Special Good Friday Resource

A Dramatic Reading

"Who was that they killed last Friday?"

If you have not used drama in worship, this reading can provide a bridge to drama ministry. There are two ways this reading can be used.

1. The readings can be done in conjunction with scripture passages selected from the gospel reading (John 18:1 - 19:42) as separate readings apart from the narrator portions. This allows from one to six readers and meditations / homilies as desired.

2. The readings may be done as an entire script using the narrator portions. This would replace the usual sermon / homily.

"Who was that man they killed last Friday?"

Narrator: My name is Fabius. I am a Roman citizen and a captain in the Third Roman Division under General Octavius. I am Roman born of a Roman father, (a Captain in Caesar's Palace Guard) and a Jewish mother. Although I honor Caesar as Lord and am not a believer in the Jewish god, I do honor my mother's heritage and have attempted to be fair in my dealings with the Jews. I have been commissioned to come here to Jerusalem and convene a panel to investigate the death of a young Jewish teacher who was reported to have claimed a throne in violation of Roman law and who was said by his Jewish leaders to have violated Jewish law.

The disturbances that have been reported since last Friday's execution have brought about conflicting accounts of who this teacher was. Jesus the Nazarene, I believe was his name. Our purpose here today is to listen to several people who witnessed the execution and might help us to sort out some of the rumors that have disturbed the population since Friday evening. We hope to answer clearly the question, "Who was the man that was executed last Friday?"

We will begin with one of the Commanders of Pilate's Guard who will be able to give an official account of the last hours of the Nazarene's life. Centurion, could you please tell us what role you played in these events and what conclusion you came to?

Centurion: I am pleased to give assistance Captain Fabius. I am Justinius, a Centurion of Pilate's Guard. I was there when some of the Jewish leaders dragged the poor fellow before Pilate accusing him of sedition and saying that he claimed to be King of the Jews. It was obvious that he had been roughed up a bit, but we try to let the Jews take care of their own. Pilate found the man harmless, but his accusers were quite wrought-up and started yelling that this Jesus was stirring up trouble from Northern Galilee all the way to here in Jerusalem. We soldiers tried not to laugh, it was very clear that the man was no threat at all.

I thought we had seen the last of him when Pilate took the opportunity to send him over to Herod who had jurisdiction over Galileans. There was no such good fortune. Herod sent him back -- worse for the wear, I might add. Pilate found him innocent of any charges, but the crowd was turning into a mob... they began to cry out for his blood! It was getting out of control, I tell you.

Pilate seemed quite somber when he told the crowd he thought Jesus was innocent,but they yelled louder. At one point the soldiers were knocking him around quite violently, then they smashed a crown of thorns on his head. He was seriously wounded by the time Pilate relented and sent him off to be crucified. I took charge of the execution squad.I must tell you I did not like the task at all. The prisoner was in bad shape by the time we got outside the city wall. There were three executions Friday. I was glad when it was over.

Narrator: You are aware, Centurion, that we are here to ascertain who the man was that was killed along with the two thieves. We would appreciate your opinion. Who do you say he was?

Centurion: This is hard Captain. He was more than an ordinary Jewish peasant. I am not proud of the treatment we gave him even though he was not a Roman citizen. Who was he? He was more honorable than his accusers. He was more noble than many soldiers I have known. He looked us in the eye and said, "Father forgive them -- they don't know what they're doing." He was untouched by the insults hurled at him. Some of my men were among those who mocked him. When he died at last, darkness like the night descended and a chill went through me. There was an earthquake and my men were terrified. I have to say, he was a good man.

Narrator: Centurion, it has been rumored that the words you spoke when the Galilean died were, "Truly this was the Son of God! Is this true?

Centurion: It is Captain. I know of no other way to describe what I saw and felt. If you had seen the look in his eyes as he forgave us and seen his compassion for those who insulted him... even the earth seemed to cry out when he died. And I know that I can never lead another execution squad again.

***

Narrator: There is a Simon of Galilee here. A fisherman who is reported to have been one of the closest associates of Jesus the Nazarene. Simon, son of Jona, can you please tell us who you believe was executed Friday evening?

Peter: There is no longer any doubt in my mind who the man you crucified was. I am almost ashamed to speak his name. If he were here, I would hide my face in humiliation because of what I did. I knew who the Nazarene was the day he walked up and commandeered my boat to talk to the people. I saw him reach out to the despised and bring healing to the hopeless. When he spoke, it was as though God reached out and brought hope to people. I was the one who said, "You are the Messiah! You are the One God promised to send. You are the Son of God!"

But that is not all. Jesus predicted all of this. When he gathered us together last Thursday night, he told us he would be betrayed by one of us, arrested and killed. I couldn't believe it. I told him I would never betray him even if I had to die with him. He said I would deny that I even knew him.

But it did happen. I cursed and swore and tried to convince people I did not know Jesus. I crawled around in the shadows trying to see how he was doing. He saw me, he looked me right in the eye. And now I grieve in my shame. I saw it all and I know that he was God's own Son, the Messiah of Israel. I also know that I can never trust my own strength or courage again, but this I can say Captain -- with the courage he has given to me through his death, I would stand before Caesar himself and declare that Jesus is Lord!

