Whip Hammer Cross

New Birth Church of Louisville

The Whip, Hammer, and Cross

April 21, 2019

Lights darkened. Pastor is in the middle of the stage. Spot on Pastor. Pastor begins talking about the things that lead up to Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

Pastor’s Speech -“The crowning moment has arrived. Jesus of Nazareth is on his way to Jerusalem for one of the greatest holiday celebrations of the year the Passover! Passover celebration was in commemoration of the night Moses and Aaron led the people of God out of Egyptian slavery. God commanded every year that his people celebrate this awesome event. Jews trekked into Jerusalem from multitudes of nations. It was spectacular to see people from so many different cultures converge in Jerusalem. It was around March-April and the city was lit!

People has heard of this man, who performed miracles that only the far fetched mind could conceive. Healing a blind man by the name of Bartimaeous. Once when Jesus walked down a mountainside with a huge following of people with him, a man with leprosy kneeled before Jesus and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus responded, “I am willing, Be clean!” and right in front of all those people, the leprosy vanished! There was another time when Jesus got out of a boat in Gennesaret, people from the region heard that he was in town, they brought all kinds of sick and diseased people to him, they even laid the people out on mats, begging Jesus to just let them touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed! If you need something today, you just need touch the right person! Jesus is in the house!

Jesus told two of his disciples to get him a young donkey to ride into Jerusalem to fulfill the Prophesy that Zechariah 9:9 made saying that Zion’s King will come “riding on a donkey”. When Jesus entered the city, people ran to the street and spread their cloaks on the street to signify someone royal was coming.

Pastor’s cue – Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

Lights flashing – music begins playing “Richard Smallwood – Anthem of Praise”

Dancers come in from the back of the pulpit – stage right

Middle doors open in back of church and half of the crowd begins to come down the aisle. They are happy and celebrating Jesus. The crowd hands people in the audience palms to wave. Jesus comes in behind them walking next to the donkey – acknowledging the crowd. The rest of the crowd come in behind celebrating Jesus with palms.

The crowd that came in before Jesus will go up on the stage, while still celebrating Jesus. When Jesus gets to the base of the pulpit, he will turn left with the donkey and then proceed up the steps to the pulpit. The donkey handler will take the donkey back up the aisle on stage right and take it out the building.

While the song is still playing (Anthem of Praise), Jesus will begin to walk through the crowds acknowledging the people. The people who came in behind Jesus will also come up on the stage.

Song ends

Jesus (walks to the middle of the stage – while crowd is gathered around him) - Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Song – Andrea Bocelli – The Lord’s Prayer

(every time Jesus heals someone, the people in the crowd look on in amazement and celebrate)

Jesus walks over to a person that is on their knees. The person has hands outstretched to Jesus. Jesus touches them and heals them.

Jesus then walks over to a person with a crutch, touches them and heals them. The person lifts up their crutch and throws it down in celebration, jumping up and down.

A person leads another person who is blind over to Jesus. Jesus places his hands on the persons eyes and heals them. The person then opens their eyes and is happy because they can see.

A man brings a small child in his arms to Jesus. The child is limp. Jesus takes the child and begins to pray over the child. All this should happen at the climax of the song. After Jesus prays over the child, the child raises up in Jesus’ arms. Everyone celebrates that the child is now alive.

Man or woman in the crowd – I am healed! Jesus healed me! Do you know Jesus from Galilee?

(Song – Do you know Jesus – Kurt Carr) - dance

Lights go black. Spot up on Pastor. Pastor will be standing stage left. Everybody will leave the stage as Pastor begins to talk about the things leading up to the disciples asleep in the garden.

3 disciples will come up on the stage from the back, stage right and lay down on the stage – right.

After the meal, Jesus took Peter James and John with him to a private place of prayer, a garden area called Gethsemane. He asked them to stay a little distance from where he was going to talk with the Father. He told them to stay there and keep watch. Jesus knew that his purpose on earth was coming to a crescendo. It was about the time for him to die an excruciating death to take away the sins of the world! Sin is the problem of the earth. We were all born in sin. The only remedy is to have our sins removed. Jesus came to take on your sins and the punishment that accompanies the sin which is ultimately death. Jesus knew he had to become the substitute for us, taking on the punishment.

