Behold The Man!
2022 Easter Cantata
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"Behold The Man" is a first-person account of Tuillius, the imagined son of Pontius Pilate, who eventually finds in Jesus the answer to the deepest questions of his heart!
This script, along with its selected music, is suitable for churches and choirs of any size. Only one speaker is necessary, to portray the experience of Tuillius. |
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Behold, The Man!
Good Morning! Or - Bonum Mane - As we would say in Rome!
My name is Tuillius, and I would like to share with you my story.
Now, you may not know me, but you probably do know about my Father.
My full name is Tuillius Pilate, and I am the only son of the one you might know as Pontius Pilate. Pilate is our family name, and was once held in great esteem in the Province of Italia.
My grandfather was a skilled soldier in the Roman army, and was rewarded for his courage and heroism by the Emperor himself! He was given land and title and servants, so that he could raise my Father, and my Father me, to fight with pen and ink instead of spear and sword!
So my Father, after serving some time in the army himself, pursued his dream to become a lawyer, and was drawn into the politics of Rome. Because of his skill in the law, and through the connections of my grandfather, he was eventually assigned by Tiberius Caesar to be the governor of a small, but important, Roman province – the Province of Judea!
My father was pleased to be moving up in his political career, and so was I! I was only about 12 years old, but I couldn’t wait to see the greatness of the Empire! I thought it would be a great adventure!
When we finally arrived in Judea, it wasn’t as exciting as I thought it would be. My father wanted me to follow in his footsteps, in law and politics, so most of my time was spent with tutors and teachers. But, from time to time, when I got to escape into the streets of Jerusalem, I loved it! I loved its sights and sounds and smells! And sometimes, I even got to see my Father at work!
He was a powerful man and was held in high esteem by everyone around him. Anyone with a question or a problem would go to him! To me, he was the wisest man in all of the Empire! I looked up to my Father as someone who had all the answers!
When we lived in Jerusalem, there was one day that will stick with me for as long as I live! I woke up early that morning before the sun had risen, to the din of crowds making their way along the narrow streets of the city. I left my room, and was surprised to see that the lanterns were all lit. When I looked for my Father, he was already gone.
So, without telling anyone, I sneaked out of the house, and made my way to where my Father would be – Antonia, the Roman fort that overlooked the Jewish Temple. When I got there, I hid behind a pillar near the back, to find out what was going on.
As I listened, it sounded like someone had been arrested for stirring up a rebellion near Jerusalem! Now, rebellion was not a new problem in Judea, and my Father certainly could handle it! But this time, it was different! When the man was arrested, his band only had one weapon - a single sword! What kind of threat could they be with only one sword?
By the time I got there, the Jews had already tried the man, and deemed him worthy of death! As I thought about my studies of Roman law, I wondered, what kind of law do these Jews have? To try someone in the dead of night? To condemn someone to die without a defense? Surely, I thought, my Father would figure out what's going on! My Father would know what to do! After all, my Father had all the answers!
The Jews had been given special privileges by the Emperor, to handle matters about their own laws. However, they could not exercise capital punishment without the consent of Rome. So, after some time had passed, they came and sought my Father's approval to put this rebel to death. The rebel’s name was Jesus of Nazareth.
Behold, The Man
So my Father put on his official robe, left the Fortress, and briskly walked to the Judgment Hall. I followed him from behind, hoping he would not see me. He didn’t, and he wouldn’t, because his focus was on the task before him.
As I took my place behind another pillar, my Father took his place at the Judgment Seat. His servants and aids took their places around him. I had never seen my Father this way before! There he was, sitting in a flowing robe like the Emperor himself, in his official position as the Judge of Rome! A hush came over the crowd, and I strained to see a group of soldiers dragging a man to the place of judgment. From the looks of him, he posed no threat! Not to the Jews, and certainly not to my Father!
