THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

ACCORDING TO JOHN

FOR
CATHOLIC YOUTH ORGANIZATION OF NIGERIAN
CHRIST THE KING CATHOLIC CHURCH KURUDU ABUJA

SOLDIERS
THE CHIEF PRIESTS
SOME OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ROLES MAY BE SHARED:
PETER
PONTIUS PILATE
A WOMAN
A SOLDIER
A SLAVE

SCENE THREE
THE PLOT AGAINST JESUS

HIGH PRIEST: (Caiaphas Spoke) you do not seems to have grasped the
situation at all; you fail to see that it is better for one man to die
for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.
ELDER 1: He said he is the king of the Jews
ELDER 2: He said he will destroy our temple we built for 46 years and
rebuild it in three (3) Days
ELDER 3 He cures the sick and brings the dead back to life
ELDER 4: He also said we should not pay taxes to Caesar
ELDER 1: This issue needs to be addressed
(Deliberation still going on)
JUDAS ISCARIOT APPEARED IN THEIR MEETING. THEY WERE
AFRAID BUT HE TOLD THEM
GUARDS: Hold it there! Who are you and where do you think you are going?
JUDAS: I am Judas Iscariot one of the disciples of Jesus
GUARDS: What is your mission here?
JUDAS: I want to see the High Priest
 The Guards keep Judas on hold and went to inform the High Priest about
Judas Iscariot one of the disciples of Jesus

JUDAS: Have no fear, I have come to find you a way to entangle him. But
what can you give me in return?
(DRAMATIZATION)
(The Elders and High Priest)Putting their heads together they agreed on 15 to
25 silver coins of which Judas Iscariot turned down the offer and they
concluded on giving him 30 silver coins
HIGH PRIEST: Thirty (30) silver coins is ok for such a person
ELDER 1: The Jews looks alike; how can we identify him
JUDAS: The one I will kiss, catch him. He is the one you are looking for.
They all concluded that
ELDER 2: We must not do it during the festival “or else the people will riot

SCENE FOUR
THE ARREST OF JESUS
NARRATOR: Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a
place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples
(Peter, James and John) entered. Now Judas, who betrayed
him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his
disciples.

JESUS: Keep watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit
is willing but the flesh is week

JESUS: Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come! Look,
the son of man is now being handed over to the power of sinners get
up, let us go, look here is the man who is betraying me.

Narrator: So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from

the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns
and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen
to him,

Judas went straight to Jesus and said

JUDAS: Peace be with you, Teacher (Kissing).

And kissed him but Jesus said to him

JESUS: Judas, is it with a kiss that you betray the son of man?

JESUS: Whom are you looking for?

SOLDIERS: Jesus of Nazareth.

JESUS: I am he.

NARRATOR: Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus
said to them, ‘I am he,’ they stepped back and fell to the
ground. Again he asked them,

JESUS: Whom are you looking for?

SOLDIERS: Jesus of Nazareth.

JESUS: I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these
men go.

CAPTAIN: Arrest Him!

NARRATOR: This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, ‘I did not lose a
single one of those whom you gave me.’ Then Simon Peter, who
had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off
his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to
Peter,

JESUS: Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup
that the Father has given me? You have come with swords and
dubs as though I were an outlaw? I was with you in the Temple
everyday and you did not try to arrest me. But this is your hour
to act, when the power of darkness rules.

SCENE FIVE (5)

JESUS BEFORE CAIAPHAS: PETER DENIES JESUS

NARRATOR: So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus
and bound him.
First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas,
the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the
Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people. Simon
 Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was
known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the
high priest, but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other
disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the
woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. The woman said
to Peter,

CAIAPHAS: What do you accused this man of?

CROWD: With his teachings he is starting riot among the people all
through Judea. He began in Galilee and now he has come here.

A Woman: You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?

PETER: No I am not.

NARRATOR: Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire
because it was cold, and they were standing around it and
warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and
warming himself.

The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.
Jesus answered,

JESUS: I have always spoken publicly to everyone. All my teachings is

done in the synagogues and in the temple, where all the people
come together. I have ever said anything in secret. Why then do
you question me? Question the people who heard me. Ask them.
They know what I said.

NARRATOR: When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck
Jesus on the face, saying,

A SOLDIER: Is that how you answer the high priest?

JESUS: If I have spoken anything wrong, tell everyone here what it

was. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?

NARRATOR: Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now
Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked
him,
SOLDIERS: You are not also one of his disciples, are you?

PETER: I am not.

NARRATOR: One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose
ear Peter had cut off, asked,

A SLAVE: Did I not see you in the garden with him?

NARRATOR: Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed.

PETER: No

SCENE SIX (6)

JESUS BEFORE PILATE
NARRATOR: Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It
was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the
headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to
eat the Passover. So Pilate went out to them and said,

CROWD: We caught this man misleading our people; telling them

not to pay taxes to the Emperor and claiming that he
himself is the Messiah, a king

PILATE: What accusation do you bring against this man?

CHIEF PRIESTS: If this man were not a criminal, we would not have
handed him over to you.

PILATE: Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.

CHIEF PRIESTS: We are not permitted to put anyone to death.

NARRATOR: (This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated
the kind of death he was to die.) Then Pilate entered the
headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him,

PILATE: Are you the King of the Jews?

JESUS: Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?

PILATE: I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests
have handed you over to me. What have you done?
JESUS: My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from
this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from
being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not
from here.

PILATE: So you are a king?

JESUS: You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I
came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who
belongs to the truth listens to my voice.

PILATE: What is truth?

NARRATOR: After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told
them,

PILATE: I find no case against him. But you have a custom that I release
someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for
you the King of the Jews?

CHIEF PRIESTS: Not this man, but Barabbas!

NARRATOR: Now Barabbas was a bandit. Then Pilate took Jesus and
had him flogged. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns
and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple
robe. They kept coming up to him, saying,

SCENE SEVEN (7)

GOVERNOR PILATE RECEIVES MESSAGE FROM HIS WIFE AND
WASHES HIS HAND
PILATE WIFE: Have nothing to do with that innocent man, in a dream
last night; I suffered much on account of him.

SOLDIERS: Hail, King of the Jews!

NARRATOR: And striking him on the face. Pilate went out again and
said to them,

PILATE: Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I
find no case against him.
NARRATOR: So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the
purple robe. Pilate said to them,

PILATE: Here is the man!

NARRATOR: When the chief priests and the police saw him, they
shouted,

CHIEF PRIESTS:

AND SOLDIERS: Crucify him! Crucify him!

PILATE: Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case

against him.

CHIEF PRIESTS: We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die
because he has claimed to be the Son of God.

NARRATOR: Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than
ever. He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus,

PILATE: Where are you from?

NARRATOR: But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore said to him,

PILATE: Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I

have power to release you, and power to crucify you?

JESUS: You would have no power over me unless it had been

given you from above; therefore the one who handed me
over to you is guilty of a greater sin.

NARRATOR: From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews
cried out,

CHIEF PRIESTS: If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor.
Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against
the emperor.

NARRATOR: When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside

and sat on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone
Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. Now it was the day
of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon.
Pilate said to the Jews,
PILATE: Here is your King!

CHIEF PRIESTS: Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!

PILATE: Shall I crucify your King?

CHIEF PRIESTS: We have no king except Caesar.

PILATE: I am not responsible for the death of this man! This is

your doing

CHIEF PRIESTS: Let his responsibility for his death fall on us and our
children

NARRATOR: Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took

Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is
called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called
Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others,
one on either side, with Jesus between them.

JESUS: “The Father loves me because I lay down my life in order to

take it up again. No one takes it from me; I lay it down of my
own free will and as it is in my power to take it up again; and
this is the command I have been given by my father”

SECOND STATION
SCENE EIGHT (8)
JESUS RECEIVES THE CROSS
JESUS: “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself
and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save
his life will lose it: but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find
it. What then will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his
life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life?
THIRD STATION
SCENE NINE (9)
JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME UNDER HIS CROSS
JESUS: “I tell you most solemnly, unless a wheat grain falls on the ground
and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich
harvest. Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life
in this world will keep it for the eternal life. Now, my soul is troubled.
 What shall I say: Father, save me from this hour? But it was for this
very reason that I have come to this hour. Father; glorify your name.”