With this gruesome event right around the corner, Jesus’ spirit is shaken, he is nervous, distressed. His soul overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death!

3 disciples will come up on the stage from the back, stage right and lay down on the stage – right.

Pastor will begin talking about the disciples asleep in the garden. Pastor talks about Jesus praying at the rock. Pastor kneels down at the rock and talks about Jesus. Rock is stage right.

Pastor’s Speech-“Jesus ate the special Passover meal consisting of a roasted lamb, herbs, and unleavened bread. Jesus explained that the Lamb they ate that night would be a symbol of His death as the lamb of God. And the wine they drank would be symbolic of His blood that would be shed for them.

After the meal, Jesus took Peter James and John with him to a private place of prayer, a garden area called Gethsemane. He asked them to stay a little distance from where he was going to talk with the Father. He told them to stay there and keep watch. Jesus knew that his purpose on earth was coming to a crescendo. It was about the time for him to die an excruciating death to take away the sins of the world! Sin is the problem of the earth. We were all born in sin. The only remedy is to have our sins removed. Jesus came to take on your sins and the punishment that accompanies the sin which is ultimately death. Jesus knew he had to become the substitute for us, taking on the punishment.

With this gruesome event right around the corner, Jesus’ spirit is shaken, he is nervous, distressed. His soul overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death! And Jesus cried out!”

Pastor cue – Jesus cried out!

Jesus at big rock stage left – (sounds of outside – crickets, owls, etc.) – OH FATHER! If it be thy will, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but thy will be done. (looks over at the disciples sleeping). Can you not watch with me one hour? Pray that you enter not into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Why are you sleeping? Arise! We should be going! The hour has come where the son of man should be handed into the hands of sinners.

The disciples get up and come over to Jesus (stage left).

Jesus – behold he is here, who betrays me.

(Judas walks over to Jesus and gives him a kiss.)

Jesus – Judas, you betray me with a kiss?

(Judas runs off) stage right

Roman soldiers approach Jesus

Jesus – whom do you seek?

Roman soldier – we seek Jesus the Nazarene!

Jesus – I am he!

(soldiers fall down on the ground) (soldiers get back up)

Jesus – Who do you seek?

Roman soldier – we seek Jesus!

Jesus – I said I am he! If you seek me, let the others go their way.

Roman soldier – Arrest him!

(soldiers try to arrest Jesus. Disciples jump in to stop it. Peter takes a sword and chops off the ear of one of the Roman soldiers).

Jesus to Peter – Peter put away your sword! Would you not have me drink of the cup the father has given me!

(Jesus goes to the Roman soldier and heals his ear)

Roman soldiers – This is blasphemy!

Healed soldier – My ear! My ear! He healed my ear! I am healed! I am healed! He is the Messiah! (runs off stage)

Jesus – You come for me with swords as if I was a robber?

Roman soldier – You’re worse than a robber! You’re a blasphemer!

Jesus – I was with you daily in the temple teaching with you. All this is done so that scripture might be fulfilled.

Roman soldier – Arrest him!!!

(soldiers grab Jesus and take him away – stage right)

Pastor begins to talk about what is going to happen to Jesus and about Pontius Pilate. (stage left)

While Pastor is talking about Pilate, the curtains open to Pilate standing frozen, his wife is standing next to him) (the crowd comes to the stage, stage right and stand before Pilate – frozen and quiet.

Pastor’s Speech-

The chief priest and the elders of the people plotted on how to capture and execute Jesus. They used one of Jesus’ disciples named Judas. They bribed him with 30 pieces of silver to take them to Jesus so that they could arrest him. A large crowd of armed men with swards and clubs followed Judas. Judas walks up to Jesus and kisses him. That was the sign for the armed men to arrest Jesus.

