PASSION OF CHRIST SCRIPT BY MARIAN MUSIC AND THEATRE
CAST(CHARACTERS)
JESUS
CAIAPHAS
PILATE
HEROD
PRIEST(1,2&3)
ELDERS
NICODEMUS
GUARDS
JUDAS
PETER
JAMES AND JOHN
MARY(MOTHER OF JESUS)
MARY MAGDALENE
ACCUSERS
CENTURION
PILATE’S WIFE
SIMON OF CYRENE
VERONICA
WOMEN OF JERUSAALEM
BANDITS (THIEVES )
SOLDIERS
JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA
THE WAY OF THE CROSS
(OUR SALVATION)
SCENES
PLOT TO KILL JESUS
THE LORD’S SUPPER
JESUS PREDICTS PETER’S DENIAL
GESTHSEMANE
JESUS BEFORE THE COUNCIL
PETER DENIES JESUS
JESUS BEFORE PILATE
JESUS BEFORE HEROD
JESUS BEFORE PILATE AGAIN 1ST STATION (JESUS IS CONDEMED
TO DEATH)
2ND STATION JESUS RECEIVES THE CROSS
3RD STATION JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIIME
4TH STATION JESUS MEETS HIS MOTHER
5TH STATION SIMON THE CYRENE CARRRIED THE CROSS
6TH STATION VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS
7TH STATION JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME
8TH STATION JESUS MEETS WOMEN OF JERUSALEM
9TH STATION JESUS FALLLS THE THIRD TIME
10TH STATION JESUS IS STRIPPPED OF HIS GARMENT
11TH STATION JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS
12TH STATION JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS
13TH STATION JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS
14TH STATION JESUS IS PLACED IN THE SEPHULCRE
THE PLOT TO KILL JESUS
THE HIGH PRIEST(CAIAPHAS), THE ELDERS AND OTHER PRIESTS
ARE GATHERING
CAIAPHAS: What do we do about this man called Jesus of Nazareth, he is
becoming too popular for my liking!
1st PRIEST: Your Lordship, you are right .He goes around claiming he is the
Messiah and healing people with powers no one knows the source.
2nd PRIEST: Yes, he also said if we do not eat his body and drink his blood,
we shall die!
CAIAPHAS: So what then do we do?
NICODEMUS: My Lord, I feel we should leave this man alone maybe he is
innocent. Let’s not incure the wrath of God
PRIESTS: SHUT UP!!!
NICODEMUS: WHAT!
1st PRIEST:YES, SHUT UP!! … Wrath of whom….They call you Nico and
Demus but you are just chicken hearted…. It’s better you leave us than try to
draw us back
NICODEMUS: Then I beg to take my leave… I will not be party to the killing
of an innocent man (Nicodemus exits)
PRIESTS AND ELDER: BETTER LEAVE US
(Mumurs among themselves)
ELDER: Your Lordship in three days time it will be passover. I feel it will be a
good time to act because he will be there
2nd PRIEST: No!! we cannot act during the festival or the people will riot
EVERYBODY: (After thinking ) yes, you are right….Very true
CAIAPHAS: So when shall we strike and in what manner … How…When…
Where…? Somebody say something!!
GUARD WALKS IN
GUARD: Your Lordship, a man is here to see you
CAIAPHAS: Who is he?
GUARD: He said his name is Judas, one of the followers of Jesus
CAIAPHAS: Bring him in… Bring him…(Judas walks in) young man, what
brings you here and what can i do for you?
JUDAS: Greetings Your Lordship, what can you give me in exchange for my
master or don’t you want him anymore?
