Act II

CRUCIFIXION AND BURIAL[1]

Act Two, Scene One

Crucifixion

It is nine o’clock in the morning, the third Jewish hour of the day.[2] The scene opens with Jesus carrying his cross out of the governor‘s courtyard.[3] As he comes out the soldiers seize Simon of Cyrene and force him to carry Jesus’ cross behind him.[4]

There is a large crowd of people, mostly women, following Jesus and mourning.[5]

Jesus: [stops and turns around] “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for me. Weep for yourselves and for your children. The days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never gave birth and the breasts that never nursed.' Then they will say to the mountains ‘Fall on us’ and to the hills ‘Cover us.’ If these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”[6]

Two others, convicted criminals, are also being led away to be put to death.[7] They arrive at the place of a skull, called Golgotha in Hebrew.[8] Many others are already there dying on crosses in the background.[9]

Roman soldiers offer a pain-killer drink to Jesus and the two others. The others drink as much as they can. Jesus sips it and spits it out.[10] The scene fades.

The scene opens again with the two others already on their crosses while Jesus is being crucified.[11] He is laid down on the cross.[12] His hands are tied. Then his hands and feet are nailed to the cross. As the nails are pounded Jesus cries out in pain. A sign with the victim’s crime is nailed to the top of the cross. The sign reads in Hebrew, Greek and Latin: ‘Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.’[13] The cross is then lifted by three soldiers and dropped forcefully into a hole in the ground. Jesus again cries out in pain.

Jesus: “Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing.”[14]

The four soldiers divide Jesus’ garments into four parts with each receiving a part. They then cast dice to see who gets the seamless inner garment. Thus prophecy is again fulfilled.”[15] Afterwards they sit down on the ground with spears at their sides.[16]

Chief Priest: “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews.’ Write that he said, ‘I am King of the Jews.’”[17]

Pilate: [who watches the first part of Christ’s suffering] “What I have written I have written.”[18]

Passer-by: [one of a long line wagging their heads] “So you are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days. Why don’t you save yourself? If you are the Son of God then come down from the cross.”[19]

Official: [one of the chief priests, scribes or elders] “You saved others but you cannot save yourself. If you are the King of Israel come down off the cross and we will believe in you.”[20]

Official #2: “You trust in God. Let God deliver you now if he wants you. You did say ‘I am the Son of God.’”[21]

Soldier: [offering Jesus sour wine]: “If you are the king of the Jews save yourself.”[22]

Thief #1: “Come down from the cross that we may see and believe also.”[23]

Thief #2: “Are you the Christ? Then save yourself and us.”[24]

Thief #1 [to #2]: "Since you are under the same sentence of condemnation do you not fear God? We are guilty and deserve our punishment. This man has done nothing wrong.”[25] [looks at Jesus] “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom!”[26]

Jesus: “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with me in Paradise.”[27]

While Jesus is being mocked by one group after another there is a small gathering of faithful supporters at the foot of the cross observing and listening to the mockery. The group includes Mary, the mother of Jesus, Mary the wife of Cleopas, Mary Magdalene and the apostle John. Jesus has just made it clear that he was going to die on this day.[28] His mother is sobbing uncontrollably.

Jesus: [to Mary] “Woman, behold your son! [Jesus nods his head towards John, then he says to John] “Behold your mother!” [Jesus nods his head towards Mary][29]

John takes Mary away to his own home.[30]

The sun suddenly stops shining and darkness covers the land in the middle of the day from the Jewish sixth hour until the ninth hour (from noon until 3 PM).[31]

The scene goes dark for a very long period of time and people scurry to find some kind of light. The first torch is lit by a soldier. Then others are lit. Soon torches and lanterns are held by almost everybody. Because of the darkness soldiers disperse those who are lingering at the cross but allow the passers-by to continue. Three hours of darkness pass with both mourners and mockers taking turns briefly at the cross. At about the ninth hour Jesus says in a loud voice in Aramaic …

Jesus: “Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani”; “My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me.?”[32]

Bystander #1: “This man is calling for Elijah.”[33]

