REVISED EDITION

ST. JOHN PASSION PLAY SCRIPT

CYON OF THE CHURCH OF THE 12 APOSTLES PARISH | C.B.D.

 PASSION PLAY

CAST
1. JESUS

2. High Priest

3. Pilate

4. Mary

5. Veronica

6. Pilate’s wife

7. Barabbas

8. Judas

9. Joseph of Arimathea

10. Nicodemus

11. Slave Girl

12. Simon of Cyrene

13. Thieves

14. Passer-by

15. Disciples

16. Elders, Sanhedrin, Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees.

17. Soliders / Royal Guards

18. Props / Stage Crew

19. Children

20. Crowd

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 THE CONFRONTATION
ACT 1 SCENE 1
TEMPLE CONFLICT

Setting: Temple
(People are selling and buying, changing money, transacting business and making a lot of noise. In the
background chants are going on)
(Jesus comes in with a whip, pushing down tables and flogging the people with the whip).
JESUS: (while flogging) Away from here! Take all these things out of here! God says in
the Scriptures “My temple will be called a house of prayer” but you are making it a
hide-out for thieves.
Children: (Shouting) Yes! drive them! drive them!! Hosanna Son of David!, Hosanna Son
of David!!..
(Action :The Blind and the lame coming for healing, children directing and leading them to JESUS)
(The scribes, murmuring in anger, confront Jesus)
Scribe 1: (shocked) Do you hear what these children are saying?

JESUS: Yes! Have you never read from this part of the scriptures? “By the mouth
of the children and of Babies, you have found praise to foil your enemy”
(Action : At this time, the crowd had gathered around Jesus and the stage is set for confrontation The
scribes go out briefly to fetch the Pharisees and the Pharisees return for confrontation.)

Priest 1: Look at the confusion you have caused in the temple here! What authority have you
for acting like this (pointing at Jesus) and who gave you this authority?
JESUS: And I will ask you just one question, if you answer it, then I will tell you my reason
for acting like this. John‟s baptism – What was its origin, heavenly or human?
Priest 2: Look, let me tell you! John‟s baptism was ………
Priest 3: (cutting him short) Wait a moment! we shall give an answer...
(Action: priests gather together and murmur)
Priest 3: Let us not just give him any kind of answer...
Priest 2: We simply tell him its heavenly...
Priest 5: Then he will ask us why we not believed in him…
Priest 4: Then let say its human ….
Priest 1: But what of the reaction of the crowd? They hold John as a prophet.
Priest 2: Then we say we do not know….
Priests : (Towards Jesus, in loud unison) We do not know!!! …..
JESUS: Neither will I tell you too my authority for acting this way...
(Pharisee party; they come into the scene)
Pharisee 1: Rabbi, we know you are an honest man who fears no one except God.
tell us then, is it permissible to pay taxes to Caesar or not?
JESUS : (smiles) You hypocrites! why are you putting me to the test? Show me the money for
paying the tax..

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(Action: one brings some coins from bank note out of his pocket and gives one to Jesus,
then pockets the rest).

JESUS: Whose picture is this, whose title?

Pharisees: (in loud unison) Caesar‟s!
JESUS: Very well then, pay Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God..
(Action: thrill of murmur runs through the crowd)
Sadducee 1: Rabbi, there were seven brothers, the first married a wife and died; leaving the widow
childless. Same thing with second down to the last brother. Now at the resurrection,
whose wife will she be?
JESUS: You are wrong, because you neither understand the scriptures nor the power of God. For
at the resurrection, men and women do not marry. No! They are like the angels of God.
Have you never read what God said in the scripture, “I am the God of Abraham, the God
of Isaac and the God of Jacob. He is God, not of the dead but of the living ……
(Action: Crowd murmurs)

Pharisee 1: Rabbi, which is the greatest commandment of the law?

JESUS: You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all
your mind. You must also love your neighbor as yourself. On these two hang the whole
law and the prophets…….
(Action: The Crowd reacts appreciatively)
JESUS ….If you take in my words, you will become my disciple. You will know the truth and
the truth will set you free.
Priest 1: We are not slaves, we are free born!
JESUS Whoever commits sin is a slave and he can have no position in my house…..
Priest 2: We are legitimate children, descendants of Abraham!! …
JESUS: If you were Abraham‟s children, you would do as he did. But you want to kill me…

Priest 1: Our only father is God!

