King of Kings Page #4

''A harlot from Jerusalem

by the name of Magdalene...

''is also residing in the same house.''

Tax collectors and harlots!

''The day before the nones of July...

''the man Jesus spoke to a crowd of over

5,000 people at the foot of Mount Tabor...

''near Lake Galilee.

''lt is reported that

with a basket containing...

''two fish and five loaves of bread...

''the man Jesus fed the entire multitude.''

I never heard such absolute nonsense!

''The day after the ides of July, Jesus was

seen to walk on the water of Lake Galilee.''

Ridiculous!

''That evening a storm ravaged the lake,

threatening the lives of fishermen.

''The man Jesus raised his arm...

- Does our Lucius mock me?

- ''...the wind died, the storm ceased.''

So it is reported.

Then Lucius, thinking on Nazareth,

the long years...

the mother, the child, and the miracles...

did go to see John the Baptist.

You have treated me well.

I should like to ask

just one more kindness.

Ask!

Before I leave this world...

I would send a message to Jesus.

What is the message?

Ask of him, in these words:

''Was it your coming that was foretold...

''...or are we to expect another? ''

You doubt him?

I do not doubt him.

But I would like to hear it

from his own lips.

You are always looking at her.

You are sick with jealousy.

Dance for me, Salome!

Salome.

Drink a little wine!

Taste it...

so that I may drain the cup.

I am not thirsty.

Come and sit next to me.

I will give you the throne of your mother.

You are not enough of a king.

You keep the man

who reviled my mother in a dungeon...

when he should have died months ago.

Why do you let him live?

I have had talks with him.

John is a very great prophet.

He's a madman, and you are afraid of him.

I am afraid of no man!

Salome, dance for me.

I command you to dance!

I will not dance.

You cannot refuse me.

Salome will now dance for us!

I do refuse!

Salome, I beg of you.

I will give you anything you want.

- Anything?

- Even unto the half of my kingdom.

Do you swear?

By my life, by my crown,

and before the Governor of Judea.

Whatever it is you want,

I will give it to you...

even if it is the throne of your mother.

You have given your word.

I'm the slave of my word...

and my word is the word of a king.

Anything I want?

Now, Salome,

what would you have for your dance?

I want...

on a silver platter...

What on a silver platter?

A ruby? A diamond? A pearl?

I want the head of John the Baptist.

Have you gone mad?

What can you want

with the head of a man?

I want to look at it.

Salome, listen to me.

I have jewels hidden in this palace...

jewels that thy mother even

has never seen.

Jewels that are marvelous to look at.

Great topazes!

Opals that burn with a fire as cold as ice!

Give me the head of John the Baptist...

or let it be known to everyone here...

that the word of the king is worthless.

Give her what she asks.

John the Baptist

has sent a message to ask me:

"Is it your coming that was foretold,

or are we to expect another?"

My answer to John is your testimony.

What you people here have witnessed:

How the blind see once more.

How the lame walk.

The lepers are made clean.

The deaf now hear.

I say to John,

"What was it you expected to see...

"when you went out into the desert?"

Was it a reed trembling in the wind?

No, that is not what you expected to see.

Was it a man, clad in fine garments?

No! You must look in king's palaces for

proudly-dressed men who live in luxury.

Why, then, did he go out?

To see a prophet?

I say to John the Baptist:

"Blessed is he who keeps his faith."

And I further say to all of you:

"God has raised up

no greater son of woman...

"than John the Baptist."

All over Galilee the disciples of Jesus are

calling for a gathering to hear him speak.

This new prophet, Jesus,

he speaks like John the Baptist.

How do we know it's not the same man?

Perhaps John has risen from the dead.

Why did I do it?

I am not an evil man.

Why did I do it?

You should've done it

the day you imprisoned him.

He's John the Baptist.

He's come back as Jesus.

Superstition! Tell him it is not true!

I knew John the Baptist

and I have met Jesus.

They are not the same man.

Stop him. Call your soldiers.

Arrest him!

And start a rebellion?

All Rome wants is peace and taxes.

I don't intend to spend

all my life in this miserable country.

Where is this gathering

taking place, Lucius?

A mount in the hills of Galilee.

Have you any suggestion?

Not until I hear what the man speaks.

Go to this meeting, Lucius.

Let the man talk. Listen to him.

If he utters a single word

treasonable to Rome...

you'll have to act.

I tell you,

it is John the Baptist rising again!

And so much was the fame

that went abroad of Jesus...

that there was a gathering of people,

like flocks from the hills.

Great multitudes came

out of all Judea and Jerusalem...

and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon...

which came to hear him, and to be healed.

My lady, it is not safe

for Pilate's wife to be here.

I must hear this man.

Will you stay with me, Lucius?

They have all gathered,

and are awaiting your word.

Blessed are you who are poor...

for yours is the kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are the meek,

for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are you who do

hunger and thirst after righteousness...

for you shall be filled.

Blessed are those who are merciful,

for they shall obtain mercy.

And blessed are those who are mourners,

for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are those who are pure in heart...

for they shall see God.

And blessed are you

who are the peacemakers...

for you shall be called the children of God.

And blessed are you who are persecuted

for righteousness' sake...

for yours is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Give us a sign from Heaven!

Prove to us who you are.

Blessed are you

when men shall curse you...

and separate you from their company,

and reproach you...

and cast out your name as evil...

for the Son of Man's sake.

When?

When is the Kingdom of God coming?

Watch as you may,

you will not see it come.

No one will say,

''Here it is,'' or, ''There it is.''

For the Kingdom of God is within you.

Rabbi!

What must I do to inherit eternal life?

What is written in the law:

To love the Lord, your God,

with all your heart...

with all your soul...

with all your power and all your mind.

And love your neighbor

as you love yourself.

Do that and you shall live eternally.

I'm a camel driver.

Who can I call neighbor?

He to whom you show mercy

and compassion...

whether you know him or not.

Are you the Messiah?

I am the Good Shepherd.

The Good Shepherd lays down his life

for his sheep.

Do you speak against

the law of the prophets?

I come not to destroy

the law or the prophets...

but to fulfill them.

For I say unto you:

Love your enemies,

bless them who curse you...

and pray for those

who despise and persecute you.

For if you love only those who love you...

what reward shall you have?

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