Killing Jesus Page #6

---

by the light of a flame.

I envy you

your sharpness of vision.

The characters are blurred.

And though I know the

entire scriptures by heart,

I find it

curiously comforting...

to actually hold them

in my hand.

It is almost your time...

to start your duties

in the temple...

and you have not slept.

I have... failed you.

I've failed the temple.

When Passover ends,

the Nazarene,

he will leave,

conceal himself

in the hide of the land.

Then he will return,

with ever greater numbers

in his following,

all believing

that he is the Messiah,

all willing

to be part of a rebellion...

that brings him to the throne.

But I remember...

I remember as a child...

seeing...

bodies, hundreds of...

dead Jews...

killed by the Romans.

The revolts

of Judas the Galilean.

Also hailed as the Messiah.

Do you understand my fear?

The horror that this man

could bring to our people.

Have you confronted him?

To no avail.

He seeks confrontation then

turns our words against us.

He mocks us in our own temple.

God's word is quite clear.

Any false prophet...

who incites rebellion against God's

authority shall be put to death.

You...

are the most respected

voice of that law.

Will you take

his judgment upon yourself?

Find a way to put him before me.

My sister,

you must join us for dinner.

May I come in?

They were paying to be baptized.

They were...

This is Joanna.

She brings perfumed oils...

and asks to anoint your hair.

Bless you, Joanna.

You come with

a hidden purpose, Joanna.

I'm the wife of Chuza,

ch-chief steward of the tetrarch.

They speak of killing you,

the tetrarch,

those of the temple.

And you came to warn me, why?

My cousin was to be stoned.

She lives because of you.

Don't go to Jerusalem.

I must.

This is a house of prayer!

This is my livelihood!

Get Malchus!

Not a den of thieves!

Down with the money lenders!

Down with the money lenders!

Behold the king of the Jews!

Turn out the guard.

Oh, no!

No, no, no, no!

We follow Jesus,

king of the Jews!

We follow Jesus,

king of the Jews!

My house will be called

a house of prayer!

You have made it

a den of thieves.

You'll die for this!

We follow Jesus,

king of the Jews!

We follow Jesus,

king of the Jews!

Nazarene!

Order them to stop

this blasphemous praise!

Stop? If they stop, the stones

themselves would cry out!

- Guards, arrest him!

- Arrest that man!

Enough!

- Guards, hold your place!

- Guards, hold the line! Hold the line!

What I came to do...

is done.

Our impotence

in dealing with this man...

will bring about

the disdain of the Romans.

He invalidates our authority both

in the temple and in Jerusalem.

If he leaves and returns

a triumphant leader,

Pilate may decide to deal

with him instead of us.

Let's judge him here, in this room,

and stone him to death.

How?

The mob makes

his arrest impossible.

He's surrounded by hundreds

who venerate him.

I have seen a weakness.

Hmm?

Tell us.

Betrayal, by one of his own.

Impossible.

They worship him.

Perhaps not all.

Judas Iscariot.

The tax collector.

Wasn't sure you'd remember me,

going as you go,

seeing many faces.

But few horses like this.

Yes, to be admired he is.

You should have a fine horse.

Be finely mounted as befit

those who serve a king.

You were at the temple.

In truth, no.

I long for the rewards

of heaven,

but I take the coin

and let the credit go...

and ignore the promises

of kingdoms yet to come.

And facing what you face,

hearing the sighs of the dying

on the hill of Golgotha.

Were I in your place,

my every breath

would tighten with fear.

A horse such as this costs what?

A stallion of his blood who could

be had for 15 pieces of silver.

But I also know a man who would

offer you 30 pieces of silver.

In return for what?

Willingness to choose life

over death.

Where would this man be found?

I need to speak with Malchus.

Asher sent me.

I haven't much time.

When and where

can we find him alone?

The others are always

at his side.

The 12.

Or better said, 12 minus one.

Tonight, we will eat the

Passover meal here in Jerusalem.

Where?

I don't yet know.

A room.

It was decided without me.

So far I hear nothing

worth 30 pieces of silver.

I'll leave that meal

and come here.

Doing this, you save your life.

Yes.

That must be why I do this.

Everywhere there is talk of you.

An inn gave us food and lodging

and would accept no payment.

My son is hailed for

bringing a message from God.

And those of Nazareth.

Believing you to be the Messiah?

Yes.

Some do.

And you?

So great will be my pride...

when I hear you

speak at the temple.

I'll not speak there again.

But on the road,

many were coming to hear you.

Well, that's over now.

I've come all this way.

You'll deny me that?

I mean, the decision isn't mine.

I can't speak of it with you.

But...

Mother,

I have so longed for you.

The pain of absence

has been terrible.

But now it's too late.

Too late?

What do you mean?

James, take her to Nazareth.

Have you lost your

mind saying this?

I beg you, spare her

from what must come.

Where are you going?

Jesus.

Come. Let us go.

You wash our feet, why?

Call me Lord

and place me above you.

I wash your feet to show that no

master is greater than his servant.

And no messenger is greater

than the one who sends him.

Come and eat what God has

blessed on this Passover night.

This is a meal fit for

a king... our feast.

Start carving, Matthew.

Yes. Yes.

Brothers, let us talk of what

is written and what prophets have said.

It's in the scripture.

He who shares my bread

has lifted his heel against me.

I tell you now

before it happens,

so when it does happen,

you know that I'm he.

- No one questions that.

- Many will.

And one will betray me.

How can you say this? I have been loyal.

We've all been loyal.

He's testing us again.

Brothers, I'll be with you

only a little longer.

Take what I've said...

that in me you'll have peace in

a world of anger and despair.

Take courage, for I have

overcome the world.

- But where I now go, you cannot follow.

- I'll follow.

I'd lay down my life,

go to prison, to death.

Peter, this very night

before the cock has crowed,

you'll deny three times

that you know me.

I tell you now.

Where is Judas?

The garden of Gethsemane.

They will go there to pray.

It's dark in that garden.

How will my men know

which is him?

I will greet him with a kiss.

Later.

Oh, my darling.

Not another dream

of the Baptist.

I gain the sleep,

the rest I so desperately need,

and then I waken,

there that thing is beside me.

No. No, it is gone.

These are dreams.

One of the servants told me it

wasn't found. It wasn't buried.

The head!

No.

It was eaten by jackals

in the desert.

His follower brings this horror.

Jesus takes revenge.

Tell her that the sorcery of

the Nazarene will have an end.

You tell me he will die too.

Father, take this cup from me.

This bitter cup.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes