resurrection program

8/6/2019 Resurrection Program

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SHOW ME THE WAY

PRESENT DAY CHARACTERS :STEVE: a young man who used to be a Christian and a member of a church but no longer believes.

SARAH: a young woman neat and pretty in appearance. She is a Christian of the church Steve used to go to. She loves Steve secretly..

CLIFF and ROGER: Steve's newer friends. The sort who like trouble and always seem to be able to make it even if it isn't around.

SECURITY GUARD: a minor character looking after a warehouse full of electronic equipment.(he isn't seen and is only an offstage character i.e.soundperson.)

BIBLICAL CHARACTERS :

JESUS, SOME WOMEN, ROMAN SOLDIERS (2), PILATE, AND SIMON OF CYRENE

Equipment (For this drama, you need to be able to divide the stage in two to make room for the present day and biblical scenes. Keep the centre stageclear for the closing scene).

SCENE ONE

(We open with an alley scene. The lights fade in to find Steve slamming the apartment door and then kicking at something on the ground. He is upsetand muttering to himself.)

Steve: Who does he think he is anyway, trying to tell me what to do with my life? (Sarah enters the alley and has obviously heard what Steve said tohimself. She appears concerned and anxious about the fairly dark alley.)

Sarah: Are you all right Steve? I saw you come in here. This alley is filthy.

Steve: (turns quickly as he didn't know she was there. He is not happy to see her.) What do you care what happens to me? Why are you followingme?

Sarah: (shaken by his reaction but pulls herself together) I.... I didn't mean to make you angry. I just saw you come slamming out of your apartmentand thought I'd see if I could help. You looked pretty mad.

Steve: (still angry) The landlord threatened to kick me out unless I pay my rent. He says he's tired my excuses. That I need to be looking for a real joband stop hanging out with my friends. Supposedly all they do is bring trouble around here. Whatever.!

Sarah: (cautious) Maybe he's right. Since you started hanging around with Cliff and Roger you have been getting into trouble. Before that it wasthose other guys down the block, the ones who got arrested for......

Steve:(angrily cuts her off) What are you my mother! Get off my case. My friends are my business.

Sarah:(now angry herself) Look, I just happen to care what happens to you. You used to be a Christian and my friend. Now look at yourself! Youwere just lucky you weren't with those guys when they broke into that store or you would be in jail too! Now you're hanging around with a couplemore just like them. What are you looking for?

Steve:(quieter now. He sits down on a box.) I don't know what I want anymore? Ever since I got laid off, working temp jobs here and there. I don'tknow what's real anymore. I even got kicked out of church for smoking in the bathroom last year. Not even Christians want me.

Sarah: That's not true. You know Pastor Smith has tried to talk to you and I care.

(Cliff and Roger enter. They look ticked off to find Sarah talking to Steve.)

Cliff: What are you talking to her for?

Roger: Yea. We're your friends anyway. Not her. Who helped you out with a place the last time you needed help?

(They come over Steve and head out of the alley, taking Steve with them.)

Cliff (sarcastic): Sorry Sarah. He's here to meet us not you. Besides we've got places to go right Steve?

Steve:(not too loud at first) Yea. These guys are my friends, not you and your so called Christians. So just leave me alone. Lets go

Sarah:(shouts)Steve!(It's too late the alley is dark and empty. She sits on the box Steve was sitting on a moment ago). Dear Jesus, please look after him. He's all right really. Please keep him safe and help him to see what he's doing. (After this quiet prayer the lights fade out and a song is heard in


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the background.)

SCENE TWO

(We see Pilate and Jesus before a small crowd. Voices in the background yell "Crucify him, Crucify him!")

Pilate: (shouting to be heard) This Jesus has done nothing wrong! See Him. I have had him beaten! (We hear," Crucify him, Crucify him!")

Pilate: He is guilty of no crimes. He should go free.

(Again, we hear "Crucify him, crucify him)

Pilate: So be it. His death is on your heads! I wash my hands of this. Soldiers! Take this man and crucify him. (Soldiers walk up the aisle to dragJesus back down the aisle.

(Lights fade out to the cry of , "Crucify him, Crucify him!" as the soldiers drag Jesus away.)

(All exit and a song plays in the background.)

SCENE THREE

(The lights come on to the right. We see Steve, Cliff, and Roger talking excitedly)- walking up isle

Cliff: What do you mean you're not sure this is a good idea? We let you hang around with us, we take you to parties, and you don't want to help us!

Roger: Yea, what kind of friend are you anyway?

Steve: (upset and nervous) I like you guys but I'm not sure I'm ready to break into a warehouse for a few lousy appliances. What if we get caught?

Cliff: We're not gonna get caught! The old security guard is way over on the other side of the warehouse and he's usually fast asleep by this time.We've been checking this place out for some time. There's nothing to worry about.

Roger: (slyly)Are you afraid Steve?

Steve: (indignant) Of course I'm not! I just don't want anything to go wrong. (walks around -nervous.)

Cliff: Don't worry, nothing will go wrong. We'll be in and out in 5 minutes with the stuff. Come on let's get going. (Looks at the cross on Steve'sneck.) You won't be needing that cross tonight. (He breaks it off and lets it fall to the ground.)

(all 3 exit but Steve stops for a moment and almost picks up the cross.)

(song).

SCENE FOUR

~the curtain opens(The lights to the left come on to an empty stage. We see Golgotha. Two crosses are already in place with the thieves [fakes or real actors or empty].)

(Soldiers begin to enter [via the aisle] shouting at Jesus. Ahead of them some people enter.) from foryer.

