THE PASSION OF JESUS CHRIST

It begins with an opening glee in the garden. when the time of the Jewish Passover feast drew
near the chief priest and elders plotted the arrest of Jesus. ( People are seen doted on stage
wearing turned clothes, sad expressions and tears, eyes fixed in one direction. One among the
twelve on stage solo the song. (O come to walk with me……. JESUS our LORD is crucified)

SCENE 1

(The Pharisees gathered together to discuss Jesus. The chief priest walked in to join them they all
greeted)

ALL. SHALLOM!!!!...

CHIEF PRIEST: the Passover feast is at hand how we can arrest that man called Jesus

ELDER 2: It will be very difficult for us to arrest him during the Passover because he gained the
mind of many and they follow him everywhere. (Judas walked past and overheard their
conversation)

ELDER 4: He has been deceiving our people! Who amongst us knows what he was about?

ELDER 1: We must be ready for any opportunity to bring down that son of a carpenter oh how I
wish…. (Judas walks in)

JUDAS: Good day chief priest and elders,

CHIEF PRIEST: Yes, what do you want?

JUDAS: As I was passing by, I overheard you asking who knows the where of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth

ELDER 3: Shut up your mouth!! How dear you come into this place unannounced... (To the
elders) by the way, did we say anything?
JUDAS: I think I can be of help (they all looked at each other in the puzzle)
CHIEF PRIEST: Help!! Young man who are you, and how can you be of help?

JUDAS: My name is Judas son of Iscariot (PAUSE) I am one of his disciples, I know everywhere
he goes and where he sleeps. (Clears his throat) what will u give me if I hand over my master to
you? (They ask him to step aside as they discussed amongst themselves)

ELDER 1: This is a golden opportunity before us, I suggest we offer him some money (they all
agreed to give him money) Judas we shall offer u ten pieces of silver coins.

JUDAS: (Angrily) Do you know what it means and how it feels for me to hand over my master to
u? Please add some more.

ELDER 2: (Walks to him to calm him) ok we shall offer you twenty pieces of silver coins

JUDAS: (Looked at him and others angrily) I see you are not ready for business (about to leave)
CHIEF PRIEST: 30 Pieces of a silver coin (with a serious look)

JUDAS: (he turns) let me see the money (a bag filled with coins thrown to him)

ELDER 1: How do we know whom to arrest?

JUDAS: when I take you there, the one I walk to and a kiss is the person you seek.

ELDER 4: So, you mean we should arrest the one u walk up to and kiss ok, (dramatically)

CHIEF PRIEST: Judas you shall lead us to him and we will fulfil our side of the business, you
may leave (he orders a soldier to go with him) elders let go and get ready (they all leave the
stage)

SCENE 2

(Jesus enters the state along with his disciples Peter, James and john. A song is heard ‘God of
mercy and compassion “solemnly.)

JESUS: Stay here while I go talk to my father (he goes to a quiet place and falls on his kneel)
Father the hour has come, if it is possible let this cup pass me by

(He went back to his disciples and found them sleeping) Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray
that you will not fall into temptation.

(He went back to pray the second time)Father if it is possible let this cup pass me by, not as I will
but let you will be done (after a while, he comes back, they were still sleeping he shook his head
and left them without a word) after the prayer, he comes back to wake them. See the traitor is at
hand, come let’s go.

(The crowd arrived led by Judas. They were with lanterns, torches and weapons)

JESUS: Whom are you looking for?

ALL: We are looking for Jesus of Nazareth

JESUS: I AM HE

(They all moved back and fell to the ground)

JESUS: Again, I ask whom you are looking for.

ALL: We are looking for Jesus of Nazareth

JESUS: I already to you I am he (they all fell to the ground) if it is me, you are looking for take me
and let these others go.

(Judas steps out amid the crowd, walks to Jesus and gives him a kiss)

JUDAS: MASTER…..
JESUS: Judas do you betray your master with a kiss?

ELDER 1: Arrest him!! (The soldier made the move to arrest Jesus, Peter drew a short sword and
struck off one of the high priest guard’s right ear (Marcos)
JESUS: Peter!! Put back your sword in its scabbed! Am I not to drink the cup of suffering my
father gave me? I preach to you day and night in the synagogue you did not arrest me, now you
have come with machetes and cubs to arrest me like a common criminal (he stretch forth his
hands to be arrested and they dragged and seized him. All the disciples ran away)

SCENE 3
(Chief priest and elders gathered together all excited)
CHIEF PRIEST: Congratulation once again. Now that we have arrested him let’s take him to
Caiaphas but what allegation do we have?
ELDER 3: that is true, who amongst us has a serious allegation against him
ELDER 4: My chief priest and elders I have a strong allegation against him
ELDER 1: I also have a very strong allegation against him (he makes a funny gesture and they all
laugh)
CHIEF PRIEST: Very well then, we shall all support your allegation (as they were about to leave
Judas enters the stage crying, and he threw the money on the flow)
JUDAS: Take your money I have betrayed my master (burst into tears in a loud voice)

