Light of the World (2025)

[bunniefuu]

Mama! James and I want to

hear the creation story again.

All right, all right, John.

Both of you sit down,

and listen closely.

In the beginning,

was nothing but darkness.

Then God said,

"Let there be light."

Over six days, He spoke

all things into existence.

And then He made us,

His children,

created in His image.

We lived with Him together,

in a perfect garden.

There was just one rule.

Do not eat from

the forbidden tree.

But we didn't trust Him.

We disobeyed.

And in our shame,

we fled from God's light,

into a dark, and dying world.

Our world.

Wait, Mama!

I don't like the dark.

We're scared. Right, James?

Yeah, maybe just skip

to the part

where you-know-who shows up?

Don't be afraid, John.

I was just getting

to the best part.

Separated from God's light,

what hope did we have?

Alone in the darkness.

But God did not abandon us.

He promised to send

a mighty king to save us.

The Messiah.

He will overcome the darkness,

and make all things

right again.

Yeah,

by destroying our enemies!

Yah! Yah!

His kingdom of light

will last forever!

Yah! Yah!

He'll defeat Rome,

and free us all.

Hush, boys.

Someone might hear you.

Zebedee, they're just excited.

I've heard rumors the Messiah

is already here,

waiting to reveal himself.

Already here?

The fishmonger told me

this story about a bright star

that appeared when

the Messiah was born.

Salome, I'm sorry,

but do you hear yourself?

Magic, stars,

fish-market gossip?

We have to focus

on what's real.

Working hard,

and not crossing Rome.

No!

Stop!

Papa!

Don't take my Papa!

We always pay our taxes

to Rome.

We just need

a little more time.

It's too late for that.

If we couldn't catch

enough fish before,

how are we supposed to,

with him in prison?

Not our problem.

We have to help them!

John, no!

John, stop!

There's nothing we can do.

No one is coming to save us.

We have to keep our heads down,

and take care of ourselves.

They needed our help.

Come, boys.

Bedtime.

-Mama?

-Hmm?

Is Papa right?

Is the Messiah not real?

Your father just wants

to keep you safe.

But the Messiah is real.

He'll be our King,

to bring us out

of the darkness.

He will be

the light of the world.

Be ready, John!

Looks like there's

a storm on the horizon!

I'll have to steer us

toward calm waters.

Sails up! Oars down!

Rough waters ahead!

-Oh no!

-Ha ha!

- A rogue wave!

- Ah!

Boys!

Aah! A sea monster,

approaching off the bow!

-Stern.

-Stern.

Hmph! Stop playing around.

The tax collector

is on his way.

James, I need you to get

these fish to the market,

and get back with the money

as quick as you can.

You told me to help Peter

with his nets.

I can do it!

Whoa!

Oh! Ah!

Uh, I don't think so.

You have to trust him

at some point.

See?

Fine.

You won't regret it!

-I know a shortcut!

-No shortcuts.

Just go the normal way.

Are you sure

you have to go, Andrew?

Peter, I have to see

if the rumors

about the Messiah are true.

I'll be back in a few days.

Well, if you find him,

ask him if he needs a servant.

I don't think my brother's

cut out to be a fisherman.

No, this isn't right.

Ah!

Excuse me!

Comin' through!

Pardon! Pardon!

Whoa!

-Oh! Oof!

-Hey!

Sorry, teacher!

Aah!

Whoa!

Sorry!

Guess I'm not

the only catch of the day.

Excuse me!

Aha!

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Oh!

Ahem! I would like

to sell some fish.

Oh, your father normally

sends, um, the bigger one.

You know, the stronger one,

seems a little smarter.

Hmm, if we could please hurry

this along, that'd be great.

- Ah!

- Can I help you with something?

Actually, could you

pass me that hammer?

This is yours? Ah.

He's not

at the Jordan River, is he?

-Who?

-Your brother,

the more handsome one.

Oh. No. Hey!

A whole group of people

left this morning.

They said the Messiah

was down at the Jordan River.

My papa says

the Messiah isn't real.

He's just a story.

But you know what is real?

Yeah, uh-huh.

Four...

five...

For the record,

the Messiah is real.

One day he'll show up

and punish the wicked,

defeat the Romans,

and give those crooked tax

collectors what they deserve.

Yes, crooked tax collectors,

like the one coming

to my house right now.

Could we...

All right, then.

-You're all set.

-Thank you.

You'll never make it, though.

Not in this traffic.

-Oh, no.

-Ah, finished.

Ah! Thanks.

He's never gonna make it.

I think he'll find his way.

-Quiet!

-Aah!

Leave me alone!

Please, help me.

I... I can't.

This is

the worst shortcut ever.

Should still be enough.

Hi, I'm John.

