Easter Play

Wow! So That’s What Really Happened: Modern kids discover the Bible’s timeless truth about Easter

© 2014 by Constance Clay with Rosemary and Annamarie

Roles: 

Main: Grandpa, Girl/Mary Magdalene, Boy/Peter

Supporting: Jesus, Grandma, Dad/Simon/Disciple, Mom, Judas

Bit: Mob, Angel voices

Costumes: Boy and Girl in pajamas: slippers, robe or socks, etc., Grandpa and Grandma in travel outfits, later Grandma in pajamas/curlers, or a robe, slippers. Mom and Dad in casual wear, at first with outerwear, later Dad changes into robe and slippers or socks. Bible characters in period dress

Scenes: stage right couch, stage left plain background with 2 signs to flip for Simon’s/Gethsemane; Tomb/Galilee

Practices are noon every Sunday, with a Saturday noon practice before the April 5^th Easter Sunday performance at the main service (Cast: please be in costume, ready and in side room early). Dress rehearsal next Saturday during Sunday school (Please come early, dressed.) Please assemble and wear costumes immediately. Practices run 2-3 hours, with extra/more Saturday practices only if needed. All players please stay for full practice from now on. Thanks!

Perennial need: costumes, promotion, prayer crew

SCENE 1: (Light full on stage R couch with Boy, leaning on stage L arm, looking stage L)

GIRL (from other side of couch where she’s playing with iPod): Do you see him yet?

BOY: Not yet . . . Wait a minute, I—no, never mind. (Stops leaning, plops down on couch)

GIRL (Still not looking up from game): They should be here by now, shouldn’t they?

BOY: Yeah, they’re late. But you know how airports are.

GIRL: Maybe Dad couldn’t find any parking, or Grandma got stuck in security. (Laughs)

BOY (laughs): I hope they confiscated her vitamin C, so she doesn’t have any to force on us.

GIRL: This is the first time they’ve come for Christmas and Easter, both in one year!

BOY: And the first time they haven’t driven. You know how Grandpa hates flying. Why do you suppose he’s doing it? Usually they come just once a year, sometimes not even that. I wonder. . . .

GIRL: You’re always wondering. They probably had such a good time at Christmas they couldn’t wait to come back! I know I had a great time. And I can’t wait for Grandpa to read to us about Easter. I loved the story of Christmas!

BOY: Grandpa read us the true account of Christmas. It wasn’t a story, remember? The Bible is God’s Word. Every bit is true.

GIRL: I know. (Gets up to look stage L, standing by couch arm behind Boy, staring): Do you think we should keep waiting, or just go to bed? Grandpa could always read to us in the morning. He might be too tired tonight. (Yawns and goes back to place on couch) I’m getting tired myself.

BOY: Mom didn’t think they’d be gone long. I say we stay up. Besides, it’s more fun to hear stories—I mean, true accounts—at bedtime. (Leans over arm again, staring stage L)

GIRL (stands, staring stage L): Look, more lights. One’s turning!

BOY (stands, Girl moves slightly behind him): Is that our car? Yesss!

GIRL (starts walking stage L): I’ll get the Bible, you—

BOY: I knew all those video games would make you blind! The Bible’s right here, on the couch. (Indicates) Put down your iPod and watch with me.

GIRL (looks at Bible, comes back to stand slightly stage R of Boy): They’re getting out of the car . . . They’re walking up the steps . . .

(As parents, grandparents walk in stage L)

BOY and GIRL: Happy Easter! (Everyone hugs, then Girl rushes over to couch, hands Grandpa Bible)

GIRL: Please read to us, Grandpa. We’ve been reading the Bible on our own since you left at Christmas, but nobody reads like you. We want to hear the . . .  true account . . . of Easter!

GRANDPA (laughs): I see we’re going to continue where we left off.

DAD: Kids, you can’t ask Grandpa to read yet. He hasn’t even taken his coat off!

GRANDPA (takes off coat, hands it to Dad): Well then, you may have it. (Sits down on couch, opens Bible as children plop down on either side of him: Boy stage R, Girl stage L)

MOM (to Grandma): Mom, please talk some sense into him!

GRANDMA (chuckles, looks at Grandpa): I’ve been trying to talk sense into him even before the doctor— (Catches herself, smiles) Never mind. He’ll do as he pleases. He always has. (Turns to Mom) Come on, dear, help me get settled in. We can keep catching up as I unpack.

DAD (hands Grandpa’s coat to Mom as Mom and Grandma exit stage R): I’ll get the luggage. (Exits stage L)

GRANDPA (to children): Well, isn’t this cozy, children! Just like last time. (Adjusts glasses as opens Bible) Hmm . . . I’m not sure where I should start. (Pages through Bible, stops) Ah, yes! Let’s begin with John’s account. (Reads 1:1-3) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

BOY: Hey, this sounds like Genesis 1:1: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

GRANDPA (beams): You have been reading the Bible. And memorizing it, too!

