Jesus of Nazareth Mini

He came to Jerusalem. The crowd went wild for his arrival and we did nothing!

He then scolded the merchants, so they sent us beasts for sacrifice from the courtyard to the temple and we did not intervene!

How many times have we protested that the disgrace of buy traders being allowed in the precincts of the temple?

But then we allowed him to preach in the holy temple itself, and at no time,

no time did he recognize your authority, Caiaphus,

nor made sufficient to the elders of Israel.

We must denounce him in the name of the people Of Israel!

I'm not sure. I'm not sure that we have that right.

Can we honestly say that we represent the true thoughts and aspirations of the people of Israel?

What are you saying?

I've often wondered if we, as elders are too cut off from them and their real problems.

How can we guide them if we do not know what's in their hearts?

But without our guidance they would be lost!

People, people will run after any new thing.

They have taken up with this man, with his hijinx and his exaggerated promises.

I have seen him, I have seen him preach.

His words reach into men's hearts, not like ours.

It's not through the old rituals, the old formulas, but a new vision which seems to answer all their hopes.

A message of comfort, of goodness, of purity, of the virtues of humility.

We've heard it all before, from the John the Baptist and hundreds of others.

And why not?

That is the richness of our religion, that it's always being kept alive by new ideas.

Oh that kind of thinking encourages false prophets!

What an incredible people we are,

thirsty for knowledge, but hypocrites afraid of change.

We say that we want new ideas so our religion to speak to each generation,

and yet when a prophet appears burning with faith and fiery revelations, we stifle him!

Shall we go down through history as the people who destroys its prophets?

Oh no, no, please. No. Brothers. Please.

This is scarcely the time for philosophical discussions.

They are more urgent problems to be considered.

Yes, how's those who follow to hate him as the Messiah?

He's a blasphemer! He's an imposter!

With respect to those more learned than I, there is one possibility

that it seems no one here is ready to consider...

What is it?

The possibility that Jesus of Nazareth

may be in fact be the messiah awaited by our people.

A carpenter from Galilee? $ $

suddenly, he never misses a chance to identify himself with them.

Exactly!

I only know that like our brother Joseph, I've heard him preach.

I was moved lifted out of my soul,

and seemed to see all things in a new and blinding light.

I was aware of wonders, signs that God may be with him,

and through him, with us.

Do you realize what you are saying, Master Nicodemus?

Let him speak!

Listen to him! Let him speak! Don't shut him down!

The coming of the messiah is the heart of our faith.

Why should he not come now?

Why do we dream our liberator will be revealed in glory, a new Solomon, a new David?

Is God not allowed to choose who he wishes?

Even the son of a poor carpenter from Nazareth?

David began life as a shepherd.

Who are we to decide the way in which God should choose to help his people?

We are- grains of sand, chalk blown in the wind.

May the Lord open our eyes to his wisdom.

Master Nicodemus, I have always respected you.

How am I to understand your defense of this man,

whose missions seems to be to divide our people?

Even this noble assembly has been torn asunder by him.

This Jesus of Nazareth must be an extraordinary man.

But is there not one among you who understands the real significance of this matter.

It is not the Galilean's words that are important. The so called miracles,

even the fact the frenzied crowds hail him as the messiah, it's not important.

The central core of this case is that this man dares to proclaim...

I can hardly make myself say it.

This man dares to proclaim himself

the, the son of God.

Master Nicodemus In your great faith and wisdom.

And you Joseph, most honest of men.

Can you tell us that in your heart of hearts

you believe he is the son of God? That he is equal to God.

If he is not the son of God, then who is this Jesus of Nazareth?

Is he a prophet?

Only a false prophet can assume the power of God and say,

"You persistent sinner, you are forgiven." Only God can forgive sins.

All through our history, false prophets have been the plague of Israel.

This man, while claiming to uphold the law,

perverts our most fundamental beliefs.

The Romans will not wait for us to find the answer.

Our losses, the prophets who claims to say in the name of God things

which God has not commanded, that prophet must die.

