Jesus 1979

During the era of Emperor Augustus and King Herod the Great, Mary [Rivka Neuman] is visited by the angel Gabriel, who tells her that she will bear Jesus [Brian Deacon], the Son of God. This divine announcement sets into motion a series of events that weave together faith, family, and the shifting tides of a vast empire. Mary later journeys to visit Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, who exults that Mary is blessed among women and that the child within her womb is blessed as well. The story then carries us to a Roman census that compels Mary and her husband to travel to Bethlehem, a small town that becomes the setting for a birth that believers will later regard as epochal—the birth of Jesus in a humble manger.

A week after the birth, Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem, where Simeon greets him with a blessing, recognizing him as the Christ. The narrative then leaps forward to Jesus’ youth and his inquiry within his Father’s house when he is twelve, hinting at the deeper calling that will shape his life. As time passes, the landscape shifts under the reign of Tiberius, and Jesus’ public journey begins to take shape when John the Baptist [Eli Cohen] baptizes him in the Jordan River and the Holy Spirit descends upon him, signaling the start of a ministry that will attract followers and provoke opposition.

The arc follows a sequence of trials and triumphs. Jesus is tempted in the wilderness, resisting Satan’s temptations, and then travels to Capernaum where he calls Simon Peter [Niko Nitai], James, and John to join his fellowship after a miraculous catch of fish. From there, his healing and teaching begin to draw crowds and controversy alike. A woman’s act of forgiveness at the home of a Pharisee named Simon underscores the inclusive reach of his message, as he forgives sins and welcomes those who are often shunned by religious authorities.

As his mission grows, Jesus gathers a core group of disciples, including Matthew [Mosko Alkalai] and Judas Iscariot [Eli Danker], and he gathers women such as Mary Magdalene [Talia Shapira], Joanna, and Susanna into his circle of devoted followers. He teaches through memorable parables—the Pharisee and the tax collector, the Beatitudes, the Golden Rule, and the call to love one’s enemies—and he explains a radical message about mercy, justice, and the Kingdom of God. On the Sea of Galilee he calms storms and demonstrates authority over both nature and the spirits, and in Gerasa he liberates a man possessed by demons, sending the demons into a herd of swine.

Throughout these episodes, Jesus’ compassion reaches beyond the pious and the respectable; he embraces sinners, outcasts, and those marginalized by society. He befriends Zacchaeus [Ya’ackov Ben-Sira], the tax collector, and urges him to repair what he has wrongfully taken. He teaches the Parable of the Good Samaritan and welcomes children, telling his disciples not to hinder them from coming to him. He also confronts the commercial pressures in the Temple, driving out the merchants and money changers to assert a purer form of worship. The message confronts both religious leaders and Roman authorities, who see in him a figure capable of unsettling the social order.

As the ministry deepens, Jesus teaches about responsibility and loyalty, including the obligation to pay taxes to Caesar, and he speaks with authority about the righteousness that surpasses mere outward piety. He gathers a close cadre of apostles, including the fisherman Peter [Niko Nitai] and others, and he speaks in ways that draw crowds of devoted followers, among them Mary, who supports his work and witnesses his acts of healing and exorcism. The story traces how his fame grows and how he extends mercy to the marginalized, including the sick, the poor, and those labeled sinners.

The turning point arrives with the revelation of betrayal. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas Iscariot [Eli Danker] betrays him, and Jesus is arrested by Jewish authorities. Peter denies knowing him three times as prophesied, and the subsequent trial before religious leaders culminates with Pilate’s involvement. Pontius Pilate [Peter Frye] questions Jesus, ultimately sending him to Herod Antipas [Richard Peterson], who also fails to find a basis for condemnation. Despite Pilate’s initial exoneration, the crowd and the authorities press for Jesus’ death, and he is scourged and forced to bear his cross through the streets. Simon of Cyrene [Moti Baharav] is compelled to help carry the cross when Jesus collapses from exhaustion.

At Golgotha, Jesus is crucified beside two criminals. By noon, darkness falls over the land, and the Temple veil is torn in two, symbolizing a profound moment of spiritual significance. Joseph of Arimathea buries Jesus in a tomb, and on the third day the narrative reaches its climactic hinge—the resurrection, a restoration of life that affirms the divine purpose at the heart of the story. Before ascending to heaven, Jesus commissions his disciples to go and make followers of all nations, declaring that all power and authority have been given to him.

As the gospel account concludes, the threads of prophecy, faith, and humanity intertwine in a narrative that remains both intimate and expansive. It traces not merely a sequence of miracles and teachings but a transformative journey from annunciation to ascension, inviting viewers to reflect on conscience, community, and the enduring possibility of renewal. The film traverses sacred sites and pivotal moments—birth, baptism, temptation, ministry, betrayal, trial, crucifixion, and resurrection—while presenting a portrait of Jesus and his companions that emphasizes compassion, justice, and a call to live with purpose. The characters who accompany him—each vividly drawn through their actions and choices—shape a story that endures in memory and in the imagination of generations.

Note: Figure references to the cast are included as links to the respective actors’ pages on this site when introducing their characters for the first time.