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ACT
II, Scene
I And they began to sing Psalm 118, the Great Hallel, traditionally reserved for the coming of the Messiah.
[
[Jesus on a Colt, Disciples bearing Palm
Fronds]
[House Light DIM] CHOIR
Sings “PSALM 118” ACCOMPANIMENT Accompanies Choir with “PSALM
118”
[
[House Light DIM] PHARISEE
# 2 Teacher
- rebuke your disciples! JESUS
If
these become silent, the stones will cry out! NARRATOR
Jesus
thus fulfilled a prophecy made exactly 483 years earlier, and
recorded by the prophet Daniel. READER
[Dan
From
the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build
Jerusalem, unto the Messiah all the Prince, shall be seven weeks, and
threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the
wall, even in troublous times.
And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off,
but not for himself ACCOMPANIMENT Plays “MY HOUSE SHALL BE
CALLED THE HOUSE OF PRAYER” Introduction only while the Narrator
reads NARRATOR
[Over instrumental
Introduction to “MY HOUSE SHALL BE
CALLED…”]
And they came to TENOR
SOLO
[As soon as the Narrator
stops reading]
Sings “MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED THE HOUSE OF
PRAYER” ACCOMPANIMENT Accompanies Tenor Solo with
“MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED THE HOUSE OF PRAYER”
ACT
II, Scene
II
[
[House Light DIM] NARRATOR
Later
that day: RABBI
#3
[Looks up as RABBI #1 enters
Yeshiva and asks]
What happened to you? RABBI
#1
[Looking
very disheveled. Globs
of mayonnaise or white shoe polish splattered on him to simulate
pigeon droppings, replies]
You missed quite a scene at the
He tore into the RABBI
#3
Hey,
you outnumbered Him, couldn't you stop Him? RABBI
#1
No!
Remember the scene - shekel sellers, all those caged doves to be
sold to poor people for their sacrifices, some sheep and oxen too!
Plus all the people haggling over prices. The entire Court of the
Gentiles was wall-to-wall
activity.
Then along comes this Jesus, and a mob of people following
Him. They just ate it up! So He said something about this court
supposed to be used for prayer for the gentiles.
RABBI
#3
Who
prays for gentiles any more? RABBI
#1
Nobody!
But God did say that we should!
So to top off this frantic scene, Jesus even let loose all
those caged pigeons. Those dumb birds were flying all around messing
up the place. Do you have any idea what a mess a bunch of scared
pigeons can make of a place? RABBI
#3
[Laughing, trying not to]
Oh, boy! But you look like somebody beat up on you.
RABBI
#1
In all that confusion, people running around, some trying to
scoop up the money, some trying to throw it out - and those darn
pigeons - I don't even know if anybody meant to hit me. But I
got off easy! The sheep were scared, too, and they were running
around, adding to the mess, and those dumb oxen just standing there.
You can't believe how slippery those animals made the ground in
nothing flat! And just when I thought I was clear, here comes a
bunch of pigeons flying right at me! RABBI
#3 [Losing effort to avoid laughter and laughing
out loud]
I bet Caiaphas is ticked! RABBI
#1 You
better believe it. He not only lost a lot of cash and furniture, but
all his pigeons too. RABBI
#3 He
may be even more upset that the people enjoyed it.
RABBI
#1
Maybe ... [thoughtfully
repeats] ... maybe. RABBI
#3
This Jesus - He did this once before, didn't He?
RABBI
#1
Oh, yeah. A year or so ago. RABBI
#3
Did He say why He does it? RABBI
#1
He says we've made the house of God into a place for robbers
instead of prayer. I tell you, we've got to destroy Him fast.
There’s a big conference going on at the palace right now to figure
out a way to get Him. RABBI
#3 But
He seems to be right in the things He criticizes, and God seems to
be blessing Him. RABBI
#1 Come
on! Don't you recognize "The Big Lie" approach? It's all political!
He finds a weak spot, hammers on it, and picks up followers from
Caiaphas. If He keeps going, He'll try to take over from Caiaphas.
