Jesus’ Resurrection Through The Eyes Of A Roman Soldier

History seen through the eyes of its players has always fascinated me because there is a genuine sense in which we all see and participate in the events of the day in our own unique manner. “How would I have reacted had I been there?”

So imagine that you are Clavius, Pilate’s most trusted Legion commander. Pilate is the Roman governor of the rebellious region centered in  Jerusalem, and that makes him accountable to Caesar for keeping the peace and extending Roman law and culture throughout the troublesome land. That’s the setting of “Risen.”

Because you, as commander of the Roman troop garrison at Jerusalem, serve Pilate and Caesar, you are their most immediate and effective tool of Roman dominance.

So when an obscure religious figure from Galilee called Jeshua attracts a huge following and threatens both Rome and the traditional leaders by proclaiming a new kingdom, it falls to you most directly to deal with the problem.

Pilate crucifies Jeshua, you bury Him, and three days later, his followers are putting Jerusalem in an uproar by claiming He is alive, He is resurrected. They’re even claiming to have seen Him. Now you’ve got to find the body, expose the lie and discredit imposters. But what if it’s not a lie?

“Risen” was originally made in 2016 and now Pure Flix is bringing it back in the Easter season of 2021. Joseph Fiennes plays Clavius, while Peter Firth is Pilate. The acting is of a generally high quality, as are the filmography and character development.

Regardless of your perspective about the Resurrection, “Risen” will enable you to see this momentous event in history through new eyes.

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