[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jesus_jeremy_sisto_815.jpg]]
''Jesus'' is a 1999 MadeForTVMovie or {{Miniseries}}, originally broadcast in two parts, about the life of UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} from Literature/TheBible. It stars Creator/JeremySisto as Jesus, Creator/GaryOldman as Pontius Pilate, Creator/DebraMessing as Mary Magdalene, and Creator/JacquelineBisset as Mary the mother of Jesus. Creator/SeanHarris, in an early-career appearance, plays Thomas the Apostle.

Its narrative [[AdaptationDistillation combines and condenses]] Literature/TheFourGospels and [[AdaptationExpansion expands upon]] several details like Jesus's human characterization and the socio-political context of the time.

It has been called a "[[IncrediblyLamePun kosher]]" counterpart of ''Film/TheLastTemptationOfChrist'' due to its similar focus on the humanity of Jesus, while still being more orthodox in doctrinal matters.

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!!This work includes examples of the following tropes:

* AdaptationDistillation:
** To harmonize the Gospel accounts. For instance, Jesus first meets his disciples Andrew and John in the company of John the Baptist, as in the Gospel of John. Andrew and John take them to their brothers Peter and James, who are fishing as in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke (albeit with Andrew and John).
** The post-[[BackFromTheDead Resurrection]] appearances of Jesus are condensed to just two: First he appears to Mary Magdalene outside his tomb. When Mary tells the other disciples in a locked room, "doubting" Thomas openly voices his doubts, then Jesus [[StealthHiBye appears in their midst.]]
* AdaptationExpansion: Quite a few scenes are added to supplement the Gospel accounts.
* AllLovingHero: Jesus loves everyone, even the Roman invaders, to the extent of crying over their bodies after a battle with [[LaResistance Zealots]]. Barabbas the Zealot leader is disgusted, so he punches Jesus in the face. Jesus doesn't retaliate and literally turns the other cheek, and Barabbas hits him again. Jesus is even willing to forgive ''{{Satan}}'', but Satan doesn't ''want'' forgiveness.
* AnachronismStew: Deliberate. {{Satan}} appears to Jesus as a man in a modern [[DarkIsEvil black suit]] (also as a seductive HotAsHell LadyInRed, but the former guise is more prominent) that shows Jesus many conflicts from the future, from the Crusades to UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, in an attempt to convince him that his sacrifice will be in vain.
* AntiVillain: Caiaphas the High Priest is given some context as ''the'' Jewish religious leader, willing to stand up to Pontius Pilate when he decides to make a big entrance, ordering images of the Roman Emperor to be displayed in the Temple. While Caiaphas decides Jesus should die, it's because he's a WellIntentionedExtremist.
* AscendedExtra:
** The film adds some father-son bonding scenes with Jesus and Joseph the carpenter. Early on, they're on the road looking for work. Later when Joseph dies of a heart attack, Jesus pleads with God to raise him... this is before he [[GodInHumanForm fully realizes who he is.]]
** The film hints that Mary of Bethany, sister of [[BackFromTheDead Lazarus]], had a ChildhoodFriendRomance with Jesus, but he believed [[CelibateHero it was not his Father's will that they marry.]]
** The film fleshes out Barabbas as a Zealot, fighting the Romans and butting heads with Jesus on occasion, before Jesus is crucified in his place much later.
** A FlashBack shows Jesus and John the Baptist visiting the Temple together as children.
** Matthew first shows up collecting taxes door to door, backed up by Roman soldiers. He goes to Jesus's family house in Nazareth and takes their few chickens. The stress leads to Joseph's death by heart attack. Later, Jesus saves Matthew when Zealots attack and kill his escort, and he recruits him to be his disciple.
** {{Satan}} is made into a visible antagonist tempting Jesus at key points of his life.
* BadassPacifist: Caiaphas and the other priests [[KillMeNowOrForeverStayYourHand offer their necks to Pilate]] rather than tolerating him desecrating the Temple. Livio persuades Pilate not to go through with it.
* BatmanGambit: Judas tells Peter that he betrayed Jesus hoping that this would inspire his followers to rise up and rescue him. Obviously, this doesn't happen, and Judas is DrivenToSuicide.
* BibleTimes: Of course.
* BurnTheWitch: One of the visions that Satan shows Jesus. (She's innocent, by the way.)