Jesus: [knowing that prophecy had now been fulfilled] “I thirst.”[34]

Bystander #2: [places a sponge on a long hyssop stick, pours sour wine-vinegar onto it and gives Jesus a drink] “Let us see if Elijah will come to take him down.”[35]

Bystander #3: “Yes, let us see if Elijah will come to save him.”[36]

Jesus: [loud] “It is finished. [pause] Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” [Jesus exhales and bows his head in death.][37]

Act Two, Scene Two

Death[38]

The opening scene is very dark and foreboding.  There is thunder and lightning but no rain. The place is a hill just outside of Jerusalem called Golgotha in Hebrew and Calvary in Latin --the place of the skull. [39]

It is the ninth hour and darkness has been over the land for three hours since noon.[40] [41] Torches and lanterns have been lit. Because of the darkness Roman soldiers have had to disperse those who had been lingering too long at the foot of the cross.

Jesus of Nazareth (the son of the carpenter Joseph and his wife Mary) -- the one whom his followers had hoped would be the Messiah, has just spoken his final words, “It is finished.[42] Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”[43] and has died.[44]

It is the time of the evening sacrifice.[45] The thick 90 foot tall veil which separates the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place in the Jewish Temple suddenly rips from top to bottom exposing the sacred room.[46] Not the work of a man’s hand. Panic erupts in the Temple as ordinary priests, Levites and even ordinary worshippers all gaze into the forbidden room in utter shock.

And the earth shakes the rocks are split and some of the tombs open. Many of the saints who had fallen asleep are raised and recognized.[47]

What is God trying to tell Israel by all of this?

Four Roman soldiers are sitting around the cross with spears beside them.[48] A Centurion is standing in front carefully watching Jesus. The Centurion takes a step closer still staring at Jesus. For a brief moment he glances at the passers-by then boldly looking back up at Jesus’ body glorifies God and boldly says “Certainly this was the righteous man.[49] Truly this was the Son of God.”[50]

When the multitude observes what is happening they began beating their breasts in both fear and anguish.[51] A large crowd mostly women, with torches in hand, are mourning over Jesus from a well-traveled road nearby.[52]

The wind swirls around the middle cross between two of many dying criminals. Several light-beams from above begin to break through the clouds as if celestial beings are peeking through the closed blinds of heaven. The strange darkness very quickly disappears and daylight returns.

The senses of the onlookers are all challenged. Hands and bodies shake in anticipation of something else very bad about to happen. They are afraid to touch the reality of the present. Smells of sweat and blood and decaying bodies which had been left on other crosses for wild dogs and vultures to eat throughout the week offend the nose.

The Jews themselves had requested that legs of criminals be broken to hasten their death in order to keep from desecrating the Sabbath.[53] Soldiers are seen in the background going from cross to cross with large clubs breaking the legs of those still alive. Sounds of breaking bones, pain, suffocation and dying are all around. The soldiers arrive at the three crosses in front and break the legs of the two criminals on each side of Jesus.[54] These two criminals scream as their bones crack, gasp for their last breath of air and collapse in death.

As a soldier with a heavy club in his hand reaches Jesus, he is angry that Jesus is apparently already dead.[55] Putting the club down and reaching for a spear from a nearby soldier he thrusts it deep into the left side of Jesus directly up into his heart.[56] Blood mixed with water flows out of the already lifeless body.[57] Thus, like the Passover lamb, no bone was broken.[58]

Nothing feels good. Nothing smells good. Nothing sounds good. And nothing looks good. The broken and shrouded women and several grief-stricken men are seen at a distance loudly wailing.

Was this once a man? Jesus is barely recognizable as even a man -- much less a Messiah. Fresh blood, dried blood, splinters and pieces of bone, glass and metal cover every inch of his body from his head to his feet. His shoulders are dislocated from awkward attempts to breathe and the huge spear-wound in his side has stopped flowing blood and water from around his heart.[59]

There is a strange unexplainable thickness in the air. All creation seems to be upset as if disturbed by the death of its Creator. As the scene fades the Roman soldiers are guarding prisoners who are ripping bodies from other crosses while the centurion certifies their death.