What's your name?

Josiah.

-Here.

-Thank you.

You're welcome.

You, fish boy!

Fish boy?

Uh-oh.

Waah!

Wah! Oh, no!

People have been k*lled

for less than what you've done.

An as*ault on me

is an as*ault on Rome.

-Look, two babies on a wolf!

-Huh?

Oof! Ah!

No one makes a fool of Rome!

I'll find you!

Now, Levi.

Can I call you Levi?

My name is Matthew.

Levi, some boats are big,

and then, some boats are small.

-Yeah, uh-huh, but--

-But the thing is,

they almost all have nets.

Makes sense, but Zebedee--

And the secret

to pulling in the big fish...

-Yeah, uh-huh?

-Three-day-old bait.

Zebedee! We've been listening

to fishing stories all morning.

I could catch fish by now.

-You're welcome.

-Your taxes.

Can you pay them or not?

Uh, yes, of course.

See, my son John is...

right here with your money.

I... I ran.

We can see you ran.

-I ran into a Roman.

-That's great, John.

Let's just get Levi his money.

It's Matthew!

And it's not my money.

- I'm just doing my job.

- John.

Papa, I...

Oh, no.

Look, I can help.

I can give you three more days.

-For a fee.

-What?

You're charging us extra?

We all have

our masters to serve.

This is the best I can do.

-But it's not fair!

-Easy, John.

There's no reasoning

with traitors.

What did he say?

He called you a traitor,

because that's what you are!

You're a traitor

to your own people.

You know what? Fine.

Let's make it double.

Now you owe double.

- John!

- This isn't fair!

One day you're gonna get yours,

you drunken--

Ah! Ah! Aah!

-Aah! Oh...

-James, I'm sorry.

Double. Double's fine.

Double's great.

It didn't have to be this way.

Three days,

double what you owe.

And if you can't pay,

we take your father to prison.

Ah!

Papa?

He needs to heal.

Papa, I can help.

Not today, little fish.

You've helped enough.

-But--

-Zebedee.

Peter, what are you doing?

You have your own fish

to catch.

Listen, when they came

for my father,

you were the only one

who took care of my family.

All these years,

you've showed up.

-Peter, I...

-Now it's my turn to show up.

I already lost one father

to a Roman prison.

I'm not going to lose another.

I'm just sorry Andrew

isn't here to help.

I can help.

Every time he hears a rumor

about the Messiah,

he takes off in that direction.

Uh-huh. And who's

the Messiah this time?

Someone called The

Baptizer, down at the river.

You want to help?

Stay here, and mend nets

with your mother.

Hmph.

It just seems like nothing

I do ever helps anyone.

John, what do you see?

A net?

You might see a net.

What I see is a promise.

Your father thinks

that he's responsible

for catching the fish.

Isn't he?

No, it's just his job

to cast the nets.

Then we trust God

to provide the fish.

It's the same

as trusting God's promises.

Even when we find ourselves

adrift in the deepest,

darkest waters,

even when all hope is lost,

we still cast our nets, and

trust they won't come up empty.

-You're right!

-I am?

We need people

who can cast nets!

-We need Andrew!

-Andrew?

And the fishmonger said

that the Messiah is

at the Jordan River!

I bet that's where Andrew is!

We'll go there, bring him back,

he'll help us fish, we'll get

the money, and save Papa!

- Simple!

- John...

I love you.

Um, which way is the...

Jordan River.

Right.

Muah!

The river!

Andrew?

Hello?

Huh.

Honey?

Huh? Is someone up there?

Hey there! How's your

hand-eye coordination?

- My what?

- Catch!

Ah! Ah! Ah! Oh! Oh!

Oh! Oh! Oof.

Oh, that's just great. Oh!

- Yah! Whoa!

- Blah!

Whoa-hoa! Yah!

-Hi! Hurry now!

-Wah!

I'd say we have

about 26 seconds.

Hey, who's Andrew?

Huh? Oh, my friend Andrew.

He's at the part of the river

where people

are being baptized.

Oof!

-What happens in 26 seconds?

-More like 14 now.

-How about you just come with

me?

-You know where they are?

- Wah!

- I hope so!

I'm the one doing

the baptizing! Ha ha!

Really? You're The Baptizer?

-Four seconds.

-Until what?

-Bees!

-Bees?

- Run!

- Aah! Bees!

And that happens every time?

Oh, they do not appreciate us

taking of God's bounty.

But this will feed

lots of people

who are waiting to be baptized.

Uh, what is baptized?

Well, it represents

starting over.

You are dunked under the water,

and come out clean.

Then you get eaten?

Oh, well, not that part.

I just like bugs.

Why do we need to start over?

We've all done things

we shouldn't have.

Hmm.

