Faces at the Cross-Drama Skit

Faces at the Cross-Drama Skit

Themes: Easter; the Crucifixion; Viewpoints from the those present at the crucifixion; God's will
Categories: Easter 
Summary:

The crucifixion of Jesus evokes different emotions from different people, even for those who were present at the time of  Jesus' death.  This skit explores what some of those people might have been feeling:  the Chief Priests mocked Jesus and felt justice had been served; one thief on the cross next to Jesus felt remorse, while the other thought only of himself; Mary Magdalene and John struggled with the meaning of it all; Jesus' mother Mary trusted that God had a plan for her son, even in his death; and Lucifer and his Chief Demon Baylock, rejoiced and claimed victory. The end of the skit shows Mary Magdalene discovering Jesus has risen from the dead, much to the dismay of Lucifer. 

 
 
Style: Drama

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Characters: 11 (8 Male, 2 Female, 1 Neutral)
In addition to the 11 characters, there are 3 guards needed who have a very small part, with no lines
Length: 5-8 minutes
 
Excerpt (Sample)

Setting: Golgatha, the site of the crucifixion.

As the scene opens, Thief 1, Thief 2, and Jesus stand center stage, a few feet apart from each other.  They can stand on a platform or on chairs, in order to raise them up and set them apart from the crowd that is gathered "below" them.  They should be dressed shabbily.  A long pole, such as a broom handle or painter's pole, should be behind each actor's neck, each of their arms draped over the pole, to simulate the idea that they are hanging on a cross. (See example picture at the end of the skit) Jesus wears a sign that says "King of the Jews." All three of them appear to be "defeated" and in pain.

The other actors form two "groups" on the stage.  John, Mary and Mary Magdalene (Mary Mags) stand together, crying and full of grief, while the Chief Priests (CP 1, CP 2 CP 3) stand together, looking happy and quite pleased with themselves. 

 

Once everyone on stage is settled, Lucifer and Baylock (a demon) enter. Lucifer and Baylock are dressed in black. Optional: Lucifer could also wear a black cape.  They speak to and move among the other characters but they go unnoticed by them.

Lucifer:

(happy, ecstatic)  Baylock, this is the happiest day of my existence! Victory is finally mine!

Baylock:

But Lucifer, you've had many victories.  What makes this one so special?

Lucifer:

(angry) Imbecile! (smacks Baylock on the head) Don't you know who that is? (points to Jesus)

Baylock:

(a little frightened) I know who it is. It's Jesus.  He's the one who's been casting all of us demons out.  Do you know he even threw us into a bunch of pigs once? (shudders)  

Lucifer:

(mocking) Are you afraid of him?

Baylock:

Isn't everyone? He's got powers unlike anyone I've ever seen. 

Lucifer:

(very angry, stands up very straight) Do you even remember who you're talking to?

Baylock:

(immediately regrets his mistake) Of course! You're the Prince of Darkness, Master Manipulator, King of Lies and Deceit...but Sir, even you have your limits whenever He's around.

Lucifer:

Be careful Baylock. You're on very thin ice.

Baylock:

But Sir, wasn't it Jesus who resisted you not once, but three times in the wilderness?

Lucifer begins to snarl in anger.  He starts out small at first but the longer Baylock speaks, the angrier Lucifer becomes

Baylock:

Even after fasting for forty days he resisted your pleas to turn the stones into bread.  And he wouldn't call on the angels to save him after you suggested he could jump off a high cliff. 

Lucifer:

(snarling) I'm warning you!

 

 

Baylock:

And he refused to bow down to you when you offered him a kingdom that apparently wasn't yours to offer in the first place.

Lucifer:

(furious, shouting) ENOUGH!! I don't care about the past!  Look at him NOW! (turns Baylock's head so he can see Jesus) Look at him!  He hangs on a cross, awaiting DEATH.   A death I helped to cause!  Do you think any of these idiots could have pulled it off without ME!!

 

(moves near Chief Priests and waves his hands slowly around them)  They are my puppets.  They do what I command!

CP 1: (Chief Priest 1)

(yells up to Jesus in a mocking voice) Still think you're the Son of God? Why don't you come down from the cross so we'll believe you!

All the Chief Priests laugh

CP 2: (Chief Priest 2)

If you trust in God, let Him rescue you! 

CP 3: (Chief Priest 3)

Look at him: he's saved others but he can't even save himself!  What a sorry excuse for a Messiah he turned out to be!

Lucifer:

(laughs evilly, then firmly speaks to Baylock) Who has the power now?

Baylock:

(bows to Lucifer) Forgive me, most evil one.  It seems I have misjudged you.  You are and forever will be, the most powerful.  You are indeed victorious

Lucifer:

(becoming light-hearted once again) I forgive you. Let's not have any animosity between us today, Baylock.  It is, after all, a joyous occasion.  So, let us rejoice!  Let us watch as the final hour approaches.  

Lucifer and Baylock stand off to the side, in a joyful mood.  They listen as the others speak.

CP 1:

(mocking, in jest) Save yourself Son of God!

CP 2:

(mocking, in jest ) Show us your true power!

CP  3:

(mocking, in jest) You're supposed to be a mighty king? You're nothing! You hear me..NOTHING!

Lucifer:

(clapping from the sidelines) Bravo!  Bravo!

Jesus:

(looking upward) Forgive them Father (indicating the Chief Priests), for they know not what they do.

Thief 1:

(looks at Jesus and speaks angrily) Forgive them?  Why should you forgive them?  They're the reason we're here! 

Lucifer:

(calls out from where he stands) Yes, yes! Blame others!  Let the anger rise to the surface!

Thief 2:

(oblivious to Lucifer) No!  We're here because we're being punished for our crimes.  But this man (indicating Jesus) has done nothing wrong.

Thief 1:

(to Jesus) I don't know who you are, but if you really are the Son of God, then do something!  Save us!

Lucifer:

(sarcastic, mocking) Yes, Jesus...save yourself....if you can.

Jesus briefly turns his head to look at Lucifer, then looks back to Thief 1

Jesus:

It is my Father's will...the prophesy must be fulfilled.

Thief 1:

Curse your Father and His prophesy!  Save us!

Thief 2:

(to Thief 1, angry) Have you no shame?  Don't you fear God at all?  This man is innocent; He's not like us, and He doesn't deserve to be here.  (looking to Jesus, gently speaks) Please, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

Jesus:

(to Thief 2) I speak to you truthfully...today you will be with me in paradise.

Lucifer:

(to Baylock) Paradise or not, at least He won't cause me any more trouble once He's dead.  (laughs)

Mary Mags:

(tearfully speaks to John) Why does he keep talking about the kingdom?  What is "the kingdom?" Now that He's dying, why does it matter?   

John:

(rebukes her) Mary Magdalene, how can you say such a thing?

Mary Mags:

I'm sorry John, but I don't understand it.  I don't understand any of it.  Why doesn't He save himself? 

Lucifer:

(to Baylock, happy) Look, even His followers are beginning to question who He is: John, the beloved one and Mary Magdalene, his friend and constant supporter.  I tell you, this couldn't have worked out any better!

John:

(to Mary Mags) I don't know, Mary.  But there has to be some kind of plan. There has to be some kind of reason for all of this to make sense. 

Mary Mags:

You spent the most time with Him, John...did He tell you anything more than He told the rest of the disciples? 

John:

No. He told all of us the same thing.

Mary Mags:

I heard Him talking about going away "to Him who sent me."  Do you know who He was talking about?

John:

I think He meant his Father but I'm not sure. None of us bothered to ask where He was going. 

Mary Mags:

But this can't be what He meant. He isn't going anywhere; He's dying!