BOY: I have. (Looks at Girl) But she likes other books better . . . and games, and movies. . . .

GRANDPA (sighs): Most folks do.

GIRL (defensively): I like the Bible! And I read it . . . sometimes. But memorizing is hard, and I can’t read like you do, Grandpa.

GRANDPA: I’ve had lots of practice. My father taught me to read the Bible when I was younger than you, and my mother read it to me before that. For family devotions, Father read to us all, every night.

GIRL: We do that, too. Sometimes. . . .

BOY: Please keep reading, Grandpa.

GRANDPA (reads John 1:9-10): There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

GIRL: What do you mean, they didn’t know Him? I thought a lot of people knew Jesus, even at his birth. You read to us at Christmas about the shepherds, and Magi, and of course Mary and Joseph. And later He had brothers and sisters, right?

GRANDPA (smiles): You’ve been reading, too. Yes, a lot of people recognized that Jesus was the Messiah at His birth—

BOY: King Herod sure did—and tried to kill Jesus. He didn’t want another King around, especially the King of Kings.

GRANDPA: The chief priests and scribes felt the same way, but their attempt to kill Jesus was successful. (Flips pages) I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves, though. Let’s back up . . . to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, which probably ended with his death about three years later.

DAD (enters stage L, carrying luggage): This sounds like it’s going to be a long story. You really should rest, Pop. And you should let him, kids.

GRANDPA: Oh, I need to unwind anyway.

DAD: All right, but the ladies might have something to say about that. I’ll see when I bring up your luggage.

GRANDPA: Thank you! Now where were we? Ah, yes, the beginning of Jesus’ ministry . . . (Reads John 1:29) These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

BOY: John . . . wasn’t he Jesus’ cousin or something?

GRANDPA: The Bible says Mary and Elizabeth were relatives, and both mothers were pregnant with their first sons at the same time.

GIRL: Didn’t Mary go to see Elizabeth after the angel said she would have God’s Son?

GRANDPA (nods): I imagine Mary felt they had something in common: Both pregnancies were miracles. John’s mother, Elizabeth, was old and unable to have children up ‘til then, and Jesus’ Father was God.

BOY: So Jesus and John were probably friends, maybe even grew up together.

GRANDPA: That’s a good guess. We do know that John baptized Jesus, at which time . . . (Reads Matthew 3:16-17) “the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased’.”

BOY: Imagine seeing God’s Spirit and hearing His voice!

GIRL: I wish He was pleased with me.

GRANDPA: If Jesus is your Savior, God is pleased with you. He’s forgiven your sins because of His Son. That, in a nutshell, is the good news of Easter.

DAD (enters stage R): The ladies insist you come upstairs and rest, Pop. You know you’re supposed to take it easy.

GRANDPA (lifts hands): All right, all right. Tell them I’ll be there . . . in about a half hour. (Checks watch) I have to stay up to take my medication anyway, and I won’t be much good afterwards. It makes me so sleepy. . . .

BOY: What are you taking medication for, Grandpa? I don’t remember you taking any at Christmas.

GRANDPA: I did then too, but this is . . . different. (Grandpa and Dad look at each other) You haven’t told them?

DAD: We thought it would be better coming from you. But that can wait ‘til tomorrow.

GRANDPA: Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed to anyone. (Takes off glasses and shuts Bible) Fact is, children, my doctor is worried about me. That’s why we didn’t drive here this time. He thinks I should take it easier. (Looks at Dad) How’s that?

DAD (shrugs): Fine, if that’s all you want to say.

BOY: What else is there to say, Grandpa?

GRANDMA (enters stage R): Are you breaking the news, dear?

GRANDPA: I was about to. Maybe you should.

GRANDMA (sits by Grandpa as he and children scoot over and Mom enters stage R): Dears, we don’t want you to worry, but for the past few years, Grandpa . . . hasn’t been feeling well. The doctor put him through a lot of tests, but they only ruled out some causes and confirmed that something is wrong. Recently the doctor thought a new medication might help. It’s experimental, though—and a bit risky.

MOM: I thought we were going to wait until tomorrow to tell the children.

DAD: Your pop thought the sooner, the better. Ready for bed now, Pop? I sure am.

GRANDPA (pats Grandma): I’ll be ready in a half hour or so. I just want to read to the children a while longer, and then I’ll come. All right?

GRANDMA: All right, dear. (To Mom) You see? There’s no crossing him. (Slowly raises herself up) And he does love reading to the children. That’s probably good medicine, too. (Exits stage R)

MOM (worried): I hope so. (Follows Grandma to exit stage R)

BOY: Dad, aren’t you going, too?