Two soldiers placed the man beneath my Father, and stood at his side in silence. My father looked down at the man, and for the first time I could remember, was speechless. We waited for my Father to speak, but he didn’t. In those moments, my world turned upside down. After all, my Father was supposed to have all the answers! But from that moment, he only had questions!
When my Father’s eyes met the eyes of the man before him, something changed in him! My Father seemed to not know what to say or do! He got up from his seat, whirled around, and went to the porch of the Judgment Hall, to address the Jews who were waiting outside. It was there he asked the first question I ever heard him ask! The man with all the answers asked the Jews: “What accusation do you bring against this man?”
As I looked at that man from my hiding place, I wondered the same thing as my Father! What had this man done? What accusation did they bring? Why was he even here?
Why?
When my Father understood that the charges against Jesus had more to do with the laws and customs of the Jews, he returned to his seat in the Judgment Hall. When I looked at his eyes, I could tell he was troubled. His eyes were usually sharp, showing power and strength! This time, those same eyes betrayed perplexity about the man who was before him.
My father called upon Jesus to move closer to the platform upon which he was sitting. The soldiers stayed behind, so Jesus stood before my Father alone. As he thought about the charges brought against Jesus, he asked him: “Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus answered: “My kingdom is not of this world! If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight. But now, my kingdom is not from this world!”
What was this man saying? He admitted to my Father that he was a King – but a King from another world! To be a King from another world could only mean one thing: that he was a god! But, if he was a god, how could he be standing before my Father as a prisoner? How could Jesus of Nazareth be a King?
From Heaven's Holy Throne
The gods worshiped by my family were gods of majesty and power! But, I saw in Jesus a different kind of majesty and a different kind of power! And so did my Father!
He asked him again: “So, you are a king?” Another question from the man I thought had all the answers!
When Jesus answered him this time, he said: “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I came into the world: to bear witness to the truth, and everyone who is of the truth hears my voice!”
After Jesus spoke, I crept a bit more out of my hiding place. At this point, noone would notice or care! I wondered, how would my Father respond this time? What would he say? What great word of wisdom would come out of his mouth? I waited, until, to my amazement, he only asked another question!
My Father asked Jesus: “What is truth?”
Here Is God
“What is truth?” I thought: “If anyone knew truth, surely it was my Father!” After all, he was a student of the law! If he didn’t know truth, how could anyone? How could I?
As I thought about my Father’s last question, he went back outside to address the Jews. His voice returned to its natural strength, as he said to them: “I find in him no fault at all!”
But this just stirred the crowd up even more! They started to murmur and shout other accusations against Jesus! When my Father returned, he was visibly upset. With Jesus before him, he asked him again: “Don’t you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?”
This time, Jesus answered nothing! And silence once again fell throughout the entire Hall. It was only broken, when an aid came over and whispered a few words into my Father’s ear, which caused him to abruptly adjourn the proceedings! He marched out of the Hall, and I took the chance to run back home and tell my Mother about all I had seen and heard!
When I returned, the proceedings were about to resume. With no need to hide any longer, I watched as Jesus was brought back into the Judgment Hall. He looked worse than before. When my Father called back the Jewish authorities, he told them: “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. But after examining him before you, I have not found him guilty of any of your charges against him. I will therefore punish and release him!”
“Finally,” I thought, “That’s my Father!” Strong. Decisive. With an answer! But, as news of his decision spread through the Jewish crowd outside, their cries and shouts of outrage started to echo inside! Father ran out to calm the crowd! He offered a compromise: “But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
“But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas. So they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas!”
Then Father asked them: “What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ?”
They all said to him: “Crucify him! Crucify him! Let him be crucified!”
When my Father realized that he could do nothing to appease the crowd, he washed his hands in a basin of water before them, and said: “I am innocent of this man’s blood. See to it yourselves!”
What happened to my Father? This was no way to render justice! This was no way to run a trial! And this was no way to run a country! I looked at Jesus to see his reaction, but there was none! Except his eyes seemed to be filled, not with anger, but with sorrow, and even compassion!
