Act 1 Narrator : "But thou,Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out
of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings
forth have been from of old, from everlasting." The Mar Thoma Church Choir
presents ‘Because He Lives’ a story of greed, of pain and of hope. This play
begins with a conversation between two thieves in a prison in Jerusalem.
Thief 1.
Food! Don’t we get any better food? We are condemned men. Let’s make merry
while we can. Get us something better than bread and this gripe
water. These Roman don’t know how to treat their guests.
Thief 2. What is there to be merry about? We have only death to
face.
Thief 1.
The world has only death to face. The difference is that we have been
given his calling card. What is your crime my friend?
Thief 2. Just one. Just one mistake is my crime.
Thief 1
‘One’ to a loser is a big number.
My whole
life is a mistake. When they divided good and evil I was on the wrong side of
the line. I have robbed. I have killed. I have cheated since the day I was
born. It’s a family trait. What was this ONE mistake of yours my friend?
Thief 2.
Murder.
Thief1. But
that is not a small mistake
Thief2. It
was an accident
Thief 1.
Life is an accident. One day we are born... and then we die...what happens in
between is all an accident.
Thief 2. I
was desperate for money. My debts were too high. I was going mad. And then one
night I saw this rich young man... walking down a dark road and I went after
him. I didn’t want to hurt him. I just wanted to grab his money and run. But we
got into a fight.
Thief 1 (shaking his head). Ah! Inexperience...
Thief 2. I
pushed him and hit him with a stone and I ran.
Thief 1.
What did you do with the money? How much was there?
Thief 2. I
threw it in the synagogue
Thief 1.
What?..... Inexperience again.
Thief 2. I
was scared...I ran and ran ...I didn’t want to hurt him. I didn’t want to kill
him......
Thief 1.
I’ve heard that before...
Thief 2. I
remember his young face as he fell. It scared me... and as I held his face he
mumbled the strangest things.
Thief 1.
Death’s final benediction. I’ve heard that before. What did this one have to
say?
Thief 2. He
said “camel through the eye of a needle”
Thief 1.
Haha now that’s a new one! Was he a tailor? Hahaha..you’re putting me in
stitches (Shouting out to another
cell) Hey Barabas did you hear
this one? It’s a good one....(silence)...
That
Barabas don’t talk much. They’ll kill him soon.
Thief 2. He
also said the name Jesus.
Thief 1.
Jesus? I’ve heard that name before. But that’s all fine. How much money did you
throw away?
Thief 2.
all of it, about .......30 silver coins.
Thief 1.
What?! Fools and money make no friends. 30 silver.....And this Jesus? Who is
he?
Song: Oh
where is he that Trod the sea.
Thief 1.
Now tell me about this Jesus
Thief 2. He
is a prophet, a carpenter from Galilee.
Thief 1.
That’s a strange mix. A prophet...a carpenter ...and?
Thief 2. He
gives sight to the blind. The lame can walk. He heals the sick.
Thief 1. I
know a Doctor who does that. Haha Barbarabas did you hear that? A carpenter who
heals. Wood you believe it? Wood Barabas wood ...get it?
That
Barabas don’t talk much. They’ll kill him soon.
Thief 2.
Don’t mock this Jesus, young man. He has thousands following him. With just a
word he healed a centurion’s daughter. His message is of simple things.... of
peace and love. Not dynasties and kings. He fed thousands with just two fish
and a little bit of bread.
Thief 1.
FED THOUSANDs with a little bread? My brother has a bakery and he could do with
some help. Good dough he pays haha. You get that Barabbas ?
...dough...bread...haha!
Thief2. Do
not mock a good man. We are all sinners. We have done wrong...but this man has
only helped others. The lepers, the demon-possessed, the poor. He even calmed
the storm.
Thief 1. A
what? This is going too far. I can understand a healer with a magic wand, the
camel and the needle’s eye. But now a storm in a teacup? What else eh Barabbas?