DAD: Nah, I think I’ll stick around awhile and see why you kids prefer Pop’s reading to mine. I’ll just get changed for bed first. Go ahead and start without me. (Exits stage R)

BOY: Grandpa, are you . . . going to die?

GIRL: You shouldn’t ask that!

BOY: Why not? Do you mind me asking, Grandpa?

GRANDPA: Not really. I don’t like to think about dying much, but I know where I’m going when I do.

BOY: Heaven, right?

GRANDPA: Right. I should be excited, and in some ways, I am. I just don’t like to think of leaving you all here.

GIRL: Uh, Grandpa? We don’t know for sure that you’re dying, do we? I mean, the medicine could . . . make you better, couldn’t it?

GRANDPA: That’s why I’m taking it. Besides, no one knows when their time is.

BOY (cheerily): Right! One of us could die before you do, Grandpa.

GRANDPA: That’s not likely.

GIRL (shudders): I don’t like talking about this. Could we get back to reading about Easter?

(Dad in robe and slippers/socks enters stage R, sits stage L of Girl)

GRANDPA: Easter doesn’t avoid the topic of death. But it does overcome it.

BOY: Then let’s hear it!

DAD: I’d like to hear about that myself.

GRANDPA (pages through Bible): Okay, let me give you all a little background first. After his baptism, Jesus fasted for forty days in the wilderness, then was tempted by the devil. The devil offered him food—

BOY: That must’ve been really tempting, after not eating for forty days! I can’t even go one day.

GIRL: Or even one meal.

GRANDPA: Then the devil tempted Jesus to jump off the top of the temple in Jerusalem—

DAD: How is that a temptation?

GRANDPA: Satan implied that if Jesus didn’t jump, He probably wasn’t the Son of God, because angels would catch Him if He was.

GIRL: That would tempt me! Imagine flying with angels!

BOY: I wonder how high we could go. Or how fast!

GRANDPA (turns to Matthew and reads 4:8-11): Then the devil showed Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, ‘All these things will I give you, if You fall down and worship me’. Then Jesus said to him, ‘Begone, Satan! For it is written, YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY. Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.”

BOY: Imagine getting the chance to be king of the whole world! That would’ve been hard to resist.

GRANDPA: And if Jesus had given in one bit, He wouldn’t have been without sin anymore, and He couldn’t have died for our sins on the cross: Only a perfect sacrifice could, as Satan well knew.

BOY: So we all would have gone to hell.

DAD (startled and skeptical): Really?

GRANDPA (nods): Jesus was, and still is, our only Hope. But He never fell to Satan’s schemes, like Adam and Eve and every one of us has ever since. He answered each temptation with Scripture, refusing the devil’s suggestions. And when He walked out of that wilderness, He began His earthly ministry.

GIRL: Is that what you do when you’re tempted, Grandpa? Use Scripture to refuse it?

GRANDPA: I try. But if you don’t know the Bible, you can’t quote it. Satan doesn’t wait around. Temptation comes and wham: you’d better know your Bible right now. Otherwise. . . you’ll probably fall.

BOY: What happened after Jesus beat Satan in the wilderness, Grandpa?

GRANDPA: Jesus started preaching, did miracles, gained friends . . . and enemies. Two of his first followers were originally John’s disciples. One of them told his brother, Simon, also known as Peter, then Jesus recruited Philip, who told another and soon Jesus had twelve disciples, who followed Him ‘til He died. They were His closest companions, but even one of them betrayed Him.

BOY: Judas

GRANDPA: Yes. In a whirlwind trial, after a whirlwind week, Jesus went from being hailed as a king to being hung as a criminal.

DAD: All that happened in one week?

GRANDPA: Less than a week, actually. Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday—we call it that because the people laid down branches from trees and even their own clothes for Him to ride over, crying before and behind Him, “Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the Highest!

BOY: They thought Jesus would be their King and rescue them from the rule of the Romans.

GRANDPA (nods): At one point they even tried to make Him their King by force. But by Friday they weren’t adoring subjects crying “Hosanna!” anymore. They were a bloodthirsty mob screaming, “Crucify Him!”

BOY: I wish I could’ve been there.

GIRL: Why would you want to?

DAD: Do you think you could have changed anything?

BOY: No. I just wonder . . . what I would’ve done, especially if I’d been one of His disciples. In just a few days, they went from being buddies of the biggest celebrity to hit Jerusalem to being wanted men, hiding for their lives because they knew Him. Imagine what a wild ride that must’ve been!

(Light begins to fade)

GIRL: I’m not sure I want to imagine that.

BOY: Of course you do. And you, too, Dad.

DAD: Maybe you should imagine for me. You’ve got a big enough imagination for both of us.

GIRL: For all of us.

