Summary: A briefly told account of the resurrection and Jesus' various appearances to his disciples. This would work well as an acted reading, or readers' theatre.
Style: Dramatic. Duration: 8min
Actors: 1F, 3M, 2M/F + Various non-speaking parts.
Characters: Narrator, Mary, Cleopas, Thomas, Angel, other disciples.
Script
Mary: (from a distant microphone) My heart was broken the day I saw you die. Now as every hour passes I can’t help but cry. How could they do this to you my friend? Nail you to a cross your life to end.
Narrator: Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene and one of the other women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. It wasn’t long into their journey that Mary had a thought.
Mary: How on earth are we going to move that great big stone away from the entrance of the tomb, so we can get in, on our own. Maybe we should turn back and ask some of the disciples for help.
Narrator: She was just about to mention this when she suddenly realised that they were very close to the tomb and from what she could make out it looked like the stone had already been moved away from the entrance. Panicking, Mary and her friend began to run towards the tomb. As they got nearer their fears were confirmed: the stone had been rolled away. Holding back her tears, Mary took a quick look inside to find that the tomb was empty.
Mary (crying and falling to her knees): Noooooooo. Why have they taken him, he was doing no harm, why couldn’t they just leave him alone. Not enough that they took him away from me when they killed him, but now they have taken his body away from me too.
Narrator: Mary walked out of the tomb dejected, and as the tears ran down her face, she turned back to take one last look into the tomb. She was amazed and somewhat puzzled when she saw two angels sitting there, one at the foot and one at the head of where Jesus’ body had been laid. One of the angels spoke to Mary.
Angel: (smiling) Why are you crying.
Mary: (a little shocked to have been asked that question) Why am I crying? I’m crying because they have taken my friend Jesus’ body away and now I don’t know where he is.
Narrator: As soon as she had finished saying this she turned away from the Angel to see a man standing there. It was Jesus, although Mary did not realise this as this stage.
Jesus: Why are you crying, who is it you are looking for?
Narrator: Mary was getting a little cross now at being asked the same question, and thinking he was the gardener replied.
Mary: (sternly) Have you taken him, if so tell me where he is now so that I can go and get him, and I’ll forget all about this little encounter.
Narrator: Mary was getting more and more impatient and was about to shout at the man when he simply just looked at her and said:
Jesus: (calmly) Mary.
Mary: (in total amazement and shock) Teacher.
Jesus: Quickly go to my disciples and tell them that it is time for me to return to my father, to my God and your God.
Narrator: As soon as Mary heard the words, she ran as fast as she could to where the disciples were, only pausing on the way when she suddenly thought:
Mary: (with panic in her voice) Oh dear, I do hope Jesus had finished talking, before I so rudely ran off.
Mary: (to the disciples) I know you will never believe me but I have seen the Lord.
Narrator: On that same day, two of Jesus’ followers were travelling to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking to each other about everything that had happened over the last couple of days. As they talked and walked, Jesus joined them. Of course they did not recognise him. He asked them:
Jesus: What are you talking about?
Narrator: The two men stopped walking for a moment and one of them, called Cleopas, asked him:
Cleopas. (sadly) What!? Don’t tell me you don’t know what has been happening in Jerusalem. Surely you must have heard by now, even if you are only visiting.
Jesus: Sorry no, please tell me what things.
Cleopas: I can’t believe you haven’t heard about the things that have happened to Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God. Our chief priests handed him over to die and they crucified him. We all hoped that he was the one to set Israel and us free. However this is the 3rd day now since all this took place. Some of the women amazed us earlier though, because when they went to the tomb, instead of Jesus’ dead body they saw angels who told them Jesus was alive.
Jesus: (a little upset) Seems to me you are being foolish and slow to believe. Wasn’t it necessary for Christ to suffer these things so that he could enter his glory?
Narrator: Jesus went on to explain to them as they continued on their journey exactly what was said about him in the scriptures, starting with Moses. As they approached the village they were going to, Jesus acted as though he was going to carry on.
Cleopas: Please stay with us. The day is almost over and it is getting dark.
Narrator: He went in with them and sat down to eat. He took the bread gave thanks, broke it and gave it to them. At this point their eyes were opened and they recognised him, but before they could speak or do anything he disappeared from their sight.
Cleopas: (in disbelief and shock) Wasn’t it like a fire burning inside us as he talked and explained the scriptures.
Narrator: At once they got up and raced back to Jerusalem to find the disciples. Once they had found them gathered behind closed doors, because they were scared of the Jews, they explained to them what had happened on their journey, and how they had recognised the Lord, once he had broken the bread. Suddenly, before they had even finished their explanation of events, the Lord himself stood amongst them.
Jesus: Peace be with you.
Narrator: The disciples were taken aback and were a little scared until he showed them his hands and side. The disciples' fear soon changed to joy when they realised who was standing amongst them. Thomas, however, was not with them when Jesus appeared, so when he returned they explained to him.
Disciples: (excited) We have seen the Lord.
Narrator: Thomas: Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my fingers on them and my hand in his side, I will not believe.
Narrator: The disciples were a little upset that he did not believe them, but they soon forgot about it, until a week later when they were gathered together again behind closed doors. Jesus came and stood among them again.
Jesus: Peace be with you. Thomas, come and look at my hands, put your fingers on them and put your hand into my side. (Sternly) Stop this doubting and believe.
Narrator: Thomas: (falling to his knees) My lord and my God.
Jesus: Because you have seen me you believe, but blessed are those who have not seen yet believe.
Mary: (from a distant microphone) My heart was broken the day I saw you die, but now I am happy because now I know why. Why they did this to you my friend, so at that cross my sins would end.
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© Copyright Jeanette Walters, all rights reserved. The script may not be reproduced, translated or copied in any medium, including books, CDs and on the Internet, without written permission of the author.
This play may be performed free of charge, on the condition that copies are not sold for profit in any medium, nor any entrance fee charged. In exchange for free performance, the author would appreciate being notified of when and for what purpose the play is performed. She may be contacted at: