The Golden Crown

With the coming of the Easter Season we old timers look forward to the annual Good Friday Prayer Breakfast, and to seeing a play written and produced by Jewell Ellen Smith. This year the play is titled THE GOLDEN CROWN. It is the fourteenth Easter play presented here. Newcomers take note! You won’t want to miss this one!

The story takes place in 30 A.D. with scenes in Capernaum, beside The Sea of Galilee, and in Jerusalem. It concerns an old man, Zimri, a silversmith, who makes an elaborately bejeweled crown for the King to wear. The play begins when Zimri and his twin brother, Azri, come to visit their cousin, Zebedee the fisherman, and his family which consists of his wife, Salome, and two teenaged daughters, and two sons, James and John. James and John have given up fishing to become followers of Jesus of Nazareth. They all go to see Jesus, hear him preach and see Him perform a miracle. Zebedee and his wife believe Jesus will be the king who will wear the golden crown. Later on the way to Zimri’s home for the feast of the Passover they learn about the coming betrayal, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus. However they think only of worldly things, and plan a triumphant entry into Jerusalem with Jesus wearing the golden crown. The servant boy, Caleb, who is bringing the crown, is taken prisoner by Roman soldiers. When he finally escapes he finds Zimri, and they see Jesus arrested, and He is wearing a crown of thorns! They join the procession, and seek to help Jesus with the heavy cross, but Zimri is knocked unconscious by a Roman soldier. Caleb eludes the soldiers, and hides until the procession has passed. Barabbas is the one who helps Caleb get Zimri home. Forty days later Zimri regains consciousness and learns of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. He sees two angels who appear after Jesus ascends into heaven. It is then that the followers of Jesus realize that their King came to earth to wear a crown of thorns, not a crown of gold. FOR HIS KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD!

Published in The HEDGEHOPPER April 1981.

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