* CaliforniaDoubling: Filmed in Morocco and Malta.
* CanonForeigner: The film has a tag-along Roman official named Livio who is recording the administration of Pilate. He also hangs out at the court of Herod Antipas and watches the crucifixion of Jesus. It is implied that he is Titus Livius, simply rendered as [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livy Livy]] in English.
* DeadGuyOnDisplay: Little Jesus sees a bunch of crucified men, {{foreshadowing}} his own fate.
* DoNotCallMePaul: Having been [[MeaningfulRename renamed]] by Jesus, Peter no longer likes being called by his birth name "Simon".
* DreamingOfThingsToCome: The film opens with Jesus dreaming about UsefulNotes/TheCrusades, [[BurnTheWitch a witch burning at the stake]], and a UsefulNotes/WorldWarI battlefield where people all invoke his name. This gets a CallBack when Satan tempts him not to go through with his crucifixion and death and runs him through the same scenes of a CrapsackWorld.
* DistantFinale: The film ends with a presumably symbolic scene of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO0yX7Y-xtU Jesus in the present day,]] wearing modern clothes and walking with children.
* DyingDeclarationOfLove: A father-son version.
--> '''Joseph:''' Jesus...I have loved you...I have loved you...as my own...as my...''(dies)''
* FlippingTheTable: Jesus, when he goes into UnstoppableRage mode in the Temple. Peter follows suit.
* GetOut:
** Lazarus says this to Jesus for turning his sister Mary down.
** Jesus also says this to the merchants, who were trading in the temple courtyard, while using a whip.
* GodInHumanForm: Jesus, with emphasis on the "human" part. He isn't as quite as solemn, grave or ethereal as in other Jesus films like ''Film/TheGreatestStoryEverTold'' and ''Series/JesusOfNazareth''.
* HeelFaceTurn: Matthew starts out as a bullying tax collector who is at least indirectly responsible for Joseph's death. He then becomes one of Jesus' disciples.
* HumansAreFlawed: When Satan tries to dissuade Jesus by showing him the evil that will be done in his name, Jesus says people have free will to do good or evil.
* JesusWasWayCool: Jesus is portrayed as a warm, cheerful man who [[FriendToAllChildren loves children]] and starts water-splashing fights with his disciples. While some critics welcomed the departure from past films, others thought the portrayal lacked gravitas.
* KneelBeforeZod: Satan tempts Jesus to just kneel to him once. Jesus yells at him to go away.
* LaResistance: Barabbas and the Zealots.
* ManlyTears:
** Jesus crying over Joseph's body. And the bodies of Roman soldiers.
** Peter weeps TearsOfRemorse after denying Jesus three times, as predicted.
* TheMasqueradeWillKillYourDatingLife: Jesus gives this as the reason why he can't marry Mary of Bethany.
* MessianicArchetype: Jesus ''Christ''.
* NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent: Jesus sounds very American. And John the Baptist is the most Scottish Jew around.
* PietaPlagiarism: Naturally. When Jesus is removed from the Cross, he is lowered into Mary's arms for the iconic pose.
* PleaseWakeUp: Jesus, as he mourns for Saint Joseph.
--> '''Jesus:''' You can give him back to me. You can do it now. Give him back to me! Now!
--> Give him to me! I am in need! I cannot walk this road alone! Raise him, raise him up into my arms.
--> Let it be your will, Father. I cannot do this alone! Raise him. Raise him!
* ProfessionalButtKisser: Livio, to Pilate's delight.
* TheQueensLatin: Gary Oldman as Pilate.
* TheScream: Quite understandably, Jesus screams his head off in agony while his arms are being nailed, dragged upwards to form the cross, and then when he's given a stand, but only so his feet could be also nailed. The close-ups of his tortured, bloodied face do not help matters.
* ThousandYardStare: Jesus carries this look (once again, as [[TruthInTelevision to be expected from someone post-torture]]) in the aftermath of his scourging (complete with crown of thorns and a mocking red robe).
* TooImportantToWalk: Herod Antipas and his family are carried around in a litter.
* VillainHasAPoint: Satan tries to talk Jesus out of going through with the crucifixion by showing him all the terrible things that future humans will do in his name. Even Jesus acknowledges that Satan is 100% right about what is to come, but [[{{Determinator}} won't let that deter him]].
* WeWillMeetAgain: Satan to Jesus after he overcomes temptation in the desert. (They do meet again.)
--> '''Satan:''' See you again, Jesus. [[ItHasOnlyJustBegun It's only just begun.]]
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