Father returned to his seat. This time, I could tell that his strength and courage had melted away into fear! My Father asked Jesus just one more question! The man I thought had all the answers, when faced with this man, had none! He asked: “Where are you from?” Once again, Jesus gave him no answer! But, he didn’t need to! His silence was an answer in and of itself.
You Are The Christ
At that point, I thought about all the questions my Father asked Jesus. Questions that had still not been answered. Not to his satisfaction, nor to mine. Why was Jesus there? What had Jesus done? Who was Jesus and where was he from? And – what is truth? What bothered me the most was that my own Father delivered Jesus to be crucified, without one of his questions being answered!
But, the die was cast and the rage of the crowd had won. The soldiers took Jesus and led him away to be crucified, with Jesus bearing his cross. As my Father remained in his seat, I left the Judgment Hall and followed the crowd. They shouted and jeered at Jesus. As the soldiers urged him along, Jesus stumbled and fell on the hard pavement, dropping the cross. Why the hurry, I wondered? Frustrated with their lack of progress, a Centurion forced another man to carry the cross the rest of the way. When they finally got to the place where they would crucify their prisoner, they did so without mercy. But why? Why was this done to a man even my Father believed to be innocent?
When there was a break in the crowd, I saw Jesus himself on his cross. A couple of times, he struggled to gather his breath and speak. One of those times, I heard him say, softly but clearly, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do!” I looked around. Who was his father? Was he here?
I couldn’t help but wonder, if I was where Jesus was, where would my Father be, and what would my Father do? But when I looked more closely at the face of Jesus, I noticed that he was not looking down, searching for his Father, but up! He was talking to his Father as if he were in the skies above! As if he were talking to God! But, if God was his Father, why would He forgive these people? How could He forgive these people? After all they did to His own son?
And then it struck me. It was my Father who brought all this to pass! It was my Father who Jesus asked his Father to forgive. What kind of man was this Jesus? If he could offer forgiveness to someone like my Father, then perhaps he could offer forgiveness to anyone! Perhaps this was why Jesus was suffering on that cross – to offer forgiveness to those who need it most.
His Robes For Mine
As I stood there, reflecting on the sights and sounds of the day, I felt the rough hands of a man grabbing me by the shoulders. It was one of my Father’s aids. He told me gruffly that I had no business being there. He escorted me back to my home, and I was sent to my room, where I flopped onto my bed and sobbed – the covers absorbing my cries and my tears.
The next day, I summoned the courage to ask my Father what else happened to the man who was crucified? He told me that after he died, he was taken off the cross and buried in a nearby garden. But, since he still had some followers, my Father ordered his soldiers to guard the tomb, until things calmed down. He didn’t want me to leave the house until then. I had no other choice, but to comply. My studies resumed that day, even though my mind was still racing about all that I had just witnessed. But, I couldn’t wait for the chance to get back out to see where they buried Jesus for myself!
After two days, that chance came! When there was a recess in my studies, and my tutors and parents were nowhere to be found, I made a break for it! As I hurried through the streets, it was eerily quiet, and I was almost alone. I went out the city gate to the place of crucifixion. Three crosses were lying on the ground, with no bodies to be found.
I rushed to the garden, to find the tomb where they buried Jesus. I thought I could find it easily, by looking for the watch of soldiers placed there by my Father. I looked and looked, but couldn’t find them! But, as I was searching, I saw some people peering into one particular tomb. As I watched, some men and women came and went, and seemed just as perplexed as me! I overheard them talking about Jesus as if he was no longer dead, but had come back to life! I wondered: “Could this be possible?”
I thought about what I saw in Jesus’ eyes, just a few days before. I thought about what I heard from Jesus’ lips. I thought about how I felt when Jesus was tried before and then crucified by my Father. If anyone could come back to life, surely it would be this man!
