Temple
75. One Will Die76. Passover
77. Night
78. Posers
79. Nicodemus
80. Greek Jews
81. Ointment
82. Seder
83. Kiss
84. A Cock Crows
85. Council
86. Silver
87. Rome
88. Three Marys
89. Noon
90. Three O’clock
91.
92. Rest
93. The Second Day
The chief priests and Pharisees meet: “What are we going to do? The man’s succeeding. If we let him continue, everybody will believe him. The Romans will come and rob us of our place and our nation.”
CAIAPHAS, the High Priest. You don’t know what you’re saying. It’s an opportunity for us: one will die for his people, and the people will not die.
Where Jesus is isn’t known; he’s believed to be with his followers in the wilderness near Ephraim.
Jews from many countries are arriving in Jerusalem to purify themselves. Visiting the Temple, they look for Jesus and speculate with their acquaintances, “What do you think—that he won’t show himself?” The chief priests and Pharisees give word that they should be told if Jesus is seen: they will have him arrested. They don’t know that he’s near Jerusalem and about to enter the city.
JESUS to two followers. Go to Bethphage. You’ll see a tethered donkey and her colt: untie them and bring them here. If anyone talks to you, say, “The Lord needs them and will return them soon.”
The two go into the village and find a donkey and her colt tied to a door near a street corner. They begin to untie them. Some people standing in the street ask them, “What are you doing, untying these animals?” They answer as Jesus told them and take the animals. They bring them to Jesus and put on the colt’s back blankets for him to sit on. Then they head toward Jerusalem, the donkey leading, the colt following her, Jesus riding on the colt, as in Zachariah’s prophecy: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion. Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem. Look! Your king comes to you. He is powerful and bringing salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey: a colt, a donkey’s foal.” Near Jerusalem a large crowd comes out to see him. They want to see Jesus and also Lazarus. Some spread clothes along the path. Others cut palm branches and lay them down. The crowd’s shouting, “Long live the son of David! Hail to him who comes in the Lord’s name! Long live our father David’s kingdom that comes in the Lord’s name! Hail to the Highest!”
PHARISEES. Master, stop these people.
JESUS. If they stopped, the stones would cry out.
He comes to the city gate. From the walls people ask, “Who’s coming?” and are told, “Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” The Pharisees complain among themselves, “Now what can we do? The world’s mad for him.” Jesus enters the city and weeps.
JESUS. If only you could see that this is your hour of freedom. But freedom is hidden from your eyes. The time is coming when your enemies will surround your walls. They will encircle you and hem you in everywhere. They will lay you and your children flat, and break you, and grind you to powder, because you did not know when God came to you.
He sees a fig tree in the distance and goes to it. It’s covered with leaves but has no fruit since it is not the season.
JESUS. Let no one ever eat fruit from you.
He goes to the Temple and sees money-changers and sellers of sheep, oxen, and doves. Making a knot of cords, he drives the money-changers and sellers out of the Temple and overturns their tables and chairs.
JESUS. Take these things away. Don’t make my Father’s house a house of trade. It’s written, “My house is a house of prayer for all people.” You’ve made it the home of robbers.
THE SELLERS. What right have you to do what you’re doing?
JESUS. Destroy this temple and in three days I’ll raise it up.
THE SELLERS. The Temple took forty-six years to build and you’d rebuild it in three days!
But others recall the psalm, “Zeal for your house eats me up, and the scorn of them that scorn you is fallen on me.” Cripples come to him: he makes them whole. Children are chanting, “Long live the son of David!”
THE CHIEF PRIESTS. Do you hear what they’re saying?
JESUS. I hear. Haven’t you read—“to the tongues of babes and sucklings you have given strength, because of your enemies”?
He and the twelve leave the city and spend the night in Bethany.
They return to Jerusalem.
PETER. Master, look: the fig tree you cursed has withered away.
JESUS. Believe God. Whoever tells this mountain, “Get up and throw yourself in the sea,” and has no doubt but believes that what he asks will happen, will have what he asks. Therefore I say to you: whatever you pray for, believe when you pray that you will get it, and you will.
He again goes to the Temple.
CHIEF PRIESTS and ELDERS. By what authority do you do the things you do? Who authorized you?
JESUS. I also shall ask a question: answer it and I’ll tell you by what authority I do what I do. John’s testimony—was it from God or from men?
They say to themselves, “If we say from God, he’ll say, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ but if we say from men we anger the people, who are convinced that John was a prophet.”
CHIEF PRIESTS. We do not know.
JESUS. Then you will not know by whose authority I do what I do. Let me ask you this. A man had two sons. He went to the firstborn and said, “Son, work today in my vineyard.” The boy replied, “Yes, sir,” but did not work. The man then went to his other son and asked him. First the boy said, “No, I will not,” but later he changed his mind and worked in the vineyard. Tell me, which son did his father’s work?
ELDERS. The second.
JESUS. Yes: that is why the tax collectors and the prostitutes will enter the kingdom before you.
CHIEF PRIESTS. John said it himself: he was not a prophet.
JESUS. A landowner planted a vineyard, set a hedge around it, built a wine press, and erected a tower; then he let the vineyard out and went to another country. At harvest time he sent a servant to the vineyard to receive his share of the produce. The tenants beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed. The landowner sent another servant. The tenants threw stones at him and struck his head before sending him away. The landowner sent another servant. The tenants murdered him. Many others were sent; some were murdered and some merely beaten. The landowner had a son, whom he loved. He said to himself, “At least they’ll respect my son.” He sent him to his vineyard. When the tenants saw the landowner’s son they said to themselves, “This is the heir: if we kill him the inheritance is ours.” They seized the son, took him out of the vineyard, and murdered him. Tell me—when the landowner returns, what will he do to the tenants?
CHIEF PRIESTS. He’ll destroy them and lease his vineyard to others who will give him its fruits.
