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NARRATOR: Surely He hath born our griefs and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. When Jesus was teaching, preaching, and performing miracles throughout the lands, the Chief Priests, Scribes, and Elders were angry and jealous. There were always mobs of people crowding around to be near Jesus. He was the center of attention. The Chief Priests hated Jesus' teachings because He accused them of pretending to be righteous. They followed Jesus just to find fault in Him because they did not believe He was the Son of God. They planned to destroy Him.
PRIEST 1: Who is this Jesus who pretends to forgive sin? None except God can do that! And, it is unlawful to heal on the Sabbath, yet He has done so many times. We've tried to trick Him with our questions but failed, what shall we do? You heard what happened at Bethany, how Lazarus was raised from the dead! If we let Jesus go on, soon all men will believe in Him. Then the Romans will take away our nation. Jesus must be destroyed!!!
NICODEMUS: Does our law condemn any man before he is given a hearing?
PRIEST 2: Nicodemus! Are you from Galilee? Don't you know that no prophets come from that country? This Jesus is using some sort of trickery. He's a fake! Enough said, Jesus must die!!!
NARRATOR: It was the beginning of the Passover week. Excitement filled the air. The people following Jesus had taken branches from the low palm bushes along the highway into Jerusalem. They waved the branches and sang as tokens of victory and peace for the King of Kings.
LITTLE GIRL: Jesus is coming! Jesus is coming! Hallelujah! Jesus is coming!
SOLDIER 1: (pushing through crowd) Move out of the way! Shut up and get out of the way!
SOLDIER 2: Let us through you fools! Get out of our path!
PRIEST 1: (walks up to Jesus) Jesus of Nazareth, make these people stop singing and go home!
JESUS: If these people should be still; the stones would immediately cry out.
NARRATOR: Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem had spread joy all around, but the next few days were busy ones. Along with the excitement of the Passover Week was an undercurrent of tension and fear.
MAGDALENE: This has been a looong week!
MARY: Yes! Long, but exciting! Especially Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. Did you see how much the people loved Him? They were waving palm branches and shouting "Hosanna"!
MAGDALENE: Yes, I saw all of that; but did you see.........
MARY: Everyone was there! Mary, Martha, Lazarus.......
MAGDALENE: The High Priests!
MARY: The Samaritan woman that Jesus helped at the well.
MAGDALENE: The High Priests!
MARY: Jairus, and his wife and daughter.
MAGDALENE: Mary! Will you please listen to me? The High Priests were there! Did you see the hatred on their faces for Jesus? They looked as if they could kill him right there. They probably would have if it wasn't for the crowd. Mary, I'm afraid for Jesus.
MARY: Afraid? Why? Why would they want to harm my Son? He's only helped people.
MAGDALENE: Yes, He helped the people but that didn't help the Priests and Scribes. Have you ever seen a crowd follow them like that? The members of the Sanhedrin are convinced Jesus is full of nonsense. They're not going to tolerate Him anymore. You must talk to Jesus and get Him to stop what He's doing for His own safety.
MARY: Magdalene, you know there is no stopping Jesus. Jesus is not only my son; He's God's Son and He's been about His Father's work since He was twelve years old! There's nothing I can say. God knows what's happening and who knows what's in God's plan. (Puts head down and sniffs)
MAGDALENE: I'm sorry Mary, I didn't mean to make you sad. Come on, let's go get a cup of tea.
NARRATOR: Finally it was the Passover; and after eating the Passover meal, Jesus and His disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus asked the disciples to sit while he went to pray.
NARRATOR: After Jesus had prayed, a multitude of soldiers and guards led by Judas came to arrest him. Judas had betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.
JUDAS: Hail Master!
JESUS: (sadly looks at Judas) Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?
NARRATOR: Then came the dreaded news of Jesus' arrest.