I approached a kind-looking woman and quietly asked her if this was the tomb of Jesus. She said it was, but he was no longer there! She told me that some of her friends had seen Jesus alive that very morning! She wasn’t quite sure what to make of it, but the tomb was completely empty, and I could see it for myself, if I wanted to! As she left, I got as close to the entrance of the tomb as I dared, looked in, and saw nothing but cloth, lying flat upon a slab of stone. But there was no body – there was no Jesus.
Risen!
I almost believed, when I stood there by that garden tomb. But it was so hard to! Even if Jesus was a god, why would he die, only to come back to life? I didn’t understand.
As time went on, life got back to normal. Once again, work consumed my Father’s time, social life took up my Mother’s time, and I engulfed myself in my studies. My Father wanted me to stay focused on my future! But, I never forgot that tragic day in my past, and I never forgot the questions my Father asked Jesus. I wanted and I needed to know the answers!
After several years, Father was recalled to Rome. I later learned that he had not performed his duties as Governor to the satisfaction of the Emperor. His recall meant that even my future was in jeopardy, since in Rome, the sins of a father were often visited on his sons, along with the rest of the family.
My father couldn’t handle the shame that came with his demotion, nor, I believe, could he handle the guilt of shedding so much blood in his duties as Governor, including the innocent blood of Jesus. Though some say he committed suicide, he really died from brokenness. Though he was not old in age, his body and mind and spirit had aged far more quickly than a calendar would indicate.
Not long after my Father’s death, while trying to reestablish the Pilate name, I had the opportunity to return to Jerusalem on business! It had been some twenty years since I was there as a boy! I couldn’t believe how the city had grown, and how beautiful it had become!
When I was there, I became acquainted with a group of people who called themselves Christians. They were some of the kindest people I had ever met. An older member of that group told me that they were followers of a man they believed to be the one, true God! A man called Jesus the Christ, who once had been killed, but now was alive, and living in Heaven!
I thought, could this be the same Jesus I saw on that day when I was twelve? I wanted him to tell me more! He explained to me that when Jesus came, he came to save everyone from their sins – not just the Jews, but even Romans – like me! When Jesus died on the cross, he didn’t die for anything he had done, but for me, and for my sins against God!
I remembered the words I heard from Jesus’ own lips: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!” I began to understand both how and why Jesus could say this! When Jesus was on that cross, he was offering forgiveness to me! So, I asked my new friend the same questions I heard my father ask Jesus, those many years ago.
Why had Jesus come? What had Jesus done? Who was Jesus, and where was he from? And – what is truth? This time, I was given all the answers I was looking for! This time, I discovered that Jesus was the answer I was looking for! And, to receive all that Jesus came to give, I just needed to confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in my heart that God hath raised him from the dead!
And so I did! I turned from my sins, and turned to Jesus, and sought His forgiveness! I believed in Him, and was saved! On that day, Jesus became the answer to the deepest questions of my heart!
Christ Is Sufficient
My name is Tuillius, and I would like to share with you my story.
Now, you may not know me, but you probably do know about my Father.
My full name is Tuillius Pilate, and I am the only son of the one you might know as Pontius Pilate. Pilate is our family name, and was once held in great esteem in the Province of Italia.
My grandfather was a skilled soldier in the Roman army, and was rewarded for his courage and heroism by the Emperor himself! He was given land and title and servants, so that he could raise my Father, and my Father me, to fight with pen and ink instead of spear and sword!
So my Father, after serving some time in the army himself, pursued his dream to become a lawyer, and was drawn into the politics of Rome. Because of his skill in the law, and through the connections of my grandfather, he was eventually assigned by Tiberius Caesar to be the governor of a small, but important, Roman province – the Province of Judea!
My father was pleased to be moving up in his political career, and so was I! I was only about 12 years old, but I couldn’t wait to see the greatness of the Empire! I thought it would be a great adventure!
When we finally arrived in Judea, it wasn’t as exciting as I thought it would be. My father wanted me to follow in his footsteps, in law and politics, so most of my time was spent with tutors and teachers. But, from time to time, when I got to escape into the streets of Jerusalem, I loved it! I loved its sights and sounds and smells! And sometimes, I even got to see my Father at work!