And then He'll run things the same way! RABBI
#3
That's hard to believe. RABBI
#1 Believe
it! I recognize the maneuver. This guy must be stopped! He is
dangerous! Hey, I've got to go put some salve on these wounds.
RABBI
#3
OK
[Rabbi
#1
exits]
[Rabbi #3 Stands
still, in troubled thought] AUDIENCE:
When difficult times come to us, it is so easy to forget to
call on You to see us through, and to try to solve the problems on
our own power. Forgive us, Father, and help us to seek You first.
[
[House Light DIM] RABBI
#3
[Looks
up]
But to whom is He dangerous?
[Pause]
Render unto God that which is God's
[Pause]
[Drops to his knees, hands
raised in prayer]
Oh, God, how can I know who is right?
[Spotlight ON Rabbi #3]
[House Light DIM] RABBI #3 Sings "BY AND BY" ACCOMPANIMENT Accompany Rabbi #3 on "BY AND
BY"
[Spotlight
OFF]
[House Light DIM]
ACT
II, Scene
III READER
[Luke
And He was teaching daily in the temple; but the chief
priests and the scribes and the leading men among the people were
trying to destroy Him, and they could not find anything
that they might do, for all the people were hanging upon His words.
And it came about on one of the days while He was teaching
the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, that the chief
priests and the scribes with the elders confronted Him.
[
[House Light DIM] PHARISEE#4 Tell us, by what
authority are You doing these things, and who gave You the
authority? JESUS
I shall also ask you a question and you tell me - was the
Baptism of John from Heaven or from men?
If we say from Heaven, He'll ask why we didn't believe him.
PHARISEE
# 4 [to Pharisee
#2]
But if we say from man, we'll be stoned to death because He's
got all these people convinced that John was a prophet.
[They look at each other
silently for a moment, then turn to Jesus]
PHARISEE#2&4 We don't know.
JESUS
Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these
things
ACT
II, Scene
IV ACCOMPANIMENT Plays “GOD GAVE THE SONG”
Parts 2,3,4,5 NARRATOR
[Voice Over instrumental,
"GOD GAVE THE SONG”]
That day and the next, the Pharisees tried again and again to
trap Jesus, to embarrass Him in front of a growing following and
discredit Him. They are
frustrated in their efforts as preparations for Passover near the
final hour
[
[House Light DIM] ACCOMPANIMENT Plays “EVERY EYE SHALL SEE”
Instrumental RABBI
#3 [Voice Over instrumental "EVERY KNEE SHALL
BOW"]
Oh God of Abraham, how confused I am about events this day! A
teacher, whom your chosen
[Spotlight
OFF]
[House Light DIM]
AUDIENCE
We,
too, are sometimes confused by what the world sets up as the "right
way". But God, we want to do what is truly right. Keep us close to
you and on the oaths that you have set for us.
ACT
II, Scene
V NARRATOR
By Tuesday, there could hardly be any doubt about the battle
lines being clearly drawn. Taking the offensive now, Jesus denounced
the Pharisees while teaching in the
[
[House Light DIM] JESUS
The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the
chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe,
but do not do according
to their deeds; for they say things, and do not do them. And they tie up heavy
loads, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves are
unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. But woe to you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven
from men; for you do not enter in yourselves,
nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Therefore, behold, I am
sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will
kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your
synagogues, and persecute from city to city.
(Matt 23)
[Spotlight
OFF]
[House Light DIM] NARRATOR
Totally furious, the READER
[Matt 26: 3-5]
Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were
gathered together in the court of the high priest, named Caiaphas;
and they plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth, and kill Him. But they were saying,
"Not during the festival, lest a riot occur among the people." And
they prepared the Passover.
[Luke
22: 14-16]
And
when the hour had come He reclined at the table, and the
apostles with Him.
And He said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this
Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never
again eat it until it is fulfilled in the
NARRATOR
And the disciples soon had their expectations
confirmed: This would not be an ordinary Passover celebration.
