Risen

As Roman Tribune Clavius (Joseph Fiennes) traversed the arid Judean Desert, his rugged features betrayed the turmoil brewing beneath the surface. Exhaustion etched lines on his weathered face, and his very presence seemed to exude an aura of desperation. He stumbled upon a humble innkeeper's abode, where he was granted temporary refuge and began to recount the events that had transpired in recent days.

The scene shifts to Clavius standing shoulder-to-shoulder with his fellow soldiers as they clash with a formidable enemy force. The battle rages on, its intensity only matched by the fervor of their leader, Pontius Pilate (Peter Firth), who summons Clavius shortly after their triumph. Over wine and solemn tones, Pilate justifies his decision to have Yeshua/Jesus Christ (Cliff Curtis) crucified.

As the sun beats down on Golgotha, Clavius watches in somber silence as Yeshua hangs lifeless on the cross, flanked by two other condemned men. The air is heavy with the cries of the Nazarenes, their anguish palpable as they behold Yeshua's suffering. With a curt order, Clavius instructs a soldier to put an end to the thieves' torment, and the scene descends into chaos. The earth trembles, and when the dust settles, Clavius gazes upon Yeshua's ravaged visage, a single bloody tear tracing its path down his cheek.

The lifeless form of Yeshua is subsequently entombed within a stone sarcophagus, while the two sentinels tasked with guarding it indulge in revelry. However, their merriment is short-lived, as news spreads that the tomb's imposing boulder has been dislodged and Yeshua's body has vanished. Pilate dispatches Clavius to investigate this inexplicable disappearance and track down Yeshua's Disciples.

As Clavius embarks on his quest for answers, he is paired with Lucius (Tom Felton), a trusted aide tasked with facilitating the inquiry. Their journey takes them to the doorstep of several individuals who were intimately connected to Yeshua or bore witness to his teachings, including a blind woman whose piercing insight belies her physical limitations.

Clavius's pursuit of truth also leads him to Mary Magdalene (Maria Botto), a woman shrouded in mystery and intrigue. Though familiar with the soldiers' exploits, she proves elusive, refusing to yield any secrets when confronted by Clavius. Undeterred, he continues his search, seeking out the Apostle Bartholomew (Stephen Hagan), whose unwavering devotion to Yeshua borders on fanatical fervor.

The Roman Tribune's investigation culminates in a confrontation with the guards responsible for securing Yeshua's tomb. One of these soldiers, reeking of wine and weariness, confesses to having beheld a blinding light and a figure emerging from the sepulchre, only to be dismissed as a drunken hallucination by Clavius, whose skepticism is beginning to erode.

As the sun beats down upon the lifeless forms of the crucified thieves, Clavius (played by) and Lucius observe the stark reality of death, a somber reminder of the transience of mortal existence. Meanwhile, Clavius's mind is elsewhere, preoccupied with the enigmatic figure of Yeshua, whose fate remains shrouded in mystery. His curiosity gets the better of him, leading him to present an unrecognizable corpse to Pilate, claiming it to be that of the Nazarene.

However, his investigation takes an unexpected turn when he stumbles upon a humble abode where Bartholomew and Magdalene are joined by the Disciples, all gathered around a figure who defies explanation - Yeshua himself, miraculously resurrected with wounds that bear testament to his brutal crucifixion. As if conjured from thin air, the resurrected Christ vanishes as suddenly as he appeared, leaving behind an eerie sense of wonder.

Clavius's encounter with Lucius, now a formidable and menacing figure, serves only to underscore the gravity of the situation. With a steely resolve, Clavius disarms his would-be assailant, reiterating his vow that no blood will be spilled on this day, before sending Lucius back to Rome.

As he joins the Disciples in their journey to Galilee, Clavius becomes an integral part of their quest for meaning. Together, they take to the waters, casting a net into the sea as Yeshua had instructed. The bounty is staggering, and the feast that follows is a celebration of life and redemption.

Their arrival at Galilee brings with it a poignant encounter - a disfigured man, brutally battered by those who should have shown compassion. Yeshua's intervention, marked by his gentle touch and a simple, cooked fish, works miracles on the man's ravaged form, restoring him to wholeness.

As night descends, Clavius shares his newfound faith with Yeshua, expressing the depth of his transformation. The resurrected Christ departs once more, this time vanishing in a blaze of glory, leaving behind a promise to establish a haven for his followers. As Clavius bids farewell to the Disciples, he sets out into the desert, forever changed by the power of Yeshua's love.

Meanwhile, Pilate, exhausted by his pursuit, abandons all hope of capturing the Disciples, recognizing that their fate is now inextricably linked with that of their enigmatic leader. Back at the inn, the proprietor listens in awe as Clavius recounts his extraordinary tale, his own faith transformed by the experience. As he departs into the desert, the weight of his words lingers, a testament to the transformative power of Yeshua's resurrection.