The city of Jerusalem was full of people



Passion play / St Wilfrid’s

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Jake: The city of Jerusalem was full of people. Crowds from near and far were arriving for the week long Passover festival. What a week for Jesus it was going to be!  It should have been a scene for celebration but amongst the celebrations there was a deep unease from a Roman Soldier...

Daniel: An enemy of the state of Israel felt the unease amongst the celebration.

Marnie: I don’t get it... It’s a deterrent... We don’t crucify our own… We stick with the foreigners and they see what happens when you step out of line...Crucifixion isn’t a pretty thing… but you’ve got to think about the spectacle… the ritual… the humiliation and the message it sends... Only this, time the message was that they had it in for the rebel.... This Jesus… They got it so so wrong.

Jack: But amongst his reservations few felt that the tide was changing…

James: “Today's the day!" the people of Jerusalem shouted.  Jesus, the great prophet, the Messiah, the long awaiting king of the Jews was coming to the city. 

Aoife: He would spend only a week there, which would turn out to be his last week on Earth. 

Meghan: Jesus and his disciples had come as far as Bethany.

Olivia: Vast crowds from near and far were arriving to give their king a parade. 

Ben: They ripped branches off the palm trees and ran out to the city gates to see their king.

Mabel: The people were passionate to see their king and with good reason. Here was a king that didn’t surround him with silver and gold. Instead he was king that surrounded himself and everyone around him with love.

Jin Fan: Jesus spoke to his disciples

Franklin (Jesus): Go to the village: Bring me a young donkey, you’ll find tied up near his mother. If anybody asks what you are up to, tell them the master needs him and will soon send him back.

Eliza: The disciples did as Jesus said and pretty soon the crowd from Jerusalem hurried down to join the new arrivals.

George: But not everybody was so happy. Jealousy and plotting were also rife. The chief priests and elders didn't like all the people paying so much attention to this man Jesus. 

Jack: They asked themselves and questioned his different ways...

Vinny: Here was a man that didn’t do things by the rules... Jesus was a fellow who didn’t wait around or sometimes was all about making a radical difference ... By any peaceful means necessary...

Elliot: Jesus was a fellow who wanted to make a difference... He taught that love will overcome and was out to smash the rules of privilege and indifference that had been set in stone by the high priests who loved their high life.

Anthony: But in any event the people were turning against these people who wanted to only protect their wealth and privilege.  They only ran out singing:

Girls: "Hosanna to the Son of David!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the Highest!

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Song One – SINGING HOSANNA ALL STAND…

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Jamie: When Jesus rode into Jerusalem his disciples were equally excited. They had longed for the day when Jesus would be crowned as King and lead them against their Roman masters.

Oliver: Perhaps at last, the day is near. Finally someone to stand up against the tyranny of being slaves in our own country. It’s time to take charge! It’s time to make that difference...

Matthew: But Jesus knew that things would be different.

Luke: He knew that he would not be that kind of earthly king. At first he would only rule in the hearts of his followers. And right now he knew that his own faith journey would be tested more than ever.

Oscar: It would be the greatest test ever...

Edith: Soon he would be arrested, He would be denied three times before the cock crowed and he would be killed by the people he was trying to save.

James : Most of the disciples could not grasp what Jesus meant when he said he wouldn’t just be an earthly king.

Mary: But Judas Iscariot began to understand only too well. He was an ambitious man who had been corrupted by money and the greed that surrounds it.

Kirsten: Judas realised that the jealous priests and leaders of the nation needed someone on the inside. Someone who could provide information to find Jesus - where no crowds were present to obstruct his arrest.

Edward: Judas made his way to the temple where he knew he could find the council members and priests. They were already plotting.

Millie: You see that we are gaining nothing. Look, the whole world has gone after him! We need to redress the balance… We need to claim back what is ours by destiny and send this infidel back to the darkness... Back to that Baptist John and the rest of the charlatans… I want him gone... History… Do you understand me?

