas.
[crowd chants.]
messiah! Messiah! Messiah! - Move! Get out of the way! - Get back! [man.]
he's going into the temple! The temple is the holiest place in the bible.
During festival times, selling sacrificial animals And changing money has become a thriving business.
- Do you exchange money here? - Yes, yes.
[man.]
change your money here! Two, five [man.]
what are you doing? [crowd shouting.]
Jesus, please! Is it not written? Wait! Is it not written? "my house "my house shall be called a house of prayer.
" But you You have made it a den of thieves! [nicodemus.]
who are you to tell us this? We teach the law, not you.
You pray lofty prayers And love your shows of piety in the temple.
Hypocrites.
You cannot serve god and money.
This is outrageous.
And you were little help! He's clever.
The crowd worship him.
There's something unusual about him.
There's nothing unusual about him Apart from his ability to cause havoc! If he returns, challenge him.
Make his supporters see their messiah For the simple-minded peasant that he is.
[narrator.]
in the week leading up to passover, Jewish pilgrims visit the temple daily.
Alms for the poor! God bless you.
Jesus also returns to preach to ever larger crowds.
It is much harder for a rich person To enter the kingdom of god, Than it is for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.
The most important thing is that you should love your neighbor As you love yourself.
Teacher! They say you are learned.
So, tell us Should we pay taxes to the romans? No! [crowd.]
no! It's a trap.
Well, teacher Should we? Pay the romans taxes or? Not pay! Not pay! Not pay! [chanting.]
israel! Israel! Israel! Tell him! Whose face is on the coin? Caesar's.
Then give to caesar What is caesar's.
And give to god What is god's.
[shouting and cheering.]
Messiah! Messiah! High priest.
That man, there with jesus.
He approached me.
He wants to help us.
Really? That could be useful.
You let him get the better of you.
Yet I may have found a way to deal with him.
[jesus.]
teachers of the law, obey them.
Do everything they tell you.
But don't do what they do.
They don't practice what they preach.
Everything they do is done for others to see.
'you have only one father, 'and he is in heaven.
'you only have one teacher, 'and heIs the christ.
' Messiah! Messiah! Messiah! Do you see all these great buildings? Not one stone of this place, not one stone, Will be left standing.
[man.]
he said he'd destroy the temple! He said what? Not one stone will be left standing.
He threatens to destroy the temple.
We must move swiftly, but softly.
We cannot arrest him openly or his supporters will run riot.
No, not at passover, no! We must bring him in quietly at night, before passover.
Malchus, what was the name of that follower you pointed out? - Judas, high priest.
- Judas, yes Bring him to me.
Here.
- Sir? - We're eating! Sir, a jew has been causing trouble in the temple.
So? Yesterday he attacked the money-changers.
Today he says he will destroy the temple.
[pilate snorts.]
He has a large number of supporters.
What's his name? They call him jesus of nazareth.
My servants talk about him.
He's caiaphas' business.
But you keep an eye on the crowds.
If they get out of hand, I'll shut the temple.
Festival or no festival.
[indistinct dialogue.]
Rabbi? I am nicodemus.
- Welcome.
- I come here of my own accord.
The high priest knows nothing of this.
What's he doing here? Surely he doesn't want to sit with us.
Judas.
Your friend from galilee has caused quite a stir.
One cannot deny that he has followers, Especially amongst the less well-educated element.
But you, judas I'm intrigued.
He He has a power.
It's hard for me to put into words.
A power to cause trouble.
To stir things up.
Attacking money-changers, Threatening to destroy the temple, The holy of holies.
If he were the son of god, If, Would he abuse the house of god? The true messiah will unite israel, not divide it.
What do you want with him? Just to talk.
If the romans step in, can you imagine the slaughter? It will mean the end of the temple, The end of our faith, The end of our nation.
Is that what you want, judas? Judas, you are his friend.
Bring him here.
Discreetly.
Let us try to stop this, while we still can.
And what's in it for me? [coins jingle.]
Good.
We shall expect to hear from you presently.
They say you can perform miracles? That you have seen the kingdom of god.
You can see the kingdom of god.
But you must be born again.
Born again? How can you be born again? You must be reborn, Not in the flesh But in the spirit.
[wind picks up.]
The wind blows where it wishes.
You don't know where it comes from, Or where it goes.
And so it is when the spirit enters you.
God so loved the world, That he gave his one and only son.
Believe in him and you will have eternal life.
[narrator.]
the closer it gets to passover, The tenser it gets in jerusalem.
Just thirty years ago, the romans killed thousands During passover demonstrations.
Roman scum! Roman thieves! [crowd jeering and shouting.]
This is a mess! I must inform pilate.
Since I've been prefect, You jews have tested my patience to breaking point.
- Now I'm beyond it.