CAIAPHAS AND THE ELDERS MURMUR AMONGST THEMSELVES
2nd PRIEST: We shall give you 20 pieces of silver
JUDAS: No you can do better than that… My master is worth more than that
1st PRIEST: Okay then we will give you 25 pieces of silver
JUDAS: Make it 30 pieces and he’s all yours
CAIAPHAS: Guard!! (HE WHISPERS IN THE GUARD’S EARS… THE
GUARD LEAVES AND RETURNS WITH A BAG AND HANDS IT TO
CAIAPHAS WHO THEN THROWS IT AT JUDAS )... Have your 30 pieces of
silver and get me the King of the Jews
JUDAS: (SMILES AND PICKS UP THE SCATTERED COINS ON THE
FLOOR) …Thank you very much, just send your guards, the one i kiss they
must hold…(HE SMILES HAPPILY AND LEAVES... THE ELDER AND THE
PRIESTS REJOICE AND WATCH KEENLY AS HE LEAVES)
CAIAPHAS: Elders! Guards! Follow that man and get me the King of the Jews
THE LORD’S SUPPER
ON THE DAY OF THE PASSOVER, THE APOSTLES AND JESUS WERE
EATING IN THE UPPER ROOM WHEN JESUS SPOKE…
JESUS: Brothers…take and eat,this is my body…(THEN HE RAISED THE
CUP)...now drink all of you for this is my blood which seals all covenant,it is
poured for the forgiveness of sins. So shall…i tell you, i will never again drink
this wine with you until the day i drink new wine with you in my Father’s
Kingdom…one of you will betray me…one who is eating with me.
APOSTLE 1:(murmuring among themselves and asking questions) You don’t
mean me my lord. Is it?
APOSTLE 2: Not me Lord, is it?
APOSTLE 3: is it me?
(JESUS CUTS IN)
JESUS: It will be one of you twelve, one who dips his hand in the dish with
me…the Son of Man will die as the scripture says he will, but how terrible for
that man who will betray the Son of Man… it would be better he had not been
born.
THE FACES OF THE APOSTLES WERE FILLED WITH ASTONISHMENT
THEY COULD NOT HELP BUT CONTINUE EATING AFTER WHICH
THEY SANG HYMNS TOGETHER AND LEFT FOR MOUNT OLIVES
JESUS PREDICTS PETER’S DENIAL
JESUS: Tonight all of you will leave me and run away for the scripture says
”God will kill the shepherd and the flock will scatter…but after I’m raised to
life, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.
(THEY ARE ALL AMAZED AND SILENT)
PETER: No…Lord… i will not leave you even if the rest do
JESUS: (SMILING) Peter..i say to you, before the cock crows at dawn you will
say you do not know me 3 times
PETER: even if i have to die, i will never say such thing
OTHERS MURMUR AMONGST THEMSELVES
GETHSEMANE
JESUS: Sit here watch and pray…Peter
PETER: yes master
JESUS: James…John…come with me
THEY WENT A LITTLE FURTHER
JESUS: The sorrow in my heart is too great it almost crushes me…..stay here
and keeep watch with me . (HE WENT A LITTLE FURTHER AND THREW
HIMSELF ON THE GROUND FACED DOWN AND PRAYED)
FATHER! FATHER!!...All things are possible for you, take this cup of sufering
away from me, yet not my will but your will be done
(HE WENT BACK TO FIND THE DISCIPLES ASLEEP)
SIMON! Are you asleep? Couldn’t you have stayed awake for an hour? Keep
watch and pray that you may not fall into temptation…the spirit is willing but
the flesh is weak
DISCIPLES: Yes master we would pray..
JESUS WENT BACK TO PRAY AND RETURNED TO FIND THE
DISCIPLES SLEEPING
JESUS: JAMES…JOHN…,sons of Zebedee, weren’t you able to stay just one
hour?
THEY COULD NOT SAY ANYTHING
JESUS: Are you still sleeping and resting?...Enough! the hour has
come!!...LOOK!!...The son of man is now been handed into the hands of
sinners…get up let’s go…here is the man who is to betray me.
DISCIPLES: Who??
JAMES AND JOHN: JUDAS!!!
JUDAS: The one i kiss you must hold
JESUS: Judas…is it with a kiss you betray the Son of Man?...be quick with it
JUDAS WALKS UP TO JESUS AND KISSES HIM
JESUS: Who is he you are looking for?
THE CROWD: Jesus of Nazareth!!
JESUS: I AM HE!!
THEY ALL FELL TO THE GROUND
JESUS: Who is he you are looking for?
THE CROWD: Jesus of Nazareth!!!
JESUS: I AM HE!!!
THEY ALL FELL TO THE GROUND AGAIN
JESUS: (asking again) who is it that you are looking for?
THE CROWD: Jesus of Nazareth!!!
JESUS: I have already told you, I am he!!
PRIEST: Get him!!
