Anastasis: Resurrection

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Anastasis: Resurrection is a play by the Turkish author Mehmet Murat İldan.

It gives the life story of Jesus Christ.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The play starts in the times of Caesar Augustus in Bethlehem of Judea with a conversation between Saint Joseph (husband of Mary) and his neighbour about the miracle of the Holy Spirit.

In Act I, Scene II., King Herod, Roman client-king of Judea, in his palace in Jerusalem, is alarmed at the prospect of the new-born king usurping his rule. He talks with a soothsayer about the risks that this birth will bring to his kingdom.

Joseph led his family to safety in Egypt to escape from Herod, as depicted by Lorenzo Monaco

In Scene III., after Saint Joseph fled to Egypt with his wife and Jesus, in a narrow street in the city, he comes across a Jewish Rabbi and talks with him about the education of young Jesus.

In Scene IV., in the city of Gamala, which was the capital of the Jewish Golan from 87 BCE to 68 CE, two men talk about the Roman governer Publius Sulpicius Quirinius's census on Jews and about the heavy Roman taxes. At the end of the conversation, they conclude that only a rebellion, an open revolt against the Roman rule can be a solution.

In Scene V., we are in the times of Tiberius Caesar Augustus. Near the Jordan River, John the Baptist disccusses with a Roman soldier about baptizing people in the river and about his preaching.

In Scene VI., Jesus was led into the desert by God where he fasted for forty days and forty nights. During this time, the devil appears to him and an interesting conversation begins. Devil tempts Jesus to demonstrate his supernatural powers as proof of being the Son of God, although each temptation is refused by Jesus with a quote of scripture from the Book of Deuteronomy.

Duccio's Calling of the Apostles Peter and Andrew

In Scene VII., Jesus meets two fishermen, Simon and Andrew near the Lake of Gennesaret in the region of Galilee. They become the first two apostles of Jesus.

In Scene VIII., Jesus, in front of a synagogue, talks with his Apostles about prayer, alms and fast.

In Scene IX., in a small village near the Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee) two old farmers talk about Jesus.

In Scene X., there exits a man who possessed by demons at Gerasenes, who the people had tried to chain up but had escaped, and lived in caves, and roamed the hills. He comes across Jesus. He drives demons out of the man.

In Scene XI., in a green place, Jesus and Twelve Apostles have come together. Jesus gives some advises to his disciples.

Salome and the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, by Titian

In Scene XII., Jesus visits his childhood home Nazareth, but he is not welcomed over there.

In Scene XIII., in a Synagogue, Jesus, a Rabbi and two people from Nazareth sit together. They discuss about the day of vengeance mentioned in the Book of Isaiah with Jesus.

In Act II, Scene I., in a green place in Galilee, Apostles sit together around a fire in the evening. Jesus talks with Andrew about John the Baptist and Herod Antipas who jailed him. After a while they learn that John is beheaded.

Resurrection of Lazarus by Juan de Flandes, around 1500

In Scene II., Jesus is in Samaria. Mount Gerizim can be seen in the far. He talks with a pilgrim at Jacob's Well. He then encounters with the woman of Sychar (Shechem), in which He declares Himself to be the Messiah.

In Scene III., Jesus is in Bethany. He is in front of a cave, Lazarus' tomb, with Martha, the sister of Lazarus and Mary. Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.

In Scene IV., Jesus is in Gethsemane garden which is located at the foot of the Mount of Olives. He speaks with a child.