(Other priests nod approvingly)
JESUS: If God is your father you would have loved me and kept my words because I have my
origin in God… (Action: Crowd murmurs and he continues) … Whoever keep my words
will never see death...
Priest 2: Now we know you are possessed! Abraham is dead, the prophets are dead too, and you
say “Whoever keep my words will never see death” Are you greater than our father
Abraham?

JESUS: Your father Abraham rejoiced to think he would see my day; he saw it and was glad.
Priest 3: You are not fifty yet and you have seen Abraham?
JESUS: In truth, I tell you before Abraham was, I am!

(Action: Confusion as some picks up stone to stone him while other tried to stop them. Jesus departs in
the midst of commotion...)

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 ACT 1 SCENE 2:
THE PLOT
High Priest: (To the Sanhedrin in council), Abeku Shalom... This Passover is really going to be
different; I am worried about the teaching and activities of Jesus. We must do something
about it.

Pharisee 3: Yes, at the Passover, we celebrate our deliverance form Egypt through our great leaders,
Moses. This people might think Jesus is the Messiah who has come to deliver us from the
Romans...
Pharisee 4: Then the people will led into rebellion and the Romans will destroy us…
Pharisee 2: But his teachings are marvelous and he has really captivated the people...
Pharisee 5: Look, this Rabbi knows nothing about the law, they are damned…
Nicodemus: But our law does not allow us to pass judgment on a person without first giving him a
hearing…….
Pharisee 3: Are you Galilean too? Go into the matter and see for yourself, prophets do not come out
of Galilee!
High Priest: You do not seem to grasp the situation, it is better for one man to die than for the whole
nation to be destroyed..
Pharisee 4: Then we have to do away with him...
Pharisee 2: But how? He is always surrounded by his followers in the temple.
Pharisee 5: (Coolly) then we use soldiers...
Nicodemus: Soldiers in the temple, No way!!!
Pharisee 5: (Coolly) we pick him outside the temple, at night ….
Pharisee 2: But we don‟t know his hide out, besides how do we recognize him in the dark?

Pharisee 5: One of his followers will do the job for us..

Nicodemus: What job? I don‟t understand you…
Pharisee 5: I have been making secret plans of my own…
Sanhedrin:(together): what?
Pharisee 5: Look, there is a disciple of Jesus called Judas who can lead me to him for a sum of
thirty pieces of silver..
Chief Priest: (Grinning )This is interesting... You (Pointing to Pharisee 5) get in touch with that
disciple today while you (Pointing to Pharisee 3) get the soldiers! We meet again at
sunset…
(Action: They disperse discussing excitedly...)

ACT 1 SCENE 3
THE LAST SUPPER
AT THE UPPER ROOM (Evening)
Action: Peter, James and John come to the supper to the upper room and put things in order as
Jesus has directed them. When they have set the upper room, they go to inform Jesus.
The 12 Apostles come into the upper room and take their seat; Jesus comes in, removes his outer cloth
and lays it on chair in a corner, ties a towel round his waist and gets a bowl of water and begins to wash
the feet of the Apostles. They all show surprise but allow Jesus to wash their feet. On reaching Peter, as

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Jesus bends down to wash Peter’s feet, Peter reacts by withdrawing his first leg while stretching out his
hand to stop Jesus, sayings:

Peter : (stretching out his hand to stop Jesus) Are you going wash my feet, Lord?!
JESUS: You do not understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later...
Peter: (stopping Jesus as he wants to continue the washing) Never at any time will you
Wash my feet Lord…..
JESUS: If I do not wash your feet, you will have no part with me..
Peter : (Peter now putting forward his foot, stretching out his hands and bending slightly his head
says) Well then Lord, do not wash only my feet, wash my hands and head as well!