THE GUARDS STARTED COMING CLOSER, SOME OF THE DISCIPLES
REAN AWAY BUT PETER, JAMES , AND JOHN STOOD BACK TRYING
TO FIGHT FOR JESUS WHEN PETER SUDDENLY CUTS THE EAR OF
MARCUS
JESUS: Enough!!!
JAMES: Master, shall we not use our sword?
JESUS: Put back your sword…do you think i will not drink of this cup of
suffering which my Father has given me ? (Healing Marcus)...Did you come
with clubs, swords, sticks and knives to arrest me? I have been with you at the
Temple and Synagogue and you did not arrest me …I am not an outlaw!!...But
this is just for the gospel to be fulfilled…You have me now so let the others go
THE GUARDS RELEASED THEM AND THE DISCIPLES RAN AWAY
ELDER AND PRIESTS: GUARDS GET THIS MAN!!
JESUS BEFORE THE COUNCIL
AS JESUS WAS DRAGGED INSIDE,PEOPLE GATHERED AROUND
CAIAPHAS: I have heard from the Priest and Elders…now i want to hear what
the people have to say about this man
1ST ACCUSER: My lord, this man said he is going to dethrone the High
Priest!
2ND ACCUSER: (SHOUTING FROM THE CROWD) That is very true my
lord …I also heard him say that he will tear down the Temple…The temple that
took our Fore Fathers years to build.
3RD ACCUSER: (Immediately replying) And rebuild it in three days
CAIAPHAS: Have you no answer to these accusations brought against you?
(JESUS WAS SILENT)
CAIAPHAS: In the name of the living God …I place you under an oath…tell
us are you the messiah…the son of God
JESUS: (SIGHS) So you say…I tell you.. From this time onward you will see
the son of man sitting at the right hand of God the father Almighty and coming
down on the clouds of heaven
CAIAPHAS BECOMES FURIOUS…TEARING HIS GARMENT
CAIAPHAS: BLASPHEMY! BLASPHEMY!! BLASPHEMY!!!...We need
no other proof… you all just heard his blasphemy or what do you think?
ELDER: HE IS GUILTY…AND MUST DIE!!( SLAPS JESUS)
OTHERS: YES! YES!! HE MUST DIE!!!
CAIAPHAS: Well then… put him in chains and take him to Pilate for final
condemnation.
JESUS IS TAKEN OUT TO THE COURTYARD…THEY BEAT HIM
MOCKED HIM AND WATCHED AS ALL THESE HAPPENED
PETER DENIES JESUS
AS THEY KEPT ON BEATING HIM OUT OF THE COURTYARD,PETER
WAS SITTING IN THE COURTYARD WHEN SUDDENLY ONE OF THE
PRIEST’S MAIDS IDENTIFIED HIM
WOMAN 1: You are one of the followers of Jesus
PETER: No i don’t know what you are talking about
PETER MOVED CLOSER TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE COURTYARD
WHERE ANOTHER WOMAN IDENTIFIES HIM
WOMAN 2: He was with Jesus of Nazareth
AT THIS RATE PEOPLE STARTED TO GATHER AND PETER WAS
AFRAID
WOMAN 3: Of course you are one of them, the way you speak gives you away
PETER: I swear i am telling the truth…May God strike me if i am lying. I do
not know that man..
JUST THEN THE COCK CROWS AND PETER REALISED WHAT HE HAS
DONE. HE THEN BROKE DOWN IN TEARS AND RAN AWAY
JESUS BEFORE PILATE
CAIAPHAS AND HIS MEN ARRIVED WITH JESUS AT PILATE’S
PALACE AND DEMANDED FOR AN AUDIENCE WITH PILATE
PILATE: Bring them up to me
CAIAPHAS: We can’t cone up to you,we will be unclean for the passover
THEN PILATE COMES OUT TO MEEET THEM
PILATE: Caiaphas,what brings you and your council men to my place by this
time?
CAIAPHAS: We have brought this man for condemnation
PILATE: WHY?
CAIAPHAS: Your Excellency, this man has been misleading our people telling
them not to pay taxes to Ceasar the Emperor
1ST PRIEST: Your Excellency, it might interest you to know that with his
teachings he has started riot among the people all through Judea
2ND PRIEST: He continues in Galilee and now he has come here
3RD PRIEST: Your Excellency, we would not have brought him here if he has
not committed any crime.