He was a powerful man and was held in high esteem by everyone around him. Anyone with a question or a problem would go to him! To me, he was the wisest man in all of the Empire! I looked up to my Father as someone who had all the answers!
When we lived in Jerusalem, there was one day that will stick with me for as long as I live! I woke up early that morning before the sun had risen, to the din of crowds making their way along the narrow streets of the city. I left my room, and was surprised to see that the lanterns were all lit. When I looked for my Father, he was already gone.
So, without telling anyone, I sneaked out of the house, and made my way to where my Father would be – Antonia, the Roman fort that overlooked the Jewish Temple. When I got there, I hid behind a pillar near the back, to find out what was going on.
As I listened, it sounded like someone had been arrested for stirring up a rebellion near Jerusalem! Now, rebellion was not a new problem in Judea, and my Father certainly could handle it! But this time, it was different! When the man was arrested, his band only had one weapon - a single sword! What kind of threat could they be with only one sword?
By the time I got there, the Jews had already tried the man, and deemed him worthy of death! As I thought about my studies of Roman law, I wondered, what kind of law do these Jews have? To try someone in the dead of night? To condemn someone to die without a defense? Surely, I thought, my Father would figure out what's going on! My Father would know what to do! After all, my Father had all the answers!
The Jews had been given special privileges by the Emperor, to handle matters about their own laws. However, they could not exercise capital punishment without the consent of Rome. So, after some time had passed, they came and sought my Father's approval to put this rebel to death. The rebel’s name was Jesus of Nazareth.
Behold, The Man
- Text: Author Unknown / Suggested Tune ~ St. Columba (Irish Melody, Common Meter)
- Text & Tune are in the Public Domain
- Text Available: hymnary.org/hymn/CHAW1823/94
So my Father put on his official robe, left the Fortress, and briskly walked to the Judgment Hall. I followed him from behind, hoping he would not see me. He didn’t, and he wouldn’t, because his focus was on the task before him.
As I took my place behind another pillar, my Father took his place at the Judgment Seat. His servants and aids took their places around him. I had never seen my Father this way before! There he was, sitting in a flowing robe like the Emperor himself, in his official position as the Judge of Rome! A hush came over the crowd, and I strained to see a group of soldiers dragging a man to the place of judgment. From the looks of him, he posed no threat! Not to the Jews, and certainly not to my Father!
Two soldiers placed the man beneath my Father, and stood at his side in silence. My father looked down at the man, and for the first time I could remember, was speechless. We waited for my Father to speak, but he didn’t. In those moments, my world turned upside down. After all, my Father was supposed to have all the answers! But from that moment, he only had questions!
When my Father’s eyes met the eyes of the man before him, something changed in him! My Father seemed to not know what to say or do! He got up from his seat, whirled around, and went to the porch of the Judgment Hall, to address the Jews who were waiting outside. It was there he asked the first question I ever heard him ask! The man with all the answers asked the Jews: “What accusation do you bring against this man?”
As I looked at that man from my hiding place, I wondered the same thing as my Father! What had this man done? What accusation did they bring? Why was he even here?
Why?
- Words & Music by John M. Moore
- © 1953; Renewal 1981 by John M. Moore. Assigned to Singspiration, Division of The Zondervan Corporation.
- Hymn #122, Great Hymns of the Faith (1968 Edition)
When my Father understood that the charges against Jesus had more to do with the laws and customs of the Jews, he returned to his seat in the Judgment Hall. When I looked at his eyes, I could tell he was troubled. His eyes were usually sharp, showing power and strength! This time, those same eyes betrayed perplexity about the man who was before him.
My father called upon Jesus to move closer to the platform upon which he was sitting. The soldiers stayed behind, so Jesus stood before my Father alone. As he thought about the charges brought against Jesus, he asked him: “Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus answered: “My kingdom is not of this world! If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight. But now, my kingdom is not from this world!”