JESUS. Do you remember the passage, “The same stone the builders refused is become the headstone in the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes”? Don’t be surprised when the Father’s kingdom is taken from you and given to a people who will bring forth its fruits. A king gave his son in marriage and invited the entire kingdom to attend the wedding. As the king greeted his guests he saw among them a man who was not properly dressed. He asked him, “My friend, why aren’t you wearing your wedding clothes?” But the man said nothing. The king said to his servant, “Tie his hands and feet, and toss him into the darkness where he will scream and chew his tongue.”
Herod’s supporters join the discussion.
HERODIANS. Master, we know you always speak the truth and teach God’s word regardless of persons or public opinion. Tell us, then, is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or is it not?
JESUS. Pretenders, do you wish to tax or be taxed? Show me a coin.
They bring out a silver piece.
JESUS. Whose image and name are on it?
HERODIANS. Caesar’s.
JESUS. Then give Caesar what is Caesar’s and give God what is God’s.
Although the Sadducees don’t believe in existence after death, some Sadducees pose Jesus a question about it.
SADDUCEES. Teacher, you know the law of Moses: “If brothers live together and one dies childless, his wife shall not marry outside the family; her husband’s brother shall marry her and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her.” Given this, consider the case of seven brothers. The eldest married and died, leaving no children. The second married his brother’s wife and also died leaving no children. So the third down to the seventh. Last of all the woman died. Tell us: at the Resurrection, which of her seven husbands will she be married to?
JESUS. On this point and others you misunderstand both scripture and God’s power. When men and women rise from the dead they will neither marry nor be given in marriage but will live like God’s angels in heaven. But why cite Moses, since you don’t believe in the Resurrection? You remember God said to Moses, “I am the God of your fathers: the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob.” The God of Moses is not the God of the dead but of the living.
A Pharisee lawyer speaks up.
THE LAWYER. Teacher, which command of the Law is the greatest?
JESUS. You know the first commandment, “Hear, Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord: you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.” You know the second also: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
THE LAWYER. Rabbi, you are right. There is only one God, and there is none other than he, and to love him with all one’s understanding, strength, and will, and one’s neighbor as one’s self, is worth more than any amount of burnt offerings and sacrifices.
JESUS. You are near God’s kingdom: love your neighbor.
THE LAWYER. Tell me, who is my neighbor?
JESUS. A man was going from Jerusalem to Jericho. He fell among thieves who wounded him, stripped him, and left him for dead. A priest was going down the same road. He saw the man and passed by on the other side. A Levite came by and also avoided him. Then a Samaritan came by, saw him, and pitied him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds after bathing them in oil and wine. He carried him to an inn, and nursed him though the night. The next morning he gave the innkeeper two silver coins and said, “See that he gets well—whatever the added expense I’ll repay you when I return.” Tell me, of the three, who was the neighbor of the person who fell among thieves?
THE LAWYER. The person who did good to him.
JESUS. Go and do like him.
JESUS to the some scribes. Tell me about the Messiah. Whose son is he?
SCRIBES. He will descend from David.
JESUS. Then why did David call him Lord, as in the psalm, “The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies my footstool”? If David called him Lord, how is he his son?
They can’t answer him. He turns to the crowd.
JESUS. The Pharisees and scribes preside over the Law. You may therefore do what they say. But you mustn’t do what they do, since they say and do not. They tie together heavy loads and put them on men’s backs and won’t lift a finger to lighten them. They do everything for display. They have the Law written all over them and they dress in dark robes. They are passionate for the head table at banquets and for the front seats in synagogues. They preen themselves on being recognized in public and being called Rabbi. You are to call no man Rabbi. You have one Rabbi, the rest are students. You are to call no man Father. You have one Father, he is in heaven. You are to call no man leader. You have one leader, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. The man who raises himself will be lowered and the man who lowers himself will be raised. Alas, Pharisees and scribes, pretenders! You block the door to God’s kingdom, neither entering yourselves nor allowing others to enter. Alas, Pharisees and scribes, pretenders! You eat up widows’ houses and make a show of being devout: thus you double your damnation. Alas, Pharisees and scribes, pretenders! You somersault land and sea to make a single convert, and then make him twice as twisted as yourselves. Alas, blind guides. You say, “If anyone swears by the Temple it does not count, but if he swears by the gold in the Temple he is bound by oath.” Ignorant teachers, which is more important, the gold or the Temple that sanctifies the gold? You say, “If anyone swears by the altar it means nothing, but if he swears by the gift of the altar he is bound by oath.” Blind fools, which is more important, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? Anyone who swears by the altar swears by everything on it. Anyone who swears by the Temple swears by God’s kingdom and its king. Alas, Pharisees and scribes, pretenders! You deal in the herbs and spices and ignore the meat of the Law—charity, forgiveness, faith. Attend to these and the rest will have their place. Blind mouths, you vomit the ant and swallow the camel. Alas, Pharisees and scribes, pretenders! You scour the outside of cups and plates and leave the inside full of greed and crime. Blind Pharisees, clean the inside first, then the outside. Alas, Pharisees and scribes, pretenders! You build monuments to the prophets and filigree the graves of the just, and say, “If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we should never have joined them in killing the prophets.” What you are saying is, your fathers murdered the prophets and you bury them. Children of snakes, no wonder you love graves, being worms. How can you escape damnation in hell? I shall send to you prophets, and wise men, and teachers. Some you will kill and crucify, some you will scourge in synagogues and persecute from village to village until on you comes all the righteous blood shed on earth from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zacharias, Barachias’ son, whom you murdered between Temple and altar. What I say to you is, All this shall be laid to this generation. Jerusalem, my dear Jerusalem, who kill the prophets and stone the messengers sent you, how often I would have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you refused. Look: your house is empty. I say to you, You will not see me again until you say, “Blessed is he that comes in the Lord’s name.”