JESUS: Simon Peter, no one who has had a bath needs washing, he is clean all over.
You too are clean, (observing a brief pause, then says) though not all of you are..
(Action: Jesus washes his feet, that of John and goes to dress, then he goes back to his seat.
During the interval of washing of the feet, the choir may sing to fill up the silence. When Jesus
returns to his seat he pauses for a second then speaks.)
JESUS: Do you understand what I have just done to you?
Apostles: (in unison) No Master!!
JESUS: You call me Master and Lord, and rightly, so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have
washed your feet, you must wash each other‟s feet. I have set for you an example, and so
you also should do... (To Simon Peter) Bring the meal for the Passover!
Peter: (Stands up, calls John to follow him, while they exit, Peter briefly stops and says) Psalms
133!…. (While the others sing, he and John went
And brought the bread and cup of wine)…

Apostles: (Singing) Hienematov Hienemahie

Shem yaka shiva, Yam-haad (2x)
Inematov Inematov
Lalala, la la la. La la laaa laaa laaa
Inematov Inematov
Lalala, la la la la la la, laaa laaa laaa
English:
Behold how good and pleasant it is, for brethren to dwell together (2x)
In unity –in unity
Lalala, la la la. La la laaa laaa laaa.

(As they sing, Peter and John come in with the Passover meal and place them before
Jesus and distribute the rest among the other apostles)..

JESUS: (looks up to heaven and mutters words of thanksgiving to God). (Thank you Father for
these gifts you’ve given us from your bounty, may it become a source of nourishment for
our body and spirit….. Everyone echoes Amen!) Taking the Bread, holding it up he says!
Take and eat it, this is my body which is offered up for you. Do this in memory of me…
(He passes the bread on to them and they share it round, he continues)

Drink it, all of you, this is my blood, the blood of the new covenant, poured out for many
for the forgiveness of sins

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 (He drinks from the cup and passes it to them while they each drink from it, as they drink,
he continues to speak).
I tell you, I will never again drink wine until the day I drink the new wine with you in the
kingdom of my Father…
JESUS: (Sits down, pauses and says) Very truly, I tell you, one of you is going to betray me!
(They are all shocked).
Peter: Lord is it me? (Two others ask the same question but Jesus did not reply)
Judas: Rabbi, is it me?
JESUS: So you say..
Peter: (To John) ask him whom he is talking about...
John: Who is it Lord?
JESUS: It is the one to whom I give the piece of bread I dip into dish. (He pauses). My children, I
shall not be with you very much longer. You will look for me; I tell you now, what I told
the Jewish authorities: „Where I am going, you cannot come‟
(dips the bread in the dish and gives it to Judas and says to him) What you have to do, do
it quickly.
(Judas drops it in the bowl before himself and departs while Jesus continues speaking)

And now I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you, then
everyone will know that you are my disciples (pauses, then says)
Let us pray! (They all rise and bow their heads in prayer, Jesus continues)
Father, behold those you have given to me, May they all be one, May they be one in us,
just as you are in me and I in you.. May they be one, so that the world may believe it was
you who sent me... I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me
because of their message... Amen

Apostles : Amen (They immediately break into song)

Evenum Sha-Lom Alemmm

Evenum Sha-Lom Alemmm
Evenum Sha-Lom Alemmm
Evenum Sha-Lom Sha-lom Shalom Alemmm

(With the song they exit to go the Mount of Olives)

SCENE 4
THE BARRACK OF THE ARMOURED BRIDAGE (Night)
(Soldiers waiting for Judas to come, but he wasn’t coming later rushed in)

JUDAS: (Breathing heavily) Captain! Captain! They are now a mount olive, hurry, hurry before it‟s
too late.

Captain: Men!!! This is the hour (talking to the soldiers) make No mistake! I want a clean operation!
Is that clear!!!… (the captain repeats “Is that clear)

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Soldier: Ye-sop!
Captain: Do you remember our “MOTTO”!!
Soldiers: Ye-Sop! NO RETREAT!! NO SURRENDER!!

Captain: (Drawing his Sword and shouts) Brigade Advance!!

Soldiers: (Drawing their swords and reply) NO RETREAT!! NO SURRENDER!!

(And all march onto mount Olive)

ACT 2 - SCENE 3

AGONY IN THE GARDEN

(As Jesus with the Apostles approach Mount Olive, he turned to them and said)

JESUS: This very night, all of you will run away and leave me, for the scripture says: “God will
kill the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will scattered, but after I am raised to life, I
will go to Galilee ahead of you”

Peter: (stepping forward) “I will never leave you, even though all the rest do”

JESUS: (Putting his hand on his shoulder of Peter) I tell you, before the cock crows tonight, you
will deny me three times

Peter: (Kneeling down, while holding the garment of Jesus) I will never deny you even if I
have to die with you...
Apostles: We will never deny you, even if we have to die with you…
JESUS: (To the Apostles) When I sent you out without purse, bag or shoe, did you lack
Anything?