BOY: Come on, you don’t want to miss out! Think of being with Jesus, not on Palm Sunday, but. . . . what day did Judas decide to betray Jesus, Grandpa?

GRANDPA (pages through Bible): Wednesday. (Begins reading Mark 14:1-3) “The Passover was two days off; and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to seize Him by stealth, and kill Him; for they were saying, `Not during the festival, lest there be a riot of the people’.”

(Boy, then Girl leave couch, Dad follows behind as they walk to stage L Simon’s scene)

GRANDPA: “And while He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His head.”

SCENE 2: (Light up on stage L “Simon’s:” a low, long table lengthwise with bowls and Jesus, Judas gathered around it, reclining on the floor. Boy and Girl sit/kneel on downstage side of table, facing audience: Simon (Dad) at the head of the table stage right, feet away from stage toward left, Boy kneeling on back side of table beside him, Girl, kneeling away from the table near Jesus, Jesus at the head of table stage left with feet toward Judas, Judas on front side of table with feet toward Simon)

BOY: Dad, uh, I mean, Simon—would you please pass the potat— Oh! (Sniffs, grimaces) Hey, who spilled the perfume? Ugh! Everything’s going to taste like nard now.

JUDAS (says Mark 14:4-5 angrily): “Why has this perfume been wasted? It might have been sold for over three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor.”

BOY: Yeah, instead it’s only going to wreck our meal!

JUDAS (venomously to Girl, who looks startled after he speaks): You wasteful woman!

BOY: Oh, she did it? Figures. Wasteful, yeah. But woman? (Looks at Jesus, with Girl scooting closer beside Him, shrinking, looking down) Oh, sorry, Jesus. I shouldn’t be complaining. She spilled it all over You!

JUDAS (seething at Girl): How could you be so careless, so—

JESUS (says Mark 14:6-9): “Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me, For the poor you always have with you, and whenever you wish, you can do them good; but you do not always have Me. She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. And truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, that also which this woman has done shall be spoken of in memory of her.”

(Light fades from stage L, comes up on Grandpa who reads as Judas exits stage R and Boy, Girl and Dad retake their places; stage L is cleared, “Simon’s” sign flipped to “Gethsemane”)

GRANDPA (slowly reads Matthew 26:14-16): “Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, and said, “What are you willing to give me to deliver Him up to you?” And they weighed out to him thirty pieces of silver. And from then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Him.”

SCENE 3: (Light full on stage R couch)

BOY (to Dad and Girl): I knew you two had great imaginations. Wasn’t that fun?

GIRL (shakes head as Dad nods): Fun for you, maybe. I just got yelled at. What happened next, Grandpa?

GRANDPA (reads Mark 14:12): Well, the next day was “the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed[;] His disciples said to Him, ‘Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

BOY: What’s the Passover?

GRANDPA: The Passover, along with the Feast of Unleavened Bread, is something the people of Israel still observe to mark the night in history when God freed them from slavery in Egypt. It took a lot of persuading to make Pharaoh let them go, though.

BOY: What kind of persuading?

GRANDPA: Ten plagues: of blood, frogs, gnats, flies, disease on livestock, boils on man and beast, hail, locusts, darkness . . . and death.

BOY: Wow! That was a lot of persuading.

GRANDPA (paraphrases Exodus 12:12): The plagues were judgments on the Egyptians as well as on their gods. God told His people ahead of time what would happen, and He spared them, especially from the last and worst plague of death, passing over the houses of those who obeyed Him.

GIRL: Passing over? Is that where the word “Passover” comes from?

GRANDPA (smiles): Yes, good listening!

BOY: What did the people have to do so God would . . . pass over?

GRANDPA (paraphrases Exodus 12:3-6): On the tenth of that month, each household was to take a lamb, or share one with his neighbor: an unblemished male sheep or goat a year old. They were to keep the lamb until the fourteenth, when the people were to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel was to kill the lamb at twilight, take some of the blood, and put in on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they ate.

GIRL: Yuck!

GRANDPA: It’s not a pleasant thing, I agree. Can you imagine your family taking in a lamb, caring for it four days, then having to kill it?

GIRL: I could never do that!

GRANDPA (paraphrases Exodus 12:23): Well, that’s what God did for us, giving up His own beloved Son. And that first Passover, everyone who didn’t come under the covering of the blood of the lamb was exposed to the destroyer.

BOY: What happened?

GRANDPA (paraphrases Exodus 11:5, 12:29): At midnight, all the first-born in the land of Egypt died, from the first-born of Pharaoh who sat on his throne, even to the first-born of the slave girl behind the millstones; all the first-born of the cattle as well.

BOY: (solemnly): Wow.

GRANDPA (paraphrases Exodus 11:6): God warned Pharaoh that there would “be a great cry in all the land of Egypt” such as there had not been before and never would be again.  

DAD: Sounds pretty harsh.