FOURTH STATION
SCENE 10
JESUS IS MET BY HIS BLESSED MOTHER
JESUS: “I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full. I am
the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, just as the
Father knows me and I know the Father and I lay down my life for my
sheep”.

FIFTH STATION
SCENE 11
THE CROSS IS LAID UPON SIMON OF CYRENE
JESUS: “The disciple is not superior to his teacher, nor the master, it is
enough for the disciple that he should grow to be like his
teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the
master of the house Beelzebul, what will they not say of his
household? Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but
cannot kill the soul; fear hum rather who can destroy both body
and soul in hell.

SIXTH STATION
SCENE 12
VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS
JESUS: “Whoever sees me, sees the one who sent me. I, the light, have
come into the world, so that whoever believes in me need not
stay in the dark anymore.

SEVENTH STATION
SCENE 13
JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME
JESUS: “Be like men who are waiting for their master to return from the
wedding feast, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and
knocks. Happy those servants whom the master finds awake
when he comes. You too must stand ready, because the son of
man is coming at an hour you not expect.

EIGHTH STATION
SCENE 14
 WOMEN OF JERUSALEM MOURN FOR OUR LORD

JESUS: “Happy are those who mourn: they shall be comforted. Happy
those who are persecuted in the cause of right; theirs is the
kingdom of Heaven. Happy are you when people abuse you and
persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on
my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great
in heaven”.

NINTH STATION
SCENE 15
JESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME

JESUS: “Come to me, all you who labour and are over-burdened, and I
will give you res. should my yoke and learn from me. For I am
gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your
souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.”

TENTH STATION
SCENE 16
JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS
JESUS: “I have come to bring fore to the earth, and how I wish it were
blazing already! There is a baptism I must still receive, and how
great is my distress till it is over!”

THEY CAST LOTS FOR HIS GARMENTS

NARRATOR: Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It
read, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.’ Many of the
Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was
crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in
Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to
Pilate,

CHIEF PRIESTS: Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man
said, I am King of the Jews.’

PILATE: What I have written I have written.

NARRATOR: When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and
divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also
took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece
from the top. So they said to one another,

SOLDIERS: Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.

NARRATOR: This was to fulfill what the scripture says, ‘They divided my
clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.’
And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the
cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary
the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his
mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he
said to his mother,

JESUS: Woman, here is your son.

JESUS: Here is your mother.

NARRATOR: And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said
(in order to fulfill the scripture),

JESUS: I am thirsty.

NARRATOR: A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge
full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth.
When Jesus had received the wine, he said,

SCENE 17

THE DEALTH OF JESUS

JESUS Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani (My God, My God why have you
forsaken me)

SOLDIERS: Listen, he is calling on Elijah whether he will save him

JESUS: I am thirsty

JESUS: It is finished!!.

NARRATOR: Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

ARMY OFFICER: This man was really the son of God

JESUS: Father, the our has come, glorify your son so that your son mat
glorify you. I have glorifies you on earth and finished the work
that you have gave me to do. Now Father, it is time for you to
glorify me with that glory I had with you before the world was.

THIRTEENTH STATION
SCENE 18
JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS
JESUS: “I pray for them, I am not praying for the world but for those
you have given me because they belong to you all I have is
yours, and all you have is mine and in them I am glorified. I am
not in the world any longer, but they are in the world and I am
coming to you. Holy Father, keep those you have given me
through your name so that they may be one like us.

FOURTEENTH STATION
SCENE 19
JESUS IS PLACE IN THE SEPULCHER

SCENE 20
JOSEPH OF ARIMATEA AND PILATE

SCENE 21
RESURRECTION