The Passion

Pontius Pilate, the new Roman prefect (governor) of Judea, grudgingly tolerates Jewish queerness as long as taxes flow to emperor Tiberius, especially from neighboring Syria. High priest Caiaphas wants to keep order at the Passover festival.

Prefect Pilate worries why his mighty colleague, the governor of great Syria, is about to visit him. Jesus keeps preaching, not only to his disciples during the Passover preparations and Last Supper itself, but also in public, against the established order.

Jesus' ambiguous responses and ultimate declaration to be the son of God are taken as his death sentence as blasphemer. Moreover, Judas commits suicide. Pilate tries to avoid pronouncing a crucifixion as Jesus denies the claim of earthly power.

Jesus has died on the cross. Against Caiaphas's will, but with Pilate's permission, his corps is not left to rot but buried honorably in the grave of council member Joseph of Arimatea, who always opposed his sentence. Caiaphas wonders if he made the right choice.

Jesus is put on trial by the Temple Elders and sentenced to die nailed on the cross. John, Mary and Mary Magdalene watch this horrified.

Jesus is buried and Caiaphas orders his tomb to be guarded. But after his tomb is found empty, the lives of the disciples will change.