PILATE: Why don’t you try him according to your laws?
CAIAPHAS: Your Excellency we are not allowed to try anyone for death
PILATE: Take him to Herod for his judgement
JESUS BEFORE HEROD
HEROD IS SITTING IN HIS PALACE AND ENTERTAINED BY HIS
CONCUBINES WHEN CAIAPHAS AND HIS COUNCIL ARRIVE
GUARD: Your highness,Caiaphas and his council are here to see you
HEROD: Bring them in
COUNCIL: Greetings your highness
HEROD: Caiaphas what brings you here to my palace…. And who is this man?
CAIAPHAS: Your highness, this man is known as JESUS the Nazarene. He has
committed abominations and uttered blasphemies from his mouth claiming he is
the messiah,deceiving our people and turning them against our laws.
PRIEST: Your highness, I also want you to know thar he claims to be the King
of the Jews
HEROD: (laughing) Really!! Jesus the Nazarene, i have heard so much about
you,your miracles and wonders.Maybe you would perform a miracle for me
today,(SIGNALING THE GUARD)....play dead…now bring him back to
life.(EVERYONE LAUGHS) what’s the problem??? (laughing
hysterically)...are your powers gone? Maybe he is deaf…or dumb…or even
both…..(EVERYONE LAUGHS). Bring me a robe (HE PLACES THE ROBE
ON JESUS)...Hail the King of the Jews(SLAPS HIM ANGRILY) I am the King
of the Jews!!. Send him back to Pilate for final condemnation and make sure he
is humiliated on the streets.
JESUS BEFORE PILATE AGAIN
1ST STATION( JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH)
JESUS WAS BROUGHT BACK TO PILATE PALACE AND A LARGE
CROWD HAD GATHERED, PILATE COMES OUT TO MEET THEM
PILATE: What was Herod’s judgement?
CAIAPHAS: He has condemned him to death
PILATE: Who is this man?
CAIAPHAS: HE IS JESUS OF NAZARETH
PILATE: Bring him up to me.. I want to speak to him privately…Are you the
King of the Jews?
JESUS: Does this question come from you or have they told you about me
PILATE: Do you think i am a Jew? It is your own people and the high Priest
who have brought you to me.. What have you done?
JESUS: ( smiling) my kingdom is not of this world…was it of it…my people
would have wedged war to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish
authorities…no my kingdom is not of this world
PILATE: So you are a king then?
JESUS: You say i am a King, i was born for this purpose…to speak the
truth…whoever belongs to the truth listens to me…
PILATE: TRUTH! What is the truth…? (PILATE THEN FACES THE
CROWD) i have not found this man guilty. There is no reason to condemn him.
(THE CROWD MURMURS IN PROTEST)....I will have him whipped and
scourged before you .
(JESUS IS WHIPPED AND SCOURED MERCILESSLY)
ARE YOU SATISFIED???
THE CROWD: NOOOO!!!
PILATE: I am obligated to set a prisoner free every year…we have Barabbas
and Jesus the Nazarene …. Who do you want?
THE CROWD: BARABBAS! BARABBAS!! WE WANT BARRABAS!!!
PILATE: WHAT THEN SHALL I DO WITH JESUS THE NAZARENE?
CROWD: CRUCIFY HIM! CRUCIFY HIM!! CRUCIFY HIM!!!
CENTURION: SILENCE!!!
PILATE: WHAT CRIME HAS HE COMMITTED?
CROWD: CRUCIFY HIM! CRUCIFY HIM!! CRUCIFY HIM!!!
PILATE IS CONFUSED BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT THE PEOPLE ARE
JUST JEALOUS, GOING INSIDE HIS WIFE APPROACHES HIM
PILATE WIFE: My lord, have nothing to do with this man, he is innocent… in
a dream last night i suffered a great loss on account of him, please my lord…
PILATE IS MORE CONFUSED …. THE CROWD WAS STILL SHOUTING
THEN PILATE GOES TO JESUS AGAIN
PILATE: Where do you come from.. (JESUS IS SILENT) Won’t you
speak?....remember i have the power to crucify you or not
JESUS: You have the power because God gave it to you, so also the man that
handed me to you is guilty of worse sins…
PILATE IS MORE CONFUSED
PILATE: (TALKIING TO THE CROWD) Why don’t you whip him again and
again and then set him free.
