Original subtitles

I've not come to overthrow the law.

Of course not.

God's law is more pure,

simpler than any made by men.

In the streets around Bethesda there are dozens of men

who've reached 18 since the last census.

When we call to collect their tax, the family say, "He's gone to Egypt,"

- or, "He's dead." - Search for them.

Even during Passover, with all these pilgrims?

Certainly.

They have to pay tax. Take as many men as you need, horses if you wish.

(Screaming)

(Soldier) Six men in that house alone.

We have brothers in Galilee, Jericho and here in Jerusalem,

sworn in, ready to rise up against Pilate.

- Death to Rome. - Death to Rome.

To the roof!

Another three in here.

You, those streets up to the left, don't take any excuses.

- Come on! - You, get out of the way!

We'll slit the young collector.

Come on, let's go.

(Screaming)

(Soldier) Out of the way!

Out of the way, you scum! Move!

Get rid of him quickly. I won't have them gloating.

We need more men. Inform the garrison.

The murderer will be hiding, trying to wash off the blood. Find him.

(Bleating)

(Man) Change your temple tax. Change your temple tax here.

Change your temple tax.

My father's house.

It's become a nest of criminals.

You're buying and selling on holy ground!

- Why not? - This is meant to be a house of prayer.

- Pilgrims need to change money. - The house of God is not a market.

(Jesus roars)

You have no authority in the temple!

I am in my father's house.

I am in my father's house!

Get these out of here!

Get them out of here, do as he says.

Get back!

Is this how you honour God?

Is this how you honour God?

They're listening now.

Did you see how it all started? Did they steal from the moneychangers?

No, no, Jesus attacked them.

It's all right. It'll be all right. What is he trying to do?

- "Is this how you honour God?" - What?

He was shouting, "Is this how you honour God?"

God?

He's challenging us about God? We have to do something about him.

He's a rabbi, he's teaching.

Teaching? Knocking over stalls? You know what the temple crowd is like.

Maybe the temple should be cleared of money.

I was a boy when I saw the temple steps wet with blood, our blood.

If some madman starts a riot, Pilate will send in his troops.

- Pilate wouldn't go that far again. - I should take that risk?

Are people listening to him, the preacher?

Crowds of people.

- Good. - Good?

Go to the courtyard and question him.

Expose him. Show what nonsense he speaks, the crowd will drift away.

- Then we arrest him quietly. - Arrest him?

We hold him until Passover is finished and the pilgrims are gone.

Someone's been killed, a tax collector.

In the temple?

Capito's men were collecting money in the lower city.

- This Jesus - his men? - I don't know...yet.

The temple.

Open up!

Make way.

Bring me the killer alive.

This could be a robbery or something more.

- Rebellion? - Who knows?

There's a crowd at the temple, a disturbance.

They're always squabbling, merchants fighting over pitches.

Keep an eye, but first find me the killer.

And, Marcus...

..when you're searching, let the people see who's in charge of Jerusalem.

(Neighing)

- No sign of Pilate's men. - Gone to the lower city.

Good. We'll do as Caiaphas said and arrest him quietly.

(Jesus) If you listen to my teachings you will know the truth,

and the truth will set you free.

Teacher, I have a question.

You teach your thoughts about God's will for his people,

then tell us -

is it right to pay taxes to Rome,

or should we refuse to pay?

Show me the coin you use.

- Whose face is this? - Caesar's.

Then give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar.

And give to God what belongs to God.

(Laughter)

Not so clever now with your trick questions.

(Shouting, screaming)

Out of the way.

Are you all deaf and blind, are you? I'll help you see.

Sir!

She saw the murderer.

Where is he?

(Soldier) Kick it in!

You men, follow me!

(Clattering)

(Roars)

A man has a hundred sheep,

and one of them wanders away from the others.

Does he leave the 99 on the hillside or seek out the one who is lost?

Course not. You guard the 99 more closely.

You hope the lost one comes back.

No.

See, a good shepherd... searches out the one who has strayed.

And leave the 99 for one?

Yes.

Joseph of Arimathea.

- You know this man? - I've heard him before.

Very beautiful, the way he puts things.

Beautiful? He wasn't very beautiful this morning.

..than all the others that were never lost.

What authority do you have to throw out these honest merchants?

I'm honoured by my audience.

My authority comes from the one who sent me. One who is always with me.

How can someone send you and always be with you?

He sends me and never leaves me.

Children's riddles, hm?

You mean this little one understands...

- but you don't? - (Laughter)

It's true. But she isn't allowed inside the temple.

She's unclean, it's the law.

And her?

You know she's a sinner.

So she should be turned away from her father's house?

Is that the love you show your own children?

Can you really believe God loves his children less than you?

You seek out the pious, you turn away the sinners.

But I tell you, there's more joy in heaven over a sinner who changes

than all the burnt offerings at temple.

You're against sacrifice?

