King of Kings Page #7

there to await the dark night ahead...

there to consider the dark days to follow...

there to prepare for his trial and his death.

Keep watch and pray!

Why must we wait?

What can I say?

''Father, save me from this hour? ''

It is for this very reason

that I am coming to this hour.

My Father.

My Father.

All things are possible to you.

Take away this cup from me.

And yet...

not as I will...

but as You will.

You were with the man Jesus.

You are wrong, woman.

I do not know the man Jesus.

Are you one of the disciples?

No, I am not.

- How long will Jesus be in there?

- I don't know.

You're a disciple.

I saw you in the olive grove.

I am not. I was not in the olive grove.

I could swear you were with this man.

I do not know what you are talking about.

I am not a follower of this man.

You have been interrogated by Caiaphas.

They've judged you guilty on two counts:

Blasphemy and sedition.

This court takes no cognizance

of your blasphemy.

But the charge of sedition

is a major offense.

The rules of Roman law will prevail.

I, Pontius Pilate, Governor of Judea...

by grace of Emperor Tiberius of Rome,

will judge your case.

No matter what you've done up to now,

no matter what others accuse you of...

I, and I alone, have the authority...

to sentence you

to be crucified or flogged...

or to set you free.

How you conduct yourself here

will determine your fate.

Do you understand?

I am offering you an opportunity

to state your defense.

Silence can only serve

to militate against you.

I'm now offering you a second opportunity.

In view of the continued

and obstinate silence of the accused...

the court appoints Lucius Catanus

Advocate of the Defense.

I wish it emphasized in the record

that the accused has representation.

I cannot undertake your defense

unless you are willing to confide in me.

Does the accused

desire to confer with his advocate?

The trial will proceed.

For the benefit of the accused...

so that he comprehends

the gravity of his case...

I request the charge against him

be repeated.

The defendant is accused of

claiming to be a leader sent by their God...

to liberate the Hebrew nation.

The accused, by neither deed nor word,

has ever challenged Rome's jurisdiction.

During the past three years,

the accused has in acts and speeches...

disturbed the people...

condemned the payment of tribute,

and claimed himself king.

And spread the word that his kingdom...

has precedence over and above

Roman jurisdiction.

The defendant has only spoken

of the Kingdom of God.

He's never attempted to usurp

Roman jurisdiction over Judea.

The implication is the same. There can be

no division of authority in Judea.

A nation can have only one master.

I repeat, my lord.

The defendant's claim

to a divine mission...

does not challenge the authority of Rome.

The performance of miracles

is beyond the jurisdiction of this court.

The accused does not stand trial

for miracles...

but for setting up a kingdom.

Advocate for the Defense

will confine his argument to the issue.

The charge is a secular issue.

By treaty with Judea,

Rome obligated itself...

not to interfere in religious matters.

The court is fully aware of this evidence.

The court is also aware

of the unlawful assembly...

the accused created

with his Sermon on the Mount.

I was present at that sermon.

I submitted a report of his statements.

Not once did he speak a word

that would incite violence.

On the contrary, he spoke only of peace.

The court has also read

the report of the sermon.

He advised people to dispose

their possessions and follow him.

How can Rome levy taxes on the people

if they follow his teaching?

Then the charge should be reduced

to one of evading the tax.

The charge stands as read.

Are you a king?

It is your own lips

that have called me King.

My kingdom is the Kingdom of God.

Then you are a king.

I was born and came into this world

to give testimony to the truth.

Whoever believes in the truth

will listen to me.

What is truth?

Everyone that is of the truth

heareth my voice.

Different people have different feelings.

Can there not be more than one truth?

There is only one truth,

and it is written in the Commandments:

''Be true to God.''

My lord, the court deviates from the issue.

Truth is not on trial here...

but a man named Jesus, from Nazareth.

Nazareth.

You are a Galilean, then?

In that case,

Herod Antipas has jurisdiction over you.

He just returned to Jerusalem.

Send him to Herod Antipas...

My lord, please.

Herod is prejudiced against this man.

He could not be tried fairly there.

It is so ordered by this court.

The trial has ended. Caesar is satisfied.

Are you John the Baptist,

come back to life?

Can you not see he is not

John the Baptist?

Let him speak for himself!

I have heard you are

a very great miracle-worker.

I'd be very happy to witness

a simple demonstration of your power.

Here is a vase of clay.

It's only a small vase.

Turn it into gold.

Surely that is not a great feat

for a man of your powers.

Still made of clay.

Perhaps it was too difficult for you.

Shall I ask of you something simpler?

Make it thunder.

Should be very easy for a messiah.

Make it thunder.

I hear nothing.

It seems the great miracle-worker

has lost his touch.

Do not let it be said Herod

does not know how to receive royalty.

Does he not look like a king?

Take this faker back to Pilate.

Tell him Herod was not pleased

with his performance.

Scourge him! Loosen his tongue.

Make him confess.

What would you want him

to confess, Pilate?

- His conspiracy.

- What conspiracy?

Take the miracles.

What is his crime there?

He is different

and refuses to behave like the others.

If he can influence even Caesar's daughter,

he is dangerous.

What do you want?

A king should wear a crown.

If only the sun would set quickly.

What difference does it make?

Passover begins at sunset.

They cannot crucify us

during the holy days.

I would rather get it over with today.

How does it feel

to be about to die, Barabbas?

I only object to the company

that I will have to keep.

We are only thieves. You're a murderer.

It is we who should object

to your company.

Let him be.

So, I have been given

the honor of going last?

You know the man named Jesus,

from Nazareth?

I know the man.

Does he deserve to die?

No more than I.

You compare yourself in the same breath?

We both seek the same thing. Freedom!

Only our methods differ.

The freedom he spoke of

is not the same you killed for.

When is the man Jesus to die?

He carries his cross now.

Why do you tell me all this?

Why don't you take me with him?

Get it over with.

Go. You're free.

The man Jesus is dying in your place.

One prisoner is freed each year

at this time.

Pilate offered that mob a choice.

Me? They chose me?

Your followers yelled the loudest.

Go. Look at him who is dying for you.

You. Cyrenaican. Take the cross.

Do not weep for me.

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