ACT I,  Scene I

                        [Spotlight ON Rabbi #3 Again]

                        [House Light DIM]

RABBI #3        Let's begin our story some time earlier, by listening to some of the claims this man Jesus made.

                        [Spotlight OFF Rabbi #3]

                        [Spotlight ON Jesus in City Scene]

                        [Also Present: John, James, Thomas, Peter

                        [House Light DIM]

JESUS               Who do people say that I am?

JAMES               Some say John the Baptist

JOHN                 or Elijah

THOMAS            Some say Jeremiah

PETER               Or just one of the prophets

JESUS               Who do you say that I am?

PETER               You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

JESUS               Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah For flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father, who is in Heaven.  And I also say to you, Petros, on that Petras I shall build my church and the gates of hell shall not overpower it.

                        [Spotlight OFF Jesus and City Scene]

NARRATOR       Jesus used a play on words in the Greek language with Petros, or Peter, and Petras, meaning “rock.”

RABBI #3         And so He did. He traveled throughout Israel, carefully teaching a different message than the Temple priests and frequently accenting those teachings with various miracles.

ACCOMPANIMENT  Plays “GOD GAVE THE SONG”

CHOIR              Sings “GOD GAVE THE SONG” Part I 

READER:           From that time, Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer many things from the elders, chief priests and scribes, be killed, and be raised up on the third day. [Matt 16:21]

                        [Spotlight ON City Scene]

                        [Peter beckons Jesus to leave the group a few feet with him, Spotlight follows them]

PETER:             God forbid it, Lord. This shall never happen to you.

JESUS:              Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me, for you are not setting your mind on God's interests but on man's.

                        [Jesus returns to group of disciples, standing, He addresses them]

                        [Spotlight on Jesus]

                        If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake shall find it. For what will a man profit if he gains the whole world but loses his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

                        [Spotlight OFF]

ACCOMPANIMENT  Plays softly “I SURRENDER ALL” – Instrumental

                        [Voice Over “I SURRENDER ALL” - Instrumental]

AUDIENCE         In an adulterous and sinful generation of our own, we too frequently set our minds on man’s possessive interest instead of God’s.  And we fail to lay down our lives, even in simple ways, for the sake of Christ.  By failing to speak up for Him, we demonstrate a shame of Him, increasing our unworthiness for His grace.

ACCOMPANIMENT 

CHOIR &           Plays and sings “MAKE ME LIKE YOU”

AUDIENCE        

ACT I,  Scene II

NARRATOR        We pick up our story with Jesus traveling and teaching in Perea, a province east of the Jordan River and extending from roughly the northern third of the Dead Sea, northward about two thirds of the way up to the Sea of Galilee.

                        [Spotlight ON ]

FOLLOWER #1   [Stands in audience – See Set Description]

                        Lord, are only a few going to be saved?

                        [Spotlight ON]

JESUS               Strive to enter by the narrow door, for many will seek to enter and not be able. Once the Head of the house gets up and shuts the door and you begin to stand outside and knock, saying "Open up, Lord", then He will answer, "I don't know where you are from." Then you will begin to say, "We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets." He will say, "I tell you, I don't know where you are from - depart from me, all ye evildoers." There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth there when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all of the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being cast out. And they will come from east and west, and from north and south, and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God.  And behold, some are last who shall be first, and some are first who shall be last.

                        [Two Clerics (Rabbi and Pharisee) arrive at scene.  Speaking to Jesus]

RABBI #1          Go away.

PHARISEE #2    Get out of here.

RABBI #1          Herod wants to kill you

JESUS               Go and tell that fox that I will cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach my goal.  Nevertheless, I must travel on today and tomorrow, for it can’t be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem. 

                        [Changes to sad, wistful mood]

                        O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! The city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her!  How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you would not have it.  Your house is left to you desolate.  You shall not see me again until the time comes that you say “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” 

ACCOMPANIMENT  Plays softly “GOD GAVE THE SONG” – Instrumental

ACT I,  Scene III

NARRATOR        [Voice Over “GOD GAVE THE SONG” – Instrumental] 

                        And so Christ continued on, teaching at every opportunity, healing wherever faith was strong enough, and sometimes by direct intercession.  All the while, He was working His way closer and closer to Jerusalem.  On the following Sabbath, He went to the home of one of the Pharisees leaders to eat.  They had also invited a man who suffered from dropsy and they watched Him closely to see if He would fall for the trap.

JESUS               Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?

                        [He looks around at the Pharisees, who remain uneasily silent.]

                        [Then he grasps the sick man]

                        Go your way, man.  You are healed.