If this man Jesus is a false prophet and a blasphemer,

is it not better for one man to die, than a for a whole nation to perish?

However, under Roman occupation, Caiaphus,

the people of Israel may put a goat to death, but not a man.

Thank you, Zerah for reminding us of our realities.

Then he must be charged and found guilty by the Romans.

But Caiaphus, we have not found him guilty yet!

Surely our law does not condemn a man before first giving him hearing before the elders of Israel?

No matter how serious his offense, we cannot simply hand over one of our brothers to the Romans.

Caiaphus, after the Passover let me persuade Jesus to come to us and explain to us

what is in his heart and his mind when he says he is the son of God.

Brethren I agree.

We will questions him fully

and give this Jesus of Nazareth every opportunity to, to defend himself.

No!

Caiaphus to delay would be too dangerous.

We all know what steps Pilate would take against our people if the unrest continues.

Zerah, he must beaken tonight.

It could cause even more trouble among the crowds if our temple guards go searching for him.

It could be a long search, all over the city.

No one knows where he and his followers are heading. They stay no long than one night in the same place.

I think I know the way to reach him.

Zerah, don't forget Jesus of Nazareth is one of our brothers.

Judas?

I've not been able to find you. You weren't seen with the master the last day or two. Where have you been?

I've been trying to think.

Trying to decide what to do.

You seem to me to be very sure of what to do...

Well, I was,

But not now.

Confused.

I always believe action, political action,

could solve everything.

Thought it was enough to think clearly and act clearly but...

But I fear my master does not agree with me.

He doesn't need my ideas. He says the heart is more important.

Perhaps he's right.

Have I hardened my heart?

Am I fit to be one of his disciples.

I...

I should go home.

Judas, don't lie to yourself.

The truth is that in your heart you no longer believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the messiah.

There's only one way to know the truth.

You knew that the first time you came to see me.

Let Jesus prove himself before the Sanhedrin.

It's too late.

He won't accept it.

Why? There are many influential members of the counsel who admire Jesus.

He will be fairly judged.

If he is the messiah, God will not abandon him.

If he is not, then you will have helped Israel from yet another false prophet.

Master.

We are happy to eat this Passover with you.

I have longed with all my heart to share it with you.

It is for this Passover that I came into the world.

I shall not be with you much longer.

You will look for me but, where I am going you cannot come.

Master, I will follow you wherever you go.

I will lay down my life for you.

Peter.

This very light before the cock crows twice

you will have denied three times that you even know me.

Oh Lord, never.

Never!

I will never deny you.

You will all lose faith.

Shepherds shall be struck and the sheep shall scatter.

Even if they all lose faith, I will not!

Peter

I have prayed for you

and once you have recovered you in your turn must give strength to your brothers.

Truly, I tell you.

One of you is about to betray me.

Master.

I'm sick at heart.

Who will betray you, is it I?

He who dips his bread in the dish when I dip mine.

He shall be the one.

One of us?

What you are going to do? Do it quickly.

Where is he going?

I don't know.

Blessed be thou the Lord our God,

Who has blessed us with thy laws

and made bread to be sowed from the earth

for now

this will no longer be the bread of the passage of our fathers from bondage to freedom.

This Passover is for you today

the passage from the bondage of death to the freedom of life.

This is the bread of life.

Whoever eats this break shall have eternal life.

Eat it.

For this is my body.

Do this in the remembrance of me.

From now on,

this cup will not only be a memorial and sacrament to the covenant that God made with our fathers on Mount Sinai,

This is my blood.

The blood of the new covenant which is to be poured out for me.

I shall not drink again from the fruit of the vine

until the day I drink it with you in my Father's kingdom.

And now I give you a new commandment

that you love one another as I have loved you.

Greater love hath no man than this,

but a man laid down his life for a friend.

And if you love one another

all men shall know that you are my disciples.

Father.

The hour has come.

Glorify thy son that thy son may glorify thee.

Keep in thy name those I have forgiven.

I do not pray for these only,

but also for those

who believe in me through their word.

I am the way,

the truth