People are putting money in the Temple treasury. Many rich people are contributing large sums. A poor widow comes and puts in two copper coins amounting to a penny. Jesus sees her and points her out to his followers.
JESUS. What I say is. The poor woman gave more than the rest. They gave part of their wealth: she in her poverty gave everything, even what she needs to live.
He goes out of the Temple.
A FOLLOWER. Look, Master—what magnificent structures and stonework!
JESUS. Observe the buildings well: the time is coming when everything will be thrown down and not one stone will stand on another.
THE TWELVE. When will it be—what signs should we look for?
JESUS. Don’t be misled by prophecies and portents. Men will say, “I am the one,” and “The time is coming.” Many will be deceived—you mustn’t be. If anyone says to you, “He is in the desert,” don’t follow him. If anyone says, “He is in the next room,” don’t believe it. Adam’s son will come like lightning out of the east shining into the west. You’ll hear of wars and threats of wars. Don’t be deceived: these things must happen, but they are not the end. Nation will war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes and famines and plagues: these will be like only the beginnings of birth pains. When you see standing in the sacred place the abomination of desolation Daniel saw, then everyone in Judea must escape to the mountains. No one on the rooftop must return to his house to get his clothes. Alas for those who are pregnant or have babies at the breast! Pray that you don’t need to escape in winter or on the Sabbath. There will be sorrow, such as hasn’t been from the beginning of the world until now and never will be again. If these days are not shortened, no one would live, but for the sake of the chosen the days will be shortened. Two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at a mill: one will be taken and the other left. The people will fall by the edge of the sword and will be imprisoned by the nations. Jerusalem will be kicked by the nations, until the nations are weary. When a tree is budding and putting forth leaves, you know spring is near. Know then that it is near—at your very door. You will see it happen in this generation. Heaven and earth will be destroyed: my word will remain. You won’t see Adam’s son, but you will vindicate him before the world. The world will hate you; you will be tortured and killed; many will fail, and betray one another, and hate one another; evil will abound; love will grow cold: but whoever endures to the end will be saved. As to the day and the hour, no one knows, not the angels in heaven nor the son, but only the Father. As the flood came in Noah’s day, so Adam’s son will come. Before the flood up to the day Noah entered the ark there was eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage. No one knew until the flood came and took them all away. That is how Adam’s son will come. The earth will shudder; the sun will be darkened; the moon will not give her light; the stars in the heavens will fall; there will be a groaning among the powers of heaven. Then from the clouds the son of Adam will come with great power and glory: he’ll send out his angels to gather his chosen ones from the four winds and his trumpet will blast from the ends of the earth to the utmost reaches of heaven. So be alert: you don’t know when your master will come. If a man knew what hour a burglar intended to break into his house he would be ready and not let his house be broken into. Because you don’t know when the son of Adam will come, you must always be ready. Who is the dutiful and intelligent servant whom his master put in charge of the household to feed everyone at the proper time? Fortunate for that servant when the master returns and finds him at his task. He will give his servant charge of all his lands. But the neglectful servant, thinking his master slow in coming, will make slaves of his fellow servants and feast with gluttons, and his master will return when he no longer expects him. The master will torture the neglectful servant and put him with the other pretenders, where there will be screeching and chewing of tongues. Consider ten bridesmaids who took up their lamps and awaited the bridegroom. Five were prudent and five careless. The careless ones took lamps but no extra oil, while the prudent took containers of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long in coming they all grew drowsy and slept. At midnight they heard a shout: “The bridegroom’s coming! Get ready to meet him!” The bridesmaids woke up and trimmed their lamps. The careless said to the prudent, “Give us some oil—our lamps are going out.” But the prudent answered, “There may not be enough for us and you. Get some from the sellers.” While they were getting oil the bridegroom came: the bridesmaids who were ready went in with him to the wedding and the door was shut. When the others returned they said, “Master, Master, open the door!” He said, “I don’t know you.” An employer was going away. He called his servants and made them responsible for his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, according to their ability. Then he left. The servant who receive five talents used them to acquire five more. Likewise the servant who received two acquired two. But the servant who received one talent dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s wealth. After a long time the employer returned and called his servants in for an accounting. The servant who received five talents brought also the other five and said, “Master, you gave me five talents. Look: I have acquired five more.” The master said to him, “Excellent, my good and trustworthy servant. Because you have accomplished much with little I shall give you charge of much. Come: share your master’s delight.” The servant who received two talents said, “Master, you gave me two talents. Look: I have acquired two more.” His master said to him, “Excellent, my good and trustworthy servant. Because you have accomplished much with little I shall give you charge of much. Come: share your master’s delight.” Then the servant who received one talent said, “Master, I knew you were greedy—reaping where you haven’t sown and harvesting where you haven’t planted. I was scared and hid your talent in the earth. Look: you have back what is yours.” His master said, “You miserable and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I don’t sow and harvest where I don’t plant. You should at least have given my wealth to usurers, in order that I might get it back with interest. Take from him his one talent and give it to the servant with ten. Everyone who has used his wealth shall be given more and shall be rich, but everyone who has not used it shall be deprived of it. Throw the useless servant out into the darkness, where he can screech and chew his tongue.” When Adam’s son comes in glory with all his holy angels about him, he will sit on this throne of glory. Before him all the nations will be gathered. He will divide each nation, putting the sheep on his right side and the goats on the left. He will turn to his right and say, “Come into my Father’s blessing and inherit the kingdom I have prepared for you from the beginning of creation. I was hungry; you fed me. I was thirsty; you gave me drink. I was abandoned; you received me. I was naked; you clothed me. I was sick; you visited me. I was in prison; you came to me.” The righteous will say, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, thirsty, and give you drink, abandoned and receive you, naked and clothe you, sick and visit you, in prison and come to you?” The king will say, “What you did to the lowest of my brothers you did to me.” He will turn to his left and say, “Leave me, you accursed ones, and dwell in the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. I was hungry; you gave me no food. I was thirsty; you gave me no drink. I was abandoned; you did not receive me. I was naked; you did not clothe me. I was sick; you did not visit me. I was in prison; you did not come to me.” They will say, “Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or abandoned, or naked, or sick, or in prison, that we should go to you?” He will say to them, “What you did not do to the lowest of my brothers, you did not do to me.” Then these will go away to everlasting torment, and the just will enter into everlasting life.