Looks like those honeycombs

aren't the only things

you're carrying.

I think my papa's going

to go to prison because of me.

I lost my temper.

I don't know

what's wrong with me.

There's nothing so broken

that God can't fix.

Baptism is a way

of saying to God,

"I turn away from

my darkness, and I choose

your light instead."

So the water washes away

the darkness?

No, no, it's just a symbol.

But very soon,

the Messiah will come,

and truly make us clean,

restoring our relationship

with God.

Wait, aren't you

supposed to be the Messiah?

Aren't you?

The people say this

Baptizer is the Messiah.

They think the cleansing

of this madman brings them

closer to God.

Ooh, closer to God?

Sounds like a good thing to me.

- Ahem!

- Hmm?

Oh! Hmm.

The only way to God

is through the law,

ritual cleansing,

temple sacrifice,

the spilt blood

of innocent lambs.

The only way to God

is through us.

- Precisely.

- High Priest Caiaphas.

Your job is to keep and enforce

our holy laws, Nicodemus,

not fall to pieces

every time a dirty hermit

starts preaching

in the wilderness.

The Baptizer is no Messiah.

He is nothing.

But tell that to the hundreds

going to see him,

even some of our

fellow Pharisees.

Maybe they see

something we don't.

I tell you what I see.

If the people like his message,

they'll follow him, not us.

We'll lose control.

What would Rome say of that?

Hmm...

It's true.

Governor Pontius Pilate

demands our loyalty.

He counts on us

to keep our people in line.

Fine. Go, now.

Deal with this Baptizer

before it's too late.

He's here!

It's The Baptizer.

Come, come. Don't be shy, now.

There's enough for everybody.

-Here you go.

-Thank you.

Ooh! Oh,

that gets me every time.

-John?

-Andrew, I found you.

What? I just found you.

We have to go back.

Papa is going to prison

in two days,

-if we can't catch

enough fish, we--

-Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa.

John, I can't come back now.

What? Why?

They say he's the Messiah.

I have to find out

if that's true.

Out, out of the way.

Is it true?

Do you claim to be the Messiah?

-Of course not.

-How dare--Oh.

Well, there's your answer.

Let's go.

But I am preparing

the way for him.

The Messiah

is among us already.

The Messiah is here?

Everyone must ready

their hearts for his coming.

Even you, who teach God's law,

must turn from

your wicked ways.

How dare you!

We are the holy leaders

of these people.

Does that mean

you want to go first?

-Huh!

-Oh! Oy!

Come, let us report back

to Caiaphas.

We should go, too.

He said the Messiah

was among us already.

-Huh?

-He knows

where we can find him.

But my Papa--

John, the Messiah

could change everything.

You said we had two days.

Just give me one.

Fine.

-Excuse me.

-Whoa! Ah!

John, you can't just

approach a prophet!

Hello again.

Wait, you two know each other?

You said the Messiah was here.

- Where is he?

- Well, not here.

- But I can tell you

where to find him.

Oh, please.

If it meant

meeting the Messiah,

I'd face the darkest,

most dreadful,

most unimaginable

ordeal imaginable.

A wedding?

Huh! I love weddings.

The baptizer said the Messiah's

name is Jesus, from Nazareth.

The quicker we find him,

the quicker we can go home.

Here we come, Messiah! Woo!

I can't let you in

looking like that.

- What?

- You look like a human beehive.

Hey, you guys,

take those to the kitchen.

Hmm!

Welcome, tonight we celebrate

my son, and his new bride.

Don't just stand there.

Serve the wine.

Hmm. Oh-- hey!

-Do any of you know a Jesus?

-Uh, no.

Jesus?

Do you know

someone named Jesus?

Yes, I'm Jesus.

Jesus of Nazareth?

-Uh, Jesus of Canaan.

-Oh, sorry.

Jesus!

Jesus?

Any Jesuses over here--

ah! Whoa!

- Huh. Hmm?

- Oh,

can you hand me that?

Sure.

So, you're here serving?

Me? Oh, no.

I'd be a terrible servant.

Hey, it's you,

from the marketplace.

Hello.

You sent me down that alley.

If I hadn't gone that way,

none of this bad stuff

would have happened

to my family.

Sometimes the right path

isn't the easy path.

Just because something

seems broken, doesn't mean

it can't be fixed.

Ah. Better?

Yeah, it's beautiful.

Ah.

You're not going

to eat that, are you?

Ew, no.

Why would you say that?

I knew a guy who ate those.

-The Baptizer.

-The Baptizer?

With the honey,

and the wild hair.

Yes.

Oh, I've had to live

out in the wilderness,

but for him, it's...

A choice.

What is it?

He made a choice.

He chose to believe.

-His faith in the Messiah

is so strong, but I...