***

Narrator: We now invite the mother of the Nazarene, Mary of Nazareth, to address the commission. Can you give us your perspective? You are the mother of the man, was he more than a man -- more than your son?

Mary: I am not used to speaking before others sir. I find it difficult even now to speak of him. Please excuse my awkwardness of speech. Jesus could never be more than my son. How could any mother have anything more special than a child? He nursed at my breast, played at my feet and learned on my lap. He always was and always will be my child.

But there was always more. He was given to me to surrender to the God he called his father. He could never really be mine because he gave himself to everyone. I fear you would never understand the story of his birth, but it was his death that will make known to everyone who he really is.

I stood there listening to his dying words and would have cried out for strength to take him from the cross with my bare hands. But this was something he told us would happen -- that must happen. As he was dying, he gave me another son... one of his closest friends John. I live with John even now. It is a mystery to my heart, but when he gave John to me and me to John, he became something beyond a son... he became the one who belongs to the world... he became the one who saves. His name Jesus was given to him because he would somehow save God's people. I have pondered that for most of the years of my life... but now it has become clear.

You need not ask me -- a poor, grieving woman who Jesus was. Ask anyone who heard him say at the last, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Everyone who stood there as the earth grew dark knew who he was.

Narrator: I would now ask that the commission rise. The next witness has graciously agreed to address our gathering and has now arrived. All please rise now as I welcome the Honorable Governor of Judea. Please accept our gratitude Governor Pilate. Whether few or many, your words are welcome.

Pilate: My greetings to you Captain and to this gathering. The execution of the man from Nazareth has caused much more of a disturbance than anyone might have anticipated. He had no citizen rights under Roman law, other wise I might have sent him to Rome. The Jewish authorities brought him to us and I would gladly have allowed them to have jurisdiction, but they wanted a death sentence and asked that we carry out this sentence as it was against their religious laws. We have tried to keep peace with the Jewish community and I agreed to their demands. However, I found nothing in him worthy of a death sentence.

As to the question of who this Galilean was. I can only say that he was much more than one would expect of a simple peasant teacher from Galilee. I thought at first that he might be delusional because of the talk of his being a King. He did not claim to be a King in the sense that Caesar is King. But, he did claim to have a kingdom that was not in this world. A kingdom that came from another place. He also claimed to have authority, but not the kind of authority I have.

Another important matter. He claimed to have come from some other Kingdom with truth, authority and power. I wish now that I could believe he was out of his mind -- a madman! But his death still haunts me. Even my wife came to me asking that I have nothing to do with him because of disturbing dreams that had kept her up during the night. I can say that in all my experience, I do not think this Jesus of Nazareth was a lunatic.

What does that leave? His claims were more than anyone would expect of a mere mortal. If he was not a madman, the consequences are more than I dare consider.

That is all I can add to this matter! Who was he? You will have to draw your own conclusions!

Narrator: There is one last witness I wish to have speak. He is a respected leader of the Jews and was not one of the students of the Nazarene. He was not, however, one of those who called for his execution and I thought he might be able to bring an unbiased opinion from the Jewish community. He was also present immediately after the man Jesus died. Please welcome Rabbi Nicodemus.

Nicodemus: I am confident that my colleagues will not be happy with my remarks. I was quite convinced from very early in the teaching work of the Galilean that he was neither a deceiver nor a blasphemer. It is true that his work was not authorized by our leaders and that he seemed to have a disregard for many of our practices. However, he did not violate any central laws of the Book of Moses.

He spoke to people that our teachers have not reached. It can not be denied that he seemed to have special abilities for healing. I was convinced that he must have come from God because of the work that he did and the signs that accompanied his work. It was a very difficult thing, but I concluded that he was at the very least a prophet.

Narrator: May we conclude, Rabbi Nicodemus, that you are saying the man Jesus was a prophet who was tragically and mistakenly executed? It could be the conclusion of this court that Jesus of Nazareth was a highly gifted teacher who was misunderstood by many Jewish authorities and that he was erroneously executed. We would then clear his name of wrongdoing and commend his memory to good people everywhere.

Nicodemus: Excuse me, Captain, but that would not be my position exactly. I say that Jesus was "at least" a prophet. In light of everything that has happened since his death I am strongly led to the conclusion that he was the prophet. It is quite possible that he was the prophet spoken of in the books of Moses and the prophets. There is something many of us who have looked for Messiah have overlooked. It is the teaching that suggests Messiah would suffer and that in his suffering he would bear the sin of Israel. It is almost too much to consider, but I leave with you these words from the Book of Psalms:

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

All who see me mock me; they shake their heads;

"Commit your cause to the LORD; let him deliver-- let him rescue the one in whom he delights!"

They stare and gloat over me; they divide my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.

To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and I shall live for him. Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord...

(Quietly Nicodemus continues...) I do not believe we have heard the last of him.

Narrator: I am sorry Rabbi, I did not hear you... What was that you said at the last?

Nicodemus: I said, Captain, I do not believe we have heard the last of him!

[END]