CHOIR:
Sings “IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME” ACCOMPANIMENT Accompanies Choir with “IN
REMEMBRANCE…” NARRATOR
Traditionally, everyone has their own goblet of wine. Tonight
they shared this one – symbolic of the cup of blessing which they
would share with Jesus.
[
[House Light DIM] READER
[Luke And when "He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
NARRATOR
Thus Jesus taught them that the second piece of Matzah was
symbolic of the Messiah. READER
[Luke And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.
But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Me on
the table. For indeed,
the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that
man by whom He is betrayed!" And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing.
[Mark 14: 19-21]
They began to be grieved and to say to Him one by one,
"Surely not I?"
And He said to them, "It is one of the twelve,
one who dips with Me in the bowl. "For the Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” JUDAS:
Is it I, Lord? JESUS:
It is the one for whom I will dip the morsel, and give it to
him.
[Dips Matzah in wine, gives
it to Judas] JUDAS
[Takes the morsel] - stands -
looks at Jesus. JESUS:
What you must do, do quickly. JUDAS
[Leaves quickly]
NARRATOR
[John
Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what
purpose He had said this to him. For some were supposing
because Judas had the money box. that Jesus was saying to him,
"Buy the things we have need of for the feast"; or else that he
should give something to the poor.
[Spotlight OFF] [House Light
DIM] READER
[Mat 26:26]
And while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a
blessing, He broke it and
gave it to the disciples,
and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." NARRATOR
The third and final Matzah is the piece hidden earlier in the
ceremony as a symbol of the Messiah that is to come. As Jesus says it is His
body, He is claiming to be the messiah. READER
[Mat 26:27-29]
And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink
from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant,
which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.
But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine
from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My
Father's kingdom."
ACT
II, Scene
VI NARRATOR
And the final cup is the traditional cup or redemption. Jesus
just said that He is that redemption! Judas had already left. Those
who deny Christ and His teaching do not share in this cup.
[Spotlight on Judas on a Street]
[House Light DIM] JUDAS
[Walking, then Stops]
I hate to do this to Jesus - He was a very good teacher. But He's trying to bring in the gentiles now, and that can't be very profitable. He'll run out of funds soon. And He can't survive much longer - the Sanhedrin is plotting, and will get Him very soon … And me too, if I'm not careful. I've got to look out for Number one! If I don't turn Him in, someone else will. So I might as well do it now and pick up a few pieces of silver while I'm at it. Maybe I should wait - hold out for more money... No, they’ll arrest Him anyway, and me too, as one of His apostles. Why should I risk that? Besides, it won't hurt to be on the side of the High Priest.
Who knows? Caiaphas might be so pleased with me, that he'll
give me a
O-o-oh that would be good! I hope it's the dove
business. [Snaps fingers]
[Pleased with himself, starts
walking again to Caiaphas' home (on the other side of the Stage)]
[Spotlight
OFF]
[House Light DIM]
ACT
II, Scene
VII
[Spotlight
OFF]
[Floodlight ON Judas in front
of Caiaphas’ Home] CAIAPHAS
[Steps out, looks at Judas
with indignation and contempt]
Why do you think you must see me at this hour?
JUDAS Begging
your pardon, Rabbi. But I bring good news. Jesus and His apostles
take their Passover celebration at this very time, and only a very
short distance from here, in the home of Mark's father.
[Caiaphas brightens]
[Judas
continues…]
And you should see the ways He's changed the Passover
service! He even held it a day early! CAIAPHAS
[a frown appears on his face]
This presents some problems, because I didn't expect you to
produce Him so fast. But that blasphemer must be stopped, so I'll
work it out. Which house is it? JUDAS
[Judas points]
That one? CAIAPHAS
That man is rich, and very important in the
[Judas nods]
[Caiaphas Hurries off] JUDAS
[to himself]
Annas!, imagine that! I certainly had not expected to see the
two most powerful men in
[Caiaphas returns]
CAIPHAS
OK - the chief of the JUDAS
I had no idea this was such a big deal.