Act Two, Scene Three

Nicodemus and Joseph

The scene opens from inside a small room. Two members of the Jewish high court, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, secret disciples of Jesus, are meeting. Nicodemus is already there pacing nervously back and forth. As Joseph enters he looks over his shoulders while gently closing the door behind himself to make sure he had not been followed.

As wealthy members of the Jewish high court they are dressed in their finest garments. As Pharisees, they are also wearing the required holy pouches, the phylacteries, containing portions of the Law on their right hands and on their foreheads.

Joseph: “Nicodemus, what are we going to do now?  Jesus is dead and the kingdom of God is nowhere to be seen.”

Nicodemus stops in front of Joseph, and beckons for him to come closer ---preparing a mild rebuke. Joseph does not move. Instead he reveals a wide grin, opens his partially uplifted hands and says with a bold tone:

Joseph: “I still believe that Jesus will somehow bring in the kingdom of God as the Messiah. I’ve been through too much with him and seen too much from him to deny him now.”

Nicodemus: “I remember the first time I met Jesus.  He looked me straight in the eyes and said, ‘Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ And when I told him that I did not understand what he was talking about, he said ‘Aren’t you a master of Israel? And you don’t know these things! Unless a man is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”[60]

Nicodemus begins pacing nervously back and forth again in front of Joseph and continues.

Joseph: “Evidently some kind of spiritual rebirth is necessary in order to enter God’s kingdom. I have asked myself, ‘If this is true, then what is the kingdom of God all about?’ I’m a Jew, a good man and a member of the Sanhedrin like you.  I always thought that we were guaranteed a part in the kingdom of God!  [pause] We were wrong! [pause] Somehow in our expectation of an earthly kingdom, we have completely missed the important spiritual part of God’s kingdom.” 

Nicodemus: “Moses said that God’s kingdom is only for those who have been circumcised in their heart.[61]  Jews like us who are ready for God’s kingdom have obeyed the call of the Spirit of God and have followed Jesus as His disciples. Tell me. What has just happened?”

With a show of some exasperation, Nicodemus throws out his hands.

Joseph: “I cannot explain it either, but I am prepared to risk everything I am and have to serve him. I even offer my own new tomb for his burial.”[62]

Nicodemus: “You know, the Sanhedrin did not invite either of us to their illegal night trial to condemn Jesus. They probably suspected that neither of us would have voted to condemn him.[63]

Joseph: “I heard that Jesus quoted the prophet Daniel and told them that he, as the Messiah, would someday sit at the right hand of God and come to judge them!”[64]

Nicodemus: “He said it twice –both times he was in front of the Sanhedrin.”[65]

Joseph: “And that is why they found it necessary to have him put to death![66] [pause] If one of us does not go to Pilate immediately, the Roman soldiers will take his body down and throw it into the common grave for the wild animals and vultures to devour. [very deliberately one word at a time emphatically]  “We-must-do-something-very-soon.”

Nicodemus: “Somebody must. Cannot his mother, his relatives, or his disciples claim the body? We are members of the Sanhedrin. We could get into trouble.”

Joseph: “John had to take Jesus’ mother away. She was extremely affected by seeing her son die in such a horrible manner.[67] And the apostles and disciples are afraid of being arrested and crucified themselves. Nobody knows for sure that we are disciples yet. We can offer to take the body as an act of charity.”

Nicodemus: “I cannot go and ask Pilate for the body. They already suspect me of being a disciple since the day I argued in his favor before the council.[68]  You, Joseph, must step out in faith and ask Pilate for the body. They will not suspect you of being a disciple.”

Joseph: “And what will I tell Pilate when he asks me why I want the body?”

Nicodemus: “Tell him the truth. Tell him you don’t want Jesus to be thrown into a mass grave with common criminals. Remind Pilate that he himself declared that Jesus was innocent and two days ago thousands of people publicly praised Jesus. Tell him that Jesus deserves better than that.”

Joseph: “O. K.  I’ll go. [pause] I’m going right now.”