SCENE 4
(They brought JESUS before Caiaphas the high priest)
HIGH PRIEST: Where are your followers? And what do you teach the people?
JESUS: I have spoken openly to everyone, all my teachings were done in the synagogue and in
the temple, I have never said anything in secret, why ask me, ask my followers what I teach. (At
that point one of the guards slapped him on his face saying)
GUARD: How dear you talk to the high priest
JESUS: If I have said anything wrong tell me but if I am right in what I have said why do you hit
me
HIGH PRIEST: What charge do you have against this man?
ELDER 4: This man has been misleading our people and teaching them against our traditions.
ELDER 3: He also said he will destroy the temple and build it back in three days, this temple that
took our forefathers forty years to build (dramatically)
ELDER 2: He claims to be the son of GOD (dramatically)
HIGH PRIEST: Have you had no answers to these allegations before you? (Walks to him) Are
you the Messiah?
JESUS: If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer, nor let me go.
Hereafter, the son of man shall sit at the right-hand side of the almighty and come with the clouds
from heaven.
HIGH PRIEST: (in anger, tore his rope) Blaspheming!!! You heard his blaspheming, what is your
decision
ALL: He deserves to die!! (They all pounce on him, spat on him) (Peter is somewhere in the
courtyard watching everything and was stopped by one of the high priest soldiers) (FREEZ
ACTION)
WOMAN: Are you not one of that man’s disciples?
PETER: Which man?
WOMAN: Jesus of Nazareth
PETER: I don’t know him I have never seen him before not to talk of being his disciple (a little
while another approached him)
MAN: I know you I saw you in the garden with that Jesus of Nazarene
PETER: Me... Were... How... I don’t know what you are talking about you must be mistaken me
for someone else (shortly after a while a woman attacked him)
WOMAN 2: Surely you are one of him, he is one of him (she tries to call for attention but peter cut
her off not to call attention)
PETER: Madam please I don’t know him I am just a passerby I swear to you (she left still
wondering. Peter heard the cock crow three times at that point Jesus and peter made am eye
contact as he realized what he has done, and he cried out)
HIGH PRIEST: Take him to Pilate!

SCENE 5
Jesus is brought before Pilate. The chief priest presents a scroll to Pilate, he opens and reads.)
PILATE: What charge do you bring against this man?
CHIEF PRIEST: If he were not a criminal, we will not have handed him over to you.
PILATE: Take him yourselves and judge him according to the law.
ELDER 1: We are not allowed to put a man to death (Pilate orders Jesus for questioning.)
PILATE: Are you the king of the Jews?
JESUE: Do you ask this of your own accord or has anyone said these to you?
PILATE: Am I a Jew? Your nation and chief priest handed you over to me what have u done?
JESUS: My kingdom is not of this world if my kingdom is of this world my angels would have
fought for me.
PILATE: So, you are a king?
JESUS: It is you who say, for this reason, I was born to testify to the truth and anyone who is on
the side of the truth listens to my voice.
PILATE: (Colloquizing) the truth…. What then is the truth? (to the people) I find no case against
this man.. so I shall flog him and realize him (JESUS is taken in to be a scourge, crown of thorn is
placed on his head and a purple cloth on him. While there is going on backstage. A solemn song
is heard. After the song, the roman soldiers bring JESUS out.
PILATE: ECHEOMO!! Behold the man)
ALL: Away with him! Crucify him!!(3x)
PILATE: Take him yourselves and crucify him for I find no fault in him
ELDER 2: We have a law and according to our law he deserves to die
ELDER 3: And he claims to be the son of GOD. (PILATE walks to Jesus)
PILATE: Where are you from (silence) don’t you want to speak? Don’t you know I have the power
to release you and the power to crucify you (JESUS looks at Pilate?)
JESUS: You will not have the power If it had not been given to you from above. The one who
handed me over to you has the greater sin.
(Pilate compass at this statement) then turn to the people as he sent for Barabbas.
PILATE: You have a custom that I release for you one prisoner during the Passover feast
(Barabbas appears) who do you want me to release? Barabbas the notorious criminal or JESUS
the king of the Jews.
ALL: Release Barabbas!! Release Barabbas we want Barabbas (Barabbas is released)
MARY: We want Jesus!!!
PILATE: And what do you want me to do with him?
ALL: CRUCIFY HIM, CRUCIFY HIM, CRUCIFY HIM
PILATE: Do you want me to crucify your king?
ELDER 1: He is not our king; we have no king except Caesar
CHIEF PRIEST: If you release this man, you are no longer a friend to Caesar
ELDER 4: For anyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar (Pilate who is now confused
goes to his seat. His wife goes to him)
PILATE’S WIFE: My lord, see that you have nothing to do with this man’s death for I suffered
terribly in my dreams because of him (he sent for water and a towel)
PILATE: (To the people) I am innocent of this man’s death
ALL: Let his blood be on us and on our children’s children heads
PILATE: Here is JESUS do with whatever you will.

FRIST STATION……
SIMON OF CYRENE: Helps Jesus to carry his cross.
WOMEN OF JERUSALEM: all crying
JESUS: (Jesus consoles the women saying) daughters of Jerusalem do not weep for me, but
weep for yourselves and for your children.

LINES OF THE CROSS

1. Mother behold your son, son behold your mother

2. I am testy (They put a sponge of vinegar in place of water)
3. ELAI, ELAI !! lama Sabathani (all the elders laugh, he is calling on Elijah let’s see if Elijah
will come and save him)
4. (One of the thieves) If you are the son of God save yourself and save us
5. Thieve two: do you fear GOD? We are suffering for what we have done, but this man has
done nothing. (And he said to Jesus) remember me in your paradise.
6. JESUS: Today you shall be with me in paradise (after the two thieves line)
7. Father forgives them for they do not know what they are doing
8. Into your hands o LORD, I commit my spirit
9. It is finished.

And Jesus died.

SOLDIERS: (one of the soldiers whose right eye was blind said Oh this man in the middle is
already dead, let us not his break his legs instead let but pierce his side with a sword. (At once
water and blood rush out and he received his hearing) and joseph the secret disciple met with
Pilate)

JOSEPH: Your majesty permit I may carry the body of Christ for burial since I have a garden
nearby.

PILATE: You can do as you wish

(Joseph and Nicodemus carry him down from the cross and prepare him for burial according to
the Jewish custom.