CAIPHAS
Yes, it is. But Pilate must review and approve any decision
the Sanhedrin makes so we'll get him involved now. The sentence must
be pronounced and crucifixion
complete before sundown begins the Passover. JUDAS
Smart! CAIPHAS
You know, Judas, as an upright
citizen of JUDAS
No, no, I can't do that. He is a good man. Besides, we only
agreed that I would point Him out to you. CAIPHAS
Look, it won't do us any good to arrest Him if we can't prove
blasphemy to the Sanhedrin. A disciple is in the best position to do
it.
All you'll have to do is say that you heard Him claim to be
the Son of God and that He is God. JUDAS
No. CAIPHAS
Think about it. In the meantime, you stay right here to help
the soldiers find Jesus.
[Caiaphas Walks Off Stage,
Talking to Himself]
That jerk is one who would steal the coins from a dead man's
eyes and ignore a big ring on his finger.
[Spotlight
OFF]
[House Light DIM] NARRATOR
His mission accomplished, and soldiers promised by Pilate for
the arrest, Caiaphas thoughtfully returns home.
[Spotlight ON Caiaphas a few
steps away from the front of his
House]
[Floodlight OFF]
[House Light DIM] CAIPHAS
[Walking, Speaking to
himself]
I better get back quickly. If that scoundrel would surrender
Jesus after so long as His disciple, He surely wouldn't hesitate to
do me in. I better keep
an eye on him.
[Spotlight
OFF]
[
[House Light DIM] CAIAPHAS
[To
Judas]
Judas, it is important that we catch Jesus, quietly, now. If
He gets away, He may not return to JUDAS
There's only one exit, surround the building. We'll go in and
get Him. CAIAPHAS
The Centurions are slow in getting here. Will Jesus be in
this room all night? JUDAS
No. He'll probably go
to the CAIPHAS
Good!
[Spotlight
OFF]
[Floodlight OFF]
[House Light DIM]
ACT
II, Scene
VIII NARRATOR
After singing the traditional Hallel to end their Passover
celebration, Jesus and the eleven went to the
READER
[Luke
But Jesus said to him. "Judas. are you betraying the Son of
Man with a kiss?"
And having arrested Him, they led Him away and brought Him to the
house of the high priest
[
[House Light DIM] RABBI
#1
Where did you go last night? RABBI
#3 Well,
I heard this ruckus out in Caiaphas' courtyard, and I went to check
it out. RABBI
#1
What was it?
RABBI
#3
There was a small army… RABBI
#1
Romans? RABBI
#3
Yes,
and RABBI
#1
What
will He do? RABBI
#3
I
don't see how he can do anything but find Him guilty of something.
If he doesn't he'll get a lot of criticism for going out to pick up
an innocent man. Anyway, Annas questioned Him a while, and so did
Caiaphas, and then they took Him before the
Sanhedrin. RABBI
#1
Last
night? RABBI
#3
Yes. RABBI#1
But
that's illegal. They can't meet before
daylight. RABBI
#3
Nor
on a day before a Sabbath. But they did it! RABBI
#1 The
law requires 71 members of the Sanhedrin to try a false prophet. I
know they didn't have that, unless they brought in some
alternates. RABBI
#3
Probably
hand picked by Caiaphas. And that's not all – they put Jesus on the
witness stand and questioned him! RABBI
#1
Hey, it's not legal to question a witness.
RABBI
#3
Right. And they hit Him, too. RABBI
#1
In the Sanhedrin? RABBI
#3
Yes! RABBI
#1
Terrible! RABBI
#3
And they couldn't get two witnesses who would agree enough to
convict him. RABBI
#1
Don't tell me He's free? RABBI
#3
Oh, no, they convicted Him anyway. RABBI
#1
Without witnesses? RABBI
#3
Yes! RABBI
#1
And on the same day? The law says they must wait until the
next day. RABBI
#3
True. But they didn't.