What was this man saying? He admitted to my Father that he was a King – but a King from another world! To be a King from another world could only mean one thing: that he was a god! But, if he was a god, how could he be standing before my Father as a prisoner? How could Jesus of Nazareth be a King?
From Heaven's Holy Throne
- Words by Dustin Battles; Music by James Koerts
- © 2015 by The Wilds. All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission.
- wilds.org/store/product/from-heavens-holy-throne
The gods worshiped by my family were gods of majesty and power! But, I saw in Jesus a different kind of majesty and a different kind of power! And so did my Father!
He asked him again: “So, you are a king?” Another question from the man I thought had all the answers!
When Jesus answered him this time, he said: “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I came into the world: to bear witness to the truth, and everyone who is of the truth hears my voice!”
After Jesus spoke, I crept a bit more out of my hiding place. At this point, noone would notice or care! I wondered, how would my Father respond this time? What would he say? What great word of wisdom would come out of his mouth? I waited, until, to my amazement, he only asked another question!
My Father asked Jesus: “What is truth?”
Here Is God
- Words by Anna Crowley Pruden; Music by Paul Keew
- © 2008 by Watchsong (admin. Church Works Media). All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission.
- www.churchworksmedia.com/product/here-is-god-free
“What is truth?” I thought: “If anyone knew truth, surely it was my Father!” After all, he was a student of the law! If he didn’t know truth, how could anyone? How could I?
As I thought about my Father’s last question, he went back outside to address the Jews. His voice returned to its natural strength, as he said to them: “I find in him no fault at all!”
But this just stirred the crowd up even more! They started to murmur and shout other accusations against Jesus! When my Father returned, he was visibly upset. With Jesus before him, he asked him again: “Don’t you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?”
This time, Jesus answered nothing! And silence once again fell throughout the entire Hall. It was only broken, when an aid came over and whispered a few words into my Father’s ear, which caused him to abruptly adjourn the proceedings! He marched out of the Hall, and I took the chance to run back home and tell my Mother about all I had seen and heard!
When I returned, the proceedings were about to resume. With no need to hide any longer, I watched as Jesus was brought back into the Judgment Hall. He looked worse than before. When my Father called back the Jewish authorities, he told them: “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. But after examining him before you, I have not found him guilty of any of your charges against him. I will therefore punish and release him!”
“Finally,” I thought, “That’s my Father!” Strong. Decisive. With an answer! But, as news of his decision spread through the Jewish crowd outside, their cries and shouts of outrage started to echo inside! Father ran out to calm the crowd! He offered a compromise: “But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
“But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas. So they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas!”
Then Father asked them: “What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ?”
They all said to him: “Crucify him! Crucify him! Let him be crucified!”
When my Father realized that he could do nothing to appease the crowd, he washed his hands in a basin of water before them, and said: “I am innocent of this man’s blood. See to it yourselves!”
What happened to my Father? This was no way to render justice! This was no way to run a trial! And this was no way to run a country! I looked at Jesus to see his reaction, but there was none! Except his eyes seemed to be filled, not with anger, but with sorrow, and even compassion!
Father returned to his seat. This time, I could tell that his strength and courage had melted away into fear! My Father asked Jesus just one more question! The man I thought had all the answers, when faced with this man, had none! He asked: “Where are you from?” Once again, Jesus gave him no answer! But, he didn’t need to! His silence was an answer in and of itself.
You Are The Christ
- Words by Andy Gleiser; Music by Reba Snyder
- © 2013 by Determined Hymns. All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission.
- andygleiser.com/hymns-o-z
At that point, I thought about all the questions my Father asked Jesus. Questions that had still not been answered. Not to his satisfaction, nor to mine. Why was Jesus there? What had Jesus done? Who was Jesus and where was he from? And – what is truth? What bothered me the most was that my own Father delivered Jesus to be crucified, without one of his questions being answered!