Thief 2.
The winds and the waves listen to him. The twelve disciples were there when he
calmed the sea.
Song: Peace
be still
Thief 1.
Where is this great Jesus from? Where is he now?
Thief 2. He
was born in Bethlehem. Wise men from the East came to worship this King. Herod
was scared and killed every child born at that time. But Jesus was protected by
the angels.
Thief 1 (in a faraway voice). I remember Herod’s madness. Hasn’t improved over
time. Old wine, old bottle. In which Palace was this Prophet-king-healer born?
Thief2. He
was born in a manger
Thief 1. A king in a manger ??
Thief 2. It was a holy birth. A virgin birth.
Thief 1.
Was a what?? Barabbas.... our friend here is losing it! I can believe kings of
humble birth and queens born in carriages but this goes a little too far. I
have even squeezed the last breath out of another Jew...but I have never heard
something like this.
Thief 2. You will not understand. Mary was a blessed woman, an
angel blessed by God himself. .
Song: Mary did you know
Thief 1. Ok
ok the dead have lived again, the deaf have gone all ears and the lame are
running around... but where is he now? This Jesus. Can he get us out of here?
Thief 2. I heard he has come into Jerusalem with thousands of his
followers
Thief 1. Finally a drum roll
Thief 2. The people threw their cloaks and spread branches as he
came triumphantly into Jerusalem riding a donkey
Thief 1. A donkey? They couldn’t find anything better for him to
ride? I tell you this Jesus story gets too weird.
Thief 2. I believe his
work, his ministry he is my Saviour, he is the son of God.
Thief 1. O great! If he is your Saviour can he get you out of
here...or me ....and of course Barabbas over there? Saviour or not we are all
going to die. I for my sins and you, my friend, for some silver coins.
Barabbas.
The wages of sin is death
Thief 1. What did you say Barabbas? What sin? What wages?
That
Barabbas, sometimes he talks too much. They’ll kill him soon.
Song:
Hosanna Loud Hosanna
Act 2 Narrator : In
Pilate’s court. At every
Passover festival the Roman Governor was in the habit of setting free any one
prisoner the crowd asked for. At that time there was a well known prisoner
named Barabbas. So when the crowd gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do
you want me to set free for you? Jesus Barabbas or Jesus called the Messiah?”
He knew very well that the Jewish authorities had handed Jesus over to him
because they were jealous. Pilate asked the crowd again, ‘Which one of these
two do you want me to set free?” “Barabbas!” they answered What then shall I do
with Jesus called the Messiah?” Pilate asked them “Crucify him!” they answered.
Song:
Pilate’s dream
Pilate: You
are Barabbas
Barabbas: I have been called by greater names but Barabbas is what
my parents lovingly named me
P: Ah! Humour even among criminals
B: Humanity takes itself too seriously. It is the world’s original
sin. If our forefathers had known how to laugh, History would have been
different.
P. Your history or mine?
B; Gov’nor we criminals have our good side, doesn’t show too often
but if we are scum, what about the others...
P: Barabbas you are to be let free
B: Ah! Humour even among intellectuals.
P: Not me, I would have you scoundrel killed right now. But it is
your people who want you free.
B. My people? I don’t have any people. I detest people and they
me. Why else will they send me to prison?
P. Are you Jewish? Then you are one of them
B: No my Lord, they don’t want me free. They will take me out and
stone me to death. The circus is closed, the gladiators on strike... and all
the people can think of is ‘entertainment’
P: They want to free you in exchange for Jesus
B. The young Galilean?
P: Yes the young Jew. You have heard of him?
B. But he is a good man
P; Ah! Honour among criminals! YOU call him a good
man, what do you know?
B. Every man is born good my Lord, it is Society that makes them
otherwise. Have you ever been on a committee my Lord...
P. Oh please, I have a headache! I have the king of the Jews
bleeding all over my front room, his people want him crucified. And now a
philosopher for a criminal. .... They want to set you free. They said "Let
his blood be upon us and upon our children".