Night falls. The Pharisee Nicodemus comes to Jesus.
NICODEMUS. Rabbi, I know you are a teacher sent by God: nobody can do what you do unless God is in him.
JESUS. What I say is. I say to you, Unless a man is reborn, he cannot see God’s kingdom.
NICODEMUS. How can a man be reborn when he is old? Can he go back in his mother’s womb and be born again?
JESUS. What I say is. I say to you, Unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter God’s kingdom. Flesh is born of flesh, and spirit is born of Spirit. Don’t be surprised when I say to you: You must be reborn. The wind blows where it wills. You can hear it even if you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So everyone born of the Spirit will hear the Spirit.
NICODEMUS. How can these things be?
JESUS. Do you teach Israel and not know these things? We say what we know and tell what we have seen, but you don’t hear us. If I tell you about the world and you don’t believe, how can I tell you about heaven? No one has gone up to heaven but him who came down from heaven—Adam’s son, who is in heaven. Moses lifted up the snake in the desert. Adam’s son must also be lifted up, and whoever believes in him will not die but will always have life. God so loves the world that he gives his only son, and whoever believes in him will not die but will have always life.
Some Greek Jews who are in Jerusalem for Passover want to see him. They go to Philip, who tells Andrew. They bring the Greeks to Jesus.
JESUS. The time has come for Adam’s son to be glorified. What I say is. I say to you: unless a wheat seed falls to the ground and dies it remains alone. But if it dies it brings forth more seed. Everyone who loves his life will lose it. Everyone who scorns his life in the world will live it in eternity. If anyone wishes to serve me he will walk with me. Where I am my servant will be. If anyone serves me my Father will honor him. I am filled with anxiety; what should I say—Father, save me from this hour? But for this hour I have come: Father, glorify your name.
A voice comes from the heavens: I HAVE GLORIFIED IT, AND WILL GLORIFY IT. Some in the crowd say, “It’s thundering”; others, “An angel spoke.”
JESUS. The voice didn’t come for my sake but for yours. Now is the judgment time for the world. Now will the prince of the world be thrown out. When I am liftd up from the earth I shall draw all to me.
A GREEK JEW. The scriptures tell us the Messiah will live forever. You tell us Adam’s son will be lifted up. Who, then, is the Messiah?
JESUS. You still have the light in you: walk while you have the light. Darkness is coming, and whoever walks in the dark won’t know where he’s going. While you have the light believe in the light, that you may be children of the light. Who believes me believes not me only, but him who sent me. Who sees me sees him who sent me. I’ve come into the world as a light: who believes in me will not live in darkness. God hasn’t sent his son to the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe is already condemned by his not believing. His condemnation is that light has come in the world and he loves the darkness instead of the light, because his deeds are lies. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to it, lest their deeds be shown. But all who do truth come to the light, that their deeds may shine brightly, because they are done by God. I haven’t come to condemn the world but to save it. Whoever doesn’t believe me and spurns my word will be judged on the last day by the word he spurns. The word I speak isn’t mine alone. The Father who sent me commanded me to speak it. I know his command is always living. The things therefore which I speak are as the Father said I should speak.
The Greek Jews shake their heads and go back to the Temple.
JESUS. In two days it will Passover. Adam’s son will be betrayed and crucified.
The chief priests, scribes, and elders meet with Caiaphas, the High Priest, to discuss how to trap Jesus and kill him. They decide, “Not during the festival, or the people will riot.” Jesus is in Bethany. Martha serves supper while Lazarus eats with him. Mary takes a pound of spikenard, anoints Jesus’ head and feet, and wipes his head and feet with her hair. The smell of spikenard fills the house.
JUDAS ISCARIOT. Why wasn’t the perfume sold? We could’ve gotten a good price for it and given the money to the poor.
JESUS. Don’t dishearten her. She did good to me by preparing me for my burial. The poor you have always: me you do not have always. Wherever the good news is told she will be remembered for what she did.
Judas goes to the chief priests and offers to hand Jesus over. They agree to give him thirty pieces of silver.
THE TWELVE. Where do you wish us to prepare the Seder for you?
JESUS to Peter and John. Go into the city. You’ll see a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him. When he goes into a house say to the owner, “The Master says, ‘My time has come: where is the room where I shall eat my Passover with my followers?’” He’ll take you upstairs and show you a large furnished room. Prepare a Seder for us there.
Everything is as he tells them. Peter and John get the Seder ready. In the evening Jesus sits down with the twelve.
JESUS. I have longed with longing for this meal, to eat it with you before I suffer. I shall not eat it again with you until the Father’s kingdom has come, nor shall I drink the fruit of the vine until I drink it new in the Father’s kingdom.
He leaves the table, takes off his clothes, and ties a towel around his waist. He pours water into a basin and starts washing his disciples’ feet.
PETER. Lord, how can you wash our feet?
JESUS. What I do now you’ll understand later.
PETER. You’ll never wash my feet.
JESUS. If I don’t wash you, Peter, you aren’t with me.
PETER. Lord, then not just my feet but my hands and head also!
JESUS. Simon, if you’ve washed yourself you need only your feet rinsed to be wholly clean.
JESUS to the twelve. You are clean but one.
He washes their feet. Then he puts on his clothes and lies down with them.