MARY: Thanks so much for the tea, Magdalene. (sits with worried look on her face)
JOHN: Mary! They've done it! The chief priests, elders, and guards came while we were on Mount Olive and took Jesus! You should have seen that Judas! How sickening sweet he was, coming up and kissing Jesus, then turning Him over to the mob! Some of us grabbed up clubs and Peter even took his sword and started swinging. He cut off the ear of one of the fellows.
MAGDALENE: What? Then what?
JOHN: Then.... Jesus put the man's ear back on and it stopped bleeding immediately.
MARY: (nodding) Yes, that's just what Jesus would do. But where is my son now John?
JOHN: They took Him to the house of the chief priest. I saw Him go in, then I ran here to tell you.
MARY: (heads for the door; followed by Magdalene) Then I must go and be with Him.
NARRATOR: 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. He was returned to Pilate.
PILATE: Neither I nor Herod can find fault in this man. Lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto Him. I shall 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/SOLDIERS: Set Barabbas free! Free Barabbas!
PILATE: What then, shall I do with Jesus?
PRIESTS/SOLDIERS: Crucify Him! Crucify Him! Crucify Him!
PILATE: (washes hands) I wash my hands of this. I will not be guilty of the death of this innocent man.
PRIESTS/SOLDIERS: We will bear the blame. Let His blood be on our heads. (soldier 1 puts crown of thorns of Jesus' head)
SOLDIER 2: (looks out at crowd) Is this your King? ( laughing, bows down in front of Jesus) Hail! King of the Jews! (Spits on Jesus, slaps Him, then pushes Him to the crossbeam) Go on and carry your cross!
NARRATOR: On the hillside of Calvary, our Lord was crucified. Soldiers nailed his hands and feet to the cross. They raised the cross high in the air and planted it firmly in the ground. Jesus was left to hang there until he died. A sign above Jesus' head bore the words, "This is Jesus, King of the Jews."
SOLDIER 1: If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross! Save thyself!
JESUS: Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
MARY: (crying) Oh Jesus! Oh my Son! He's done nothing!
JESUS: Woman, behold thy son. John, behold thy mother! (Mary leans against John; John hugs her)
JESUS: (Looks toward heaven) My God! My God! Why hast thou forsaken me? (head slowly falls forward) It is finished!!!
MARY: He's gone! Oh bless Him, He's gone! He didn't deserve this! He only helped people! It's not fair! It's just not fair!
JOHN: Come Mary, let's go home. There's nothing more we can do here.
NARRATOR: After the crucifixion, Joseph of Arimathea begged Pilate for Jesus' body. He and Nicodemus wrapped Jesus' body in linen. They laid Him in a cave. The high priests worried that the disciples would steal Jesus' body so Roman soldiers were sent to guard the tomb. A great stone was placed at the tomb's opening.
PRIEST 2: (arrogantly) The Nazarene is dead! We crucified the one you called Jesus! Who will be your king now? Jesus is nothing more than a stinking corpse in a rich man's tomb. (Laughs and exits)
NARRATOR: Jesus loved young children and they surely loved Him. Is it possible that some of those children came sadly to see the tomb?
ANGIE: I'm not sure we should be out walking like this without our parents approval.
BECKY: I told you Angie, I want to find the tomb where they buried the teacher Jesus. You may go back if you wish.
ANGIE: No, no, I want to stay with you. But why is it so important to find Jesus' tomb?
BECKY: I want to find it so I can bring some flowers to place in front of it after the Sabbath. I still remember that day two years ago when Jesus blessed me. I could feel how much he loved me. Do you remember the stories He taught us?
ANGIE: Yes, about fishermen, farmers, and animals, and birds. Those were the best stories I ever heard!
BECKY: Shh! Quiet! That must be Jesus' tomb! See! There are soldiers guarding it.
Angie: Oh no! I'm not going near any soldiers!
BECKY: I don't understand why they won't leave Jesus alone now that He's dead!
ANGIE: Please Becky, let's go.
BECKY: OK scary cat, let's get back to our parents. (looks back at tomb) Maybe somehow Jesus will know that we were here.
