Lent/Easter Musicals

Witness

Christmas Musicals for Church

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43 Narration 4 (Male) Blindfolded and beaten, Jesus was led before Pilate, the Roman governor. The religious leaders testified to His crimes and demanded that He be put to death. Pilate asked Jesus: Pilate: "Are You the King of the Jews? Your own nation has brought You to me. What have You done?" Narrator: Jesus responded: Jesus: "My kingdom is not of this world. You are right: I am a king. For this purpose I was born, that I might bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." Narrator: Despite all of this testimony, Pilate could find no reason under Roman law to convict Jesus of a crime punishable by death. But the crowd cried: "We have no king but Caesar. If you do not crucify Him, you are not Caesar's friend!" Remembering the Passover custom, Pilate offered to release a prisoner of the crowd's choosing. But they chose to free a common criminal, Barabbas. Reluctantly, Pilate turned Jesus over to the soldiers. (John 18:28—19:16) O ew vi rP re The soldiers took Jesus to be crucified on a hill called Golgotha. They cast lots for His garments, and people shouted, "If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross and save Yourself!" Some of Jesus's followers stood by the cross in silent witness to His sacrifice. Among them were Mary, the mother of Jesus; Mary's sister; Mary Magdalene; and Joseph of Arimathea. Fo nl y Narrator: From noon until three o'clock, darkness fell over all of the land. Then the sun itself was darkened, and the veil of the temple was split in two. A great earthquake split the rocks, and the bodies of many saints were raised to life. Jesus cried out in a loud voice and breathed His last. (Narration pauses; music begins; narration resumes over music in m. 3-4, timed to end by m. 8.) A centurion also had been standing by the cross, in witness to all of these events. As Jesus died, he spoke this great truth: "Surely this was God's Son!" (Matthew 27:32-54) 55/1169&71L-43

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