JESUS. Do you comprehend what I’ve done? You call me Teacher and Lord. You are right, because I am your teacher and lord. If I, your teacher and lord, have washed your feet, you, follow my example, must wash each other’s feet. Do to each other what I’ve done to you. The servant isn’t greater than his lord, nor the student greater than his teacher: if you understand these things, you will be glad to do them. I don’t speak to you all. I knew you when I chose you. Scripture will be made true: “One who eats bread with me will lift his foot against me.” I tell you this now, that when it happens you will believe that I am who I am. One of you will betray me.
THE TWELVE. No, Lord, not me!
JESUS. It would be better for one of you if he had never been born.
He moistens a piece of bread and hands it to Judas Iscariot.
JESUS. Do quickly what you’re doing.
Judas takes the bread and goes out into the night.
Peter motions to John, who’s leaning against Jesus.
JOHN. Lord, who is it?
JESUS. Someone I dipped bread with. Adam’s son will soon be glorified and God in him. When God is glorified in him, God will glorify him in himself. God glorifies him now.
He takes bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to the eleven.
JESUS. Take and eat: it is my body.
He takes his cup and gives thanks.
JESUS. Take and drink: it is my blood, which binds us always and is shed for many to forgive sins.
Remember me and do this.
My children, a little while I am with you. Then you’ll search for me and—as I told the others—where I am going you cannot come. Tonight you will all lose your way because of me. What Zachariah saw will happen: “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.” When it happens obey my new commandment. Love each other as I have loved you. As I love you, love each other. Everyone will know you are following me, if you love each other.
After eating they sing a psalm and go up to the Mount of Olives.
PETER. Lord, tell us where you’re going.
JESUS. Where I am going you can’t go now: but afterward you’ll come to me.
PETER. Lord, even if the others fail, I won’t: I’ll walk with you to prison and death.
JESUS. Peter, tonight before the cock crows you’ll deny me three times.
PETER. I will never deny you—I’ll die with you.
The others also protest their loyalty.
JESUS. When I sent you to preach in Galilee and told you to go without an extra staff or extra clothes or shoes, did you lack anything?
THE ELEVEN. No.
JESUS. What if I told you now, Whoever has a bag or wallet, cling to it. Whoever has no sword, sell your cloak and buy one, because today will be accomplished what’s written about me: “He was tried with the sinners, and he shouldered their sins, and pleaded for the sinners”?
THE ELEVEN. Lord, we have two swords.
JESUS. Enough! Don’t be disheartened. You believe in God: believe also in me. In the Father’s house are many mansions. If it weren’t so, would I tell you that I go to prepare a place for you? I’ll come again and bring you in: then where I am you’ll also be. Now you know where I’m going and you know the way.
THOMAS. Lord, we don’t know where you’re going—how can we find our way?
JESUS. I am the way, the truth, and life. No one comes to the Father, except by me. If you know me you know the Father. Henceforth you know him and have seen him.
PHILIP. Lord, show us the Father and it will be enough for us.
JESUS. Philip, have I been with you so long without your knowing me? Who sees me sees the Father. Why, then, do you say, “Show us the Father”? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? What I say to you I say to bring you to me and the Father who is working in me. Therefore believe me when I say: I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Believe me and do what I do. Who believes me will do what I do: and will do greater. I will go to the Father and do everything you ask me. To glorify the Father in the son, I will give you everything you ask. If you love me, obey my commandment. I will ask the Father, and he will send you a protector, the Spirit of Truth, who’ll be with you always. The world won’t accept him, since it can’t see him or know him, but you’ll know him because he’ll live in you and be in you. I won’t abandon you: I’ll come to you. In a little while the world won’t see me. You’ll see me, and because I live you’ll also live. Then you’ll know that I am in the Father, that you are in me, and that I am in you. Whoever learns to obey my commandment loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I’ll love him and show myself to him.
THADDEUS. Lord, how can you show yourself to us and the world not know it?
JESUS. Whoever loves me will keep my commandment. My Father will love him. We’ll come to him and live in him. Who doesn’t love me will not keep my commandment: it isn’t mine but the Father’s who sent me. I say this to you while I am with you. The Holy Spirit, the protector whom the Father will send because of me, will tell you what it means, and will remind you. My peace I give you: it is my peace I give: what the world doesn’t give I give you. Don’t be anxious and afraid. You heard me say I’ll leave you and come to you. If you love me you will be glad: I’m going to the Father, who’s greater than I. I tell you these things before they happen, that when they take place you’ll continue to believe in me. I will not talk to you much longer. The prince of the world is coming, and though he has no power over me, yet I do as the Father tells me. Come: let us leave this place. I am the vine. My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that doesn’t produce fruit he removes, and every branch that produces fruit he prunes, so that it produces more fruit. You I’ve prepared myself by my words. You live in me and I in you. As the branch can’t produce fruit by itself but must live in the vine, so for you to produce fruit, you must live in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Who lives in me, I’ll live in him: and we will produce much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing. Who doesn’t live in me is a withered branch and will be cut off. These branches will be gathered and thrown in the fire and burned. If you live in me and my words live in you, ask what you wish and it will be done for you. It is my Father’s glory that you produce much fruit: then you will be my disciples. As my Father loves me, so I love you: live in my love. If you obey my commandment you live in my love, just as I keep my Father’s commandment and live in his love. I tell you these things so that you will be happy and your happiness complete. This is my command: Love each other as I love you. There is no greater love than when a man lays his life down for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer my servants only, but also my friends. A servant doesn’t know what the master knows. You are my friends: everything I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I chose you to bear fruit. Your fruit will live: whatever you ask the Father for my sake he’ll give you. I order you to love each other. If the world hates you, know that it hated me before you. If you belonged to the world the world would welcome you as its own; but because you don’t belong to the world and I look you out of the world, the world will hate you. Remember what I said before: a servant isn’t greater than his master. If they had obeyed me they would obey you. Since they persecuted me, they will persecute you. They will persecute you because of me, because they do not know who sent me. If I hadn’t come and spoken to them, they would have no sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father. If