HOLY WEEK PART 2

JESUS’ ARREST, TRIAL, CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION

CHARACTERS

NARRATOR 1

NARRATOR 2

NARRATOR 3

JESUS

PETER

SERVANT GIRL

MARY

PILATE

CHIEF PRIEST

GUARD

JUDAS

BANDIT 1

BANDIT 2

ANGEL

DISCIPLES

CROWD

NARRATOR 1: The same night as the Last Supper, Jesus took his disciples to a garden so he could pray. He said to them…

JESUS: Stay awake and wait for me.

NARRATOR 2: Then he went further into the garden by himself.

JESUS: Dear God, I know that there are people who want to kill me for what I teach and preach. If it is possible that this may not happen, please let it be so. However, I am willing to die if it is the right thing to do. Please give me the strength to do whatever you know is right.

NARRATOR 3: Just then an angel appeared and gave him strength. Then Jesus prayed a little longer and got up and went back to his disciples who he found asleep.

JESUS: Why are you asleep? Couldn’t you stay awake with me? I am about to be betrayed and arrested!!!

NARRATOR 1: Just then a crowd of people appeared with Judas, the one who betrayed Jesus. The guards weren’t sure which person was Jesus, so Judas had told them he would go and give Jesus a kiss on the cheek so they would know which man he was. Judas came and kissed Jesus on the cheek.

JESUS: So, Judas, you betray me with a kiss.

PETER: Jesus, do you want us to fight these guards for you?

NARRATOR 2: Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of one of the guards.

JESUS: No Peter! Stop! I know that I must be arrested and killed.

NARRATOR 3: Then Jesus picked up the guard’s ear and healed it back on. Jesus said to the priests and guards…

JESUS: Why have you come to arrest me with your swords and clubs as if I was a bandit? I was out in the open every day, teaching. You could have arrested me there.

NARRATOR 1: They didn’t arrest him during the day because they didn’t want to make the people mad. So they arrested him and took him to the house of the High Priest. Most of the disciples were scared and ran away, but Peter followed along behind and came into the courtyard and stood around the fire with the servants of the High Priest.

SERVANT GIRL: Aren’t you one of Jesus’ followers?

PETER: No, I don’t know him.

SERVANT GIRL: Are you sure you aren’t a disciple of Jesus?

PETER: No, I told you before that I don’t know him.

SERVANT GIRL: I’m sure I’ve seen you with Jesus.

PETER: No you haven’t!

NARRATOR 2: Just then, the rooster crowed three times and Peter remembered that Jesus had told him that he would deny knowing him three times before the rooster crowed that morning. Peter had told Jesus that he would never deny him. But suddenly he realized that he had done exactly what Jesus had said he would. He was so sad he ran from the courtyard and cried.

NARRATOR 3: Meanwhile, inside, the Chief Priest was talking to Jesus.

CHIEF PRIEST: Are you the Messiah? Tell us.

NARRATOR 1: But Jesus didn’t answer them. Someone put a blindfold on Jesus and several people pushed him and said...

GUARD: If you are a prophet, tell us who touched you!

NARRATOR 2: But Jesus remained silent. Finally, the Chief Priest asked again…

CHIEF PRIEST: Are you the Messiah?

JESUS: You say I am, but I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of God and coming on the clouds of heaven.

CHIEF PRIEST: We have heard enough! This man is a heretic and a blasphemer against God. He deserves death.

NARRATOR 3: When morning came they took Jesus to Pilate, the Roman Governor.

PILATE: Are you the King of the Jews?

JESUS: You say so.

PILATE: Do you know how many accusations they are making against you?

NARRATOR 1: Jesus did not answer. The Governor was amazed that Jesus did not try to defend himself. It was the custom of the Governor during Passover to release one prisoner, so he stood in front of the crowd and said.

PILATE: Do you want me to release this criminal, Barabas, or do you want me to release Jesus, who they call the Messiah?

CROWD: Release Barabas, release Barabas!

PILATE: What do you want me to do with Jesus?

CROWD: Crucify him, crucify him!!!!!

PILATE: I am innocent of this man’s blood! I wash my hands of his blood.

NARRATOR 2: So they took Jesus to be crucified. They ripped his clothes and twisted some thorns to look like a crown and put it on his head, making him bleed. They teased him and knelt down before him, pretending he was a king.

GUARDS: Hail, King of the Jews!

NARRATOR 3: Then they drug him off to a trash dump on the edge of town on a hill shaped like a skull, which is why it was called Golgotha. There they hung him on the cross. There were two bandits hanging on crosses next to him.

BANDIT 1: I thought you were the king of the Jews. Why don’t you save yourself?

BANDIT 2: I believe you are the Son of God. Please forgive me.

JESUS: Because you believe, you will be in glory with me.

NARRATOR 1 : Jesus was on the cross all day and suddenly the sun disappeared and it was dark until three o’clock. Someone stuck Jesus in the side with a spear and he bled. Then Jesus said…

JESUS: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

NARRATOR 2: Someone came and gave Jesus a drink of vinegar. Jesus’ Mother and many other women were at the foot of the cross, as well as his disciple John.

JESUS: John, I want you to take care of my mother and be her son. Mother, I want you to take John as your son.

NARRATOR 3: There were guards playing dice by the cross, gambling to see who would get Jesus’ clothes. There were lots of people gathered around to watch. Jesus looked at all of the people and out at the city of Jerusalem and said…

JESUS: Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.

NARRATOR 1: And with a loud cry, Jesus died. His friends took him down and took him to a tomb. It was the Jewish Sabbath, so the women could not get the body ready for burial and they needed to just put him in the tomb. They planned to come back to finish later. They placed him in a tomb and rolled the heavy stone in front of it.

NARRATOR 2: After the Sabbath, three women, Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of James, and Joanna came to the tomb, but they found it open and the body of Jesus gone. Suddenly, an angel appeared and said…

ANGEL: Why do you seek the living among the dead? Jesus is alive.

NARRATOR 3: But they did not believe and were frightened. Mary was crying when a man who she thought was the gardener walked up to her…

JESUS: Mary, why are you crying?

MARY: Because they took the body of Jesus away and I don’t know where he is.

JESUS: Mary, I am here.

MARY: Rabbi, Jesus, is it really you?

JESUS: Yes, go and tell the others I am alive.

NARRATOR 1: Mary and the other women ran back to where the disciples were hiding.

MARY: Jesus is alive! I’ve seen him.

DISCIPLES: We don’t believe you. You’re just making it up.

NARRATOR 2: Suddenly, Jesus appeared in the room. They were afraid because the door was locked and they thought he was a ghost.

JESUS: Peace be with you. I am not a ghost. Here, take my hand. A ghost does not have flesh and bones. Is there anything here to eat?

NARRATOR 3: Then he taught them and opened their minds to understand everything that had happened.

JESUS: Go into the world and baptize all the nations. Preach the good news of God’s love and the forgiveness of sins.

NARRATOR 1: Then he was carried up into heaven and all the disciples rejoiced.

THE END OF PART 2

Deepening Faith: Youth Ministry Resources and Some Miscellaneous Advice

Rev. Lizann Bassham, Front Porch Spirit Press