Soldier1-(leading Jesus to Calvary)Soldier2-(leading Jesus to Calvary)(Jesus staggers in with the cross on His back. The people ahead of them point and whisper among themselves.)

Soldier1-(looks at Jesus and looks at Simon)(Jesus falls to the ground [about halfway up the aisle]. The Cross on His back.)

Soldier1-(Points at Simon)Soldier2Soldier1: You! Get over here and help him!Simon of Cyrene: What me?! I.... I don't want .....

Soldier1- stares and pointsSimon: Alright, I'll do it. (He moves to Jesus and the Lord looks at him and smiles. He takes the Cross from Jesus and puts it on his own back. Jesusstaggers to his feet.)

Soldiers, Simon and Jesus make to behind to the choirs stand and the curtain closes


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SCENE FIVE

(Lights come on to find Sarah walking around (up the isle)looking for Steve. She is very worried)

Sarah: Where is he? I hope they don't get into trouble! (She stops and looks down to find the cross Steve wears around his neck lying on the ground.)This is Steve's cross. I gave it to him a couple of years ago. (she begins to cry and still holds the cross) Oh Steve!. (she stops crying and begins towipe away the tears and starts to say a prayer) Oh Jesus, I don't know where he is and I'm so afraid! He's not all bad, he's just hurt and confused. Idon't know what to do! Dear God we need you! Please help us. Please help me. I can't help him by myself. (still crying softly, she stands and movesaway while the lights fade out and a song begins.)

SCENE SIX

(The lights come on to find us back at the Crucifixion scene. Jesus has been on the cross awhile and is clearly in great agony. The women areweeping.)

Jesus:(in pain) Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing!

Soldiers looking up at him

Jesus: My God, My God! Why have you forsaken me?!

Soldier3(pause for a minute while the soldiers 1&2 gamble for his clothes)

Jesus: I thirst!

Soldier 2 (gives drink from sponge in stick)

Jesus: (in great pain) Father into thy hands I commit my Spirit. (His head falls over and he dies.)

Women: No! (renewed crying. Lights fade out to a song playing in the background.)

SCENE SEVEN

(At the warehouse we find the 3 young men moving around boxes.)

Cliff: I told you this would be easy. No security guard in sight.

Roger: No problem. Everything is working perfectly.

Steve: I still don't like this. It feels wrong.

Cliff: What do you mean it feels wrong? You won't complain when we sell this stuff and have some money in our pockets. You pile up these boxesand Roger and I will go get some more.

(Roger and Cliff go out of sight behind curtain, Steve moves a couple of boxes and stops.)

Steve: (looking hurt and confused) What am I doing? Maybe Sarahs right. I am no good. I shouldn't be here doing this. (pauses and sits down) Whatdo I do? Who can help me now? (as he says this his hand moves to the cross that is supposed to be on his neck). What? Oh yeah, the cross is gone.(He looks up to the ceiling - long pause). Can God really help me now? ( a further pause).

(suddenly we hear running and shouting. The other boys come around the corner out of breath.)

Cliff: Let's get out of here. They got a new security guard and he's got a gun.

Roger: Forget the stupid boxes.

Steve: You said there was nothing to worry about.

Cliff: Yeah, well forget what I said. Let's.........

(a security guard yells)

Security Guard: Stop or I'll shoot! Stop!

(the boys start to run tripping over the boxes and a shot rings out)


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(Lights go out quickly on a now empty scene and silence. After a few seconds a song plays).

SCENE EIGHT

-curtain opens last time person playing Jesus hide behind while opening it then come out other side-(The lights come on to reveal the Cross in the background but the focus is on the empty tomb. Two women approach the tomb.)

(They are amazed to find the tomb empty.)

Women: The stone is rolled away! What has happened!

(They look in the tomb but find nothing. Jesus appears behind them. They can not believe their eyes. Jesus' glory shines around Him. They kneel.Pause for a minute.)

(The lights stay on Jesus as he turns to face the scene on the other side of the stage and the lights over there come up.)

(We see Steve kneeling beside the lifeless form of Cliff somewhere right outside the warehouse.) on steps Cliff laying on side

Steve:(in shock and very distressed) Cliff is dead. Roger ran away. What do I do? Oh God please help me! (sobbing)

Sarah:(runs around the corner and stops at the sight of Cliff. She cries out and kneels next to Steve.) You're all right. Are you hurt? Dear God, Cliff isdead. (pause).

Steve: Yes, he is dead.(calmly) You were right. It was me who turned my back on God. He didn't turn His back on me. (He stands.) That could be melying there. (pauses for effect - begins to move)

Sarah: Where are you going?

Steve: I'm going to do something I should have done a long time ago. I'm going to ask Jesus for help. (he moves away from the scene and looks at theCross as the lights bear on the Cross. Keep lights on the main scene and on Jesus as well. Steve looks at the hammer and nails left lying there and

picks them up. He turns to the audience for all to see.)

Steve: It is me. All along I've been pounding nails into Jesus. I helped nail Jesus to the cross with my sins. (He drops to his knees and cries out) Jesus,can you forgive me. Please help me. I know I have sinned and I need you to show me the way. (softly crying).

(Music begins softly. Jesus moves towards Steve and comes around behind him. He stops for a brief moment and then bends over to lift Steve up.Jesus puts his hands around him and holds him up. The hammer and nails are still in Steve's hands. After a moment they fall to the floor. All lights goout except the ones on Jesus and Steve. After a minute all the other actors gather around Jesus and Steve and they kneel. The music continues until

the end of the song. The officer or minister takes over at this point. )

THE END

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