GRANDPA: Yes, it was, to anyone who didn’t obey God. Sin kills. But Jesus saves, and all this was a picture of how Jesus, the ultimate Lamb of God, would be our sin covering, so God would pass over our sins and we wouldn’t be destroyed.

BOY: Hey, didn’t John say something like that, when He saw Jesus right before he baptized Him?

GRANDPA (smiles and says John 1:29): Yes: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

DAD: So Jesus was the Passover Lamb.

GRANDPA (nods): In fact, the moment people all over Israel were celebrating the Passover, Jesus instituted the first Lord’s Supper, offering His body and blood to the disciples—after He dismissed Judas.

GIRL: Jesus, uh, offered them His body and blood?

GRANDPA: Figuratively. It was the first Communion. Here, let me read it to you. (Says Mark 14:22-25): “And while they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it; and gave it to them, and said, `Take it; this is My body’. And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them; and they all drank from it. And He said to them, `This is My blood of the covenant, which is to be shed on behalf of many. Truly I say to you, I shall never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God’.”

DAD: So Jesus knew He would die.

GRANDPA: Yes, and soon. But the disciples didn’t understand, even though He told them about His death many times during the few years they were together. He tried telling them again that night after the Passover meal, as they walked to the Mount of Olives. (Reads Mark 14:27-28) “And Jesus said to them, `You will all fall away, because it is written, “I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP SHALL BE SCATTERED.” But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee’.”

DAD: Jesus knew He would live again, too.

GRANDPA: Yes. (Reads Mark 14:29-30): “But Peter said to Him, `Even though all may fall away, yet I will not’. And Jesus said to him, `Truly I say to you, that you yourself this very night, before a cock crows twice, shall three times deny Me’.”

BOY: Before a cock crows? What’s all that about?

GRANDPA: I think Jesus was saying that Peter’s denials would happen before dawn. Cocks are roosters, and generally crow when the sun rises or a bit earlier. But before the sun rose again on Jesus and His disciples, they would have to get through one very long and dark night.

BOY (interested): What happened?

GRANDPA: Apart from the cross, it was probably Jesus’ most difficult time on earth: in the garden of Gethsemane—where He was betrayed.

BOY: Betrayed: In some dark garden on a mountain. Scary.

GRANDPA (nods): Especially after Judas arrived to arrest Jesus with a mob of chief priests and elders, and a Roman cohort, which was a group of about 300-600 soldiers. Yes, that night the garden of Gethsemane was a very scary place, I imagine.

BOY: Me, too. Please tell us all about it, Grandpa.

GRANDPA: I’ll try.

(Light begins to fade, in darkness Boy and Dad exit stage L, ready to enter stage L scene from side room with Jesus and disciples; later Judas and Mob extras enter stage R)

GRANDPA (read/memorize): Judas knew the place, since Jesus had often met there with His disciples. That night Jesus led his remaining eleven faithful followers there one last time but took Peter, James and John farther, leaving even them as He went on about a stone’s throw to pray. The Bible says in Luke 22:4, “and being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.” That’s a rare medical condition, only occurring during the deepest moments of stress. . . .

SCENE 4: (Dim light on stage L “Gethsemane.” Jesus leads the way, entering stage L, with the two sons of Zebedee, James (Dad) and John (Emily). Boy (Peter) follows behind them. They all stop at the far left edge of stage L, just as they enter the light)

JESUS (says Matthew 26:38): “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.”

(They stay; Jesus goes farther toward center stage, falls on His face and prays slowly and in agony)

JESUS (says Matthew 26:39): “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”

GRANDPA (in darkness reads/memorizes Matthew 26:40): And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter (Boy),

JESUS (acts part then says): “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? Keep watching and praying, that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

(Mob enters stage R, Judas in the lead)

GRANDPA (in darkness reads/memorizes John 18:3-3): “Judas then, having received the Roman cohort, and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth, and said to them,”

JESUS: “Whom do you seek?”

GRANDPA: “They answered Him,”

MOB (demands arrogantly): “Jesus the Nazarene.”

GRANDPA: “He said to them,”

JESUS: “I am He.”

(Mob draws back, falling to the ground)

GRANDPA: “When therefore He said to them, ‘I am He’, they drew back, and fell to the ground. Again therefore He asked them,”

JESUS: “Whom do you seek?”

GRANDPA: “And they said,”

MOB (looks up timidly from ground): “Jesus the Nazarene.”

GRANDPA: “Jesus answered,”

JESUS: “I told you that I am He; if therefore you seek Me, let these go their way.” (Indicates disciples behind him who stand, frozen with fear)

GRANDPA (reads/memorizes Matthew 26:48-9): “Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, ‘Whomever I shall kiss, He is the one; seize Him’. And immediately he went to Jesus and said,”

JUDAS (stands; Mob watches him and rises timidly): “Hail Rabbi!” Kisses Jesus—a cheek brush to the side the audience can’t see is fine

JESUS: “Friend, do what you have come for.”