As Joseph opens and walks out of the door he turns and says…

Joseph:  “Get some wrappings and spices and meet me on the hill to help me take the body down. My tomb is nearby.”

Act Two, Scene Four

Joseph and Pilate[69] [70]

The scene is inside Pilate, the Roman governor’s judgment hall.[71] It is after the ninth hour (3 PM) and before sunset (6 PM). Pilate is sitting in an elevated chair at the back of a large room. Two Roman soldiers are present as body-guards.

As the scene opens one of the soldiers closes the front door and is walking towards Pilate.

Body-Guard: “Sir[72], there is a man at the door named Joseph of Arimathea. He wants permission from you to remove and bury the body of Jesus of Nazareth. From his manner of dress, he appears to be quite wealthy and a member of the Sanhedrin.”[73]

Pilate: “Is Jesus dead already? He was only crucified a few hours ago.”[74]

Body Guard: “Yes sir, the report is that he has already died.”

Pilate [talking to himself]: “I am sick and tired of this Jesus. My wife is angry at me because of a dream she had about him.[75] The Sanhedrin has aggravated me to death about him. He lived in Galilee and even Herod Antipas did not want to deal with him.[76] [to the guard] He’s dead, you say. I tried my best to let him go after only a beating.[77] I washed my hands of him.[78] And now he still won’t leave me alone from Hades. Tell this Joseph, whoever he is, to leave me alone. I’ve had enough of his Jesus for one day already.”

The guard turns and begins to go back towards the door. He turns back around as Pilate speaks.

Pilate: “Wait! I want to make sure that this Jesus of Nazareth is really dead. Call the centurion in charge of the crucifixions. Bring him here immediately.”[79]

The body-guard leaves to get the Centurion.

Act Two, Scene Five

The Centurion Reports

As the scene opens Pilate’s guard opens the door from outside and holds it open. Accompanied by two of his soldiers the centurion enters the room. As Pilate’s guard closes the door behind him and joins the others, they all snap to attention before Pilate.

Centurion: “Sir, the man Jesus of Nazareth is dead indeed. I checked him myself. No breath. Not even a blood-flow from his wounds.”

Pilate: “I have your word then. Amazing! Personally I thought he was innocent of the charges brought against him.[80] I suppose we tortured him too much before the crucifixion.”

Centurion: “Sir, from what I saw I would agree with you that he was a righteous man.[81]

Pilate: “Innocent --not righteous! He was still a worthless Jew.”

Centurion: “Sir, I have been checking dead bodies for years. None have gotten up and walked away yet. My men here will also certify that he is dead.  This one [pointing] came to break his legs and got so angry because he was already dead that he jabbed a spear into his heart to make sure.”[82]

Soldier (out of order but proud of his deed): “And, sir, I saw blood mixed with water come out of his side.[83]  He must have just died before I got there to break his legs.”

Centurion: “I assure you, the man is as dead as he can possibly be.”[84]

The two soldiers who entered with the centurion nod their heads in agreement towards Pilate while remaining at attention.

Pilate: “Good, he won’t bother me any more then.” [to his guard]: “Now you can tell this Joseph not to bother me.”

Pilate’s guard begins to leave the room again and turns again as Pilate begins to speak.

Pilate: “No! Wait! I’m curious. [pause] I want to know more about this ‘Joseph of Arimathea.’ He might be of some value to me. Why he might even bribe me. Let him in.”

The guard leaves and shortly arrives back with Joseph.

Pilate: “Just who do you think you are bothering me on the eve of your holy day? And a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin at that! [silence] Well, speak up!”

Joseph: [terrified, his boldness gone, begins stuttering]. “Sir, I, uh, well, I uh, you see, I have watched him and think many of the people secretly admire him. [pause, clears his throat, regains some confidence]  I would like to perform an act of charity and give the body an honorable burial. [pause again; this time hesitantly, contemplating whether or not to utter his next suggestion]  “Who knows, [pause] the people might change their minds again and turn against you if they decide that they really did like Jesus and blame you for desecrating his body after death.”