                        [The sick man walks away, healed]

                        [Jesus now turns to the Pharisees]

JESUS               Which one of you would not immediately pull a son or animal from a well on a Sabbath?

[Again, looks at each Pharisee, each remain silent]

                         [Spotlight OFF Jesus]

ACT I,  Scene IV

NARRATOR        Jesus often used events surrounding Him to teach.  At this dinner, He built on events and conversation to teach at least three parables.  Afterwards, He moved on, with ever growing crowds following Him to hear His teachings.  Meanwhile, …

                         [Scene shifts to Yeshiva Scene]

                         [Spotlight ON Rabbis and Pharisee]

RABBI # 1       What did you think about that Jesus guy healing on a Sabbath up in Perea?

PHARISEE#2    He has Chutzpah! And in the Pharisee Chairman’s house, of all places.

RABBI # 1       He has a lot of the priests upset at the temple, that’s for sure.

PHARISEE#2    For all His blasphemies and heresies, He will probably get Himself stoned one day.

RABBI # 1       I don't doubt it. And the way He hangs around with Tax Collectors and all kinds of sinners so much, you know he’s got to be from the devil.

PHARISEE # 2   Right

RABBI #3          I'm not so sure about that.

                        After all, who needs God the most, a sinner or a Pharisee?

                        [Pauses, while Pharisee #2 considers that idea]

PHARISEE # 2   You’ve got a point there.

RABBI #3         I also recall Him pointing out that if He was from the devil He wouldn't be casting demons out of people. I think that makes sense.

RABBI # 1         [Reluctantly]

                        Yeah, I guess it does.

RABBI #3         Besides, I think He's right. If any of us had a son or animal fall in a well, we'd pull it out, even on a Sabbath, so why not do other good things like healing, on the Sabbath?

PHARISEE#2    Well, we'll just watch and see how it goes.   I wonder if He'll dare to come here for Passover.

RABBI # 1        He says He will but I'll believe it when I see it.

AUDIENCE         Jesus Christ is the Passover Lamb

PHARISEE#2   Say, speaking of Passover, how's the sheep supply looking?

RABBI #3          We got a few more into the pens today, but there aren't anywhere near enough for this close to Passover.

RABBI # 1       At least we can keep the Temple shekels re-circulating at the money changer tables.

PHARISEE # 2   Who says they don't recycle the sheep?

RABBI # 1       Watch and see!  Hey - it's good to chat, but I have to go; I've got evening prayer service tonight.

PHARISEE # 2   Me too. 

                        So long.

RABBI #3          See you later.   

                        [Rabbi #1 and Pharisee #2 leave]

                        [Rabbi# 3 remains alone, deep in thought]

RABBI #3          I don’t know what to think about all this.

                        [He pause in thought, then sings…]

                        “RABBI TRADITION”

[Lights fade out]

ACT I,  Scene V

ACCOMPANIMENT  Plays “EVERY EYE” Instrumental

NARRATOR        [Voice Over “Every Eye” – Instrumental]

                        While undercurrents boiled, Jesus continued to teach in the Perean area.  He taught parables including those about the lost sheep, the lost coin, the prodigal son, the unjust steward, the rich man and Lazarus and the unprofitable servants.  The parables were probably all taken from current events of the day. But then, like today, those who were His understood the spiritual lessons which they also taught. While teaching in Perea, a servant of Mary, (who had anointed Him with perfume) came to Him with a message.

                        [Spotlights ON Jesus in scene with disciples]

                        [Servant runs in and breathlessly announces]

SERVANT          Lazarus, whom you love, is sick.

JESUS               This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of the Lord, that the Son of God may be glorified by it.

NARRATOR        Two days later, Jesus announced His plan.

JESUS               Let us go to Judea again.

JUDAS               [Shocked, Unbelieving]

                        Rabbi, the Jews there want to stone you!  And you want to go back?

JESUS               Are there not 12 hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of the world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles because the light is not in him. Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. I go that I might awaken him from sleep.

JOHN                Lord, if he's fallen asleep, he'll waken by himself.

JESUS               Lazarus is dead. I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe.  Let’s go to him.

JUDAS               [To Peter]

                        Has another message come? How does He know Lazarus is dead?

PETER:              No message came, Judas. Jesus just knows. Haven't you noticed that miraculous ability about Him?

JUDAS:             Yes.  I just can't quite get used to it.

THOMAS:         Let's all go to Bethany, that we might die with Him.

                        [Lights out]

ACT I,  Scene VI

NARRATOR        It was a custom in those days, because of the intense heat, to bury the dead immediately – before sundown on the day of death – in a cave, without embalming materials.