Apostles: Not a thing

JESUS: But now, whoever has a purse or bag must take it; and whoever has no sword must sell
his coat and buy. For I tell you that the scripture which says “He shared the fate of
criminals; must come true about me, because what was written about me is coming true...
PETER: Look! Here are two Swords, Lord!
JESUS: That is enough!
(Pointing to the 3 Apostles, He said) Peter, James and John, come with me...

(Peter, James and John follow him while the rest of the apostles stay behind, as they walk a little, Jesus
To them and say to them…..

JESUS: My soul is sorrowful to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me (walk
forward and falls on his knees)Abba Father! To you everything is possible, take this cup
away from me (raises his hands) but let your will be done not mine...

JESUS: (rises and returns to the disciples who are sleeping) Simon …..(Pauses while the three
disciples quickly shift into kneeling position, rubbing their eyes, he looks at the three and

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 goes on speaking) Are you sleeping? Do you not have the strength to stay awake with
me for one hour? Pray that you will not be put to the test. The spirit is willing but the
flesh is weak…..
(Action: Jesus after having gone and prayed the second time with the same words of prayer returns to
Meet the disciples lying flat on the ground fast asleep. Jesus shakes his head and turns back to his
Praying position and prayed the same prayer. He returns the third time)

JESUS: (speaking sadly) You can sleep on now and have your rest. The hour has come, Now the
son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners (raises his voice) Get up! (They quickly
rise up their knees)Lets us go! My betrayer is not far away……
(Jesus Starts moving forward while the three rises slowly in confusion and follow him)
(Action: Soldiers are already coming in with Judas leading them. Their noise should
Already be coming in from the background)
Judas: (goes forward to meet Jesus) Rabbi, peace be with you… (Kisses him on the cheek)
JESUS: Judas, do you betray the son of man with a kiss?
(Action: Judas withdraws. The soldiers stand still uncertain)
JESUS: (Steps forward and ask) who are you looking for?
Soldiers: Jesus the Nazarene!
JESUS: I am he.
(Action: They draw back and fall. Then the commander shouts at them to stand up and
Kicks some of them up.)
JESUS : Who are you are looking for?
Soldiers: Jesus the Nazarene!!
JESUS: I have told you I am he. If you are looking for me, then let (waving his hands to indicate
his disciples who are standing clutching their swords) these others go.

(Action: The soldiers make a move and peter slashes the ear of Malchus the high priest’s
Servant.. The slave grips his ear in pain)
JESUS: (while fixing the ear, speaks to Peter) Put your sword back in its sheath, am I not to drink
the cup of suffering which my father has given me?
(Action: The surprised, healed soldier withdraws quickly behind the others)
JESUS: Am I am an outlaw that you have come with weapons to arrest me? Day after day I was
teaching in the temple and you never held me; but the scriptures has to be fulfilled...
Captains: (Cut in suddenly) what are you waiting for? Arrest him!!
(Action: The disciples take to their heels while the soldiers bind Jesus hands and bustle
Him away...)

SCENE 5:
TRIAL BEFORE HIGH PRIEST.
Setting: The high priest and some members of the Sanhedrin are in council, murmuring

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and whispering to each other in anticipation of Jesus arrest and trial.
Pharisee 1: (Excited) Shalom high priest, members of the Sanhedrin Jesus has been arrested and is in
the custody of the soldiers outside..

High Priest: (with a sweep of his left hand) then bring him in and let the trial begin..
(Action: Pharisee 1 bows, goes and return with some of the soldiers and JESUS with
Peter following along)
(When they present Jesus before High Priest with blood all over him, some of the soldiers
make a fire and Peter join them, as they were warming themselves, one of the soldiers
said to peter
Soldier 1: Aren‟t you also one of the disciples of that man?
Peter: No! I am not

High Priest: (To Jesus) you have many followers among our people and we believe some of them are
Zealots. Tell us something about your teachings and the disciples you have…

JESUS: I have spoken openly for the entire world to hear, I have always taught in the synagogues
and in the temple, where all the Jews meet together, I have said nothing in secret. Why
ask me? Ask my hearers what I taught...
Soldier: (Goes and slap Jesus) is that the way you answer the high priest ?!!!
JESUS: (Turns sharply and looks at the soldier in the face) If there is anything wrong in what I
have said, point it out. But if not why do you strike me? (Soldiers returns sharply to
position)

Slave Girl: (Passing by saw Peter and pointing at him) this man too was with Jesus…..

