Update 4/12/2001 - The youth group at Central Baptist Church in Albertville, Alabama suggests using Galatians 2:20 along with Salvador's "Crucified" to close the drama. If you have used this drama and would like to make a suggestion or comment, please let us know. Thank you.

Update 5/3/2003 Suggestions from Kennebecasis UBC in Canada

Setting: A religious service. Props are minimal. There are no crosses, just the suggestion that they are there by the positions of the bodies and the action of the cast.

Music All songs are from the CD titled 'Offerings' by Third Day. This is currently (winter 2000-1) available at Wal-Marts and through almost any vendor who carries contemporary Christian music. Third Day's new website www.thirdday.com should be up on Jan. 1, 2001. Until then, you can find out more about this CD at The Unofficial Third Day Site or just run a search for Third Day in Yahoo.

Act 1

Religious leaders are at the back of the congregation holding their books and waiting to enter. One gentleman will follow each religious leader in. Thief, murderer, victims and extra are seated in the congregation. They should appear to be part of the congregation. Each victim should set next to the person who injured them.

Sound: (Begin playing All The Heavens)

Religious Leaders: (As the song plays, the religious leaders walk in - if you have 2 aisles, have them walk opposite each other. Keeping the large rule books in plain site, they shake hands and greet people as they enter.)

Gentlemen: (walk a fair distance behind the Religious Leaders and keep a stern expression on your faces)

Religious Leaders: (Arrive at the front of the church and begin to compare 'Rule Books' - appear to be talking to each other and pointing out passages in the books to each other as the music continues to a good spot for a fade.)

Sound: (Let the music run to a good spot and then fade it out)

Religious Leader 1: Thank you for joining us on this marvelous day. We would like to take this time to..

Murder Victim: (Rises quickly to feet and speaks with attitude) I'm sorry for interrupting, but I just can't sit next to her. Not after what she did to me. That tongue of hers is like a lethal weapon. For a while there everything was going great. Then she came along and killed my reputation. Isn't there some punishment in that book of yours that would justify my death?

Religious Leader 2: (speaking to the gentlemen) Dear sirs, please take this woman away until we can decide what to do with her.

Gentlemen:(Carry the murderer to the right exit)

Murderer: (While being carried off) I'm sorry all I wanted to do was to fit in. Just give me another chance. PLEASE!!!!

Gentlemen: (return to either side of the Religious leaders)

Theft Victim: ( Rises and speaks with attitude) Wait a minute, if you think what she did was bad, you obviously don't know what HE did to me. I trusted him, and he stole that trust away from me. I told him something in confidence, and he spread it all over town. If anyone deserves to be punished, HE does for stealing my dignity!

Religious Leader 1: Gentlemen, take him away as well. For I think we can devise a punishment fit for the two of them.

Gentlemen:(Carry the thief to the left exit)

Thief: (while being carried off) Wait!!! I can't go. Not at this time in my life. Things were just starting to go right. I'm sorry for hurting you, but I promise I'll never...

Gentlemen: (return to either side of the Religious leaders)

Lighting:(Dim lights)

Action: (All cast exits to the nearest side doors)

Lighting:(Keep lights low. If spots are available, use soft lighting to follow the action)

Sound (Begin playing Love song)

Jesus: (Enter from the back and walk down the aisle SLOWLY, looking around in amazement at the ceiling and walls. From time to time, lift hands in praise. Once you arrive at the front kneel to pray)

Religious leaders and Gentlemen: (At the beginning of the second chorus. At the line, "Just to be with you I'd do anything", walk very slowly toward Jesus. Religious leaders stand slightly to the side of Jesus as gentlemen proceed.)

Gentlemen: (take Jesus by the arms and carry him to the center of the stage. You should be headed for this area with Jesus by the next verse of the song. Hesitantly pretend to nail him to the cross, but don't be successful. Make it obvious that you just can't bring yourselves to complete this task.)

Religious Leaders: (You should show annoyance that the Gentlemen are not completing their task. You place your hands over theirs and guide them as they begin hammering in the nails.)

