Jesus of Nazareth Page #3

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Rome will choose a king from among his

sons, and her grip will become stronger.

But you should lift up your hearts,

for the Eternal will not abandon us.

He will send us a deliverer.

And his dominion is the everlasting

dominion that shall not pass away.

And his kingdom,

that which shall not be destroyed.

Come.

There. Look.

Do you see? Nazareth.

That's where we live.

(Joseph) Hear, O Israel,...

..the Eternal our God, the Eternal is one.

Blessed be the name of the glory

of the kingdom for ever and ever.

And thou shalt love the Eternal thy God...

..with all thy heart and with all thy soul

and with all thy might.

And these words, which I command thee,

shall be in thine heart.

Amen.

Amen.

(boy) Bar'chu et adonai ha'm 'vorch.

(men) Baruch adonai

ha'mvorach l'olam vaed.

Bless God, who has given us the Torah.

The Lord God will go before you.

Be strong and of good courage.

Fear not, nor be afraid,

for the Lord thy God will go with you.

He will not fail you or forsake you.

(men) Amen.

Now you're truly a man.

Shh-shh-shh-shh.

Jesus bar Joseph, as

a new adult member of our community,...

..you have exercised your right

to read and comment upon the Scriptures.

That is your heritage. It is the heritage

of the children of Israel,...

..but remember that God's word

is spoken in times of light...

..and in times of darkness

and persecution.

May you always read from the Law

in a time of joy.

(men) Amen.

May God protect you.

May God bring blessings on the boy.

(singing)

The Romans are here.

The Romans?

Hey, hey! Brothers! Brothers!

Quiet!

Romans... The Roman soldiers are here.

(men) The Romans!

(screaming)

(woman sobbing)

Jewish bread. Better than nothing.

(distant screaming)

What's this?

Quartermaster. An army must eat,

and it's a long way to Jerusalem.

But Galilee isn't Roman territory.

Huh! The whole world is Roman territory.

Hey! Put your sword back. Ignore them.

We'll meet with plenty of those

in Jerusalem.

They're called Zealots.

They're mad religious fanatics.

(women screaming in distance)

You there.

Remember this.

The Roman army is not a pack of bandits.

And we'll deal with the likes of you

in our own good time. Come!

(shouting) May the curse of God

fall upon these murderers!

How long must we wait, O Lord,

for you to help us!

(women sobbing)

God has abandoned us.

How long!

(sobs)

(man wails) How long!

(man) How long, O Lord?

I grow old.

What of thy promise to the prophets, hm?

Where are they?

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,...

..and tell her

that her time of bondage has ended,...

..that her penalty is paid.

Salvation is at hand,...

..to be shouted from the mountain tops.

Comfort ye...

Comfort... God, comfort. (coughs)

The teaching is clear.

Behold, I send my messenger,

and he will clear the way before me.

(softly) A messenger... before me.

A messenger...

And the Lord

will suddenly come to his temple,...

..and the messenger of the Covenant,

behold, is here.

(noise from crowd)

(preacher) I am the Lord unchanging,

says the Eternal!

And you too

have not ceased to be sons of Jacob!

From the days of your forefathers

you have been wayward...

..and have not kept my Laws!

If you will return to me,

I will return to you, says the Lord!

Do not think you will be saved

by your rituals, by going to the Temple!

It is not sacrifices the Lord demands!

Bring no more vain offerings,

saith the Lord.

I delight not

in the blood of bullocks and of lambs!

The sacrifice God demands

is a repentant heart!

What do we do then to be saved?

Change your hearts!

Take the right way!

The Lord says

my ways are not your ways!

John, baptise me! I have sinned!

You are the prophet!

Sent to us by God!

I baptise you with water,...

..that you may be purified

and ready for the coming of the kingdom.

Open up your hearts to God.

Receive this cleansing life.

Save me, save me, John! I have sinned!

I am a sinner!

Let this water wash away your sins.

(d trumpets)

Stop! Stop! Stop the procession!

Message for the King!

Your Majesty, he's here.

The Baptist.

He's here!

Well?

- Well? Well, what?

- But...

Well, er... leave him alone.

Oh, no.

On the march again! Continue!

(d trumpets)

Oh, what harm can he do?

He's been out there for years

in the desert,...

..living on locusts and prayers.

He doesn't incite the people to rebellion.

He asks nothing for himself.

All he wants is to remain poor and naked.

He'd very much

like everybody else to do the same!

Oh, now, when the wedding festivities are

over, I'll have him preach at the palace.

You can hear him with your own ears.

He's a very remarkable man.

I am glad there is somebody

remarkable in Judaea.

(John shouts) Herod!

Herod!

The tablets of the Law speak plainly!

You may marry the wife of your brother

when your brother is dead,...

..but not while he lives!

This woman, Herodias,

is the wife of your brother Philip!

And Philip lives - tetrarch in Ituraea.

It is written:
I have seen thine adulteries

and thine abominations.

Woe unto them!

Wilt thou not be made clean?

Send back this woman to your brother.

Repent!

How can you allow this slander

to continue?

No, no, no.

We decided to be clement

on our wedding day.

I am not afraid of your power on earth,

Herod Antipas!

If I do not warn you, you will die in sin...

..and the Lord will ask me

to account for your life!

(crowd gasps)

Quickly! Into the palace!

(musicians start playing)

(shouting) John! John!

- Repent! Repent!

- The Lord blesses you!

For the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

(crowd shouts) Save us!

The time has come!

The great and terrible day

of the Lord is at hand!

Repent...

..and change your lives.

Every valley shall be exalted,...

..every mountain and hill laid low.

The winding ways shall be straightened

and the rough ways made smooth.

God led you back from Babylon

to serve him, but you betrayed him.

Now you are warned. Flee! Flee!

Arrest the prophet.

I demand that you arrest him!

Demand?!

Demand?

That's a strong word, my heart.

You must remember.

John is right.

By the Laws of Moses,...

..we have sinned.

Come on. Come on.

(chuckles) We have sinned.

And we go on sinning,...

..and very pleasant it is too!

Even if I wanted to,

I could do nothing about his reproaches...

..until he once more sets foot in Galilee.

And then,...

..my own, my heart,

we'll throw him into prison!

(mockingly) Repent! Repent! Repent!

(both laugh)

A little repenting won't do him any harm.

After all,...

..he preaches it.

(John preaching)

You are born to a new life

through your repentance...

..and the Lord pours his blessings on you.

The Lord rejoices in repentant hearts.

Go in peace.

He will forgive you,

if you truly mean it in your heart.

Help me, O Lord.

Open up your heart.

Be ready for the coming of the kingdom.

Let your heart now be cleansed.

Forgive me. I have sinned.

Help me to be strong.

Be strong.

It is I who... who need baptism from you.

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