I believe in sacrifice...

of a different kind.

I've not come to overthrow the law but to complete it.

You must learn the way of compassion.

A question, then, on the law.

Of all God's commandments, which is the greatest?

God's law? Simple.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart,

all your soul,

all your strength,

and love your neighbour as yourself.

To love like that is a greater sacrifice than any amount of burnt offerings.

You're not far from the truth.

Coming from a carpenter, it's a beautiful thing to say.

Yes, words, words, words, but he still hasn't answered my first question.

Why should anyone listen to him?

Because I've not come to judge you

but to save you.

Imagine the tenants of a vineyard.

When harvest time comes,

the owner sends his only son to collect his share.

The tenants say to each other, "This is the owner's son.

"Come on, let's kill him and we'll get his inheritance."

So they grab the son and torture him,

they kill him and they throw him out of the vineyard.

Now, what would the owner do to these tenants?

He will punish them without mercy and rent the vineyard to new tenants.

In the same way, unless you give to God his true harvest

the keys to the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to others.

Like this little one.

Look. This...

This is your brother, Annas.

(Laughter)

Too many people to arrest him.

See, we're not her masters...

we're her servants.

(Soldier) Come on!

(Woman whimpers)

Is that him? Is that him?

(Sobs)

Right, get out.

She knows him.

His name is Jesus Barabbas.

(Groans)

Pilate's men, they found the killer.

A bandit.

- He isn't one of the Galileans? - No.

- You're sure? - They've left the temple.

The crowd was too big to arrest him.

- Even so, find this informer of yours. - There's something else.

Joseph of Arimathea knows Jesus.

Bring him as well, see what he can tell us.

What does this man want?

(James) It's true. Then who would protect you, Matthew?

In the temple this morning, we didn't hesitate, we drew our swords.

- So what? - What are you talking about?

Ask these two.

Are we your most trusted leaders?

Why? What makes you two so special?

John, you call me leader but I'm your servant.

If you're to spread my message, first you must be a servant to others.

I don't want my disciples to be known by their wealth or their status.

In my eyes, the greatest among you is the one who is most humble.

I want you to be known by the love you show each other.

- Your mother's here. - At the gate?

- I'll bring her in to eat. - No.

She's come all this way.

I want to be alone with her.

He talks about love, but then his own mother...

What do you know about it?

This morning his men drew their swords.

Jesus is not violent, he's not one of these killers.

What is he, then?

He attacks the moneylenders, talks about the elders being evicted like bad tenants.

His stories are strangely threatening.

He's a rabbi, he speaks in the synagogues in Galilee.

His speeches, his actions, they inflame others.

He talks to lepers and prostitutes about knowing God.

Prostitutes, exactly. Does he respect temple rules?

Of course. He's paid his temple tax, he's here to celebrate Passover.

Why not have him come to you? Listen to what he's saying.

I should discuss God with a carpenter?

Jesus believes he's our new king.

And you, what do you believe?

We should hear him out.

I agree.

We can.

But a man like this,

does he listen to anyone else?

You must be hungry.

You've come all this way alone?

- I'll have someone walk back with you. - What you did today in the temple...

- You have to trust me. - Trust you?

I never asked for you.

You were in my belly before I knew.

What if Joseph had said, "No. I'm not going to marry you now." What then?

I was barely a woman. I loved you against the world.

There's nothing you can teach me, Jesus,

about trusting in God's will.

Your brothers say you're out of your mind, you'll be killed if you continue.

Do you think I don't wonder?

Do you think I don't wonder?

When I pray I hear his voice

and I think to myself, "Can this be my father,

"asking these things of me, my father who loves me?"

- And? - You know it is.

- No. - Yes.

Yes.

He asks everything of me.

I'm his only son.

Do you want anything?

Is there anything I can do?

You've already done so much.

That Joseph could be drawn in.

Seduced.

For generations, our families have ruled Judea wisely.

The people trust us, not some desert preacher.

- He's not... - No matter how enchanting he seems.

You've always looked after us. The people know that.

Have you heard from Pilate?

Prefect.

The tax collector's purse.

Good. Good work.

And the prisoner? What's his name?

Jesus Barabbas.

Break him. See if he's part of a gang or hopes to lead an insurrection.

Get their names but do it quickly.

Otherwise they'll escape the city, if they haven't already.

Yes, Prefect.

Will you have him crucified?

Of course.

Judeans need a few crucifixions, lest they forget.

Can you not talk to him?

Jesus believes this is his destiny.

And you?

I believe in him.

It's easy to believe when you're young.

He'll need you.

A lot of long faces tonight.

What about you, Judas? Do you believe in me?

We all do.

We want to.

Judas, when you look into your heart...

..what do you see?

Forgive me. Forgive me, Lord.

You are forgiven.

Now tell me...

..what do you see inside?

(Sniffs)

I'm sorry, Judas.