-Worry it's just a story?

That's what you said

in the marketplace, right?

What your father said?

He tells me not

to hope for a Messiah.

That no one is coming.

Of course, my mother, she has

total trust in God's promises.

Just like The Baptizer.

So what do you believe?

- Jesus!

- Jesus?

-Mama?

-Oh, my son!

Are you eating enough?

You're so thin, are you sick?

-Are you cleaning

behind your ears?

-Mother, please!

You're Jesus of Nazareth?

Hello, I'm Mary.

Are you friends with my son?

Oh, no. I...

Hi, I'm John.

So, you're the...

Oh no, I've ruined everything!

Emil, is everything all right?

There's no more wine!

They'll be humiliated

in front of the whole town!

It's all my fault!

Don't worry.

-We'll take care of it.

-Oh! Oh, no. What have I done?

It's not time to show them

who I really am.

Do whatever he says.

Fill them with clean water.

Here, take this to Emil.

-Uh...

-My cup is empty!

Is there any more wine?

I was told to give you

this, sir.

Oh! This is...

delicious!

Come, rejoice!

We've saved the very best

wine for last!

My son and his bride

are truly blessed!

Oh, Messiah.

We'll follow you through

the darkest, most dreadful,

most unimaginable

ordeal imaginable.

It is such an honor

to finally meet you.

You have no idea...

Is he really the...

I knew who my son was

before he was born.

Many prophets

spoke of his birth.

I know how it sounds.

He was born in a stable.

We were far from home,

and I had to lay him

in a manger,

where the animals

had been eating.

No one knew where we were,

but this brilliant angel

-appeared in the sky overhead.

-Wait.

My mama told me

a story like this.

-It's true?

-It led them to us.

Shepherds, magi, believers,

they all came to worship

this little baby,

who'd been born among

the animals, because they knew.

Knew what?

That God rarely shows up

in the ways you think he will.

Oh...

It doesn't make sense.

We fished all night,

and nothing.

I won't let them

take you to prison.

No, I don't want

you making any trouble.

- It's me!

- They're here.

-I'm going quietly.

-No, Zebedee.

Look!

- They're here!

- Papa!

-Hi!

-Look who showed back up.

I'm here to help!

Thanks again for coming along.

Of course.

Now I just need to convince

my Papa to let you help.

Andrew, faster!

Oh! I'm going as fast as I can!

Papa!

-Mm!

-Ah, my little fish,

you're back.

But you're too late.

It's okay.

I brought someone who can help.

This is Jesus.

Never heard of him.

-Does he fish?

-Actually, I'm a carpenter.

He did teach from a boat, once.

-Is he serious?

-John, who is this?

Uh, well, he's...

-He can protect us.

-He's the Messiah!

-Really, John?

-He turned water into wine.

- Yeah!

- -No, we've talked about this.

But Papa, it was amazing.

It's just a story.

Look,

I'm sorry my son was--

Cast your nets

into the deep water.

What? No.

Enough of this nonsense.

No. Papa, wait.

-What are you doing?

-It's Him!

John, stop.

He's... the Messiah!

Huh?

No! Boys!

John,

I thought you knew better.

-Uh, Papa?

-Huh?

Heave, quick!

We're gonna need

a bigger boat! Ah!

-Whoa!

-There's so much fish!

Andrew, Peter,

James, John.

It's time.

My Kingdom is here.

Leave your nets to follow me,

and I'll make

you fishers of men.

You can't go.

- What?

- You're not going.

But, Papa!

I'll talk to him.

We need them here.

One big catch

doesn't solve everything.

There'll be more taxes.

That's exactly why

we need to let them go.

Hmph!

Are there enough fish

in that sea

to pay everyone's taxes?

To set our people free?

At least hear him out.

John.

John, I'm just trying

to protect you.

You always say we have

to keep our heads down.

Take care of ourselves.

-But you didn't.

-What do you mean?

When they took away Peter

and Andrew's father,

you helped them.

You kept food on their table,

taught them to fish.

They were hurting,

and you showed up.

Papa, he's helping people.

I wanna be a part of that.

This is my chance to show up.

Thank you,

thank you, thank you!

I love you.

I love you, Mama.

James.

You take care of him.

-Ha!

-Ah!

Ow! Ow! Ow!

Let me be the first

to say, I'll follow you

into the most unimaginable

ordeal imaginable.

Hey! I already said that.

-I--I found him first.

-Found him first?

He's not a seashell

on the beach.

To change the world,

we need both faithful hearts,

and a strong foundation.

A rock. With those,

we can build something great.

Yeah!

Jesus! We're coming too!

Yeah!

Our King, we won't rest

until you sit

on your throne, in Jerusalem.