GRANDPA (reads/memorizes Matthew 26:51-2, John 18:10): “Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus (Boy does this as Grandpa reads) reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear.” Jesus touched his ear and healed him, then said to Peter,

JESUS (says Matthew 26:52-54): “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? How then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen this way?”

GRANDPA (reads/memorizes Matthew 26:55): “At that time Jesus said to the multitudes,”

JESUS (says Matthew 26:55-56): “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me. But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.”

GRANDPA (reads/memorizes Matthew 26:56): “Then all the disciples left Him and fled.”

(Other disciple (Emily) flees stage L; Dad and Boy flee stage R. Light out; stage clears and “Tomb” sign is hung. Boy, Dad take places on stage R couch; Light slowly comes up on couch scene stage R)

SCENE 5: (Full light on stage R couch)

GIRL (slowly): So Jesus was all alone: Just One, in the darkness, against hundreds. All His friends scattered when He was arrested, just like He said they would.

BOY (snorts): Can you blame them? There wasn’t much they could do against an armed mob and a Roman cohort. Except maybe get killed.

GRANDPA: Well, Simon Peter and another disciple, probably John, followed as Jesus was brought to Annas, father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. The other disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, then spoke to the doorkeeper and brought in Peter.

BOY: Is this when Peter denies Jesus?

GIRL (demands): You know what’s going to happen, don’t you? I thought we weren’t going to read about Easter, so Grandpa could!

BOY (sheepishly): I didn’t read the whole thing! Just . . . parts. (Defensively) I was curious!

GIRL (admits): So was I—but I only read parts, too. (Defensively as Boy makes a face) And saved the rest for Grandpa!

GRANDPA: Thank you, but I’m sure you children can read every bit as well as I can. Just ask Jesus to help you—He still helps those in need today, you know. Always remember that: You are never alone.

BOY (after a pause): What should we ask Him for?

GRANDPA: Whatever you need. Ask His Spirit to give you wisdom and humility, so you apply what you read, so you obey and love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. That’s what I do every time I pick up this Book. (Looks at it) Let’s see, we were reading about Peter’s denial. . . . (Pages through, finds Mark 14:71-72) Not once, not twice, but three times Peter denied Jesus, cursing and swearing that he did not even know Jesus. And then “he began to weep.”

GIRL: I would’ve, too. Grandpa, this . . . account . . . is getting too sad.

GRANDPA: Then maybe you’d like to go upstairs with your mother and grandmother, because it gets worse fast.

GIRL (reluctantly): No . . . I’ll stay. I just liked hearing about Christmas so much: (Dreamily) the wonderful star at Jesus’ birth, the animals and everyone in the stable at Bethlehem, the shepherds and Magi coming to visit and worship Him. (Pouting) Easter started out okay, but. . . .

GRANDPA (reassuringly): It ends well. Very well. (Pats her) I’m already skipping things that happened in the middle for lack of time, but we can’t skip everything, can we?

BOY: No! What else happened?

GRANDPA (paraphrases Matthew 26:59-63): Well, while Peter was sitting in the courtyard of the high priest, “the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, in order that they might put Him to death.” Many false witnesses came forward, but Jesus kept silent until the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.”

GIRL: Did Jesus still keep quiet then?

GRANDPA (reads Matthew 26:64): No, He “said to him, `You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, AND COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN’.”

BOY (laughs): Jesus really let them have it! I guess He was just waiting to talk until He had the perfect thing to say. What did they answer?

GRANDPA (reads Matthew 26:66-68): They said He was “worthy of death”, then “they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped him, and said, ‘Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You’?”

BOY (solemnly): Then . . . they killed Him.

GRANDPA (reads Matthew 26:1-4): They could only judge against Him. They didn’t have the authority to kill Him, as their Roman rulers did, so in the morning, “all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death; and they bound Him, and led Him away, and delivered Him up to Pilate the governor.” Meanwhile, Judas “felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood’. But they said, ‘What is that to us? See to that yourself!’”

DAD: They just didn’t care, did they? And these were the religious leaders?

GRANDPA (nods): I’m afraid so.

BOY: Then what happened?

GRANDPA (paraphrases Matthew 27:14, 18-19): They accused Him before Pilate, the Roman governor. Again Jesus did not answer, not even in regard to “a single charge, so that the governor was quite amazed.” Pilate knew that they had delivered up Jesus to Him “because of envy”, and he tried to release him, especially after Pilate’s own “wife sent to him, saying, ‘Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him’.”

GIRL: But Pilate didn’t let Him go, did he?