Peter: Woman, I don‟t even know him!!!

High Priest: For all those who desire to bear witness against the man on trial, come forward and lay
your charges...

Priest 1: (Standing) This man (pointing at Jesus) heals on the Sabbath and breaks the Sabbath
laws, the very Sabbath which Moses has asked us to keep holy.

Priest 2: He has filled the whole of Jerusalem with his false teachings...
Priest 3: He said he would destroy the temple that took our fathers over 40 years to build and
rebuild it three day? (Says it with emphasis) Three days!!!!!
Priest 4: (Standing, clear his throat) High priest, I never know that this boy called Jesus has said a
lot things, if not now, this boy was the same person who said openly that he is the son of
God!!! imagine this son of a carpenter!!!
(Action: These charges are laid in quick succession after the other. Each stepping
Forward to lay his charge before stepping back…Jesus remains silent.)

Soldier 2: (Turning to Peter) I saw you with him at mount olive……..

Peter: I swear that I am telling the truth! May God punish me if I am not! I do not know that
man……
(Action: Immediately a cock crows and Jesus look at peter and he remember what he
did and rush outside crying )
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High Priest: (after charges) What are these charges they lay against you? Have you no reply?
(Jesus remains silent)
High Priest: (in annoyance, raises his hand, palm stretched towards Jesus) I put you
On oath by the living God, tell us; are you the Messiah, the Son of God?

JESUS: If I tell you, you will not believe and if I ask, you will not answer. But from now on you
will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of the mighty God and coming on the
clouds of heaven………

High Priest: (Rending his clothes, shouts one word) Blasphemy!!

(Action: cries of Blasphemy! Fill the air)]
High Priest: (indicating Jesus with his hand, Speaks to the crowd) what other witnesses do we need?!
You have all heard him! What is your verdict?

Sanhedrin: He deserves to die!

High Priest: Take him to Pilate!
(Action: They exit pushing, hitting and insulting Jesus while cries such as Blasphemy and
False prophet fills the air as they go)

SCENE 6
TRIAL BEFORE PILATE
Throughout this scene, the elders conspire frequently so as to find the right words to
Make their demands accepted by Pilate…
(Action: Pilate is seated with a guard standing behind. Priests and Soldiers come in with
Jesus bound. They push him unto the center and he falls. The guards raise him and drag
him to the side).
Pilate: What accusation do you bring against this man?

High Priests: If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you

Pilate: Take him and judge him yourselves according to your law!!
Elders: We are not allowed to put anyone to death
(Action: Pilate goes back in and summons a guard to bring Jesus in. Pilate walks round
him and then asks...)
Pilate: Are you the king of the Jews?
JESUS: Do you ask this of your own accord or did others tell you about me?
Pilate: Am I a Jew? Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What have you
done?
JESUS: My kingdom is not of this world, if my kingdom were to be of this world my followers
would have fought to prevent me from being surrendered to the Jews. But my kingdom is
not of this world.

Pilate: So you are a king?

JESUS: You have said so, for this I was born and for this I came into the world to testify to the
truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice...

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Pilate: Truth!!? What is truth? (Leaves Jesus and meets the Jews) I find no case against this
man. But you have custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want
me to release the king of the Jews for you or Barabbas?

Priests: Not this man but Barabbas!! Barabbas!!

Pilate: (To guard) Get me Barabbas!
(Action: Barabbas is released and with a shout of joy, runs into the crowd to escape the
beatings from the
Soldiers. After that, the soldiers have Jesus scourged. Centurion brings back Jesus to
Pilate).
Soldiers: (brings out Jesus) Behold the Man!!
Priests: (On seeing Jesus, they shout) Crucify him, Crucify him!!
Pilate: Take him yourselves and crucify him, I find no reason to condemn him….
Chief Priest: We have a law! And according to that LAW… (which he stresses the Word law, the
others join him)
ALL: He deserves to die because he claims to be the Son of God!!!
(Action: Pilate returns in worry into Praetoruim only to find his wife waiting for him. He
sits and she kneels beside him and holds his arm)

Pilate’s Wife: (Kneeling and Clasping his arm) My lord, have nothing to do with that innocent man. I
have suffered much on account of him because of a dream I had about him last night.