You will have many followers,

but we're your only Disciples.

- Your Disciples have arrived.

-Huh?

My friends!

That's a lot of fish.

You see fish, I see

a profitable day at the market.

-Who are these guys?

-These are my other Disciples.

This is Judas.

If you couldn't tell,

he's the money guy.

-I'm Simon.

-The zealot.

-And proud of it.

-Oh, yeah?

Well, I'm Peter, the rock.

Jesus called him that

one time.

-Just now.

-Hey!

- You're nothing.

- You're so small.

- No!

- You're nothing.

You're nothing.

You're nothing.

- Please, help me.

- Huh?

- They won't leave me alone!

- Aah! Waah!

Careful, Jesus.

There's something

wrong with her.

It's okay, Peter.

This is why I came.

Mary Magdalene.

How do you know me?

I see you, Mary.

Be healed.

The voices.

They're gone.

Oh! Whoa!

You're him, aren't you?

You're really him!

Messiah! My King!

Don't mind me.

I'll just sit right here.

- Welcome.

- Thanks for coming.

Watch your step.

Please, right this way.

Come, all who are weary.

I will give you rest.

Jesus, don't do that.

It's servant's work.

Andrew, in my Kingdom,

those who serve others

will be the greatest.

Welcome.

Word travels fast.

I'm not sure everyone will fit.

-Another Messiah?

-This is getting old.

You, holy men!

Why are all these

people gathering?

Honorable Lucius, we were

just about to look into it.

Hey!

Uh-oh.

John? Where are you going?

Please, I must see the Messiah.

Isn't there any room?

No. I'm sorry to let you down.

"Let you down!"

Hey! I have an idea!

So, I say to you

above all else...

- Coming through!

- ...love God.

-And love your neighbors.

-Explain yourself!

With what authority

do you teach these people?

I think you know.

Do you dare claim your

authority comes from above?

Room for one more?

My Messiah,

I haven't lived a perfect life,

but I couldn't miss

the chance to meet you.

Please, forgive my sins.

Friend, all your sins

are forgiven.

Only God can forgive sins!

Do you claim to be God?

Which is easier to say,

"Your sins are forgiven,"

or, "Be healed?"

So you know that I have

the power to forgive sins.

I say, stand and walk.

Whoa! Ah! Oh!

Mm!

It's really you!

You are the Messiah!

Ha! Excuse me.

- Oh!

- Huh?

He's healed?

He did it!

Jesus healed him!

-Fish boy?

-"Fish boy?"

-Fish boy!

-Bring him to me!

Waah!

Whoa!

Hmph!

-Waah!

-Oof!

Whoa!

Uh...

Bye-bye.

Whoa! Aah!

Oof! Aah! Oof!

Whoa! Oh!

Tell me about this Jesus.

Oh!

Jesus!

Hello, John.

Hi.

This boy says he serves you.

He tells me you are a man

with the power to heal.

My servant,

a man very dear to me,

lies dying in my home.

And you want me

to come heal him?

No.

I believe in your authority.

Thus, if you say

my servant is healed,

then he is healed.

This Roman's faith is greater

than anyone in all Judea!

Than any of you!

Let him be healed,

just as you believe.

Ah!

What just happened?

I think Jesus

just helped our enemy.

Why would you help him?

Hmm.

Come.

Let me tell you a story.

A traveler set out

from his town upon a dark road,

unaware that thieves

waited in the shadows.

-Ha!

-Oh!

Broken and robbed,

the traveler held out little

hope of surviving the night.

A priest happened by.

Surely, the traveler was saved.

No.

The priest moved on.

Then a holy man came by.

Surely, this time

the traveler was rescued.

And yet, he too, passed by.

Deep into the night he waited,

his hope nearly gone.

Then, he heard one last

set of footsteps.

But this time it was

no priest or a holy man.

It was his people's enemy,

a Samaritan.

The Samaritan did not

harm the man or leave him.

He saved the traveler.

And in so doing, he honored God

more than the priest

or the holy man ever could.

Because you cannot love God

without loving your neighbor.

So, who is your neighbor?

You dropped this.

Oh, thanks.

God knows your heart, Matthew.

Leave this, and follow me.

It's always good

to have another option,

in case things

don't go as planned.

My friends, it's time

we spread the good word

of my Kingdom

throughout all Judea.

High Priest Caiaphas,

thank you for meeting me.

Make this quick.

What news of this Jesus?

He moves through

the countryside,

wandering from town to town,

claiming to be the Messiah.

Claiming to be God!

And yet, I don't see

the man in chains.

High Priest, no one could

perform the miracles he does

if God were not with him.

They said similar things

about The Baptizer.

And look what happened to him.

Sad. He seemed nice.

Nicodemus, you're a fool.