Pilate: (furious and loud) “Are you threatening me?  Do you know who I am? Do you think I am stupid or something? You came here to warn ME, to do ME a favor!! I ought to have YOU put to death.”

Pilate pauses and looks around behind him, expecting his counselors to rush to his side.  As two counselors quickly walk out of a room behind him, he points to Joseph and says:

Pilate: “Stay right where you are [looking around] --all of you. I’ll be right back.”

Pilate withdraws to the next room and his counselors follow.

Pilate: [they are all standing] “The arrogance of the man. Well, what do you think I should do?”

Counselor #1: “Sir, he has a point. Several days ago this Jesus of Nazareth entered Jerusalem like a king and the crowds praised him.”

Counselor #2: “Yes, but today they hated him and called for him to be crucified.”

Counselor #1: “Not everybody. There was a huge crowd of women following him and crying.[85] These Jews are crazy and totally unpredictable. Who knows what they’ll do tomorrow! Why, they might even say that the man has risen from the dead!  Ha. Ha.”

Pilate: “I cannot take the word of a godless Jew.[86] You cannot trust them. They only cause trouble for me. [pause] O. K., I’m going to let this man have the body.”

Pilate and his counselors all enter the room where Joseph and the five soldiers are standing.

Pilate [to the centurion]: “Take this man [Joseph] with you and let him have the body. Make him do the dirty work of removing it. And I don’t want to hear another word about [sarcastically] ‘Jesus.’”[87]

Joseph, the centurion and the two (of four) soldiers leave.

Act Two, Scene Six

The Women Watch[88]

Joseph and Nicodemus arrive at the foot of the cross riding a small two-wheel donkey-drawn cart. Prisoners guarded by soldiers are still tearing bodes down from other crosses in the background. The last of the onlookers are walking by Jesus and beating their chests or wailing as they walk away. The Centurion and several Roman soldiers are watching while many women and a few male disciples are still keeping vigil from a road in the distance.

In the background and seen from the women’s point of view Joseph (much younger than Nicodemus) begins knocking back and forth with a hammer to loosen the nail from Jesus’ feet which are about three feet off the ground.[89] This takes several excruciatingly but otherwise quiet minutes. He finally loosens the large nail and removes it.

Joseph removes a small footstool from the wagon and spends several minutes removing the second nail and cutting the rope from Jesus’ left hand. The body slides off the extension on the cross used for a seat and hangs from the right arm. Joseph moves the footstool and begins removing the last nail. As the nail is removed Nicodemus holds up the limp body while Joseph cuts the rope to release it. The body falls into Nicodemus’ arms and Joseph helps him place it into the back of the cart. After covering it with a shroud[90] Nicodemus and Joseph drive away to the tomb.[91]

While all of this is happening at a distance the women are watching and talking among themselves.

Among the many women is Mary of Magdala, a devoted disciple who had followed Jesus for years after he had cured her of demonic possession.[92] There was Mary, the mother of James the less and Joseph, two of Jesus’ disciples. And there was Salome, wife of Zebedee, and mother to Jesus’ disciples John and James, and possibly a sister to Mary the mother of Jesus. [93] Joanna is there --probably the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward.[94]

As relatives of Jesus this might explain why they were allowed to be so near at the crucifixion. While their sons were four of Jesus’ apostles the parents of the four appear to have been close disciples who traveled and ministered to him and the others.

Mary M: “How can anybody be so cruel?  Just look at Jesus. They almost beat him to death with whips. They pushed those thorns onto his head and then they nailed his hands and feet.”

Salome: “What are we going to do now? Jesus is dead. To think that I asked him to let my sons rule nearest to him![95] Jesus is dead. The whole world has suddenly turned upside down.[96] Aiiiiieeeee! (bitter sobbing).”

Mary: “At least we can make sure that he gets a proper burial.[97] [pause] Who are those two men taking his body? One looks like Rabbi Nicodemus. I heard that he defended Jesus before the Sanhedrin once. I don’t recognize the younger man. He looks important, though, like another member of the Sanhedrin.”