Heather: Perhaps he has the power but there is always a way of challenging... Of breaking down and taking out the righteous… I hate Jesus and all he stands for… We will never be equal and will always be above the poor and stupid… but look who comes to betray. Welcome Judas, what news have you of the King of the Jews? (Says sarcastically)

Toby: So how much is Jesus worth if I deliver him to you? For a price I can tell you exactly where you can find the man you want.

Henry: The conspirator’s faces brightened. Taking out a bag of coins, one said with dark intent.

Alishba: There you are Judas. Thirty pieces of silver – and you can have them now. So let us know as soon as possible where to find your master…

Charlie: Judas walked off, his thoughts and mind in a whirl. Was the money really worth the life of his friend?

Austin: But in his mind it was too late to go back on the heinous deal. It had been set in place, From now on he thought he must watch carefully for the best way of keeping his side of the bargain with his new masters.

Joseph G: Returning to the Passover meal with his disciples Jesus showed his love and loyalty to those around him.

Emily: During supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper he took a towel and poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist.

 

Will: He came to Simon Peter, a passionate disciple who said to him:

Oliver: Master, are you going to wash my feet?

Franklin: What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.

Oliver: You shouldn’t be doing this. You are our leader. It is not fit or proper! You are ... And always will be above us. This really shouldn’t happen...

Franklin: Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me. Do you realise what I have done for you? You call me 'teacher' and 'master,' but I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.

Lucy: Jesus spoke the following, although many of the disciples were confused

Franklin:: I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me - and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.

Ava: Initially we disciples had been excited about celebrating the Passover supper but now our mood had changed. We began to feel that things weren’t as they were supposed to be.

Dan: The Passover was supposed to be a meditation of how Moses had helped his people escape the tyranny of the Egyptians…

Grzegorz: It was supposed to be life affirming but here something was badly wrong...

Sophia: There was a dark sense of the trouble ahead.

Pierre: Jesus himself was incredibly sad that he was about to be betrayed.

Aisling: Looking around the room of close friends he solemnly revealed this.

Franklin: One of you is to betray me to my enemies.

Julia: We were horrified.

Oliver: You don’t mean me, Lord, do you?

Edward: Peter denied that he would EVER let his leader down

Oliver: Never Lord. I will be fighting with you to the last. They will never crush my soul. I’m definitely the one you can rely on until the very end and will fight for you... whatever.

Franklin: You speak with Passion Peter but here you are wrong... Yes, even you Peter, when the time comes you will scatter like the others.

Oliver: Never Lord… I promise…

Franklin: Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later. You will know you didn’t share the faith when you hear a cockerel crow three times. Then Peter, my friend - it will all be too late.

Oliver: Master, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you…

Franklin: I have said to you, before the cock will crow three times as you deny me.

George S: There were worried looks passed among the disciples. Amongst them Judas’ head remained bowed – this was a man who was avoiding eye contact and hiding himself from the ultimate betrayal.

Franklin: It is the one to whom I hand the morsel into the unleavened bread after I have dipped it.

Harry: So he dipped the bread and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot.

Austin: Instead of being angry Jesus looked at Judas with great sadness.

Franklin: What you are going to do, do quickly.

Aoife: We disciples did not understand what Jesus meant until Judas slipped from the room and went out into the darkness of the night.

Franklin: Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. I will come back again and where I am going you know the way.

Oliver: Master, but we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?

Franklin: I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.

Oscar: As he spoke these words Jesus knew that his fate was getting ever closer.

Song 2 – This is My Body

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Will: Judas knew where Jesus and the rest of the disciples would go when supper was ended. Near to the city, on the slopes of the Mount of Olives, lay a quiet garden, called Gethsemane.

Millie: It was a place of reflection... But here it became the procurer of a place of tragedy...

Ben: Jesus often escaped from the busy streets and went to Gethsemane to think and pray. (Jesus goes two steps forward)

Edith: That evening, as he was heading into the garden, Jesus’ disciples Peter, James and John were praying with him.

Franklin: Don’t go now, stay a while longer. My friends I beg you keep me company. My heart is nearly breaking with sorrow and sadness.

