Description
Slaughter of the Innocent
Bible Ref: Matthew 26 -27; Mark 14 -15; Luke 22-23; John 18-19
Each of the following sketches (scenes) can be used to form the basis for a complete act of worship or used as individual scenes on separate occasions. Each scene will require a narrator to read the linking text as well as the characters in the scene itself.
List of scenes:
The Jewish Trial
Peter Denies Jesus Three Times
Judas Returns Thirty Pieces of Silver
The Roman Trial
Herod Meets Jesus
Pilate Releases Barabbas
The Crown of Thorns and the Flogging
Jesus is Crucified
The Two Criminals Crucified with Jesus
John and Mary, the Mother of Jesus
Jesus Dies
The Centurion Believes
Joseph of Arimathea Asks for the Body of Jesus
Guards Stationed by Jesus' Tomb
The Crown of Thorns and the Flogging (Short Reading that leads into Jesus is Crucified)
The soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, there the whole company gathered around him, beat him and spat on him. They twisted a crown out of cruel thorns and pushed it down hard on his head, so that the barbs cut deeply into his scalp. They put a staff in his right hand and bowed down in mock worship before him. Then they stripped the robe from his back and flogged him with a whip made of knotted cords and weighted lead.
Jesus is Crucified
After thirty-nine lashes, when he could barely stand, they threw a roughly hewn cross bar upon his shoulders and forced him to carry it through the city towards Golgotha, the place of execution. The cross fell from his withered shoulders, so as they were passing through the streets of Jerusalem they enlisted some help. They took hold of a man called Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way into the city from the country. They made him walk behind Jesus, carrying the cross for him. As Jesus hauled himself up the hill towards Golgotha the crowds shouted around him, some of the women following him were mourning and wailing, Jesus turned to them.
Jesus: Daughters of Jerusalem – don’t shed tears for me – cry for yourselves, and for your children. It will not be long before your torment is so bad you will plead for the hills to crush you and put you out of your misery. You will bless those who were unable to bring children into such a world. If they do this kind of thing now, while they have the light, what will they do when they walk in darkness?
Continues...
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