Jesus: Countdown to Calvary

PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Sunday, April 20, at 1 PM
Monday, April 21, at 4 AM

Join actor Hugh Bonneville as he examines the theological and historical context of the events leading up to the death of Jesus of Nazareth. JESUS: COUNTDOWN TO CALVARY  offers a nuanced exploration of the questions that have existed for more than 2000 years, treating the subject with sensitivity, rigor and historical integrity.

Bonneville, a theology graduate of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, travels to Jerusalem to explore the historical context of the last days of Jesus. With the help of noted academics and spiritual leaders, he investigates the complex factors that, in just six days, turned a popular preacher into a reviled victim of the Romans’ most brutal form of execution — crucifixion.

Hugh and his guides utilize ancient artifacts, Gospel texts, historical analysis and modern insight to provide a fresh perspective on the social, religious and political tensions at play in first century Jerusalem. The legacies of leading figures like Pontius Pilate, Caiaphas and Judas Iscariot are brought into focus; long-held assumptions, some of which formed the root of centuries of anti-Semitism, are challenged head on.

Featuring state-of-the-art production values, the documentary is framed as a high-stakes political thriller, a clock counting down each critical moment from Palm Sunday to Good Friday.