Cold Case 33 AD – The Missing Body!
Movie – Risen (2016) PG-13 1 Hr. 47 Min.
Partial Cast List – Joseph Fiennes, Tom Felton, Peter Firth, Cliff Curtis, María Botto, Stewart Scudamore, Antonio Gil, Stephen Hagan
Risen was a movie depicting a forensic case on the missing body of Jesus Christ. This movie reveals the Scriptural story of Jesus’ Crucifixion and His burial. The Jewish leaders gave money to the Roman guards and told them to lie about what happened at Jesus’ burial site. The lie – the guards fell asleep while Jesus’ disciples stole His body to proclaim His Resurrection. The entire story was told through the eyes of a Roman soldier named Clavius.
Clavius reluctantly leads the investigation ordered by Pontus Pilate at first. As he examines the evidence of the burnt ropes, melted Roman seal, and destruction of the tomb’s stone, he can’t deny the drive to solve the case and squash the religious sect’s lies about a resurrection. The stress of this case makes him desperate to find the end of it. He even pleaded with the Jewish God while speaking to Mars, a Roman idol.
Spoiler Alert!
[Clavius is overcome with shock, uncertainty, and more questions when he sees Jesus alive speaking to His disciples. The trajectory of his life changes from that pivotal moment. Instead of arresting the disciples, he protects them. While helping them, he may be able to find the answers he has been looking for all his life.
Clavius asks Bartholomew why they follow Jesus if they doubt Him. Their discussion is interrupted when Jesus heals a leper man. Bartholomew approaches Clavius and says, “That’s why!”]
The rating for this movie is appropriate since it includes two or more bloody scenes.
This story is plausible since the Romans were historically thorough in their execution skills. Once word of Jesus’ missing body and possible resurrection went throughout Jerusalem, the Romans had to investigate. Whether the Romans investigated for the Jews or for their own purpose was irrelevant. An investigation was needed to squelch the increasing furor about Jesus’ Resurrection.
I recommend this movie based on the interesting forensic, investigative case dealing with the missing Body of Jesus Christ. I enjoyed the fluid and constant pace throughout the movie. The pace slows during the scene when Clavius questions people mentioning the Resurrection of Jesus. There is no inappropriate language throughout the movie, but there were a few graphic images, i.e. crucifixion scene, removal of those dead criminals from their cross, several dead bodies, and a stabbing. Yet overall, it was an appropriate movie to view and discuss the possible reactions during that historical time to Jesus’ missing Body.
