By the Rev. Mary Holder Naegeli
Bringing the Word to Life
The fifth and last installment of The Bible aired last night, and in my experience it was a fitting end to Lent and Easter Sunday. The series strengthened as it progressed through the New Testament. Yes, there is plenty of condensation but not as much artistic license as we’re used to. The explanatory voiceovers are kept to a minimum, and the story is allowed to speak for itself. And a powerful story it is.
Episode Five opens with the countdown to Passover. The High Priest Caiaphas wants to see Jesus, convicted by the synagogue court as a fraud and a heretic, out of the picture entirely and immediately. But he continues the political dance: how can an execution be orchestrated right before Passover? What would the crowds do if given the chance: support Jesus or turn against him in a riot? He soon hatches a plan to convince Pilate that it is in the common interest of both Roman and Jew to kill Jesus.