- Yes, but prefect I'm speaking! If the disturbances today are repeated tomorrow, I will shut the temple immediately.
There will be no passover.
I will put this city under curfew.
I will crush any rebellion.
Do I make myself absolutely clear? [indistinct dialogue.]
We thank you, lord, By whose word everything comes to be.
Amen.
This is our last meal together Before I die.
What do you mean? I'm going to be betrayed to my enemies, Arrested And condemned to death.
[caiaphas.]
malchus, any word from judas? Nothing, high priest.
I won't wait any longer.
Malchus, we arrest this false prophet tonight.
How do we know he is a false prophet? Has he fulfilled any of the signs of a true messiah As written in our scriptures? Well, nicodemus, has he? He will be tried according to our law.
We remove this man or the romans destroy everything.
Remove? Execute? Yes, nicodemus.
The life of one peasant for the future of god's nation.
Don't be afraid.
Trust in god.
Trust in me also.
You know the way to where I am going.
We don't know where you're going.
How can we know the way? I am the way The truth And the life.
Take it.
Eat.
This This is my body.
This is my blood.
Remember me by doing this.
I'm going to the father, But I will always be with you.
But now I must tell you That one of you here will betray me.
Who? Whoever eats this I will not.
I will not betray you.
Do it quickly.
Let him go.
[retches.]
You will all fall away.
Rabbi I will not fall away.
I will lay down my life for you.
Will you? I will.
Peter, I tell you Before dawn You will deny me three times.
- Judas.
Where is he? - I Do you know where he is now? I know where he's going.
Lead my servant to him.
Wake up.
And keep awake.
The time has come.
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
I must pray.
Father Father I know It must be as you will it.
Father, take this from me.
Spare me? Lord, I know you are pleased with me, For you sustain me in sincerity.
We thank you, our ancestors, for watching over us.
Father Praise the lord, god of israel.
Everlasting and everlasting.
Amen and amen.
If you will it, father.
If you will it Your will Is mine.
Do what you came for.
Traitor! Take him! Take him! Run, jesus! Run, jesus, run! Run, jesus! Peter He who lives by the sword, Dies by the sword.
[groans.]
Run! Come on, you, move! Move it! Take him back.
- What about this one? - Get out of here! Come on! - I won't leave him.
- Peter! Come on! Come on, mary! [shouting.]
Keep him moving.
[groaning.]
Drag him! - Tell caiaphas we have jesus.
- Yes, sir! Not you.
"therefore, night trials involving death penalty "may not be held on the eve of sabbath "or on the eve a feast day.
" The best scholars say we must hold our trials by daylight, But the trial is tonight.
You cannot go through with this.
It is not legal.
Our scholars say it must be in court, in daylight, in public.
- It is necessary.
- Why the rush? You know why.
Pilate will close the temple.
We must be rid of this jesus.
But what if he really is who they say he is? We are to decide precisely that, now, with god's guidance.
God demands we obey the law! Let me remind you what the law says: "anyone who shows contempt "for the judge or for the priest shall be put to death.
" Anyone.
Tell me, speak to me.
Why are you letting them do this to you? No, no, no, get back! Have you seen the man they arrested? Have you seen the man they arrested? Get back! [indistinct murmuring.]
Brothers, thank you for coming at this hour.
You know I would not have asked you if it were not so serious.
Ah.
.
Get him up.
Jesus of nazareth, You are charged with blasphemy.
Mary? Oh, mary What has happened? Where is my son? - Jesus has been arrested.
- Arrested? We don't know where they have taken him.
Arrested? At night? They want to keep it secret.
They don't want any protests.
He has employed demons to heal.
He has threatened to destroy the temple of our lord.
But brothers, we must listen before we judge.
And so I invite the prophet to speak.
Tell us the message you bring from god.
Nothing? Nothing to say? Surely Tell us this Are you the chosen one? Are you the son of god? I am.
And you will see me coming with the clouds of heaven, Sitting at the right hand of god.
This is repulsive! With god? Imposter! Fool! Blasphemer! We have heard enough.
There is only one verdict.
Guilty.
This is wrong! This brings shame on our council.
- Does it not? - Brothers The sentence is death.
I have been born and come into the world To testify to the truth.
be thanked.
We have convicted a dangerous criminal.
his name: Jesus of nazareth.
they're going to kill him.
[grunts.]
[screams.]
crucify him.
you'll live to regret this.
he'll be forgotten in a week.
father, forgive them.
For they know not what they do.
you will be silent or you will be silenced.
paul of tarsus.
I could flush this scum out for you.
Tell all your friends that I will find you.
I have chosen him to proclaim my name To the world.
when everything else disappears, Faith, hope, And love remain.
[smacking and grunting.]
there will be no more death Or mourning or crying Or pain.
I am coming soon.