Vinny: In spite of Jesus’ wish, the three friends grew so tired they fell asleep. Perhaps they didn’t know the threat that lay ahead.

Franklin: Couldn’t you keep watch with me in these last hours? The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Look. Here comes the one who has betrayed me to my enemies.

Charlie: The disciples turned – horrified - seeing Judas approaching.

Toby: Hail, Rabbi. Hello Master, I was looking for you.

Pierre: Judas was unaware of how prophetic his words were going to be.

Franklin: So Judas my friend, are you going to betray me with a kiss?

Mabel: Before Judas had chance to respond the guards rushed forward and seized Jesus as if he were a desperate criminal.

George T: Only Peter rushed forward to save Jesus, pulling at a sword and severing an ear of one of the guards. But even here Jesus showed his love for others, healing the man’s ear and allowing himself to be taken.

Oliver: You stay away from this man... I will fight to protect him with my life. Vengeance for anybody who fights Jesus...

Emily: But Jesus even here – facing death Jesus stood up for peace and love...

Franklin: Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 

Eliza: The rest of the bewildered and terrified disciples walked away, with only Peter and John daring to follow the trail of the men who had hauled off to take Jesus to his death.

Luke: They kept a safe distance but when they arrived at Caiaphas’ house, John, who knew some of the family there, walked straight into the courtyard. Peter waited outside.

Joseph G: May my friend come in, too?

Matthew: John was asking the servant girl at the gate.

Ava: I suppose so. But hang on a minute… I think I recognise this one...

Jin Fan: She looked suspiciously at Peter as he came closer.

Anna: Hey, aren’t you a disciple of that man, the one who has been causing all the trouble.

OLiver: No not me.

Ava: Are you sure? I’m sure I’ve seen you hanging out with him. Your accent betrays you. You are a Galilean for sure.

Oliver: No, never... You have definitely got the wrong fellow. It’s mistaken identity. I get that a lot.

Aisling: Suddenly a nearby woman also joined in with the accusers

Eliza: You are one of that lot, you were surely one of Jesus friends... I can see that your lies are betraying you...

Heather: If you were as brave as his followers were a week ago you’d be hollowing out support. Not this wretch I see before me.

Oliver: I don’t even know the man. I told you then and I tell you now. I don’t even know what you are talking about.

Olivia: Suddenly a cock crowed and Peter realised, he too, was a part of the betrayal.

SONG 3 / I’m not the man[pic] [pic]

Sadie: Weeping bitterly he realised, he too, had let down Jesus.

Leo L: But even worse was lying in store for Judas. Although his collaboration with the priests had been successful he now realised that his thirty pieces of silver were worthless.

Ben H: My Lord, what have I done…? Nothing and

nobody can ever forgive me for what I have committed.

Sadie: Judas hurled down the thirty pieces of silver before the priests he had bargained with - and fled, never to return.

Music For whom the bell Tolls track 7

Gabriel: Early in the following morning Jesus was taken by his captors to Pilate’s palace. Pontius Pilate was a Roman Officer and it was his responsibility to judge Jesus. He was suspicious of the Pharisees who had brought Jesus.

Benny: What charge do you bring against this man?

Onesh: If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.

Benny: Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.

Onesh: We do not have the right to execute anyone. It must be for you to give us the justice we demand!

Patrick: And so reluctantly Pilate began to question the person brought before him.

Benny: So…. Jesus of Galilee, why do the hordes outside and the rich priests scream at me for your death.

Chinonso: You will have to ask them for yourself.

Benny: On my word I have, and they still say that you claim to be King of the Jews. Is this true?

Chinonso: It is you who say it…

Benny: So you are a king?

Chinonso: My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.

Benny: And yet looking at you here I see no such thing. Just a man who does not deserve to be torn apart by the demons outside.

Eve: It is Passover time. There is a tradition for forgiveness. Let us put an offer to the crowd outside. Let us offer them Barabbas for Jesus. The crowd can decide his fate. Jesus I wish you luck. Pilate has done what he can.