I hadn’t done among them deeds no one ever did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. So the psalm becomes true: “They that hate me without cause are more than the hairs of my head; they that are my enemies, and would destroy me guiltless, are mighty.” But the Protector whom I’ll send you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth whom the Father will send you, will give evidence of me. And you will give evidence, who have been with me from the first. I tell you these things, that you don’t stumble. You will be put out of the synagogues—the time is coming when whoever kills you will think he is serving God. They will kill you because they don’t know the Father or me. I tell you these things so that when the time comes you will remember that I foretold them. I didn’t tell you these things before, because I was with you: now I go my way to him who sent me. Are you no longer eager to ask me, “Where are you going?” You’re full of heartache because I tell you these things. Yet I tell you the truth: it is for you I go. If I do not go, the Protector will not come to you. When I go I’ll send him to you. He’ll prove the world wrong about sin, about faith, and about judgment. About sin, because the world didn’t believe me; about faith, because I go to the Father and you see me no more; about judgment, because the prince of the world is condemned. I could tell you many other things, that you could not bear to hear. When the Spirit of Truth comes he’ll be your guide to truth. He won’t speak for himself, any more than I speak for myself, but will tell you what he hears. He’ll show you the things to come. He’ll exalt me, taking what is mine and revealing it to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine: the Holy Spirit will reveal to you what is mine. You will weep, and the world will be glad. You will be in anguish, but your anguish will burn into gladness. When a woman is giving birth she is in agony during her time of delivery. When she has given birth to her child she no longer remembers her agony, because a human being is born in the world. Now you are in agony. But I will see you again, and your hearts will be glad, and no one will take your gladness away; you’ll have everything. What I say is. I say to you: ask the Father anything for me and he will give it to you. Up to now you haven’t asked him anything for me. Ask, and you will receive. Ask, that your joy may be full. I’ve talked to you in images. Now’s the time to put images away and tell you plainly about the Father. When I leave you, you’ll pray in my name. I won’t say to you I’ll plead with the Father for you: the Father himself loves you, because you love me and believe I came from him. I came from him to the world. Now I leave the world and go to him.
THE ELEVEN. Now that you’re speaking plainly and not in images, we’re certain you’ve knowledge of what you say. We don’t need to ask any more: from your words we know you come from God.
JESUS. Do you now believe? The time is coming, and is here, when you’ll be scattered each to himself and none by me. Yet I won’t be alone, because the Father will be with me. I tell you this that you might be free. In the world you are slaves. Be glad: I’ve overthrown the world.
They cross the Cedron Brook to the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus looks up.
JESUS. Father, the time has come. Lift your son up, that your son may reveal you. You made him rule over nature, that those you gave him may be given life always, knowing you, their only true God, and Jesus, their Savior whom you sent. I revealed you on earth. I have finished the work you gave me to do. Now return me to your glory, the glory I had with you before the world was. I made your word flesh to the people you gave me from the world. They were yours, you gave them to me, they kept your word. I gave them the words you gave me. They will keep the words, knowing I came from you, believing you sent me. I pray for them. I don’t pray for the world, but for those you gave me. I pray for them because they are yours. All mine are yours, and all yours mine: I am glorified in them. Now I come to you. I am no more in the world, but these remain. Father, protect through your power these you gave me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world I brooded over them for you. Everyone you gave me I kept watch over for you. Not one is lost. Now I return to you. I say these things before these friends, that they may be filled with my happiness in themselves. I have given them your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world. I don’t pray that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from evil. As I am not of the world, they are not of the world. Your word is truth: make them holy in your truth. As you sent me into the world, so I send them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify myself, that the truth will sanctify them. Nor do I pray for these alone, but for all who believe in me through their word, that all may be one in me as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they may be one in us, and that the world may believe that you sent me. Father, I have told them who you are, that they may be one as we are one—I in them, you in me, they made perfect in us, the world knowing that you sent me and that you loved them as you loved as me. Father, I also pray that these you gave me may be with me where I am, that they may see the glory you have given me out of your love since the world began. O righteous Father, the world has not known you. I know you and these now know, whom you sent me. I revealed you to them, and I reveal you to them now, that the love you love me with may be in them, and I in them.
JESUS to the eleven. Sit here while I pray.
He takes with him Peter and Zebedee’s sons.
JESUS. My heart is grieving to death: watch here while I pray.
He goes a short distance from them and falls to the ground.
JESUS. Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this cup away from me. Father, if it is possible, take this cup away from me. Yet not my will, but yours.
An angel from heaven comes to strengthen him. In his anguish he prays more strenuously, and his sweat falls to the ground like drops of blood. Then he returns to the three and finds them sleeping from fear.
JESUS. Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you watch an hour with me? Pray that you don’t fail tonight. The heart is willing, but the body is weak.
He goes again and prays.
JESUS. Abba, Father, if the cup cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.
He returns: the three are asleep. They don’t know what to say to him. He goes to pray a third time. When he returns:
JESUS. It’s settled. Sleep now and take your rest.
JESUS. Get up: the son of Adam is being betrayed to Adam’s sons. Here is my betrayer: let us go to meet him.
The garden lights up with lanterns and torches. Judas arrives surrounded by a crowd of people carrying swords and clubs. The chief priests and elders have sent soldiers and officers to arrest Jesus. Judas has said to the soldiers: “The man I kiss is the one you want. Take him and guard him closely.” He sees his master, goes up to him, and kisses him lovingly.
JUDAS. Peace, Rabbi.
JESUS. Friend, tell me what you want: will you betray Adam’s son with a kiss?
JESUS to the crowd. Who are you looking for?
THE CROWD. Jesus from Nazareth.
JESUS. I am.
They shrink from him and cover their faces.
JESUS. Who are you looking for?
AN OFFICER. Jesus from Nazareth.
JESUS. I said I am. If you are looking for me, let the others go.