B. Who said that?
P. They. Yours. Your people
B. My Lord I told you they are just full of hate. They are Jews. They
want blood. But why... why bring children into all this? But......but do you
actually mean you want to set me free??
P. Not me. Never. I just don’t need Caesar to hear about rioting
in the province
Get out
Barabbas. We have to satisfy your people.
B. Fire, death and the eyes of man are never satisfied. P. What is
that? B. A proverb from the wisest man ever...Solomon.
P. Ah, Solomon got the lion’s share of brains. Didn’t leave much
for the rest of the Jews.
B. M’Lord if the people want me free then........ M’lord...
P. They want to welcome you as their hero for nothing but the
blood of an innocent king.
Song: Glory
to his name
Song: Above
all
Act 3
Barabbas And Pontius
P. Ah
Barabbas. You are still here? Some parting pearls perhaps?
B. Why did they kill him?
P. Why do you ask me? My hands are washed.
B. He was a great man. He was an innocent man. That is the truth.
P. What is truth....??? These people aren’t satisfied by killing
him they now want bodyguards to protect his body
B. Why protect his body?
P. They are scared his followers will remove his body and claim he
has risen. You Jews are a scared lot aren’t you? A confused lot.
B. But we are chosen my Lord.
P. For what?? But tell me Barabbas you haven’t come here to
parley. What is it you want?
B. My Lord I need money
P. Do I look like a fool?? I set you free, and now you need me to
pay for it?? The people don’t need to know, Barabbas, but I can have you killed
right here.
B. My Lord I have been a criminal and a bandit all my life, only
for the need of money, not for love of it.
P. The philosopher again?
B. If I don’t have money I will go back to my evil ways
P. Will you leave this country?
B. Never again will the dust of this forsaken place touch my
heels. The sun of Jerusalem has for ever lost a shadow. Never will the...
P (interrupting). 30 silver bits. I think 30 silver coins should
do to get rid of a life.
B. But M’Lord...??
P. Take your 30 silver
pieces and never again be seen here ...Jesus...Barabbas
B. (Muttering) what will 30 silver pieces be good for? Won’t even buy decent real
estate. Maybe I will invest in a graveyard and hire it out.
Song: One
day when heaven was filled with his praises
(Narrator. Sold for
just 30 pieces. Sold by a simple kiss. Sold by his people. Everyday we sell our
Lord, everyday we crucify him. Demeaned by the mob, spat upon, cursed and the
pain as every lash tore out flesh, every thorn pierced his head. His lips
parched with blood and sand. We cry out with just a pin prick, imagine a nail
piercing through skin and shattering bone, imagine being crowned in pain.
Imagine your most painful moment? Now imagine how much more he suffered for us.
And then the cry of victory ‘It is finished’. The sin since Eden undone,
sacrificed on a coarse wooden cross. Arms stretched out welcoming every
burdened heart, every sin washed again and again in blood, rinsed in pain and
spread out with love.
Song :
Thine be the glory
On the
first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came
to the tomb bringing spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone
rolled away from the tomb. When they went in they did not find the body of
Jesus. Two men appeared before them in shining garments and said, “Why do you
seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He
was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful
men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’” He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was
broken so we could be whole. He was torn so we could be healed.
Because he
lives I can face tomorrow, Because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He
holds the future. And life is worth living just because He lives.
Because he lives
Pilate’s dream song- I dreamt I met a Galilean A most amazing man He had that look You
very rarely find The haunting hunted kind
I asked him
to say what had happened How it all began I asked again He never said a word As
if he hadn't heard
And next
the room was full Of wild and angry men They seemed to hate this man They fell
on him and then disappeared again
Then I saw
thousands of millions Crying for this man And then I heard them mentioning my
name And leaving me the blame ...............................
Primrose Mar Thoma Church,
Bangalore-
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