They finished in not much over an hour, and it still wasn't
even sun-up! RABBI
#1 How
can they expect the people to keep the law, if they don't do it
themselves. RABBI
#3 Good
question! But He's on His way to Pilate for sentencing, right now.
[Spotlight
OFF]
[House Light DIM] READER
[Matt 27:1-2, Luke 23:2]
Now when morning had come, all the chief priests and the
elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death;
and they bound Him, and led Him away, and delivered Him up to Pilate
the governor.
And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this man
misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar,
and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King."
NARRATOR
The Sanhedrin had convicted Him only on a flimsy charge of
blasphemy. But Caiaphas knowing that Pilate would not pass a death
sentence for that, distorted Jesus' teaching about rendering unto
Caesar that which is Caesar’s and unto God that which is God's.
READER
[Luke 23:3-7]
And Pilate asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?"
And He answered him and said, "It is as you say."
And Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, "I
find no guilt in this man."
But they kept on insisting, saying, "He stirs up the
people, teaching all over
But when Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a
Galilean.
And when he learned that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction,
he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was in
[Floodlight OFF]
[House Light DIM] PHARISEE
#4 That
Pilate is something else - why would he do that now, instead of last
night? He knew all about Jesus' home town and everything else about
Him and he passed the verdict from the judgment chair. It was final!
And then he annulled it! PHARISEE
#2 He just
gets his kicks out of making us Jews uncomfortable. He wants to make
us worry about the decision. PHARISEE
#4 Yeah,
and worry about getting Him crucified by Passover,
too. PHARISEE
#2 He wants
us to be sure to remember that he is in
charge.
Maybe he just wants to make friends with
Herod. PHARISEE
#4 I
wonder if he's trying to put it off until after Passover, hoping
we'll forget it. PHARISEE
#2
Anything
to agitate us. By the time the eight days of Passover are completed,
Jesus could have a very large mob of supporters ready to stop it,
and it might never be possible again. PHARISEE
#4 What
do you think Herod will do? PHARISEE
#2 Who
knows? He is unpredictable. But remember, he beheaded John the
Baptist, Jesus' cousin.
[Spotlight OFF]
[House Light DIM] READER
[Luke
23:8-12]
Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted
to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him
and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him.
And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him
nothing.
And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there,
accusing Him vehemently.
And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with
contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and
sent Him back to Pilate.
Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that
very day; for before they had been at enmity with each other.
ACT
II, Scene
IX NARRATOR
It was late morning before Jesus, the Roman guards, and the
Priests returned to Pilate’s fortress just outside of the north wall
of
[Spotlight ON Outside of
Pilate’s Palace with Caiaphas and some
Pharisees]
[Floodlight OFF]
[House Light DIM] CAIPHAS
Look,
Pilate is not about to convict this guy and we’ll not likely have
another chance. Our
only hope is to convince him that everybody wants Jesus killed. So you guys go – round up
all the Priests and Scribes you can find and bring them back to
Pilate’s fortress. PHARISEE
#4 Shall we
stir up a lot of noise to convince Pilate? CAIPHAS
Definitely. Demand that Jesus be
killed. But wait for my
signal to start it PHARISEE#2 We’ll go
and do as you ask
[Spotlight
OFF]
[Floodlight OFF]
[House Light DIM] NARRATOR
Plate began to acquit Jesus a second
time READER
[Luke
And [he] said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who
incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him
before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges
which you make against Him.
"No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold,
nothing deserving death has been done by Him. NARRATOR
But to try to keep peace in the face of a noisy crowd stirred
up by the Priests, he agreed to punish an innocent
man. READER
[Luke
I will therefore punish Him and release
Him. NARRATOR
Now some friends of a murderer began to stir up the crowd
too, asking that Barabbas be released instead
And the Priests built up the demands of the
mob AUDIENCE
Lo, we must confess that if we had been in that crowd, we too
would have been crying not for Christ but for
Barabbas READER:
[Luke
But they were insistent with loud voices asking that He be
crucified. And their voices began to prevail.