                        [Highlight ON Mary and Martha’s Home Scene]

MARTHA:           Lord, you are too late - Lazarus has been dead four days now. If you had been here, he wouldn't have died. Even I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.

JESUS               Martha, your brother shall rise again.

MARTHA            I know he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.

JESUS               I am the resurrection  and the life.  He who   believes in Me shall live, even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?

MARTHA            Yes, Lord, I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He Who comes into the world.

                        [Turns, Steps away and Calls to her Sister]

                        Mary! The teacher is here, and He's calling for you.

                        [Mary and Jews enter]

                        [This could include “follower,” Pharisee, and “Jew” roles, and disciples to enlarge the crowd with non-speaking roles.  If several people are used, they should not all arrive at the same time.]

MARY:               Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.

JESUS:              [Emotionally] Where have you laid him?

MARY:               Come and see.

                        [They head toward cave where Lazarus was buried]

FOLLOWER #1   See how He loved Lazarus.

FOLLOWER #2  He opened the eyes of a blind man - why couldn’t He have kept Lazarus alive?

                        [They arrive at Lazarus’ Tomb]

JESUS               Remove the stone

MARTHA            Lord, by this time, there will be a stench – He has been dead 4 Days!

JESUS               Did I not say to you, if you believe you will see the Glory of God?

                        [Stone removed; Jesus looks upward]

                        Father, I thank You that You heard Me. And I knew that hear Me always, but because of the people standing around I said it, that they may believe that You sent Me.

                        [In a very loud voice]

                        Lazarus, come forth.

NARRATOR:       And Lazarus very much alive came forward for all to see.

LAZARUS           [As the Narrator read the above, Lazarus hops out of the tomb.  This must be done carefully to avoid drawing laughter from the crowd in a very serious scene]

JESUS               Unbind him and let him go

                        [Spotlight OFF]

                        [House Lights DIM]

AUDIENCE         Oh Lord, as you set Lazarus free may we also bring our hurts and tragedies to you believing you can give them life

ACT I,  Scene VII

READER            Many therefore of the Jews, who had come to Mary and beheld what He had done, believed in Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees, and told them the things which Jesus had done.

                        [John 11: 45-46]

NARRATOR        The Sanhedrin, a group of 70 church rulers headed by Caiaphas as the Chief Priest, met to discuss the situation.

                        [Lights up]

                        [Pharisees stand in audience one at a time as they begin to speak]

PHARISEE#4    What are we doing? This man Jesus is performing many signs.

SCRIBE #2       If we let Him go on like this, everybody will believe.

SCRIBE#1       Then the Romans will take away our positions.

SCRIBE #2        And our nation, too.

CAIAPHAS         You know nothing at all, nor do you take into account that it is expedient that one man should die for the people so that the whole nation should not perish.

SCRIBE #1       How can we put this Jesus to death, Caiaphas?

SCRIBE #2        I have a plan.

                        [Spotlight OFF]

ACT I,  Scene VIII

ACCOMPANIMENT  Plays “GOD GAVE THE SONG”  (instrumental) as READER begins reading below. 

                             [Time the music to end shortly after READER and NARRATOR finish the following stretch of passages]

READER            [Over   “GOD GAVE THE SONG”  (instrumental)]

                        [John 11: 53- 55]

                        So from that day on they planned together to kill Him.  Jesus therefore no longer continued to walk publicly among the Jews, but went away from there to the country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and there He stayed with the disciples.

                        Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country before the Passover, to purify themselves.

NARRATOR        [Continue Instrumental music]

                        Following this, Jesus began His final trip to Jerusalem with one last circuit up to Samaria and Galilee before turning south again toward Jerusalem.

                        Between Samaria and Jerusalem, He healed a group of 10 Lepers, noting that only one of the group returned to offer thanks. The Pharisees, dogging His footsteps more frantically now, began to question Him.

                        [Spotlights ON Street Scene, Jesus and Clerics]

SCRIBE #1        Say, Jesus - when is this Kingdom coming?

JESUS               It's not coming with signs that you can observe. Nor will they say, "Look, here it is" or "There it is." For the Kingdom of God is in your midst.

SCRIBE #2        Oh, really?

JESUS               The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. They will say to you, "Look there! Look here!" Don't go away, and don't run after them. For just as the lightning flashes in one part of the sky and shines to another part, so will the Son of Man be in His day. But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

                        [Spotlight OFF]

ACT I,  Scene IX

ACCOMPANIMENT  Plays very discordantly “GOD GAVE THE SONG” Instruments Only

NARRATOR        [Voice Over discordant, "GOD GAVE THE SONG"]

                        And Jesus continued to compare that day to the days of Noah, and of Lot. And He taught the parables of the persistent widow, and of the Pharisee and the Publican.