Pilate: I have heard you; I will see what I can do… (She rises and leaves) (Pilate has Jesus
brought in and he continues, Looking at Jesus)...Where do you come from?

(Jesus is silent)

Pilate: (annoyed) Are you refusing to speak to me? Surely, you know, I have the power to release
you and power to crucify you?!

JESUS: (looks Pilate in the eye) You would have no power over me, if it had not been given to
you from above that is why the one who handed me over to you has the greater guilt..

Pilate: (goes to the priests) I find no guilt against this man to deserve death…
Priests: (incensed) if you set him free, you are no friend of Caesar! Anyone who makes himself
king is defying Caesar.

Pilate: (signal Jesus to be brought forward) Here is your King!!

Priests: Away with him!! Away with him!!Crucify him!! Crucify him!!
Pilate: Do you want me to crucify you king?
Priests: We have no king except Caesar! Caesar! (they call Caesar as though hailing him)
Pilate: (Weakened, sends for a bowl of water and towel, he says while washing his hands) I am
innocent of this man‟s blood, see to it yourselves..

Priests: Let his blood be on us and on our children (addition) and on our children‟s children.
Pilate: You have your wish! (he reclines in his seat)

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 The FIRST STATION is announced and Jesus says the first “word of our Lord” there...
SECOND STATION OF THE CROSS
(The soldiers made Jesus sit down and tie his eyes and begin to hit him and the captain said to him)
CAPTAIN: (Mockingly) Remember you said you are a Prophet, now tell me, who hit you?
(and he motion to a soldier who hit Jesus and he said to Jesus)
Prophet, tell me who just hit you. (But Jesus did not talk, so they untie his eyes and the
captain said to the soldiers…..) Guys, remember, he said that he is a king, so let make
him a king. (To one of the soldier) Get me a crown for the king! (The soldier appear with
a crown of thorns and handed it to the captain who crown Jesus)

CAPTAIN: (To the soldiers) Let us hail the king!!

(They hail Jesus mockingly)

CAPTAIN: (To two soldiers) You two, go get the king his cross!!!
(the two soldiers appear with a heavy cross and they lay it on the shoulder of Jesus and he said to the
soldiers) Let‟s take him to mount Calvary! (From here the beatings of Jesus commence).

THIRD STATIONS OF THE CROSS

As Jesus is walking with the heavy cross on him and the cruelty of the soldiers on him , he fall under the
cross and the soldiers begin to pull him up in a rough manner, he stand on his feet and manage to walk
again, with the soldiers beating on.

FOURTH STATIONS OF THE CROSS

As Jesus is struggling to walk with blood all over him, HIS MOTHER accompany with Elizabeth, Mary
Magdalene, Mary Mother of James and John and Mary the wife of Clopers meet him on the way to
Calvary.

FIFTH STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Simon of Cyrene is passing by and the captain ordered some of his men to force him into carrying the
cross of JESUS.

SIXTH STATIONS OF THE CROSS

While Jesus is struggling to reach Mount Calvary, a woman called VERONICA struggle in the midst of
people to wipe the face of Jesus that have been stained by blood.

SEVENTH STATIONS OF THE CROSS

As the beating from the soldiers deepens, the sun and weight of the cross become too much, JESUS fall
under the cross again

EIGHTH STATIONS OF THE CROSS

(As Jesus is passing by, some women of Jerusalem begin to weep for him, Jesus turn to them and said)
JESUS: Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me but weep for yourselves and for your children,
For, behold, the day are coming when they will say; Blessed are the barren, and the wombs
that never bore, and the breasts that never gave suck! Then they will begin to say to the
mountain “fall on us!”, and to the hills “cover us!”, for if they use green woods like this,
what will happen when it is dry?

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A DOCUMENT OF CYON OF THE CHURCH OF THE 12 APOSTLES. CBD. ABUJA
(And he continues his journey)

NINTH STATIONS OF THE CROSS

The pressure of the suffering is too much on Jesus, he fell the third time under the cross, and the soldiers
were pulling him with great power.