They take him and hold him. Peter, who has a sword, draws it and strikes at Malchus, the high priest’s slave: he cuts off an ear.
JESUS. Peter, put your sword down. Don’t you think I could ask my Father and he would immediately send me more than twelve legions of angels? But then how would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say all these things must happen? Shall I not drink the cup which the Father gives me?
Touching Malchus, he restores the ear.
JESUS. Am I a thief, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Day after day I sat teaching in the Temple, and you did not touch me. But this is happening now, that what the prophets saw might be made true.
They arrest him. His followers abandon him and flee. Among them is a young man who’s wearing only a linen cloth. The soldiers try to grab him, but he leaves the cloth in their hands and runs away naked.
They take Jesus to Annas, a former High Priest and Caiaphas’ father-in-law, who questions him.
JESUS. I’ve taught in the open air, in synagogues, and in the Temple. Jews of every town of Israel and Judah have heard me. I said nothing in secret. Why ask me, “What are your teachings? who are your followers?” Ask those who heard me. They know what I said.
An attending officer hits him with the palm of his hand.
THE OFFICER. Is that the way to answer the High Priest?
JESUS. If I said anything false, tell what it is. But if I said the truth, why hit me?
Annas sends him to Caiaphas, the High Priest. Peter and John follow at a distance. John, who’s known at the court of the High Priest, enters after Jesus has been taken inside. Peter waits at the gate. John speaks to a maid, then brings Peter into the courtyard where Jesus is being held.
THE MAID. Are you also a follower of the Galilean?
PETER. No, I don’t know him.
A charcoal fire is in the middle of the courtyard. The weather being cold, people are gathered around the fire to warm themselves. Peter joins them.
A BYSTANDER. Haven’t I seen you with the Nazarene?
PETER. Oh no, I don’t know him.
He makes his way to the gate. One of the servants fo the High Priest, a relative of the man whose ear he cut off, follows him.
THE SERVANT. Of course you’re one of that gang: I saw you in the garden. Even your accent betrays you.
PETER. God is my witness, I tell you: I never knew the man.
A cock crows. Peter turns and sees Jesus looking at him. He goes out into the night and cries bitterly.
Caiaphas calls the scribes and elders to assemble in council.
CAIAPHAS. If you’re the Messiah, tell us.
JESUS. You wouldn’t believe me when I told you; yet when I asked you, you wouldn’t answer me.
Witnesses testify against him, but their stories don’t agree. Finally two witnesses come forward who say: “The man said, ’Destroy the Temple, and in three days I shall rebuild it.’” Caiaphas stands up.
CAIAPHAS. Do you hear what these men are accusing you of? Have you nothing to say to defend yourself?
He says nothing.
CAIAPHAS. I command you by the living God, tell us whether you are the Messiah, the son of God.
JESUS. You say what I am: and what is more, from now on you will see Adam’s son sitting at the right hand of the Power and blinding you with his glory.
Caiaphas tears his robe in front of the council.
CAIAPHAS. Why do we need witnesses? The man condemns himself out of his own mouth! You heard his blasphemy—what’s your decision?
The council decides that Jesus deserves to die. He’s blindfolded, spit on, and hit, and asked to prophesy, “Who’s hitting you?” Even the servants join in hitting him. They they lead him away into the night and take him to the palace of the Roman governor. Not wishing to go in during Passover for fear of becoming impure, they call on Pilate to come out.
Judas brings the thirty pieces of silver to the Temple.
JUDAS. I’ve sinned by betraying an innocent man.
CHIEF PRIESTS and ELDERS. Why come to us? Take care of it yourself.
He flings the silver pieces to the Temple floor, goes out into the night, and hangs himself. Picking the silver up, the chief priests say: “This is blood money: it isn’t lawful to put it in the treasury.” They agree to buy a field for the burial of strangers. It will become known as the Field of Blood.
Pilate comes out to see what the crowd wants.
CHIEF PRIESTS. We found this man subverting the nation, telling the people not to pay taxes to Caesar, saying he is the Messiah and a king.
PILATE. So you are the king of the Jews?
JESUS. You are saying it.
PILATE to the crowd. I don’t find him punishable.
THE ELDERS. He’s stirring up trouble: he started in Galilee—now he’s doing it in Judea.
Hearing Galilee mentioned, Pilate asks whether Jesus is a Galilean. Being told yes, he decides that the case belongs in Herod’s jurisdiction. Herod is in Jerusalem: Jesus must be sent to Herod. Hoping to see him work some miracle, Herod has long wanted to see Jesus. But though he questions him at length, and though the chief priests and the elders don’t stop denouncing him, Jesus says nothing. Herod is piqued. He turns contemptuously from the chief priests and elders and ridicules Jesus, ordering the soldiers to put an elegant robe on him and return him to Pilate. Herod and Pilate, who disliked each other before, become friends from this day. Pilate’s with his wife, who tells him, “Don’t have anything to do with murdering him. Last night I dreamed of him, and I dread what will happen today.” Leaving Jesus in the palace, he goes out again to meet the crowd.
PILATE. You bring me a man who you say is fomenting rebellion. I examine him in front of you and do not find him guilty; neither does Herod, who sends him back to me. Have you anything else to say against him?
THE CHIEF PRIESTS and ELDERS. If the man weren’t guilty we wouldn’t have brought him to you.
PILATE. In that case take him and try him yourselves under your own laws.
CHIEF PRIESTS and ELDERS. Your law won’t let us put a man to death.
Pilate wants to interrogate Jesus again.
PILATE. Are you the king of the Jews?
JESUS. Do you ask for yourself, or others?
PILATE. Am I a Jew? Your own people and your own priests are after your life. What have you done?
JESUS. My kingdom isn’t in the world. If it were, my servants would defend me from my enemies. Therefore my kingdom isn’t in the world.
PILATE. Then you are a king?
JESUS. You are saying it. I was born and entered the world to bear witness to the truth: who lives in the truth hears my voice.