COUNCIL: If you set him free you are not a friend of Ceasar the Emperor
AT THIS POINT PILATE SAT ON HIS SEAT OF JUDGEMENT
PILATE: Here is your KING
CROWD: KILL HIM! KILL HIM!! KILL HIM!!!
PILATE: DO YOU WANT TO KILL YOUR KING?
CROWD: WE HAVE NO KING BUT CEASAR THE EMPEROR!!
PILATE WASHING HIS HAND SAYING
PILATE: I am not responsible for his death, it is your doing!
CROWD: LET IT BE ON US AND OUR CHILDREN
PILATE: Here is Barabbas…..he is free….and ….here is Jesus…. Do with
him as you wish….
2ND STATION
JESUS RECEIVES THE CROSS
3RD STATION
JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME
4TH STATION
JESUS MEETS HIS MOTHER
JESUS: Woman,do not cry for me for i make all things new…(MARY KEPT
CRYING…JOHN THE BELOVED, MARY MAGDALENE AND SALOME
WERE THERE)
5TH STATION
SIMON OF CYRENE CARRIES THE CROSS
GUARD: You come here!!!
SIMON: ME…??(SIMON WAS TRYING TO HIDE, THE GUARDS
POUNCE ON HIM AND FORCES HIM TO CARRY THE CROSS)
6TH STATION
VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS
VERONICA: My lord,if only you permit me to wipe your face? (JESUS
NODS IN APPROVAL)
7TH STATION
JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME
8TH STATION
JESUS MEETS THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM
WOMEN:( WEEPING AND WAILING)
JESUS: Women weeep not for me but for yourselves and your children,for the
days are coming when people will say how lucky are the women who never had
children, who never bore babies, who never nursed them.That is time when
people will say to the mountains fall on us, to the hills cover us. For if such
things are done when the wood is green what will happen when the wood is dry
9TH STATION
JESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME
10TH STATION
JESUS IS STRIPPED OFF HIS GARMENT
SOLDIER: Let’s not tear it , lets cast lots to decides who takes it
11TH STATION
JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS
12TH STATION
JESUS IS CRUCIFIED WITH TWO BANDITS( GESTAS AND DISMAS).
A SIGN WHICH READS “JESUS OF NAZARENE KING OF THE
JEWS” IS HUNG ON THE CROSS
JESUS: I am thirsty (THE SOLDIERS GAVE HIM VINEGAR…HE SPITS IT
OUT AS THEY ALL LAUGH AT HIM)
CAIAPHAS: He saved others, let him save himself …if he is the messiah as he
claims!!
1ST PRIEST: You claim to be the son of God, let God come and save you now
and we will believe you!!
JESUS: Father forgive them! For they do not know what they are doing!
1ST BANDIT: Are you not the messiah, save yourself and save us too!
2ND BANDIT: Do you not fear God! We deserve this punishment but he has
done nothing to deserve what is being done to him. Lord please remember me
poor sinner in your kingdom
JESUS: This day i tell you…you will be with me in paradise…( MEANWHILE
JOHN THE BELOVED,MARY MAGDALENE AND MARY MOTHER OF
JESUS WENT TO THE FOOT OF THE CROSS)
JESUS: ELI ELI LAMA SABACTHANI!!!
SOLDIER: (MOCKING JESUS) Wait wait he is calling on Elijah to help him
SOLDIER: LOOK! LOOK!! Maybe he is already coming
JESUS: Mother behold your son…son behold your mother…(LOOKING
UP)… FATHER INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMEND MY SPIRIT
IT IS FINISHED!!!
JESUS DIES AND THERE IS THUNDER AND LIGHTENING
THE SOLDIER WENT AND BROKE THE LEGS OF THE TWO
BANDITS…ANOTHER USES HIS SPEAR TO PIERCE JESUS SIDE AND
AT ONCE BLOOOD AND WATER GUSHED OUT
13TH STATION
JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS
JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA: I have a letter from the government to take down
this man’s body
CHIEF GUARD: Let me see ( JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA HANDS HIM THE
LETTER, HE GOES THROUGH IT AND ORDERS THE REST OF THE
GUARDS TO TAKE DOWN JESUS’S BODY)
14TH STATION
JESUS IS PLACED IN THE SEPHULCRE
