Killing Jesus Page #3

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Tell me, Rabbi.

In Jerusalem, will you denounce the

Romans and those in league with them?

I'm not a zealot.

I come only to bring word

of God's love...

and to say that

all must be born again.

Born a second time?

One can't reenter

the womb, Rabbi.

Or is that one of the wonders

that supposedly you have wrought?

Are you a scribe or a Pharisee?

Are your words not for all?

Yes, for all.

I'm here to speak of a light

coming into the world.

And those who live

by the truth...

can enter this light,

knowing it... it can

be plainly seen,

that whatever they do from

then on is done through God.

Have you understood?

I have.

Rabbi!

John. Is it John?

The tetrarch arrested him,

and they've taken him to the

fortress called Machaerus.

It's in the desert

across the Jordan.

There's no hope for rescue.

How do I now speak of love,

forgiveness?

How?

I am trapped by the feelings of a man

who longs to attack this injustice.

Now I know my father's anger

at how we fail him.

Now I feel I am not

to bring peace, but a sword.

What magnificent buildings.

Who is not awed by this?

Look upon them.

Burn them into your memory,

for I say that not one stone

will remain upon the other.

All will be thrown down.

All! All of what you see.

It is written in the book

of the prophet, Malachi.

"Before the great and dreadful

day of the Lord comes,

I will send you

the prophet Elijah."

Now I say that Elijah

did come...

calling us to redemption

in waters of the Jordan.

For the Lord offers forgiveness

of sin to all with a true heart.

He speaks of John the Baptist.

I was redeemed in the water of

Jordan by John the Baptist.

Yes. Jesus speaks

of John the Baptist,

who has been imprisoned

by his enemies.

Yes. Like Elijah, John came.

But they did not know him

and did to him as they wished.

Free him!

Free him!

Free him!

Free him!

Those of the council of the Sanhedrin

are a generation of vipers.

- Vipers! Yes!

- Vipers.

Vipers!

- I say destroy this temple!

- Yes!

And in three days,

I will raise it up again.

Destroy this marketplace

that shames our Lord.

Destroy it!

Destroy it!

- Hosanna!

- Hosanna!

Hosanna! Hosanna!

I share your anger, Rabbi.

Let me follow you.

What is your name?

Judas Iscariot.

Bless you, Judas.

Jesus challenges us,

but I did not hear blasphemy.

And when he called for the destruction of

this temple, calling it a marketplace,

what is that if not blasphemy?

Many devout Jews criticize the commerce,

the money lending.

Standing there, he derides...

this...

beauty, this grandeur with threats,

derides a place where, for me,

each stone is sacrosanct.

A place where every day

700 of our priests...

perform rituals

for the truly devout,

for whom this

is the house of God.

To be protected

with our lives, our blood.

I heard the Nazarene's words,

and I heard blasphemy.

Joshua. Can we see him? Yes.

Can we see the Baptist?

Shh. Get back.

- Can we see him?

- Impossible.

He'll be taken and killed.

Pass on your words

and bring his response.

Joshua.

They've come.

Thomas and Andrew

with news of Jesus.

Then God has blessed me.

They say Jesus

now travels the land...

preaching as you have preached.

God offers his son,

and Jesus takes up the cup.

And you will be

reunited with him?

No.

His will be a lone path.

I will be martyred here,

in this place.

No sadness.

Praise God for the son

he offers in Jesus.

Pray.

Pray, Joshua.

Praise God.

Praise the Lord.

My son.

Mother.

It is said that you've

lured fishermen from Galilee...

from honest work

to follow as you preach.

Preach what they say

is contrary.

Not contrary to the word of God.

Who knows?

My life is about this...

putting bread on the table.

Oh, we don't live

by bread alone.

What James means...

It's said you healed

the sick as if by...

She won't say the word,

but I'll say it.

"Sorcery."

I comfort the sick.

When they're cured,

it's by the hand of God.

Bear in mind,

what you go about saying and doing...

impacts us as well.

Mother. James.

All who I call family,

how I love you...

and will always love you.

You cannot understand

the path I've taken.

But the call of God

comes before all else.

And for you, I'm just Jesus.

Not the most skilled

at carpentry.

And sadly, no prophet

is accepted among his own.

I can only hope

that maybe someday...

Who knows?

The betrothed,

are they not glorious to behold?

Salome was raised with

the laws of the covenant.

What joy to know

my son's chosen...

is from a house

beholden to our laws.

We of my house

live by the word of God.

As do we.

Among us are followers

of a prophet.

A prophet?

Who spoke like Elijah...

and washed away sin

in the waters of the Jordan.

And offended

the order of things.

As many are offended

by his imprisonment.

As Salome's bride-price,

I ask for his freedom.

We offer herds,

our finest wines, oils

to enrich your house.

Riches do not equal

a prophet's life.

His arrest was favored by the Roman

governor and the temple priests.

Do they, in Jerusalem,

dictate what is done here?

They who would tax

the air we breathe.

What you ask for

is beyond reason.

The Baptist cannot be released.

Isaac.

Isaac!

Come!

We shall have no place

in this house.

You saw her shame.

Until now I've seen the Baptist

as a threat to myself...

and to our future rule.

Now I must suffer

my daughter's disgrace?

There will be other suitors.

Hmm?

Kill him.

Claim he choked on a fish bone.

If I ruled, I'd kill him

and all who follow him.

I know that voice.

My father.

And how I wish you were he.

How am I to eat?

Pay up. Pay!

Hey, that man.

And you... come on.

Come on.

All right, take...

Tell him I want to dine in his home.

He'll refuse.

A tax collector

has no place with God.

He'll not refuse.

My master wishes to dine

at your house this evening.

Me? Why?

Ask him.

My answer would give offense.

Why him?

Why him?

God has no love for those who tax us.

I'm not worthy

to offer you my table.

Who admits his fault

and seeks forgiveness...

will find redemption.

Look into your hearts,

and you will know this.

I'm hungry.

Invite me to your home.

Where... Where did

you get this... this spice?

You are young and supple.

You are as men desire.

None come seeking my hand.

Go on.

We must be careful.

The Baptist has followers

even here.

He is a curse upon us.

At fault is

my husband's weakness.

Unless our weakness

is failing to use his weakness.

When I'm made ready for sleep,

your husband lingers

outside my room.

While he once pledged

to care for you as his own.

That's the beauty you've become.

I'll address this with him.

No.

His lust is repulsive,

but perhaps useful.

Oh.

She's a leper!

Rabbi!

Rabbi, bless me, Rabbi, please!

I was here before you!

John, draw them water.

They're lepers.

Water.

- Drink. Drink.

- No, no, no. Don't drink this.

Bring them some water.

- Judas.

- Let me look at you.

- What is your name?

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