TENTH STATIONS OF THE CROSS

When the soldiers and JESUS arrive at Calvary, they strip Jesus off his clothes

SCENE 7: CALVARY
ELEVENTH STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Action: Jesus is nailed to the cross at the Eleventh station while he screams, Before the
arrival of Jesus with the crowd, some soldiers with the two thieves should already be at
Calvary with the thieves already nailed. Jesus says the Words of our Lord and the priest
conclude that station before the cross is raised vertically.

Pilate: Writes out the inscription INRI and gives it to his aid who gets it hung on JESUS’
cross above the head of Jesus. The elders strain to see and read it out for all to hear.
Elder 2: Pilate should not have written this!
Elder 1: He should have written “this man says I am the king of the Jews”
(Action: Elders grumble and show disapproval by shaking their heads)

TWELVETH STATIONS OF THE CROSS

(As Jesus is hanging on the cross in a deep pain)

Elder 1: (pointing at Jesus mockingly) He saves others, he cannot save himself..

Elder 2: Yes, he claimed to be the king of Israel! Let him come down from the cross now and we
will believe in him.

JESUS: (In a loud voice) Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do...
Elder 3: Let us go!! (As they exit, he continues speaking) He trust in God, let God deliver him if
he wants to, after all he claimed to be the son of God.

(Action: Soldiers struggle over Jesus’ clothes)

Solider 1: His robe is mine!!
Solider 2: No! I want it as well.
Captain: Stop that rubbish! Bring it here, let‟s gamble for it. (To Soldier 1) Hey! Where is the
dice?
(Action: they throw dice and one exclaims)

Soldier 1: (Happily) Yes!! Yes!! I‟ve won…

(Action: gambling allows John and Mary to move quietly towards the cross. As the
Soldiers finish
Gambling, one of the soldiers shouts at John and Mary, thus drawing attention to them)

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A DOCUMENT OF CYON OF THE CHURCH OF THE 12 APOSTLES. CBD. ABUJA
Soldier 1: Hey! You stop there! What do you want?
John: I have brought his mother to him.
Captain: Okay, allow them to come near
JESUS: (looks at them and speaks to John) Son, behold your mother (to Mary) Woman, behold
your son (John leads Mary who is leaning on him to one side)
(Passer-bys dressed bearing a little luggage and staff passes with his companion near the
cross and stop)

Passer-by 1: Aha!! So you would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days! Save yourself.

Passer-by 2: Yes!! If you are the son of God, come down from the cross.
JESUS: Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabach thani!!! (While rolling his head from side in agony)
Passer-by 1: (They Laugh) He is calling on Elijah.
Passer-by 2: (As they exit) He can continue waiting for Elijah…….
Bad Thief: Hey! Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and save us as well…..
Good Thief: Have you no fear of God at all? He got the same sentence with us. In our case we deserve
it, but he is innocent (to Jesus) Jesus! Remember me when you come to your kingdom.

JESUS: Truly, I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise (observing a brief pause)
JESUS: I am thirsty.
Soldier 1: So you are thirsty now? Drink this!! (Puts a stick with a sponge tied to it up to his mouth)
(Jesus makes a face and spit it out)
JESUS: Father, into your hands I commend my spirit (He cries out in agony)
It is Finished (he dies)...

(Action: Choir, leaders of the stations of the cross take over. It is now the duty of Someone else to say the
words of our Lord since Jesus has died.

THIRTHEEN STATIONS OF THE CROSS

At the announcement of the Thirteen Station Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus approach.

Soldiers: (Harass them) Stop there!! What do you want?

Joseph: We have a permit from the governor to remove the body of Jesus and bury him...
Captain: What do they want?
Soldier 2: They have a permit from the Governor to remove the body of Jesus, Sir..
Captain: Let me see it..

(Action: Soldier receives the permit and takes it to the officers who looks at it and
directs his men to check the body).
They hit the legs of the thieves and pierced the side of Jesus with a spear to certify him dead.
The soldier helps the elders to bring down the body of Jesus and places it on Mary’s laps
While “words of our lord” continues…………..

When the Fourteenth Station is announced, the body of Jesus is wrapped, the thieves are
brought down from their crosses and all exit bearing the dead bodies away “words of our
Lord” etc. continues………….

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A DOCUMENT OF CYON OF THE CHURCH OF THE 12 APOSTLES. CBD. ABUJA