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CHILDREN: Mama, Mama, did grandma come home today? MOTHER: Yes, children, but I need you to listen to me real good. Your grandma is very sick. The doctors only sent her home because they couldn't do any more for her. So I don't want you all to worry her, okay? CHILDREN: Okay, mother. CHILD 1: Can we go see her now? MOTHER: Yes, but remember what I said.
CHILDREN: We really missed you, grandma. CHILD 2: How do you feel, grandma? GRANDMA: Oh baby, grandma is just a little tired, but I still have time for my grandbabies. CHILD 3: Grandma, we will understand if you don't feel like it, but since tomorrow is Easter, will you tell us the Easter Story again? GRANDMA: Of course, baby. Grandma loves telling you all the Easter Story. But I want you to listen very good because I may not be here next year; and I would like one of you to be able to tell the story. GRANDMA: When Jesus began His public ministry, the Jewish leaders did not know who He was. As Jesus taught, healed, and performed miracles, they still refused to believe He was the Son of God. Because of all the attention Jesus was getting, the Jewish leaders planned to destroy Him. After the Passover meal, Jesus had taken eleven of His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. After Jesus had prayed, a multitude of guards and soldiers led by Judas Iscariot came to arrest Him as if He were a common criminal. Judas, one of Jesus' twelve disciples, stepped forward to kiss Jesus so the mob would know which man to take prisoner. Judas had betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. CHILD 1: Tell us about the ear, grandma! GRANDMA: When the soldiers grabbed Jesus, He did not resist or try to escape; but Peter took his sword and cut off the ear of one of the guards. Jesus told Peter to put his sword away and He put the guard's ear back on and it was healed immediately. Jesus was led before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate to stand trial for blasphemy and treason. Pilate found no fault in Jesus and sent Him to Herod. Herod and his soldiers mocked Jesus but found no fault in Him either. Jesus was returned to Pilate.
PILATE: Neither I nor Herod can find fault in this man. Lo, nothing worthy of death is come unto Him. I shall only have Him chastised. (beckons for soldiers to whip Jesus) It is the custom at Passover to free one prisoner. Whom shall I release to you, Barabbas, the wicked robber and murderer, or Jesus? PRIESTS/MOB: Set Barabbas free! Free Barabbas! PILATE: What then shall I do with Jesus? PRIESTS/MOB: Crucify Him! Crucify Him! Crucify Him! PILATE: (washes hands in basin) I will not be guilty of the death of this innocent man. PRIESTS/MOB: We will bear the blame. Let His blood be on our heads!
SOLDIER 1: Alright King of the Jews, tell us who struck you! Which one of us hit you? (Jesus does not respond) SOLDIER 2: Ah, He's no king! (pushes Jesus toward cross) Go on and carry your cross!
JESUS: Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. GRANDMA: A crowd followed the soldiers to the crucifixion. Some were Jesus' friends who desired to help, many were Jesus' enemies, and others were just curious onlookers. As the crowd pushed on, Jesus fell beneath the heavy load of the cross. (choir sings "Must Jesus Bear This Cross Alone?") On the hillside of Calvary, Jesus was crucified. The soldiers nailed His hands and feet to the cross. They raised the cross high in the air and Jesus was left to hang there until He died. A sign was placed on the cross above Jesus' head which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews". SOLDIER 1: If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Save thyself and come down from the cross. JESUS: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. GRANDMA: Jesus' mother and friends wept at the foot of the cross. They longed to help but could do nothing. Mary watched as Jesus' blood rolled down His body and dripped to the ground. The horrible sight was more than she could bear. MARY: Oh Jesus! Oh my Son! He's done nothing to deserve this! He's done nothing! JESUS: Woman, behold thy son. John, behold thy mother. JESUS: I thirst. (soldier dips sponge and lifts it to Jesus' lips.)
JESUS: (looks toward heaven) My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me? (looks out at crowd and shouts with a loud voice) It is finished! (head slowly falls forward) Into thy hands I commend my Spirit. MARY: He's gone! Oh, bless Him, He's gone! GRANDMA: It was noon, a shadow blocked the sun and it was dark for three hours. The earth quivered, and suddenly a lightning bolt hurtled from the sky toward the temple. The temple's curtain split from top to bottom. The crowd was terrified. SOLDIER 2: Surely this man was the Son of God!
GRANDMA: After the crucifixion, Joseph of Arimathea begged Pilate for the body of Jesus. He and Nicodemus took Jesus down from the cross and wrapped His body in linen. They laid Him in a cave. Pilate had a great stone put in front of the opening and guards to keep anyone from going near it. GRANDMA: It was early Sunday morning, just before dawn. Everything was still, then the ground trembled and shook. A mighty angel came down, rolled the stone away from the grave, and sat on it. The frightened guards ran away. When the women came to anoint Jesus' body, the angel told them Jesus had risen as He said. Later, Mary Magdalene came to Jesus' grave. She had not heard the angel's message so she stood by the empty tomb and wept. ANGEL: Woman, why are you weeping? MARY: Because they have taken my Lord away and I do not know where they have laid Him. (covers eyes and weeps harder) JESUS: Why do you weep? MARY: Sir, if you have carried away my Lord, please tell me where you have laid Him. JESUS: Mary! MARY: (recognizes Jesus' voice and falls at His feet) Master! JESUS: Go at once and tell my friends that I will ascend to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.
CHILD 3: Oh, grandma, the Easter Story is such a great story! Thank you for telling it to us again. GRANDMA: You're welcome baby. It's getting late, almost bed time. I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight babies, grandma loves you. CHILDREN: We love you too, grandma, goodnight. GRANDMA: (rises and takes a few steps) Father, I'm so tired.
READER: Sadness enveloped the Johnson house on Easter Sunday morning. Grandma Johnson had passed away during the night.
CHILDREN: Happy Easter, mama! Where's grandma? MOTHER: Children, I have bad news. Grandma passed away last night. CHILDREN: (crying) No! MOTHER: She must have felt it because she wanted me to read this note left in one of the Easter baskets.
CHILD 3: Mama, can I tell the Easter Story next year? MOTHER: Sure, baby. I know grandma would love that. (mother and children exit)
My dearest grandbabies,
Please try not to shed many tears or be sad. I've gone to a beautiful, peaceful place to meet my Maker. I lived a good, long life. I stayed strong in the Lord so that I would be ready for this day. I know you will miss me, but I want you to enjoy your Easter and rejoice in it's true meaning, the glorious resurrection of Jesus. All I ask of you is that you all stay strong in the Lord and keep Him as your Savior and guide. Live the way the Master wants you to live so that we may meet again in Heaven. One more thing, sing that song that grandma loved to hear you sing and go on and live your lives. I love you all.