GRANDPA (paraphrases Matthew 27:20-25): No, though he tried to. He gave the mob the choice of releasing Jesus or a notorious prisoner, a murderer called Barabbas. The chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas. The same people who days earlier had shouted for Jesus’ coronation now demanded His crucifixion. “Let Him be crucified!” they all cried. And Pilate said, Reads: “`Why, what evil has He done’? But they kept shouting all the more, saying, `Let Him be crucified!’ And when Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the multitude, saying, ‘I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves’. And all the people answered and said, ‘His blood be on us and on our children’!”

(Pause)

DAD (soberly): And it is. (Looks at Boy and Girl, then Grandpa) His blood is on us and on our children, isn’t it?

GRANDPA (smiles gently and nods): One way or another. Jesus died for our sins. If we accept His sacrifice, His blood covers us and washes us clean. If we reject Him, our sin stands. We, like the mob, like the religious leaders and Roman rulers, even like Judas—are responsible for shedding His innocent blood . . . because we all need a Savior.

GIRL: But . . . I wasn’t there. It wasn’t my fault—I wouldn’t have killed Him!

GRANDPA (gently paraphrases 1 Peter 3:18, Luke 23:34, Hebrews 12:2): Whether you were there or not doesn’t matter: Jesus “died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God”. He died willingly: “for the joy set before Him”, “He endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Tens of thousands of angels would have rescued Him in an instant, had He said the word. But instead, as He hung nailed to the cross, struggling for each breath and suffering the worst torture known, what He did say was, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

(Pause)

GIRL: I think I liked the true account of Christmas better than Easter.

GRANDPA (paraphrases Luke 23:46): Part of Easter I like better, but part is harder for me each year because I realize more and more what Jesus suffered on my behalf. He was only in His thirties when He died, and He didn’t just bear excruciating pain on the cross, He bore the scathing scorn of people who wanted Him there. He bore the unspeakable horror and filth of my sin and the sin of all His people from the beginning to the end of time. And He even bore separation from God, who turned away from all that sin. In the end, Jesus committed His Spirit to His Father and breathed His last. It was finished.

BOY: What was?

GRANDPA (reads Matthew 27:51): The whole system of temple sacrifice, for one. At the moment of Jesus’ death, “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” Through Jesus, we now had direct access to God. No longer would animals have to die as payment for sins. Jesus was the sin covering God made for Adam and Eve, clothing them after their fall into sin. Jesus was the fulfillment of the covenant God made with Abraham, establishing the people of Israel. Jesus was the Passover Lamb. He was God Himself: the perfect, final and eternal sacrifice.

GRANDMA (enters stage R to center stage, by couch): Are you done reading to the children now, dear?

GRANDPA: No! I’m just getting to the best part: the resurrection. I’m almost done, though.

GRANDMA (warning): All right, but I’m about ready to turn in. I’ll change into my night things and if you’re not upstairs by then, (waggles index finger at him) I’ll come down to get you. (Pats him, turns to children and Dad, hugs them all) Good night, everyone. (Giggles) I think I’ll also wish you all an early happy Easter!

BOY and GIRL: Happy Easter, Grandma!

GRANDMA: The Lord is risen! (Slowly exits stage R)

GRANDMA (says to Grandma as Boy and Girl look at each other, puzzled): The Lord is risen indeed! (To children) That’s something we always say in church at Easter. (Looks a bit sad)

DAD: Don’t worry, this year we’ve decided to attend the Easter service. We thought you’d like to go.

BOY: We’ll be having turkey and mashed potatoes and gravy and rolls at home afterwards, too!

GIRL: And pie! Mom says I get to help her and Grandma bake, starting tomorrow.

BOY: I only want to eat.

DAD (laughs): Me, too.

GRANDPA (sad, slowly says): Well, I suppose we should wrap this up. We’re almost to Easter Sunday.

(Light fades. Girl, Boy and Dad exit stage L when dark)

GRANDPA (pages to Mark 15:42-43,46; John 19:38): Let’s see . . . at evening, “Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one, for fear of the Jews” “gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.” “Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down” from the cross, “wrapped Him in the linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.”

SCENE 6: (Light slowly comes up on stage L “Tomb” with weeping Girl. Boy and other disciple (John the Elder--Isaiah) enter stage R when cued; later Girl runs to Boy)

GRANDPA (in dark reads/memorizes John 20:1-2): Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. And so she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them,

GIRL: “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

GRANDPA (in darkness reads/memorizes John 20:6-18 as Boy and other disciple run to “Tomb,” peek past it on far stage L side when cued, then exit stage R when cued): Peter “entered the tomb; and he beheld the linen wrappings lying there, and the face-cloth, which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb entered then also, and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. So the disciples went away again to their own homes. But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she beheld two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her,

GRANDPA/JUDAS or 2 male voices offstage (as Mary bends around far L background): ‘Woman, why are you weeping’?