Patrick: So Pilate put the choice to the crowd. He knew that it was custom to set a man free and tried at first – in vain to get Jesus released

Benny: I find this man guilty of nothing.

Patrick: He doesn’t deserve to die. Whom shall we set free?

Benny: Jesus or the murderer Barabbas.

Boys: Death to Jesus! Crucify Him, Crucify Him.

Oliver: It was too late. The Crowd, infiltrated by the priests and enemies had been corrupted and shouted even louder.

Daisy/Olivia: They were out to get Jesus and nothing was going to get in their way.

Girls: Crucify Him. Crucify him.

Leo L: Other infiltrators cried out.

All: If you release him, you are not a Friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar!

Boys: We want Barabbas, death to the traitor from Galilee!

Eleanor P: But now the crowd had turned… As their hateful mouths spat and Yelled abuse their vilification of Jesus and all he stood for was crystal clear.

Sofia:

Pilate was becoming desperate and fearful at the way the crowd was turning. He took the easy way out.

Benny: So be it. You have made your choice. I wash my hands of the whole situation. Take Jesus and do what you will.

Leo A: And with that Jesus was given over, to be put to death by crucifixion.

Song CRUCIFY HIM [pic]

THE WALK TO CALVERY Ave Maria Music Track 6

Bell 1 – Jesus falls for the first time

Bell 2 – Jesus falls for the second time

Bell 3 – Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry His cross

Onesh: Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary of Magdelin.

Sadie: How can these people treat Jesus in such a wretched way...? He is guilty of nothing except transforming hate in love and hurt into hope. Jesus, remember me… I followed you until the end.

Chinonso: Look after my mother.

Louisa: Jesus whispered to his close Friend, John. John nodded.

Chinonso: He’ll be a son to you now.

Tess: Jesus told His mother, who stood by crying bitterly.

Mary (Iris): How can such tragic things happen to such a wonderful person…? My heart is breaking with all the hate which has befallen Jesus. If they only knew of the good he has done and the hearts and souls he has mended. ..

Song 4 – Mary

Mae: Forced to wear a crown of thorns Jesus was left to die on a cross at Calvary along with two other men.

Charlie N: As difficult as it must have been, one of the others condemned to death recognised Jesus – and asked for forgiveness.

Leo A: Besides Jesus there were two other tried… The first was arrogant until the end... He said, if you are the Son of God none of this would have happened

Daisy: But the other… He was a humble one who asked Jesus for mercy.

Oliver: And he was given it... never have I seen so much love.

Even in his last hours Jesus wanted to show love to all.

James: Jesus forgave him as he did to all the others. But now his time on Earth – for now - was nearly over.

Camille: Aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I thirst." There was a vessel filled with common wine.

Aaron: So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a spring of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. Now Jesus’ time was nearly over.

Hollie: At noon, when the Sun should have been at its brightest, thick darkness fell. After three agonising hours Jesus called out.

Chinonso: It is finished. Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.

Tess: And bowing his head, Jesus died.

(Pause)

Maddy: Only now it dawned on the crowd the terrible thing they had been a part of. One centurion echoed the many when he said;

Ethan: Surely, this must have been the Son of God. How could we have not all realised it? How could this thing come to past?

Leonardo: They wept by the cross but by now, like many others, their tears came too late.

Track 12 the Killing Moon [pic]

Ethan (Centurion) : I was in the crowd the day that Jesus died. I saw the crown of thorns they wore... And then the sky turned black... A black that struck at the heart of the haters, the malevolent and the dark sheep... It was only then that the masses realised of the horror of which they had been a part of.

Sofia (Centurion) : Here today there is so much that we did not understand... So much that we pretended that did not matter... The Jewish crowd misjudged this one big time…They put the peace maker on the cross... But there lies the ultimate irony... And now I get it… Now I recognise the truth… it really does matter... Love conquers all…

Maddy (Centurion) : And that day Jesus proved it by letting the haters take him so that our lives would mean everything...

SONG 5 - All

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