Jesus of Nazareth

---

(horse neighs)

(tambourines and drums)

More wine over here!

White and red wine. Take it over there.

Now, bring that dish here.

More wine!

I have often wondered about the beliefs of

these nations - the Egyptians, the Syrians.

King Herod... er...

to revert to the Jews. I wonder,...

..is it because they identify future with

past that they have so many prophets?

Oh, the prophets.

It's the sun which breeds them!

(laughter)

Many are harmless.

They preach religion, we let them go,...

..but some of them preach rebellion

because it is written.

Altogether, literacy has had

a disastrous effect on this country.

And those we eliminate,...

..Rome has taught us that, although

this may be indifferent theology,...

..it is very good government.

(laughter)

Majesty, I've heard the word Messiah.

What exactly is a Messiah?

Oh, even you

have heard that awful word, Proculus.

Is he a prophet,

or is he something even...

Well, Rome, even Rome,

cannot influence men's dreams.

And the Messiah is a bad dream...

..disguised as a solution to every problem.

It's a leveller of scores,

a rewarder of righteousness,...

..a scourge for the wrongdoer.

It is the bringer of everlasting peace!

Then, as I understand it,

from what you have said,...

..a Messiah is worse than a prophet,

from the Roman point of view.

Oh, from the Jewish viewpoint, too.

Only you try telling that to the Jews!

No, don't. It's wiser not to consult them

just when a Messiah appears.

Crush it underfoot like a scorpion!

No, you can tell Great Augustus

that he can rest in peace in Rome.

There will be no Messiahs, true or false,

in Palestine while I am alive.

(children shouting)

Mary! Mary!

Come down, Mary!

They're waiting for you!

Mary! Mary!

Mary, come quickly!

Child, your shawl.

(wind blowing)

(dogs barking)

- Thank you.

- Do not be afraid.

Yes, here she is.

Joseph.

May this betrothal, one to the other,...

..Joseph, Mary,...

..be blessed and sanctified according to

the Law of Moses and of Israel.

Amen.

(cheering)

(thud)

(creaking)

(howling)

(barking)

(clatter)

Who are you?

Who are you?

How can that be?

No man has ever touched me.

Behold the handmaiden of the Lord.

May it be done unto me

according to your word.

Mary,...

..who are you talking to?

There's news of Elizabeth.

My cousin Elizabeth? What news?

She's going to have a son

in three months' time.

She conceived the child six months ago...

..on the nineteenth day of Tishri.

But Elizabeth was always barren.

Now she's far too old.

What nonsense is this, child?

Oh, but it's true.

She's going to have a son.

And I must go and visit her.

Come, Mary. You'll be comfortable.

God bless you, child.

Here. Take this to my sister in Be'er Kuni

and tell her I'll be with her for Passover.

- All right. I will.

- Go safely on your journey.

Where do you want this grain?

Where should I put it?

Mary!

I've been longing to see you.

Mary.

So it is true.

How did you know? Who told you?

A messenger...

..from God.

And he told me another thing.

A thing even more wonderful?

You're blessed among women,...

..and blessed shall be the fruit

of your womb.

I too am highly favoured...

..that the mother of the chosen

should come to me.

From the moment

your greeting reached my ears...

..the child in my womb leapt for joy.

My soul doth magnify the Lord!

And my spirit hath rejoiced

in God, my saviour,...

..for he has looked kindly upon

the most humble of his handmaidens...

..and he has told me that all generations

shall call me blessed.

He who is mighty

has done unto me a mighty thing!

- Is it true about Mary's dream?

- Oh, yes.

News came that

Elizabeth is going to have a child.

- Even though she's past the age?

- Yes. She must be 50.

- The wife of Zacharias?

- Yes. She's Mary's cousin.

Well, Joseph,...

..are we going to get an invitation

to your wedding?

(chuckles) Plenty of time for that, Jotham.

The contract's just been signed.

Just betrothed

and his beloved's left him already.

Just like her. She's always been

a bit strange. Not like the others.

That's something you'll have to live with.

But seriously, Joseph,

Mary is remarkable.

We all think so.

A remarkable girl.

(crowd) Ahhh!

Elizabeth is here!

Give him to me, Elizabeth.

Blessed be thou,

our Lord, King of the Universe,...

..who has blessed us

with your commandments...

..and ordained us to initiate our sons

in the Covenant of our Father Abraham.

Amen.

As this child enters the Covenant, so may

he enter into the study of the Torah,...

..into marriage, and into good deeds.

Amen.

(baby cries)

This is the seal in flesh of the Covenant

between the Lord and his people.

What is the name of the child?

(Elizabeth) His name is...

His name shall be John.

When you get back to Nazareth,...

..tell Joseph what you have

seen and heard, what you know.

The Lord God gives life

where no life is possible.

And one life shall be the Son of God,...

..and the other shall be his prophet.

Go.

Tell all this to Joseph.

But will he believe me?

Will he believe me?

God will open his heart.

Come on, off you go. Go on.

Play somewhere else.

That's it.

It is written in the Law,...

..if, in the time of betrothal,

a woman sins with any other man,...

..let them both be taken

beyond the gates of the town...

..and stoned to death.

That the abomination

may be crushed out of the heart of Israel.

Should a man marry a woman

and she find no favour in his eyes,...

..because he has found in her

the stain of uncleanliness,...

..let him write a bill of repudiation

and deliver it into her hands.

This applies, even if

I haven't taken Mary into my house?

Yes.

All that is needed

is for a bill to be written...

..and delivered

in the presence of two witnesses.

No.

If I do that, I will expose her shame.

I can't.

I can't.

I'll send her away if I must,...

..but in secret.

God knows the secret of the heart.

Trust in him, and accept.

Accept it, Joseph.

The Lord will not abandon you.

Thank you.

(gasping)

(moaning)

(Joseph) Oh, no... no...

Oh...

No...

No! No!

No!

(man's voice) Joseph!

Joseph, son of David.

Do not be afraid

to take Mary as your wife.

lt is by the Holy Spirit

that she has conceived.

She will bear a son, and you shall

give him the name Jesus, the Saviour.

(d percussion)

(man) Hey, Joseph, Joseph!

The bride is arriving! Mary's here!

(music stops)

With this ring...

With this ring...

..be thou consecrated unto me.

..be thou consecrated unto me.

According to the Law of Moses

and of Israel.

According to the Law of Moses

and of Israel.

May the Lord bless and preserve you.

May the Lord

make his face shine upon you.

May the Lord Lift up his countenance

towards you...

..and give you peace.

(all) Amen.

(music starts)

Ah! Census!

It's a trick to increase the taxes.

And we all know

where the money ends up - in Rome.

But why should it?

- What does Rome give us?

- That's not the point.

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