Gentlemen: (After the hammering begins, shake off he leaders help and finish nailing Jesus to the cross. Remember to do both hands and the feet.)

Action (At this point the song will have ended, if there is some lack time Jesus will just stay with his arms out)

Gentlemen: (Go into the side rooms and get the thief and murderer. Take them to either side of Jesus and nail them to the cross)

Thief and Murderer: (Be very weak as if you were beaten, don't fight the gentlemen.)

Religious Leaders: (Go in front of Jesus to centrally locate your selves so that you are able to speak to all three of those who are being crucified.)

Religious Leader 1: You are all to be executed by crucifixion.

Religious Leader 2: For the 'Rule Book' says, 'The wages of sin is death.' (Look at Jesus) And as for you, you have defiled the rules and tried to change the way things have always been.

Religious Leader 1: As a result of your sins you will all endure a long, agonizing death. May God have mercy on your souls.

Lighting:(Dim lights as the religious leaders and gentlemen leave the stage area. When they are out, bring lights completely down)

Lighting: (Bring up soft lighting. Keep it dim - just enough to see the silhouette of the Thief and Murderer as they mime the song. If you have spots, try keeping the stage area black and using a soft spot to follow the action

Sound: Begin playing Thief

Action:(This song is the statement of the Thief and the Murderer regarding how they got to this place in their lives. We did it with a cross between mime and dance. The Murderer knelt in quiet dispair on one side of the stage while the Thief danced/mimed the first part of the song. At the end of that part, the Thief crossed the stage with his dance and ended standing behind the Murderer. The Murderer rose and the Thief took the kneeling spot while the Murderer crossed the stage and danced/mimed the second part. During the final moments of the song, both were up and motioning to center attention on Jesus. As the song ended, both went back to their places on their crosses. This will take some work if your group has not done much of this in the past. Just stay with it and pray about how to present the feelings of these two. We do not have one 'real' dancer - one of us took a few hours of mime at a summer camp once. In spite of (perhaps because of) our inexperience, God flowed through us and made this a powerful moment. Keep trying and praying and He will do the same for you.)

Lighting: After the Thief and Murderer are back in place, fade lights completely out

Sound (Music begins: King of Glory)

Jesus: (drop your arms and look at the ground)

Thief and Murderer: (Come and kneel at the feet of Jesus)

Mimes: (Move into position at the front of the stage but not blocking the main characters from view. Be sure to leave space for others to come to Jesus. Mime the chorus in unison. We used American sign language. If you would like to do this and don't have anyone in your group who has worked with sign language, check around your area to see who might be able to help translate it.)

Action(After chorus one by one the entire cast will come to Jesus, lay something down at His feet and then kneel there. Religious leaders come first and lay down their rule books. Next come the gentlemen who can lay down something having to do with control by force, perhaps a weapon or handcuffs. Extras who have been planted in the audience come forward one by one and lay down items symbolic of giving over control to Jesus. Things like CD's, sports equipment, a briefcase, symbols of addiction, a shopping bag, religious symbols, and magazines can be used. In planning this, explain to the cast that these things are not necessarily 'good' or 'bad' - we are simply showing that we are willing to follow Jesus' teachings in the use of all things. Don't be surprised if a few members of the audience join you at this stage. Be sure the cast knows that it is ok for this to happen. Once in the kneeling position, stay there until the program is over.

Reader: Like the religious leaders in Jesus' day, the religious leaders in our program needed correction on many points. But one thing they told you is true. The wages of sin is death, but thank God His gift is eternal life. You see, Jesus died on the cross for our sins not for anything he did. Because of this, we do not have to receive the wages for our sin. We have the choice instead to receive His gift of eternal life. If you have not made that choice, please do so today, before you leave this place. Christian, as you watched this, I hope realized that we are the ones who crucified Christ. And next time you are faced with sin, remember that Jesus died so that you would have a way out. (lead in prayer)

Lighting:Fade lighting to black to signify the end of the drama.

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