Close To Jesus is a series of four films depicting the lives of several peripheral persons from the Gospels of the life and times of Jesus Christ, including Mary Magdalene, the spy hired to investigate John the Baptist but turns into a follower; Joseph Of Nazareth, the refugee of a murdered family who becomes the earthly father of Jesus; Judas, the traitorous trusted chosen few; and Thomas, distraught over the burial of Christ, has his faith restored when he witnesses the prophesy come true with his own eyes.
The people of Jerusalem are suffering under the reign of Herod, and are hoping to be delivered from the Roman occupiers by the Messiah whose arrival, it is rumored, is to take place very soon. Unlike his nephew Judas, who wants to join the zealots (freedom fighters), 35 year old widower Joseph is not interested in participating in any fighting against the Romans.
Employed as a spy and given the task of investigating the threat posed by John the Baptist, Mary Magdalene is overwhelmed by John's powerful message of the coming of the Messiah. Gazing into John's eyes before he dies, Mary is left with the certainty that her place is at the side of this great man, Jesus Christ.
Pilate and the Roman legate Veturius look on worriedly as Jesus is celebrated as the new messiah in Jerusalem, fearing an uprising. Veturius decides to have Jesus arrested as soon as a suitable opportunity presents itself. Judas is delighted by the reception Jesus is receiving, and quickly wants to win over the influential merchants to the cause which would make him the king and the liberator of the Jews.
When Jesus is taken off the cross at Golgotha, Thomas arrives. Like most other disciples, he worriedly took refuge with friends in Jerusalem after Jesus's arrest. After Jesus's burial, the disciples decide to leave Jerusalem quickly, but Thomas refuses to leave Jesus' body behind, as he fears that the tomb may be desecrated.
