The Cross Pt 2
SCENE 9 Pt 2
Transcription
First Side of the Cross
Centurion: (Looking up at Jesus after picking up a garment from the floor, then turns his attention to a nearby Priest who is Caiaphas).
You, priest! Was this man not the supposed savior of your people? Your so called… “messiah”? Does the inscription above his head not read “King of the Jews”. (Tucks garment into waistband).
Caiaphas: (annoyed at the offensive centurion) This man is no king. This man is a criminal! He has been nothing but trouble since he began roaming these streets, preaching his blasphemies. Leading so many of our people astray. We saw to put an end to what seemed to be the beginning of a rebellion. Our king is Caesar, you should be glad we stopped this before it became your problem.
Centurion: (bellows out a laugh after taking a drink of wine, then gestures at the priest with his cup) A Jew… Devoted to Caesar? (Let’s out another laugh) I’ve seen many crucifixions but… a Jew loyal to Rome, a Priest no less…. that… that I have not seen. What could this man have done to bring about such ire from the most “holy” of you?
Caiaphas: This deceiver claimed to be our God! A blasphemy of the highest order! I wouldn’t expect a gentile to understand the complexities of our faith-
Centurion: Enough, priest! If there are any gods clearly the gods of Rome have proven to be far more powerful. You are under Rome’s authority after all. Remember that “Priest”. Regardless of what you say about this man, he still hangs up there in agony, not once taking back anything you claimed he said. Torture will reveal just about anything about anyone… and yet… he only cries out to his God who he calls father…. (Staring intently at Jesus) for his God to forgive us for doing this to him…
Caiaphas: (Nervously) Surly if this man was God he could come down from the cross and save himself! He’s healed the sick and supposedly even resurrected the dead, yet here he hangs dying.
Centurion: Not in all my years have I been witness to so many oddities. At a crucifixion of all places. (Turns away from cross and looks at the priest) You and I priest may be watching the same event but we are not seeing the same thing. Never have I seen a man crucified look down from the cross at his executioners not with contempt but compassion. Never have I seen so many women at a crucifixion, yet so many are here weeping at the foot of this man’s cross… They either have been “deceived” as you say or they truly believe he is who he claims to be. Especially this woman here (gestures to Mary)
Second Side of the Cross
Jesus: (In anguish) My God! My Father! Why have you forsaken me!
Mary: (Weeping) My son! What have they done to you? Why must it be this way?
Lord, I’ve known for a very long time that this was foretold but God why, so much pain, look at Him, scourged and nailed, oh my son.
Jesus, despised and rejected, pierced for our transgressions…You could’ve said something but You didn’t. Oh Jesus.
My heart is shattered, nothing can ease my grief. (Brief pause) But i will trust you my son that it had to be this way, You our sinless lamb, an offering for our sin.
My soul will praise the Lord…my spirit will rejoice in God my savior…oh my son. (Lays head to ground broken)
Jesus: (loudly gasps in air and looks up towards heaven) “It is finished.” (bows head and dies).
Centurion: (Visibly shaken and aghast) Surely, this man was the son of God!
Narrator:
With those final words, Jesus breathed his last. At this very moment, the cherubim curtain in the temple that, for a thousand of years, had separated the Presence of God from the people of God, was torn in two from the top to the bottom. God had accepted the sacrifice of Messiah as sufficient for the sins of all people, for all time. No longer would there be a wall separating God’s people from His presence. No longer would the sacrifice of animals be required for the forgiveness of sins. Every debt, past, present, and future, was paid for in full at the cross.