But, the die was cast and the rage of the crowd had won. The soldiers took Jesus and led him away to be crucified, with Jesus bearing his cross. As my Father remained in his seat, I left the Judgment Hall and followed the crowd. They shouted and jeered at Jesus. As the soldiers urged him along, Jesus stumbled and fell on the hard pavement, dropping the cross. Why the hurry, I wondered? Frustrated with their lack of progress, a Centurion forced another man to carry the cross the rest of the way. When they finally got to the place where they would crucify their prisoner, they did so without mercy. But why? Why was this done to a man even my Father believed to be innocent?
When there was a break in the crowd, I saw Jesus himself on his cross. A couple of times, he struggled to gather his breath and speak. One of those times, I heard him say, softly but clearly, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do!” I looked around. Who was his father? Was he here?
I couldn’t help but wonder, if I was where Jesus was, where would my Father be, and what would my Father do? But when I looked more closely at the face of Jesus, I noticed that he was not looking down, searching for his Father, but up! He was talking to his Father as if he were in the skies above! As if he were talking to God! But, if God was his Father, why would He forgive these people? How could He forgive these people? After all they did to His own son?
And then it struck me. It was my Father who brought all this to pass! It was my Father who Jesus asked his Father to forgive. What kind of man was this Jesus? If he could offer forgiveness to someone like my Father, then perhaps he could offer forgiveness to anyone! Perhaps this was why Jesus was suffering on that cross – to offer forgiveness to those who need it most.
His Robes For Mine
- Text by Chris Anderson; Tune by Greg Habegger (Austinburg)
- © 2008 by ChurchWorksMedia.com. All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission.
- www.churchworksmedia.com/product/his-robes-for-mine-free
As I stood there, reflecting on the sights and sounds of the day, I felt the rough hands of a man grabbing me by the shoulders. It was one of my Father’s aids. He told me gruffly that I had no business being there. He escorted me back to my home, and I was sent to my room, where I flopped onto my bed and sobbed – the covers absorbing my cries and my tears.
The next day, I summoned the courage to ask my Father what else happened to the man who was crucified? He told me that after he died, he was taken off the cross and buried in a nearby garden. But, since he still had some followers, my Father ordered his soldiers to guard the tomb, until things calmed down. He didn’t want me to leave the house until then. I had no other choice, but to comply. My studies resumed that day, even though my mind was still racing about all that I had just witnessed. But, I couldn’t wait for the chance to get back out to see where they buried Jesus for myself!
After two days, that chance came! When there was a recess in my studies, and my tutors and parents were nowhere to be found, I made a break for it! As I hurried through the streets, it was eerily quiet, and I was almost alone. I went out the city gate to the place of crucifixion. Three crosses were lying on the ground, with no bodies to be found.
I rushed to the garden, to find the tomb where they buried Jesus. I thought I could find it easily, by looking for the watch of soldiers placed there by my Father. I looked and looked, but couldn’t find them! But, as I was searching, I saw some people peering into one particular tomb. As I watched, some men and women came and went, and seemed just as perplexed as me! I overheard them talking about Jesus as if he was no longer dead, but had come back to life! I wondered: “Could this be possible?”
I thought about what I saw in Jesus’ eyes, just a few days before. I thought about what I heard from Jesus’ lips. I thought about how I felt when Jesus was tried before and then crucified by my Father. If anyone could come back to life, surely it would be this man!
I approached a kind-looking woman and quietly asked her if this was the tomb of Jesus. She said it was, but he was no longer there! She told me that some of her friends had seen Jesus alive that very morning! She wasn’t quite sure what to make of it, but the tomb was completely empty, and I could see it for myself, if I wanted to! As she left, I got as close to the entrance of the tomb as I dared, looked in, and saw nothing but cloth, lying flat upon a slab of stone. But there was no body – there was no Jesus.
Risen!
- Music & Lyrics by Shawna Edwards; Arranged by Daniel Blomberg
- © 2018 by Shawna Edwards Music. All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission.
- shawnaedwardsmusic.com/pages/risen
I almost believed, when I stood there by that garden tomb. But it was so hard to! Even if Jesus was a god, why would he die, only to come back to life? I didn’t understand.
As time went on, life got back to normal. Once again, work consumed my Father’s time, social life took up my Mother’s time, and I engulfed myself in my studies. My Father wanted me to stay focused on my future! But, I never forgot that tragic day in my past, and I never forgot the questions my Father asked Jesus. I wanted and I needed to know the answers!
After several years, Father was recalled to Rome. I later learned that he had not performed his duties as Governor to the satisfaction of the Emperor. His recall meant that even my future was in jeopardy, since in Rome, the sins of a father were often visited on his sons, along with the rest of the family.
My father couldn’t handle the shame that came with his demotion, nor, I believe, could he handle the guilt of shedding so much blood in his duties as Governor, including the innocent blood of Jesus. Though some say he committed suicide, he really died from brokenness. Though he was not old in age, his body and mind and spirit had aged far more quickly than a calendar would indicate.
Not long after my Father’s death, while trying to reestablish the Pilate name, I had the opportunity to return to Jerusalem on business! It had been some twenty years since I was there as a boy! I couldn’t believe how the city had grown, and how beautiful it had become!
When I was there, I became acquainted with a group of people who called themselves Christians. They were some of the kindest people I had ever met. An older member of that group told me that they were followers of a man they believed to be the one, true God! A man called Jesus the Christ, who once had been killed, but now was alive, and living in Heaven!
I thought, could this be the same Jesus I saw on that day when I was twelve? I wanted him to tell me more! He explained to me that when Jesus came, he came to save everyone from their sins – not just the Jews, but even Romans – like me! When Jesus died on the cross, he didn’t die for anything he had done, but for me, and for my sins against God!
I remembered the words I heard from Jesus’ own lips: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!” I began to understand both how and why Jesus could say this! When Jesus was on that cross, he was offering forgiveness to me! So, I asked my new friend the same questions I heard my father ask Jesus, those many years ago.
Why had Jesus come? What had Jesus done? Who was Jesus, and where was he from? And – what is truth? This time, I was given all the answers I was looking for! This time, I discovered that Jesus was the answer I was looking for! And, to receive all that Jesus came to give, I just needed to confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in my heart that God hath raised him from the dead!
And so I did! I turned from my sins, and turned to Jesus, and sought His forgiveness! I believed in Him, and was saved! On that day, Jesus became the answer to the deepest questions of my heart!
Christ Is Sufficient
- Text by Chris Anderson; Tune by Greg Habegger (Arcado)
- © 2016 by ChurchWorksMedia.com. All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission.
- www.churchworksmedia.com/product/christ-is-sufficient-free
© 2022 by Grace Baptist Church of Greenfield, Indiana
Permission For Use: If your church would like to use this script, you may do so, but we would love to hear from you if you plan to. Please let us know by email: [email protected].
We would also encourage you to obtain and use the suggested music incorporated into the script, which has been specifically selected for its setting. All of the music is available either for free or for a very reasonable cost. Some of the music is alternatively available in a hymn format, which may be more suitable for a small choir (like ours). Links to the music and their publishers have been provided.
A special thanks to the following publishers, for their permission to record and distribute their music. For these and much more excellent, Christ-honoring music, be sure to visit them online.
Permission For Use: If your church would like to use this script, you may do so, but we would love to hear from you if you plan to. Please let us know by email: [email protected].
We would also encourage you to obtain and use the suggested music incorporated into the script, which has been specifically selected for its setting. All of the music is available either for free or for a very reasonable cost. Some of the music is alternatively available in a hymn format, which may be more suitable for a small choir (like ours). Links to the music and their publishers have been provided.
A special thanks to the following publishers, for their permission to record and distribute their music. For these and much more excellent, Christ-honoring music, be sure to visit them online.