And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand should be
granted.
And he released the man they were asking for who had been
thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered
Jesus to their will. NARRATOR
And Pilate agrees to crucify a man he found innocent. Jewish
law forbade condemned men to be scourged. But it was ordered anyway.
Thus, after a severe scourging, which in itself sometimes killed
its victims, plus other physical punishment from the Roman soldiers,
a bruised, bloodied, and disfigured Jesus was brought before the
crowd, hoping that seeing his condition would calm the crowd's
demands for Jesus' life. ACCOMPANIMENT Plays “BEHOLD THE MAN”
Instrumental - continues playing over
the next several READER
[John 19:3b-5]
[Voice Over instrumentals:
"BEHOLD THE MAN"]
And Pilate came out again, and ·said to them, "Behold, I am
bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no guilt
In Him."
Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns
and the purple robe. And Pilate ·said to them,
"Behold, the Man!" READER
[John 19:6]
[Voice Over instrumentals:
"BEHOLD THE MAN"]
When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw Him,
they cried out, saying, "Crucify, crucify!" Pilate said to them,
"Take Him yourselves, and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in
Him." NARRATOR
[Voice Over instrumentals:
"BEHOLD THE MAN"]
And Pilate has now acquitted Jesus a third time.
READER
[John 19:7]
[Voice Over instrumentals:
"BEHOLD THE MAN"]
The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by that law He
ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God."
When Pilate therefore heard this statement, he was the more
afraid; NARRATOR
[Voice Over instrumentals:
"BEHOLD THE MAN"]
Now Pilate tries yet another time to release Jesus.
READER
[John
[Voice Over instrumentals:
"BEHOLD THE MAN"]
But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be
crucified. And their voices began to prevail.
And when Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but
rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands
in front of the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of this Man's
blood; see to that
yourselves."
ACT
II, Scene
X NARRATOR
[Voice Over instrumentals:
"BEHOLD THE MAN"]
Pilate washes his hands of the whole scene, mocking a portion
of the Passover Seder…
And Jesus is delivered to the cross. ACCOMPANIMENT Stops "BEHOLD THE MAN"
abruptly EFFECTS
[Produce Sound of nails being
hammered continuously in the background]
NARRATOR
[Voice Over the hammering and
nailing Sound] EFFECTS
[Stop Nailing
Sound]
[Produce a Loud Thud in the
Background] [Light a Cross in Silhouette behind a White Sheet].
ACCOMPANIMENT Plays “FATHER
FORGIVE THEM” READER
[Voice Over piano music intro
of “FATHER FORGIVE THEM”]
But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not
know what they are doing [Luke 23:34a]
TENOR
SOLO
[With deep feeling – No
Spotlight]
Sings “FATHER FORGIVE THEM”
[Spotlight
OFF]
[House Light DIM]
[While Tenor Sings “Father
Forgive Them” Women gather at the Cross (in front of the
Sheet). They express
their sadness with evident body language] WOMAN #1 He will be dead by six
WOMAN
#2 One
way or another. They’ll
have Him down before the Passover Sabbath
begins WOMAN
#1
Yes. What a
tragedy. WOMAN
#2
Yes.
Yes. WOMAN
#2 With
CHOIR
Sings “BEHOLD THE MAN”
ACCOMPANIMENT Accompany Choir in “BEHOLD
THE MAN”
[Spotlight
OFF]
[House Light DIM]
[While Woman Sings “BEHOLD THE MAN” some Pharisees and Rabbis
join the group at the Cross (in front of the Sheet) watching the
crucifixion] READER
[After the
Singing]
[Luke 23:35a]
And the people stood by, looking on. RABBI
#3
I am really concerned about this. PHARISEE
#2 Why?
RABBI
#3 I
think more than ever, that this Jesus is Who He said He was.
PHARISEE
#2 Messiah?
