Martin Scorsese’s film adaptation of Nikos Kazantzakis' controversial 1951 novel of the same name contains the central thesis that Jesus, while free from sin, was still subject to every form of temptation that humans face, including fear, doubt, depression, reluctance and lust.

It also includes a disclaimer explaining that it departs from the commonly accepted Biblical portrayal of Jesus’ life. The film's twist comes when Christ is on the cross and sees a young girl who appears to be an angel. She tells him that he is not the son of God, not the Messiah, but that God loves him, is pleased with him, and wants him to be happy. Jesus comes down from the cross, goes on to live an idyllic life married to Mary Magdalene and has a family. This alternate life course plays out as a vivid reality which Jesus embraces.

However, the angel is soon exposed as Satan, who has been tempting Jesus into this life of comfort as a mortal man and the fantasy sequence Jesus has experienced quickly ends. Jesus is instantly back on the cross and cries out as he dies, “It is accomplished! It is accomplished.” Hebrews 4:15 affirms that Jesus was indeed tempted in every way as we are. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin."