In the second episode of the BBC1 drama The Passion, tension is mounting all round. The disciples begin to urge Jesus to turn back as he has done enough now. Caiaphas and the Temple Guard try to persuade Judas to betray Jesus, as he is putting the whole stability of Judea at risk. Pilate is under pressure to keep the peace and gets a visit from his own Prefect, who wants the Passover festival stopped. As the tension grows, we are drawn to the questions held uppermost in the film: 'Who is this man Jesus?'; 'What has he come to do?'
In this dramatic retelling of the last week in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, we hear Jesus declare that he is going to die and be raised again: the disciples are confused. A prostitute pours expensive oil on Jesus' feet: they are even more confused. Other followers are frightened, though they want to stay with Jesus; they realize all the tensions are coming to a head.
There is talk of sacrifice all around, and we know this will mean not just the lambs in the Temple, but Jesus himself. Jesus is seen as a revolutionary, a blasphemer and one who would destroy the Temple. It is time to get rid of him, says the High Priest.
And the message that is causing all this tension and confusion is a simple one: love, and the closeness of the love of God.
The screenplay writers of The Passion are keen to emphasise that the values of Jesus are at odds with those of both Caiaphas and Pilate. Salvation is not to be found in the Temple, but in people's hearts. Passover and the legal requirements are to be followed, but not if they get in the way of Love.
Love turns out to be a revolutionary idea. Jesus has overturned the tables not only, literally, of the money changers in his Father's house, but also, figuratively, of the Temple Council and the Roman Guard. They have no option but to take note of him and his influence. They begin the plot to get rid of him.
It is clear from both the Gospel accounts and the depiction in The Passion that Jesus wanted his disciples to observe the Passover and obey the law. "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and render to God the things that are God's".
But there is a higher law: with a capital 'L'. It is a revolutionary law. It is a law which turns tables upside down in the passion for justice. It is a law which challenges the norms of society that are based on power and authority. It is a law which changes hearts and minds. It is a law which wins in the end. It is both the First Commandment and the Greatest Commandment. It is the law of Love.
What tables should we be overturning? What authorities should we be confronting? What lies are we to reveal in the search for truth? What revolution should we be engaged in? Whatever it is, we need to be followers of Jesus - and do it with Love.
Jim Currin, Church Army, represents the Group for Evangelisation of Churches Together in England