Jesus undermines

the very establishment

that keeps you in power.

Soon, thousands

from these countryside towns

will flock to Jerusalem

for the Passover festival.

If we don't stop Jesus

from passing through

those city gates,

the people will rise up

and crown him king!

Rome will lose control.

I don't serve Rome.

I serve God.

Search the area.

Arrest Jesus,

and bring this to an end.

You forget your place,

Nicodemus.

I am your High Priest.

I won't be

a part of this.

Nicodemus.

Nicodemus, come back.

Nicodemus!

Ah! All this from five loaves,

and two fish?

If we hurry,

we can get to the next town

before the storm hits.

I'll get Jesus.

Hmm?

I brought snacks.

Oh, uh...

Uh, are you okay?

Did you know The Baptizer's

real name was John?

Like you?

I guess maybe I never

thought of him like that.

Like what?

I mean, he's this

big voice in the wilderness.

It's easy to forget

he's just a person like me.

A good person.

A good friend.

Behold!

The Lamb of God who takes

away the sins of the world.

My friend, I've come

to be baptized.

But Jesus, I... I can't.

You're the only one

who doesn't need

to be baptized.

You've--

You've never disobeyed God.

I obey God by being baptized.

This is my son,

whom I love,

and am pleased with.

Jesus, did something happen?

Hmm.

They're coming! Temple guards!

They're coming for Jesus!

They arrested The Baptizer?

We need to do something!

John, they k*lled him.

They k*lled him?

-Why?

-He spoke the truth,

and sometimes evil men silence

those who speak the truth.

My time draws near.

Soon, you will see me

raised up, and glorified.

Why does that sound

like a bad thing?

John! Jesus!

We have to leave now!

The temple guards are coming!

-Go.

-Wait, what?

-Trust me.

-Come on, John.

Quickly, hurry.

Where's Jesus?

He told us

to go on without him.

No! Jesus!

No!

Hang on! Hang on!

Grab the rope! Hurry!

Aah!

Oh! Whoa!

Huh? Wha--

A ghost!

What?

There, walking on the water.

That's impossible.

Don't be afraid.

Jesus?

Come, Peter.

Peter, are you sure?

Trust me.

Oh!

He's doing it.

Peter!

Peter.

I have to go back.

Peter, give me your hand!

Peter, no!

Jesus?

Truly, you are the Son

of the living God.

It's time we head to Jerusalem

for the Passover festival.

It's time for my Kingdom

to be revealed.

Time the people met their King!

Yeah!

Yeah!

Soon we will all be free

of Roman taxes.

Yeah!

We'll gather all the Messiah's

true believers.

Yeah!

- We'll collect money!

- Yeah?

-Okay...

-Um...

Uh, for feeding the hungry!

Yeah!

And once we've gathered

his followers,

with all the city watching,

Jesus will ride

to Governor Pontius Pilate

on a mighty steed.

Jesus will stand,

declare himself King,

and the governor will have

no choice but to say...

You are the Messiah,

the true King of all kings.

All glory is yours.

All of Jerusalem is yours.

Yeah!

Woo! Jerusalem!

Jesus will be raised up,

and glorified!

- Yeah!

- I can't wait!

-Mm-hmm!

-Yeah!

Father, tonight I'm not

praying for the world.

I'm praying for my friends.

They don't know it yet, but...

things are about to get

so much worse.

Whoa!

Soon, I'll be in

your presence once more,

glorified with you,

like in the beginning.

Please, protect them

when I'm gone,

especially the weakest.

What?

We have very different

definitions of mighty steed.

Be ready for anything.

What is it?

They're all here for you,

to raise you up,

just like you said.

-Jesus?

-I--

We go in three...

two...

one!

Wow!

It's the Messiah!

Jesus is King!

He turned water into wine.

He's the King of all kings!

He healed my legs.

His power and love

know no bounds.

He fixed my stall.

It was adequate.

Jesus, my boy!

Praise him! He healed me!

Yeah!

Messiah!

Did you see that?

Jesus waved at me!

Yeah! Let's hear it!

How dare they call you Messiah!

Silence these people now!

If not these people,

then the rocks themselves

would shout to Heaven.

It's time for all nature

to celebrate.

The mute will speak.

The deaf will hear.

The blind will see.

Ah!

We love you, Jesus!

The crowd will never

let us arrest him now.

Yes, we're quickly

losing our numbers.

Argh! We'll have

to make our move.

We just need a way

to get to him.

Leave that to me.

Even his followers

have a price.

Pardon me.

Ah! Oh!

-Huh?

-Ah! Oh!

Is it true what Jesus said

about healing the blind?

It's true.

Oh, I see.

Would you like to... see?

Jesus!

Open your eyes.

I can see!