NARRATOR: Early Sunday morning, just before dawn; everything was still. Then the ground trembled and shook. Another earthquake had come. A mighty angel came and rolled the stone from the grave. (angel rolls stone away; guards fall into a trance)
GUARD 1: (stumbles forward shaking head) What? Have I been asleep and dreaming? (Looks at other guard still sleeping) Jarmarques! Wake up! The tomb is empty!
GUARD 2: (shaking head and blinking eyes) Nathan, did you see him; the being who shone like lightning?
GUARD 1: Yes, I saw Him....and I don't know who he was or what he was. All I know is that the body of Jesus is gone! (quickly stands at attention) Oh, Oh! Here comes the High Priest!
PRIEST 2: (Looks in empty tomb) You incompetent fools! How could you let Him disappear? Answer me, how could you let this happen?
GUARD 2: Well, you see...we
PRIEST 2: Silence! His followers will use this to claim he arose from the dead. We've got to do something to make it look like it wasn't our fault. Listen you fools, you tell everyone that while you were asleep, His followers sneaked in and stole His body. Think you can remember that?
GUARDS: Yes sir!
PRIEST 2: Then why are you still here? Go find those thieves. And an extra bonus if you can find Jesus' body. (Guards run off; Priest shakes head and exits)
NARRATOR: Then came Mary, Salome, and the other women to the tomb. They longed to show their love for their Master. They brought spices and sweet perfumes to the tomb for the preparation of Jesus' body. They hurried to perform their last services for the Lord but were not at the tomb soon enough to do so.
JOANNA: How could all of this be happening? Our Lord......dead? It seems like only yesterday when Jesus healed me of those evil spirits; and now, today we're going to anoint His body. Poor Jesus!
SALOME: It was a senseless death! And if that wasn't enough, I heard that soldiers are guarding the tomb because of some silly idea about the disciples stealing Jesus' body. I hope that's not true because I really want to pay my last respects to Jesus.
LEAH: If the soldiers are there, that could be a serious problem. If they're not there, we'll still have a problem. I heard John say there is a big stone at the tomb's entrance. How will we roll that stone away?
JOANNA: There are four of us. If we push together, we may be able to move the stone. If not, we will have to pray that God shows us a way to get it moved.
SALOME: Look! The tomb is open and the soldiers are no where to be seen. (women move toward tomb; look inside. Mary runs away) It's empty! Where have they taken our Lord's body? Isn't it enough that they murdered Him? Now they refuse to let His body rest. (women hear noises made by angels)
LEAH: What was that? Did you hear it? (angels appear) Angels! (women scream and fall down covering faces)
GIRL ANGEL: Do not be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. But why do you look for the living among the dead?
BOY ANGEL: He is not here. He has risen as he said. Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and on the third day be raised again. Go, tell His disciples and Peter, He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him. Now we have told you. (angels depart; women slowly walk away, excitement building)
LEAH: Risen? Is it possible? Can it be?
JOANNA: It must be! Those were God's angels speaking to us!
SALOME: Then Jesus is alive? Yes! Jesus is alive! He has defeated death! Come, we must tell the others. (women run away excitedly)
NARRATOR: Magdalene returned to the empty tomb longing to find where her Lord had been taken. Entering the garden again, she stood by the empty grave and wept. (Magdalene weeps by tomb; angels appear)
GIRL ANGEL: Woman, why are you crying?
MAGDALENE: Because they killed my Lord and I don't understand why His body is missing. Where have they taken Him?
BOY ANGEL: He has only risen. God has always required a blood sacrifice for sin. Jesus became that sacrifice once and for all for everyone. He made death nothing more than passing from this life to another. In the ages to come, when He sets up His kingdom and becomes the promised King, everyone will know He lives just as you do now. (angels depart and Jesus enters)
JESUS: Mary!
MAGDALENE: (falls to Jesus' 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.
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