The story of Jesus’ crucifixion has been told on countless screens, both big and small, through the years. But told through the eyes of Clavius, a Roman soldier, Risen is the ancient story presented in a creative new way. Where most stories of Jesus end shortly after the crucifixion and briefly highlight the resurrection, Risen starts at Jesus’ death and goes forward from there.
Clavius is a Roman military commander tasked by Pontius Pilate to investigate the missing body of Jesus. He only has a few days before decomposition will make the body unrecognizable and people will really believe He resurrected from the dead. Clavius has just returned home after a brutal campaign fighting a bunch of rebels, so the last thing he wants to do is go searching for a dead body. But he has his orders and sets out to accomplish his objective.
During his investigation, he talks with people who followed Jesus while He was alive. He interviews the soldiers who guarded His tomb. When all seems too convoluted for him to make any sense of it, he prays to his gods for help. He just wants to get this done so he can go home and rest.
Then he begins seeing the sincerity of the men and women he is interrogating. He begins to wonder if Jesus really did walk out of the tomb alive. He knows it can’t be possible, he was just coming into Jerusalem while Jesus was on the cross. He saw a soldier plunge a spear into His side.
None of this makes any sense. But it causes him to question everything he has built his life on up to this point.
Application
While this is a really well-known story, I still feel the necessity to alert you with a spoiler alert. But really, if this movie can be spoiled for you, go read the book. It’s better anyway (and available online in text and audio for free).
There are many areas of this film that are ripe for application to the believer’s life. Clavius starts as a pagan, praying and giving to the Roman gods. He is a battle-hardened soldier who has seen too much to believe any deity can be good, much less merciful and loving.
That is the story of many people, both in and outside the faith.
But when he spends time with the followers of Jesus and sees how they have been impacted by being with Him, and then seeing Jesus for himself, his eyes are opened to who God really is.
Not all of his questions are answered, but faith doesn’t typically answer every question we have. Instead, it gives us peace in the midst of doubt. It tells us there are answers to be found, but they can only be found in the risen Jesus Christ.
Content
Being that it is a story about a Roman soldier seeing Jesus crucified and then searching for His dead body, there are some things that may disturb young viewers. The opening scene is a battle between Clavius’ forces and a group of rebels. Clavius executes one of the men (after giving a killer one-liner).
A badly beaten Jesus is crucified and stabbed with a spear. There is blood but it is not gory.
During the investigation, Clavius must search the place where the Romans dump all the executed bodies. Nothing is shown, but their visceral reactions show the area is not a pleasant place to be.
Conclusion
Risen is a film that tells the story of Jesus’ resurrection through a new set of eyes. While its protagonist is fictional, the story is very real. And that reality comes through on the screen. The movie has high production value, great acting by Joseph Fiennes (Shakspeare in Love) and Tom Felton (Harry Potter), and is based on a well-written script.
It is definitely a great movie well worth seeing in theaters this weekend.