PILATE. What is truth?
He leaves Jesus and goes to speak to the crowd.
PILATE. There is a custom that during Passover I release one of your people. Shall I release Barabbas, who is an insurrectionist, a thief, and a murderer, or Jesus, who is called the Messiah?
THE CROWD. Barabbas—give us Barabbas!
PILATE. And what shall I do with your king of the Jews?
THE CROWD. Crucify him!
Pilate calls his soldiers. He orders Barabbas released and Jesus scourged with whips of iron chain that have bone and lead balls at the end, which not only tear the skin but rip off the flesh as well. The soldiers strip Jesus, put a scarlet robe on his back, a crown of thorns on his head, and a reed in his right hand. Taking turns, they kneel in front of him, say, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and punch his head with their fists. Then they bring him back to Pilate and the crowd.
PILATE. Here is your king.
THE CROWD. Crucify him! Crucify him!
PILATE. Why? What evil has he done?
A PRIEST. We have a Law, and by that Law he must die, for he made himself the son of God.
Pilate is worried. He takes Jesus back into the palace.
PILATE. Where have you come from?
He says nothing.
PILATE. You won’t speak? Don’t you know I have the power to release you and the power to crucify you?
JESUS. What power you have over me comes from above. Therefore he who brought me before you sins more.
Daybreak. Pilates takes Jesus with him to a place called The Pavement and sits on the judge’s seat. The crowd surrounds them.
PILATE. I do not find the man guilty of a crime.
THE PRIESTS. If you free him you aren’t Caesar’s friend. Anyone who makes himself king is Caesar’s enemy.
PILATE. Shall I kill your king?
THE CROWD. We have no king but Caesar.
PILATE. Then take him yourselves and kill him: I find no crime in him.
He calls for water and washes his hands in front of the crowd.
PILATE. I am innocent of the man’s blood.
THE CROWD. His blood be on us and our children.
The soldiers take Jesus away to be crucified. They put a cross on his shoulders and march him to the Place of the Skull, called Golgatha in Aramaic and Calvaria in Latin. They force a Cyrenian—Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus—to help carry the cross. The crowd throngs the path. Jesus sees a group of women crying.
JESUS. Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t cry for me, but for yourselves and your children. The days are coming when your people will say, “Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never gave suck.” They will plead with the mountains, “Fall on us,” and with the hills, “Bury us.” If men kill in the spring, how will they live in the fall?
The four soldiers assigned to Jesus try to get him to drink some wine mixed with myrrh, but though they bring it to his lips he won’t drink. They divide his clothes among them. His tunic being seamless, they agree to throw lots for it. Thus they fulfill the psalm verse, “They divide my garments among them, and cast lots for my cloak.”
An inscription is attached to the cross. In Hebrew, Latin, and Greek it reads: JESUS OF NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS. The chief priests go to Pilate to complain.CHIEF PRIESTS. Don’t write: “King of the Jews,” but: “The man said, ’I am king of the Jews.’”
PILATE. What I have written I have written.
He is crucified between two terrorists.
TERRORIST. If you’re the Messiah, save yourself and us.
THE OTHER to the first. Don’t you fear God now that we’re dying? We deserve what we’re getting. He hasn’t done anything wrong.
THE OTHER to Jesus. Sir, remember me when you go to your kingdom.
JESUS. What I say is: today you will be with me in paradise.
Led by the priests, the crowd taunts Jesus. Some say, “You wanted to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Come down from the cross—the Temple is still standing.” Others say, “You said, ’I am the son of God.’ Trust in God now. God will deliver you. Ask him.” The priests themselves go around saying, “He wanted to save others, and he can’t save himself. This is the king of Israel! Let him come down from the cross and we’ll believe him.”
JESUS. Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.
Standing near the cross are Mary his mother, Mary Magdalene, and Cleophas’ wife Mary. Jesus sees his mother, and John next to her.
JESUS. Mother: here is your son. Son: here is your mother.
The sky and land darken.
JESUS. ELOI, ELOI, LEMA SABACHTHANI?—GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?
BYSTANDERS. He’s calling Elijah!
Someone takes a sponge soaked in vinegar and puts it on a stick to offer it to him.
OTHERS. Wait! Let’s see if Elijah will save him.
JESUS. Father, into your hands I give my Spirit.
JESUS. I’m thirsty.
The sponged soaked with vinegar is put to his mouth. He drinks.
JESUS. It’s done.
He bows his head and dies.
The earth shakes and graves open. In the Temple, the sanctuary curtain is torn from top to bottom. The centurion, looking at the body hanging from the cross, says, “Surely the man was God’s son.”
Evening’s near. The chief priests ask Pilate that the legs of the criminals be broken and the bodies taken down from the crosses. The soldiers break the legs of the two who are crucified with Jesus, but when they come to him they see he’s dead and don’t break his legs. One of the soldiers runs a spear through his side. Blood and water come out. Pilate is surprised to hear that Jesus was dead. Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea, who was a secret follower of Jesus and a member of the council but who was afraid to speak out, requests the body. Pilate consents. Joseph takes the body and wraps it in linen. Because it must be buried before the Sabbath, he lays it in a new tomb which he recently had had hewn for himself in rock near the city. The body is wrapped in a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes given by Nicodemus. A stone is rolled against the tomb’s entrance. Mary Magdalene and Joses’ mother Mary watch the tomb until the Sabbath. Then they go home and rest in obedience to the Law.
93 The Second Day
The chief priests and the Pharisees go to Pilate.
CHIEF PRIESTS and PHARISEES. We remember that when he was alive the impostor said, “In three days I will rise again.” Please order that the cave be guarded until the third day to make certain his followers don’t come at night, steal the body, and say to the people, “He’s risen from the dead.” That lie would be worse than the first.
PILATE. You have soldiers: go tell them to secure the grave.
The stone is sealed. Soldiers guard the tomb.