Plot[edit]
After attempting to assemble a Swedish flat-pack "rejuvenation shower", the crew are unexpectedly shot back to Earth, Britain, in AD 23 when the rays hit them accidentally.[1] The Dwarfers need an 8-volt battery to power up their Returner Remote and get home. Remembering a lesson from school Rimmer suggests they make a battery out of potatoes, when Kryten points out Britain in 23 AD doesn't have any potatoes Rimmer suggests making a battery out of lemons but the nearest lemons are in India 4,000 miles away.[2]
Their journey leads them to a crowded market square in India, where they run into a peace-loving do-gooder called Jesus (played by James Baxter).[1] Rimmer is particularly excited about meeting him, as Rimmer has the middle name Judas - when the others question why Rimmer would be given such a negative name, Rimmer explains that his mother belonged to the "Church of Judas", who believe that Judas was Jesus' twin brother and took his place at the Crucifixion, thus allowing Jesus to return after his apparent death. The Dwarfers end up befriending the stranger and eventually wind up back on the ship with the apparent son of God in tow when escaping Romans.[3]
Whilst recovering from a kidney stone removal by the whole Red Dwarf crew, Jesus gets a preview of his status as the central figure of Christianity and is horrified by the number of wars to be waged in his name. Jesus returns to Earth and proceeds to rant against the Ten Commandments,[4] in an attempt to damage his reputation and thus avoid his fate. In a final twist, however, it turns out he is not Jesus of Nazareth, but rather "Jesus of Caesarea", and thus not the son of God at all. Lister advises him to use what he saw in the future to make something of his life - so Jesus starts making and selling bags (which do not exist in AD 23).
While briefly delaying their return to the future so Lister can have a curry, the Dwarfers spot two twin brothers going by the names of Jesus and Judas. Rimmer goes to get up, only to be shouted at by the others and told to stay put.