RABBI
#3
Yes. PHARISEE
#2 What in
the world makes you think that? RABBI
#3
Have you seen many crucifixions? PHARISEE
#2 Sure.
RABBI
#3
Have you noticed very many victims that don't curse the
soldiers, or the courts, or the world? Or somebody?
PHARISEE
#2 None.
Until today. RABBI
#3
Exactly. And this man not only didn't curse, He asked
forgiveness for the very people that the others cursed. If that
isn't a quality of a God, I don't know what is!
PHARISEE
#2 Then why
doesn't He save Himself? RABBI
#3 I've
been searching scriptures a lot for this lately, and I think I've
found it. Some speak of Messiah the King, but others, which the
Rabbis seem to ignore, show Him as a suffering servant, too. I think
He's fulfilling that role now, and the other one will follow.
[This is a reference to the Rabbis who are pushing the case
against Jesus, and not necessarily folks who are in the
conversation]
PHARISEE
#2 That's
heavy. RABBI
#3 Yes.
And don't you see it - it's Passover. Jesus is the sacrificial
Passover lamb to atone for our sins. At precisely the time that the
Rabbis are slaying the last lamb at the
AUDIENCE
Oh Lord, we realize again that Jesus Christ was the perfect
Lamb slain to forgive our sins CHOIR
Sings "GOD HAS PROVIDED A LAMB" ACCOMPANIMENT Accompany Choir in ”GOD HAS
PROVIDED A LAMB” PHARISEE
#2 That’s
just a coincidence. RABBI #3 And is it also a coincidence that it is almost dark in mid afternoon? I tell you, God is trying to hide Jesus' embarrassment.
PHARISEE
#2 Your
imagination runs away with you! [As
the above conversation progresses, the Women at the cross begin to
eavesdrop on their conversation, and motioning to each other for
emphasis, shock, agreement, disagreement, etc. Pretty soon they join
in…] WOMAN
#1
I think He will live again.
PHARISEE
#2 What?
WOMAN
#1
The grave can't hold Him. PHARISEE
#2 Why do you say
that? WOMAN
#1
Jesus said that just as Jonah was three days and three nights
in the belly of the whale, so He would be three days and three
nights in the heart of the earth. PHARISEE
#2 Do you think
that is for this time? WOMAN
#1
Yes. Remember, He said that if they would destroy this
PHARISEE
#2 Yes! That was
the blasphemy they convicted Him of. WOMAN
#1
Right. And I think that's the same three days.
PHARISEE
#2 Let's see--if
you're right, tomorrow, Passover Sabbath, will be one day, Saturday
Sabbath is two, and Sunday He should rise.
WOMAN
#1
Yes, and don't you see, He can't even be embalmed before
Sunday because the spice shops are closed. God's got it all planned
out. RABBI
#3
Well, He never cheated anybody yet, so I wouldn't expect Him
to start now. Let's look for Him after the three days and three
nights. RABBI
#3 With
CHOIR
Sing “WE SHALL BEHOLD HIM” ACCOMPANIMENT Provide Accompaniment to “WE
SHALL BEHOLD HIM” JESUS
[Voice]
Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit.
ACCOMPANIMENT Plays “GOD GAVE THE SONG”
Instrumentals READER
[Voice Over "GOD GAVE THE
SONG" Instrumental]
[Mat 27:50-53]
And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up
His spirit.
And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top
to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split,
and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who
had fallen asleep were raised;
and coming out of the tombs … they entered the holy city and
appeared to many.
[When Reader stops,
EFFECTS
[ALL LIGHTS OUT FOR ABOUT 5
SECONDS]
[During the 5 seconds of darkness, use Drums to create
thundering effects for
then…
As one last, lyrical verse of “God Gave the Song"
instrumental with Flute and Clarinet is played softly, the House
lights comes back on dimly] ACCOMPANIMENT Plays softly and sweetly,
“GOD GAVE THE SONG” Instrumental with Wind and String
Instruments CHOIR
Choir joins in with Singing “GOD GAVE THE SONG” as the House Lights come on
FULL.
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