GRANDPA: “She said to them,”

GIRL: “‘Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”

GRANDPA (as Jesus enters stage L by center stage): “When she had said this, she turned around, and beheld Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her,”

JESUS: “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”

GRANDPA: “Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him,”

GIRL: “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”

GRANDPA: “Jesus said to her,”

JESUS (with feeling): “Mary!”

GRANDPA: “She turned and said to him in Hebrew”

GIRL (broken but joyful): “Rabboni!”

GRANDPA: “which means,” my “Teacher. Jesus said to her,”

JESUS (gently): “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren, and say to them, I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.” (Jesus exits stage L)

(Mary runs stage R as the Other Disciple (Isaiah), and Peter (Boy), enter stage R; sound crew prepares to cue music)

GRANDPA: Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples,

GIRL (in wonder): “I have seen the Lord”

(The disciples look at her, shake heads and walk away stage R as music begins)

GIRL sings, “Just One” "Just One" recording

(Light fades. When dark, Girl exits stage R, takes place on couch; stage L sign flips to “Galilee”)  

GRANDPA (in darkness reads/memorizes Mark 16:11-14): “And when [the disciples] heard that He was alive, and had been seen . . . they refused to believe. . . . And after that, he appeared in a different form to two of them, while they were walking along on their way to the country. And they went away and reported it to the others, but they did not believe them either. And afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.”

SCENE 7: (Full light on Jesus stage L “Galilee”)

GRANDPA (in darkness reads/memorize Matthew 28:18): “And Jesus came up” to the eleven disciples on a mountain in Galilee “and spoke to them, saying,”

JESUS (faces congregation, says Matthew 28:18-20): “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

(Light fades; when dark, Jesus exits stage L by center stage)

GRANDPA (reads/memorizes in darkness Mark 16:19): “So then when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.”

SCENE 8: (Full light on stage R couch)

GIRL: Wow! So that’s what really happened!

BOY (happily): Jesus went right back to heaven, right back where He came from!

GRANDPA: And someday, He’ll come again.

GIRL (quotes slowly): “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Smiles) What great last words! I bet the disciples loved hearing Him say that. It even makes me feel like . . . like you said, Grandpa: I’ll never really be alone again. (Pauses) What did the disciples do after Jesus left?

GRANDPA (reads Luke 24:50-53): Well, Jesus lifted up His hands and was blessing them as “He parted from them. And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple, praising God.” (Closes Bible)

BOY: Is that . . . the whole account of Easter?

GRANDPA (smiles): The Bible has four entire books in it about Easter: the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. As it says in the last verse of John, “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books which were written.” (Sighs) Maybe in heaven we’ll hear the rest.

GRANDMA (enters stage R in a robe and slippers, stands to far L of scene): A closed Bible? Then I take it your reading is done.

GIRL: For now. (Smiles at Grandpa) Thanks, Grandpa. Can we read about Easter again tomorrow? I have some questions. . . .

BOY: I’d rather hear it again tonight!

GRANDPA (laughs)

BOY: But anytime is fine. Thanks for reading, Grandpa.

DAD (stands up, shaking head): I have to hand it to you, Pop. When you read, I almost feel. . . . 

BOY (excited): Like you’re right there, living it?

DAD (in wonder): Yes.

GRANDPA (shakes head): It’s not the reader. It’s the words: The Bible is God’s word. Here, take it. (Hands Bible to Dad) Good night, all! I love you.

BOY and GIRL (return farewells as Grandpa and Grandma exit stage R)

MOM (offstage talks to them, says goodnight and enters stage R, sits down on couch in Grandpa’s place): Well, the night is still young. I made some popcorn and hot chocolate for us. Grandma and Grandpa don’t want any, but if we’re quiet, there’s no need for the party to end.

BOY, GIRL, DAD (improvise): Sounds good! Great! Thanks! etc.

MOM: Oh, and Grandma set out a chewable vitamin C for each of you.

BOY, GIRL, DAD (groan, protest good-naturedly)

MOM: I’ll go get it, then . . . maybe we can all do something quiet together, like play a board game? Or watch a movie? You seemed so cozy down here, I hated to miss out. But it was good to spend time one-on-one with Grandma, too.

(Boy and Girl exchange looks)

DAD: Do you need any help getting the snacks, honey? I mean, besides the vitamin C.

MOM: I’ll just bring everything in on a tray—including the vitamin C. It won’t hurt, you know. Grandma’s just trying to take care of us.

DAD: All right. And when you come back, maybe . . . maybe instead of a game or movie, you’d like to . . . hear me read? (Holds up Bible hopefully)

GIRL (excited): About Easter?

MOM (surprised): A Bible story? Sure.

BOY (gently): Not a story, Mom: a true account—of how Easter really happened.

(Light down)