More to the Story: Season 5, Episode 1

It shall be square. You shall mount on it four rows of stones. God literally spelled out how he should be worshipped. From the architectural plan for the temple, to the types of sacrifices and rituals, to the design and purpose of the high priest's garments. So, these robes weren't just about the priest putting on his Sunday best, they were a key part of his sacred duty. And without them, no worship could be offered. Joseph Ben-Caiaphas. Do you mind if I call you Joe? You ask that every time. You know, we have this lovely appointment three times a year. And yet, your disposition never strikes me as grateful. Pardon me for saying, Governor, but you should be washing my feet for ensuring an orderly festival. You know, in the Empire, we tolerate other religions because we see them all as variations on the same thing. Rome had conquered a lot of places. But, when it came to Jerusalem, they knew that they couldn't force the Jewish people to fully embrace Roman culture. That just wasn't going to work. Especially not that whole part about bowing down to pagan gods. Yeah, not going to happen. And the last thing that the Romans wanted was an uprising. Those are bad for business. So, to keep the peace, the Romans let the Jewish people do their thing. They could worship their one true god, however they wanted. Have their feasts. I mean, as long as they weren't causing problems. And, of course, pay their taxes. But there was one Roman governor who was just a little too ambitious for his own good. What is it with power-hungry men? His name? Yeah, you guessed it. Pontius Pilate. And this is his very modest office space. Pilate was constantly at odds with the Jews. But he was a smart guy. And insanely gifted at one thing. Manipulation. Figured out pretty quickly that he didn't need to control every Jew. He just had control of one. The high priest of the Sanhedrin, Caiaphas. To the victor belong the spoils. So, because these are ours, your right to borrow them is given, provided you keep your people under control. No riots. And as you probably well know, the Jewish high priest wasn't just your local pastor. He was the only person in the whole world that could enter the Holy of Holies. The sacred place where God himself dwelled on earth and received sacrifice. And Caiaphas couldn't do his sacred duties without his sacred robes. And what does Pilate do with those robes? He locks them up. Serious snake move. So Caiaphas does what he has to do. He plays nice and bends the knee. The alternatives were being replaced or worse. So the robes that were literally crafted according to God's instructions hang locked away in the quarters of a Roman governor. But the children of Israel were no newcomers to dealing with oppression. And even these conditions could not shake their faith.