Mary M.: “What do they want Jesus’ body for? What are they going to do with it?”

Salome: “Let’s stay out of sight and follow them. I want to know what they are going to do with the body too.”

Mary: “You’re right, Salome. Let’s just wait and follow them.”

Act Two, Scene Seven

Burial[98]

Joseph’s family tomb is a long room chiseled out of solid rock in a garden.[99] A flat table for preparing the body has been chiseled into the wall at the rear of the tomb facing the opening. On each side are small chiseled shelves for holding boxes for bones after the un-embalmed bodies have decomposed.

As the scene opens Nicodemus and Joseph have arrived and have already placed the body inside onto the open flat area at the back of the tomb. A torch is burning on the wall inside the tomb. The women are hiding behind bushes a short distance away and are unsuccessfully trying to see what is happening inside. Although Nicodemus and Joseph are very familiar with tombs of the wealthy, the women outside are not.

Joseph: “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. My Lord. Look what they have done to you!  It’s not even human how they have treated you.”[100]

Nicodemus: (pouring a pitcher of water into two small basins and pickup up two small wash-towels.) “Help me wash the body. We are running out of daylight and the Sabbath will soon be upon us. We’re already defiled from touching the body but I don’t want the authorities accusing us of breaking the Sabbath too.”[101]

The two men place the body on the table, remove the shroud and quickly begin washing the body. Next they pick up rolls of expensive linen and begin wrapping the body from head to foot while placing large amounts of expensive spices and herbs between the rolls. After folding a small headpiece and wrapping it onto the head, they place a very large quantity of spices and herbs beneath the body.[102] The women are vainly trying to watch from outside.

As the two men care for the body, they talk.

Joseph: “Just look how they emaciated him. None of this should have happened. I am ashamed to be a member of the Sanhedrin and intend to resign. That was the most illegal trial I have ever heard.”

Nicodemus: “Not only were the judges not impartial but they even took part in the arrest and tried Jesus at night illegally. They did not even have a formal accusation against him when he was arrested.”

Joseph: “Cowards, I say. They went out of their way to find hostile witnesses who contradicted themselves and finally convicted him using his own testimony which is also illegal.”[103]

Nicodemus: “And that cowardly governor, Pilate, pronounced him innocent three times and still sentenced him to death. That, my friend, is even illegal under Roman law.”[104]

Joseph: “At least he is getting a royal-quality of burial with all of these spices and with his own new tomb.”[105]

The scene shifts to the women outside who are twisting and turning while trying to watch what is happening.

Salome: “Can you see what they are doing? Are they desecrating our Lord’s body even more?  I can’t tell.”

Mary M. “I cannot see either. I hope they are doing the right thing. Just in case, though, I am going to get the best spices I can afford in order to make sure my Lord is given a proper burial.”

Mary: “Good idea. Thankfully, this garden isn’t far from where we are staying.”

While the women are talking, Nicodemus and Joseph complete their task, walk out of the tomb and push with all of their strength to roll the heavy stone down into a groove across the door.[106]

Joseph: “Barring a great miracle, I’ll come back in a few months and place the bones into an ossuary box.”[107]

Nicodemus: “Somehow, though, I sense that this is not the end. We’ve seen the miracles our Lord performed. Something tells me that there might be a surprise in store for all of us.  I certainly hope so.”

The scene shifts back to the women.

Mary: “O no! Look, look. They are blocking the opening with a heavy stone. Now we won’t be able to go inside.”

Salome: “Don’t let that worry you. My two sons and your two sons together should be able to move that stone. We have plenty of men to help.”

Mary M.: “Yes, but will they risk being seen in public? The Sanhedrin and Romans may want more innocent blood.  [pause] I’m coming back anyway. It is Passover time and there are plenty of men around.[108] We can find some strong men to help me in the morning.”

The two men leave and the women come out of hiding and sit on large rocks near the tomb.[109] They stare at the tomb for a minute.

Mary: “We’d better hurry and get back. It is getting dark and the Sabbath is upon us.”

The women leave.[110]