They immediately take Jesus to the Sanhedrin. religious leaders of Jerusalem who were Jesus of jesus’ influence and following. They got two people to twist Jesus’ words. Early in Jesus ministry, jesus said publicly, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days.” Jesus was talking about if they were to kill him, he’d rise from the dead in three days. They twisted his words, and said, that Jesus was going to commit terrorism against the temple building by tearing it down. They painted him to be a rebel, one who went against Jewish culture and worship. Speaking against the temple was a capital crime, blashemy

When Judas saw that they used him to betray Jesus, he went back to the temple and returned the bribe money. He then went and hung himself.

The chief priest and the other leaders tied Jesus up and took him to Pilate the governor with the intent of having Pilate give the death sentence to Jesus for blaspheming against the temple. Because Jews did not normally have the authority to administer capital punishment, Jewish authorities took Jesus before the Roman prefect Pilate for a second hearing. The Jews played on Pilate’s fear that Jesus was creating a threat to the public order () and Roman authority through His messianic claim.

Merrill, R. S. (2016). Judicial Courts. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Merrill, R. S. (2016). Judicial Courts. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Pastor Cue – Pilate had been warned from his wife not to crucify Jesus

(lights up on Pilate and his wife)

Pilate’s wife - Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.

(lights go black on Pilate and wife)

Pastor continues to talk about Pilate.

Pastor Cue – Pilate was a politician and he stood before the people and said –

(lights up on Pilate)

Pilate – What shall I do with this one called Jesus?

Crowd – Crucify Him! Crucify Him!

(There will be people planted in the congregation who will also stand up and also say “Crucify Him!”)

(Pilate quiets the crowd)

Pilate – Because he was a Galilean you sent him to your leaders and they could find no fault in him so they sent him back to me. Therefore, I shall chastise him and let him go.

Crowd – No! Crucify Him! He’s a blasphemer!

Pilate – You bring some new accusation against him?

Crowd – He is a blasphemer! Yes! He calls himself the son of God! He is a disgrace!

Pilate – Why do you bring him to me? Take him and judge him according to your law!

Crowd – Death! He should die!

Pilate – Death? I have found him innocent of any charge that merits death.

Crowd – He must die! He’s a blasphemer! Kill him!

Pilate – Very well! Bring the prisoner to me.

(Roman soldiers bring Jesus in from the back of the church, up the middle aisle, and take him up the steps, stage right. They push him down in front of Pilate.)

Pilate (to Jesus) – Speak Galilean. Are you the king of Israel?

Jesus – My kingdom is not of this world

(crowd laughs)

Pilate – Not of this world? Then where are you from?

(Jesus doesn’t answer. Crowd – He won’t speak)

Pilate – You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have the power to release you? Do you not know I have the power to crucify you?

Crowd – Crucify Him!

Jesus – You would have no power over me unless it was granted from above. Therefore, those who delivered me to you bear the greater sin.

Crowd – No! Crucify Him!

Pilate – I intend to release this man!

Crowd – NO! Crucify Him! Crucify Him!

Pilate – Silence!!! Behold the man Jesus! I bring him before you that you may know that I find no fault in him

Crowd – He’s a blasphemer! Crucify Him!

Pilate – You have a custom, that I should release to you one prisoner during Passover. Shall I release to you your king?

Crowd – No! No! Give us Barabas!

Pilate – Bring Barabas to me!

(Barabas comes from behind the curtain and stands next to Pilate)

Pilate – Release him!

Pilate – What then shall I do with this man?!

Crowd – Crucify Him! Crucify Him!

Pilate – You will have me crucify your king?

Crowd – We have no king but Caesar!

Pilate – Silence! Barabas who is guilty of murder and treason, shall be released!

(crowd celebrates)

(Barabas jumps down from standing next to Pilate and goes to stand with the crowd. Some in the crowd begin to congratulate him and pat him on the back.)

Pilate – Do what you will with the man Jesus! I am innocent of the blood of this just person!

(Soldiers come and drag Jesus off stage – exit stage right – with crowd jeering.)

Lights go black on Pilate and lights come up on Pastor who is standing stage left

Pastor begins to talk about Jesus and what they did to him. (Mark 15:115)

Since it was Passover, Pilate did what he would normally do during this celebration to build the excitement level, release a prisoner based on who the people choose to release. Thinking that they would say release Jesus, they wanted Pilate to release a known convicted murderer, named Barabbas!