                        Virtually every day brought its confrontation with the Pharisees.  And with each confrontation, the Pharisees became more hostile. Drawing near to Jerusalem, Jesus taught about many things, especially His impending death, and the coming Kingdom. Then, crossing over the Jordan River, He invited Himself to dinner at the home of Zacchaeus, a tax collector who was so short that he climbed a tree just to see Jesus. And the scribes, Pharisees, and all of the Temple workers were furious that Jesus would allow Himself to associate with such sinners, let alone to eat with them.

                        With the Passover approaching, the Pharisees and Temple workers were also frantically preparing for a very busy time.

                         [Spotlight ON Yeshiva, 2 Rabbis]

RABBI #3          I'm really getting troubled about this sheep pen duty. We have so few sheep to sell to those who bring none, or bring imperfect ones. We'll need many thousands, and I only have a couple hundred so far.

RABBI #1          Don't forget about the trade-ins. You can sell them too.

RABBI #3          Wow - Do you mean that when we put them in the pens God makes them perfect? Wow, that's a miracle on a level with Hanukah. That's…

RABBI #1          Well, He could make them perfect, but I don't know that He ever has.

RABBI #3          That would mean that people buy blemished lambs!

RABBI #1          Uh-huh. But it's not intentional, so there's no sin involved.

RABBI #3          But it does mean they can intentionally bring in a defective lamb and sell it.

RABBI #1          Uh, yes - Well, you certainly have your work cut out for you. At least it's not so tough to change money into Temple shekels. But I do wish they wouldn't charge so much to do it.

RABBI #3          Why don't people just give their own currency?

RABBI #1         Well, they would. But Caiaphas has decreed that circulated money is corrupted and unworthy of the Temple, and won't allow anything but purified Temple shekels.

RABBI #3          Which he sells at a big markup?

RABBI #1          Yeah.

RABBI #3          Hmmmmmmm.

                         [Sings Solo “RABBI’S LAMENT” Verse 1]

ACCOMPANIMENT  Plays “RABBI’S LAMENT”

                        [Spotlight OFF Yeshiva]

                        [SpotLight ON Simon the Leper’s House]

                        [Jesus, some disciples, friends]

ACT I,  Scene X

NARRATOR        It was Saturday, 6 days before Passover according to John. Although there was an all-points-bulletin out on Jesus by the Pharisees, He was drawn to Jerusalem. He stopped this night at the home of Simon the Leper in Bethany, just outside of Jerusalem. There He had dinner with Martha, Mary and Lazarus. As Mary anointed Jesus' feet with a pound of a costly ointment, Judas criticized her for wasting the perfume instead of selling it to feed the poor.

                        [Spotlight ON Jesus]

                        [House Light DIM]

JESUS               Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me. For the poor you always have with you, and whenever you wish, you can do them good; but you do not always have Me.  She has done what she could; she has anointed My body before­hand for the burial.  And truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, that also which this woman has done shall be spoken of in memory of her.      (Mark 14:6-9)

                        [Spotlight OFF]

                        [House Light DIM]

ACT I,  Scene XI

NARRATOR        Judas, his ego hurt, and feeling insulted by Jesus' answer, determined to find a way to turn Him over to the Pharisees. Now also, many Jews came that night, to see Him and the resurrected Lazarus. And the Pharisees became more and more upset.

                        [Spotlight ON Yeshiva]

                        [House Light DIM]

PHARISEE # 4   Several of us attempted to seize that Jesus - but He is a slippery one!

PHARISEE # 2   Never did a man speak as He does.

PHARISEE # 4   Blasphemous!

PHARISEE # 2   Well, none of us believes Him. But that mob certainly does.

PHARISEE # 4   I think we should seize that Lazarus too, before they start worshipping him as well.

RABBI #3          Does our law condemn a man without hearing from him?

PHARISEE # 4   My friend, we are in danger of loosing these people! We must bring them to their senses at this Passover, or we are done.

PHARISEE # 2   Just be sure that you do all you can in the sacrificial lamb pens this week.

RABBI #3          I will, I will.  But we better get an awful lot more lambs in – very fast!

PHARISEE # 4   They are on the way! 

                        [Pharisees Depart]

AUDIENCE         Religion has always been a destructive force when the worship of God is claimed by man.

                        [Spotlight ON Rabbi #3]

                        [House Light DIM]

RABBI #3          Sings Solo "RABBI’S LAMENT"

ACCOMPANIMENT  Accompanies Rabbi #3 with “RABBI’S LAMENT”

                        [Spotlight OFF] [House Light DIM]