My Messiah!

Oh! Oh! Yes!

Oh, do-- do look out

for that low branch up ahead.

This is it!

It's time to gather

the Messiah's followers.

Jerusalem will be ours again!

It'll be ours! Jerusalem!

Yeah!

The best day of my life.

Whatever you're going to do...

do it quickly.

Jesus! Did you see

that crowd today?

They loved you!

Jesus, really.

What is it?

Please, sit.

For ages, you have sacrificed

your best lambs

as a temporary payment

for disobeying God.

Now I offer myself

as the ultimate payment.

My body,

and blood.

I don't understand.

I don't understand.

What does this have to do

with you becoming King?

John, now is the time

for me to be glorified.

I won't be with you

much longer.

-What?

-Huh?

-What--What?

-What does that mean?

-This doesn't make any sense.

-So I leave you with this.

Love one another the same way

I've loved you.

Share my love with the world,

and God will bless you for it.

What? Where are you going?

We'll all follow you anywhere.

My friends, one of you

will betray me tonight.

What?

No! It can't be.

That'll never happen

on my watch.

Peter, you,

out of all my Disciples,

will deny you even know me.

That's not true.

Three times, before the rooster

crows tomorrow morning.

I'll suffer many things at

the hands of the chief priests.

They'll condemn me to death,

deliver me to the Romans

to be mocked,

whipped, and k*lled.

What? No!

And after three days,

I'll return.

I refuse to believe it!

-Jesus, no!

-You have to listen to us.

-I can't believe that!

-Enough.

Come, let's return

to the garden of Gethsemane.

I'll show Jesus.

-We'll protect him.

-Wait!

We can hide him

in the garden,

until it's time

to sound the attack.

Peter, I saw something.

Oh...

John, come on!

All clear.

Thank you, Peter.

I need to pray.

Stay here, and keep watch.

You can count on us, Jesus.

Wait, Jesus.

What was that back there?

Why are you talking

about dying?

Are you going to defeat

the Romans or not?

No.

So you're just gonna let them

k*ll you?

I thought you came

to fix things.

To make things right.

I did.

John, in the stories

your mother used to tell you,

what was the worst thing

that happened in the garden?

We disobeyed God,

and then darkness

entered the world.

No.

You disobeyed God, and darkness

entered your hearts.

I didn't come just to fix

a broken world, John.

I came to fix your broken

relationship with God.

The only way to free you

from darkness

is for someone free of darkness

to die in your place.

The perfect sacrifice.

You.

This is how I'm glorified.

This is how darkness

is defeated.

But I don't want you to die.

John, my death is not the end.

It's the beginning.

I'm choosing this.

And I'm asking you to trust me.

Father, please let this

suffering pass from me.

But if this suffering

can't be taken away,

please give me

the strength to do it.

Ah!

It's time.

Which one?

Judas?

No.

They were closing in.

I chose another option.

Judas, you betray

your friend with a kiss.

Your friend?

Take him!

Not on my watch!

Peter!

That was never what

I needed from you.

Those who live by the sword

die by the sword.

I could have called upon

my Father at any point.

He would have wiped out

all our enemies.

Here, let me help you.

Wha--

Take him!

No!

And arrest the others.

John, come on!

Peter!

Peter!

Get out of here, now!

Come on, Peter.

Come on, let's go.

I'll go see what's going on.

We can still save him.

Go wait by the fire.

Huh! Your following

has grown, I see.

King of kings, they call you.

Do you have nothing

to say for yourself?

I heard the people

call you the...

The Messiah.

You're one of his

followers, right?

Uh, no, no, you're mi--

you're mistaken.

Speak up!

Are you the son of God or not?

I am who you say I am.

Speak up! I heard him

call you one of his Disciples.

I'm not who you think I am.

I saw him with Jesus, too.

He should be in there

with Jesus.

He's no king.

He's just another false prophet.

See, you have now heard

the blasphemy.

What do you think?

He deserves death!

I heard Jesus call you

his friend.

Yeah, he's one

of his followers.

-Tell the Pharisees.

-We're not friends.

You have to listen to me.

I swear, I don't know

that man in there!

Ah!

No.

Oh...

Take him

to Governor Pontius Pilate.

No!

Peter?

Ah!

What is it now?

Please forgive the intrusion,

Governor Pilate.

We, your humble servants, have

caught this criminal, Jesus.

Then use your own laws

to punish him.

I'm busy with the affairs

of Rome.

Sir, he is a threat to Rome.

The people declare him

King of the Jews.

King of all kings.

Above our own Emperor Caesar.

Is it true?

Are you King of all kings?

My Kingdom is not

of this world.

Ha! So you are a king, then.

This man has developed

a large following.

They could revolt.