The incident with Barabbas provides us with a picture of what Jesus has done as Saviour of the world. Barabbas, like me, was guilty and deserved punishment. He was ‘in prison with the rebels who had committed murder in the uprising’ (v.7). Jesus, on the other hand, was totally innocent. Pilate even asked the crowd, ‘What crime has he committed?”. And yet the crowd chanted, “Release Barabbas”. Yet Barabbas was ‘released’ and set free, whilst Jesus was ‘handed... over to be crucified’ (v.15). The innocent one faced the punishment of death so that I, the guilty one, could go free. We may not be murderers like Barabbas, but all of us need rescuing by the Saviour of the world.

Before a person is crucified, they had to endure a severe flogging!

Whip-He picks up the whip and talks about it.

While Pastor continues to talk about Jesus and the whip, Jesus is brought back in stage right with the Roman soldiers. He is bloodied and has only bottoms on.

When Pastor hits the whip on the ground, the light comes on where Jesus and the guards are and Jesus groans in pain at being hit.

Crown of Thorns-Pastor describes the guards making a crown out of thorns and while he is speaking they put the crown of thorns on Jesus’ head. They continue to mock Jesus. They bow down in mock worship and laugh at Jesus.

Pastor then begins to talk about the cross.

Pastor cue - The soldiers gave Jesus the cross to carry.

(song – Via Dolorosa – Lea Salonga)

Jesus goes down the steps, stage right with the cross and up the left aisle to the back of the church and down the middle aisle, to the front and will go up the steps stage right. All the while, the soldiers are beating him and the crowd is following him.

When Jesus gets back on the stage, he is thrown down by the guard who lay him on the cross.

Light goes to Pastor

(dramatic music is playing)

Hammer/Nails-Pastor begins to talk about the nails they used on Jesus. Then Pastor talks about Jesus and about his hands that healed so many people, are now placed on the cross to be crucified.

Pastor’s cue - When Pastor hammers a nail, the soldiers raise their hand to hit the nail into Jesus’ hands. Then they move to his feet.

(song – Calvary – Richard Smallwood)

Once Jesus is nailed to the cross the soldiers will lift him up and carry him off the stage down the steps stage right, up the left aisle, and down the middle aisle, back up the steps – stage right, to the middle of the stage and then place him and the cross down into the base.

Soldiers – Look at your King. Save yourself! King of the Jews!

Light to Pastor

Pastor is standing with a cross on his back. He begins to talk about Jesus and how he felt forsaken by God. When Pastor talks about Jesus being thirsty, the soldiers give him vinegar on a reed. Pastor continues to talk.

Pastor Cue – Jesus felling lonelier than he ever felt says –

Jesus – Father! Eli! Eli! Lema Sabachthani! Why has thou forsaken me?

Soldier – You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days…save yourself!

(crowd – Save yourself)

Pastor begins to talk about the two thieves on the cross beside him, and how God turned his back on Jesus for us.

Pastor cue – And then there was darkness.

(Lights go black – thunder, rumbling, flashing lights) (screaming)

Pastor – and when the light of day came…this is what they saw.

(song -

(Jesus hanging on the cross – dead)

After the song finishes – lights are still down

Light on Pastor.

Pastor begins to talk about his burial and what happened after he died and Joseph of Arimathes who paid for Jesus’ tomb. (Joseph – man dressed very richly will come from the back of the church and stand in front of the palace where Pontius Pilate is). Then Pastor will talk about Jesus’ and what happened in hell.

Pastor cue – Suddenly there was a trembling in the earth…

(earthquake, lightning, at least 60 seconds)

Pastor – the dead came out of the graves….

People dressed in grave clothes looking like they are dead, come walking in the church from the back and from stage right. They are looking confused as they walk around

Pastor cue – the great resurrection trumps all resurrection’s

(trumpet sound and music)

Jesus comes from behind the curtain and has risen from the dead.

Once Jesus comes in the walking dead will retreat.

Pastor – altar call