A HARMONIZATION OF THE PASSION STORY

(Seven people are needed for the parts in this play:  Narrator, Jesus, Pilate, High Priest, Crowd Leader, plus bit parts by two others. The two other people with the “bit parts” read the lines for “some men,” “criminal,” “other criminal,” and “centurion.” Each of the players has a script. Each player is introduced to the congregation.

The eighth and primary role is the “crowd” (or congregation) who need to get into the mood of rioters.

Introduce the crowd leader to the congregation and the concept of the congregation vigorously repeating his lines three times.  The congregation needs to understand their part: they repeat the lines of the rabble-rouser three times ... with feeling. Get a good enthusiastic crowd leader who has the spirit of an agitator. The crowd leader prowls in front of the congregation in order to stir them up. Members of the congregation do not have scripts but repeat the words and passion of the rabble-rouser.)

NARRATOR:
The Roman soldiers with their commanding officer and the Jewish guards arrested Jesus, tied him up, and took him first to Annas.  He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was High Priest that year.  Annas questioned Jesus and Jesus answered,

JESUS:
"I have always spoken publicly to everyone; all my teaching was done in the synagogues and in the Temple, where all the people come together.  I have never said anything in secret.  Why, then, do you question me?  Question the people who heard me.  Ask them what I told them -- they know what I said."

NARRATOR:
When Jesus said this, one of the guards slapped him and said, "How dare you talk like that to the High Priest?"

JESUS:
"If I have said anything wrong, tell everyone here what it was.  But if I am right in what I have said, why do you hit me?"

NARRATOR:
Then Annas sent him, still tied up, to Caiaphas the High Priest where all the chief priests, the elders, and the teachers of the Law were gathering.  Peter followed from a distance and went into the courtyard of the High Priest's house.  There he sat down with the guards, keeping himself warm by the fire.  The chief priests and the whole Council tried to find some evidence against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they could not find any.  Many witnesses told lies against Jesus, but their stories did not agree.  Then some men stood up and told this lie against Jesus,

SOME  MEN :
"We heard him say, `I will tear down this Temple which men have made, and after three days, I will build one that is not made by men.'"

NARRATOR:
Not even they, however, could make their stories agree.  Caiaphas the High Priest stood up in front of them all and questioned Jesus.

HIGH  PRIEST:
"Have you no answer to the accusation they bring against you?"

NARRATOR:
But Jesus kept quiet and would not say a word.  Again, the High Priest questioned him,

HIGH  PRIEST:
"Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed God?"

JESUS:
"I am, and you will all see the Son of Man seated at the right side of the Almighty and coming with the clouds of heaven!"

NARRATOR:
The High Priest tore his robes and said,

HIGH  PRIEST:
"We don't  need any more witnesses!  You heard his blasphemy.  People, what is your decision?"

CROWD  LEADER:
Guilty! (shouting at the top of his lungs)

CROWD:
Guilty.  Guilty.  Guilty. (shouting their responses, and imitating the crowd leader)

NARRATOR:
Some of them began to spit on Jesus, and they blindfolded him, hit him, and taunted him, saying

CROWD  LEADER:
"Guess who hit you?” (in a cadence)

CROWD:
"Guess who hit you?”  "Guess who hit you?”  "Guess who hit you?”

NARRATOR:
And the guards took him and slapped him.  Early in the morning the chief priests met hurriedly with the elders, the teachers of the Law, and the whole Council, and made their plans.  They put Jesus in chains, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.  And the crowd began,

CROWD  LEADER:
He's  no king!

CROWD:
He's no king!  He's no king!  He's no king!

PILATE:
"Are you King of the Jews?"

JESUS:
"You have said so"

NARRATOR:
And Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds,

PILATE:
"I find no crime in this man."

NARRATOR:
But the crowds were urgent saying,

CROWD  LEADER:
Agitator!

CROWD:
Agitator!  Agitator!  Agitator!

NARRATOR:
When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean.  And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's  jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.  When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him.  So he questioned him at some length; but he made no answer.  The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him.  And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then, arraying him in gorgeous clothing, he sent him back to Pilate.  And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been arguing with each other.  Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them,

PILATE:
"You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him; neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us.  Nothing deserving death has been done by him; I will therefore whip him and release him."

NARRATOR:
But the crowd all cried out together:

CROWD  LEADER:
Give us Barabbas! (chants)

CROWD:
"Give us Barabbas!  Give us Barabbas!  Give us Barabbas!"

NARRATOR:
Barabbas, a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city, and for murder.  Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus; but the crowd shouted out:

CROWD  LEADER:
Crucify him!

CROWD:
"Crucify him!  Crucify him!  Crucify him!"

NARRATOR:
A third time he said to them,

PILATE:
"Why.... why ....what evil has he done?  I have found in him no crime deserving death; I will have him whipped and release him."

NARRATOR:
But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries:

CROWD  LEADER:
Crucify!

CROWD:
"Crucify!  Crucify!  Crucify!"

NARRATOR:
And their voices prevailed.  So Pilate gave sentence that their demand should be granted.  He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, whom they asked for; but Jesus he delivered up to their will.  And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrnene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross to carry it behind Jesus.  And there followed him a great throng of people, and of women who wailed in grief.  But Jesus, turning to them, said,

JESUS:
"Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.  The awful days are coming when they will say, `Blessed are the women who never gave birth and nourished an infant.'  You will say to the mountains, `Fall on us'; and to the hills, `Cover us.'  If you think the pain is awful now, it will be worse in the future."

NARRATOR:
Two others, also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.  And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left.  And Jesus said,

JESUS:
"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

NARRATOR:
And they cast lots to divide his garments.  And the people stood by, watching; but the rulers scoffed saying,

CROWD  LEADER:
Save yourself!

CROWD:
Save yourself!  Save yourself!  Save yourself!

NARRATOR:
The soldiers also mocked him coming up and offering him vinegar, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"  There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."  One of the criminals who was hanged railed at him, saying,

CRIMINAL:
"Are you not the Christ?  Save yourself and us!"

NARRATOR:
But the other shouted back, saying,

OTHER  CRIMINAL:
"Do you not fear God?  You and I are under the same condemnation!  And rightly so; we are receiving what we deserve; but this man has done nothing wrong."

NARRATOR:
And that criminal said,

OTHER  CRIMINAL:
"Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingly power."

JESUS:
"Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

NARRATOR:
It was now about 12 o'clock noon, and there was darkness over the whole land until 3 o'clock, while the sun's  light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.  Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said,

JESUS:
"Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!"

NARRATOR:
And having said this, he breathed his last.  Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, and said,

CENTURION:
"Certainly, this man was innocent!"

NARRATOR:
And the crowd which had gathered to see the sight of Jesus'  execution, when they saw what had taken place, returned home quietly and sadly.  And all his friends and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance and saw these things.

Silence

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