Remove you from power.

Have you no defense?

Don't you realize I have

the power to decide your fate?

You would have no power over me

if it were not given to you

by my Father.

I speak the truth.

What is truth?

I see no fault with this man.

But, once a year,

for your little

Passover festival,

we allow your people to choose

one prisoner to set free.

Have him beaten, and let

the crowds decide his fate.

I wash my hands

of the whole affair.

Bring them out.

Bring them out.

Now is the time.

No, Jesus!

Get up!

Your high priests tell me

that this man

is guilty of rebellion.

But I am a governor

of the people.

I shall let you decide.

Shall I release

this Messiah, Jesus,

or this m*rder*r, Barabbas?

They said the Messiah

would be a warrior.

Does that man

look like a warrior?

What kind of charlatan claims

to be the Son of God himself?

Look at him. He's weak.

-He's weak!

-No.

-He's not our King.

-No, please stop.

I heard he wants

to tear down our temple.

He should pay.

-Make him pay!

-No!

False prophet!

He claims to be king.

Please stop!

Ah!

He is the Messiah!

I'm telling the truth.

Jesus, please.

Now's your time.

Tell them.

Declare yourself King,

and we'll follow you forever.

Jesus.

Well, are you their king?

Crucify him!

Crucify him!

No! No!

Jesus, please.

Crucify him!

Free Barabbas!

Crucify him!

He's not our King!

I'll take him

from here.

Ah!

Huh?

Go home.

You shouldn't have to bear

witness to what happens next.

He's not our King.

k*ll Jesus!

Jesus!

-Ah.

-No!

Jesus.

Move.

Get up.

Hmph!

Out of the way.

Let's go.

Keep moving.

My boy!

My boy.

No!

No.

He could stop this.

He could call on God.

- He could defeat--

- He's not

gonna do that, John.

When Jesus was born,

a prophet told me that my son

would be the light

of all Israel.

My little boy would change

the world.

But the cost would be...

The cost would be like a sword

piercing my soul.

And I'm so, so thankful.

Thankful?

I got to be his mother

for his whole life.

And now...

he needs me

to be there with him.

She's right.

We can't leave him now.

Move!

Father, forgive them.

They know not what they do.

No!

Ah!

No!

You're the son of God.

Call down your father

and save us.

Silence!

We deserve this.

But that man is innocent.

Messiah, please remember me,

when you pass

into your kingdom.

Today, you will be with me

in paradise.

It is finished.

Jesus.

Ah... truly, this man

was the Son of God.

Excuse me.

My name is Joseph of Arimathea.

My family tomb

is the largest in Jerusalem.

Fit for a King, you could say.

I do hope it is, for I offer

it now to my King.

Thank you.

Zebedee!

Oh!

-Could you help me with this?

-Got it.

Oh, yeah. Oh! Ah.

Are we really supposed to just

go back to our old lives?

What do we do now?

You're asking me?

I don't know what to do.

But someone once told me

that God rarely shows up

in the way we think he will.

Jesus won't leave us

in the dark.

John, he died.

That was the point.

His death isn't the end.

It's the beginning.

How's the fishing?

Uh, it's pretty bad.

Drop the net off

the far side of the boat.

It's Him. It's Him!

-It's Him!

-He's back!

-Cast the nets!

-Here, quick!

Go, go, go!

Yeah!

It can't be.

In the beginning,

was nothing but darkness.

Then God said,

"Let there be light."

He made us in His image.

And we lived with Him

in a perfect garden.

But we disobeyed Him.

We chose darkness,

and it filled our hearts.

We lost our relationship

with Him.

But God did not abandon us.

He sent us a mighty King,

the Messiah.

He didn't come to conquer.

He came to serve.

He didn't come to defeat

our enemies.

He came to show us

how to love them.

He didn't come to condemn us

in our darkness.

But to fill us with His light,

and lead us back to God.

He is the one

who defeated death.

He is the one who rose again.

He is... my friend.

I will be with you always.

He is the light

of the world.

John!

John!

I ran.

I can see you ran.

I ran out of reasons

not to believe.

I see now.

It was your faith in Jesus

that always led you down

the right path.

Even when everything seemed

hopeless, you believed.

I'm ready.

But how do I...

It starts with a prayer.

Jesus, you died upon a cross.

Jesus, you died

upon a cross.

And rose again

to save the lost.

And rose again

to save the lost.

Forgive me now

of all my sin.

Come be my Savior,

Lord, and friend.

Change my life and make it new.

And help me, Lord,

to live for you.

Jesus, you died

upon a cross,

and rose again to

save the lost.

Forgive me now of all my sin.

Come be my Savior, Lord,

and friend.

Change my life, and

make it new.

And help me, Lord,

to live for you.