HANDS
A Good Friday Play in One
Act by Jewell Ellen Smith
Printed 1973 in the uncopyrighted publication "How
to Present a Good Friday Prayer Breakfast." All Scripture quotations are
from the King James Version. Nonprofit groups may perform this play without
payment; however if you plan to perform it, Jewell’s children request that you
e-mail her older son David at
DSmith1204@aol.com.
Click Here to return to the Jewell Ellen Smith Homepage
THEME: Each man may fold his
hands and pray that God will show him how to use his hands for good; or, he may
wash his hands of all Christian responsibility.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND SCRIPTURE:
This simple play is based on
Biblical passages describing the trial and crucifixion of Christ. The Epilogue
refers to a legend concerning Pontius Pilate.
Members of the cast should
study the Scripture references given below. And the Program Director should
introduce the play to the audience by explaining facts and legends concerning
Pontius Pilate. The following paragraphs may be condensed:
The Four Gospels give a
detailed account of the events of Passion Week, glimpses of the political
turmoil and religious unrest going on in Jerusalem at the same time. One sees
how Pontius Pilate, then Roman procurator of Judea, was persuaded--after much
apparent reluctance on his part--to surrender Jesus of Nazareth to his enemies.
Pilate resorted to the old
Hebrew ceremony of washing the hands and declared to the mob: "I am
innocent of the blood of this just person." Then, he ordered the scourging
and the death by crucifixion.
Historians, as well as those
who pass on traditions and myths, disagree as to what later happened to Pontius
Pilate. It is known that he was deprived of his office in 36AD. One story is that he was
banished to Gaul, that he died by suicide, and that his body was thrown into
the River Rhone. And, according to the legend, the river refused his body.
Another account has it that Pilate died in Rome, where his body was cast into
the Tiber--causing violent tempests and inundations.
To this day, according to
these legendary stories, Pilate's ghost ever haunts many quiet lakes and
gushing rivers; for he still tries to find water that will wash clean his
hands. This, of course, is sheer fiction. It is retold only to arouse interest
in the drama titled "Hands" and to further an understanding of the
Epilogue.
Scripture passages which
tell what did actually occur in Jerusalem when Christ was crucified are as
follows: Matthew 27:17-58, Mark 15:46-47 and 16:1-5, Luke 24:15-14, John 18 and
19.
RÉSUMÉ OF PLAY:
Cleopas and a Companion, both
followers of Jesus, enter from left front of stage. Sad and dejected, they talk
of going home to Emmaus. They sit down to rest a bit, and they recount the
events that have taken place in Jerusalem in the past few days--Christ's trial,
crucifixion, and burial. As the two talk, the following three sub-scenes are
depicted on the back part of the stage, as things they witness again in the
mind's eye: (Cleopas and Companion talk to each other between scenes.)
a. A mob has gathered on the
Jerusalem street in front of the Judgment Hall. They wait for Pilate to appear.
When he arrives, the mob clamors for Jesus to be crucified, for Barabbas to be
released. Pilate washes his hands, orders the crucifixion.
b. Three Roman soldiers
discuss Jesus and recall how they mocked him. Simon of Cyrene walks by, and
they compel him to join their ranks so that he can later bear the cross for the
prisoner of Nazareth.
c. Three Women: Mary
Magdalene, Salome, and the other Mary, hurry toward the Holy Sepulchre--with
sweet spices. They talk briefly.
(Cleopas and Companion rise
and start on their journey, following signs that lead them off right front
stage.)
Epilogue:
The Spirit of Pontius Pilate comes on stage and addresses audience.
PLAYERS AND COSTUMES:
About 18 or 20 persons are
needed for the skit. There are 11 speaking parts, none very long. Costumes
should be simple. Pontius Pilate wears regal-looking Roman toga. When he
returns as ghost, this toga should be overlaid with white flowing gauze.
Special scenery is not
needed. Several signs will suffice. They can be: Road to Emmaus, Jerusalem
Street, and Judgment Hall. A curtain is necessary.
Characters with lines are:
Cleopas
Companion of Cleopas
Spokesman of Mob
Pilate, Pilate's Ghost
First Soldier
Second Soldier
Soldier named Flavius
Simon of Cyrene
Mary Magdalene
Salome
Other Mary
SCRIPT
Cleopas: Come, my dear Companion,
we must be on our way home now. It is some seven miles to Emmaus, and we can do
nothing by staying here in the city. Talking of the sad things that happened in
Jerusalem these past few days will not help. Though, truly Jesus was led as a
lamb to the slaughter.
Companion: Yes. Cleopas, I know we
should start our journey. Still, my heart is so heavy that all my strength
seems to have gone from me. Let us rest here a little while before we go on.
They sit down on a low
bench.
I keep thinking of how our chief priests and rulers
handed Jesus over to be sentenced to death and of how cruelly He was treated.
They crucified Him between two common thieves--of all things!--Our Friend, the
perfect one, was so gentle, so kind. And we had trusted He was the one to
redeem Israel.
Cleopas: The trials before the
Council, before Pilate, and Herod, and then Pilate again--all of it was a farce,
a mockery. I really thought for a while that Pontius Pilate was going to
release Jesus.
Companion: I thought so too,
especially after Pilate's wife sent that message while Pilate was sitting in
the judgment seat. She said, "Have nothing to-do with this just man: for I
have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him."--I have
reason to believe the wife of Pontius Pilate believed in Jesus.
Cleopas: She must have believed. Of
course when Pilate heard that Jesus was from Galilee, he sent Him to Herod,
because Galilee is in his jurisdiction. But Herod sent Him right back to
Pilate.
But, ah, that ceremonial
hand-washing Pilate did before the mob of people was too much! I can still see
him now....
Curtains open, showing crowd
of people on back part of stage--waiting for Pilate to come out of the Judgment
Hall. Have raised platform for Pilate and his attendants.
Spokesman of Mob: Pilate
will be coming out of the Judgment Hall any time now. We have our instructions.
You know what to do. The Council and the high priests want us to yell out for
Barabbas to be turned loose and for Jesus to be crucified. Otherwise, Pilate
might just let Jesus go.
From what we hear, Pilate is
in no mood to put Jesus to death. But, he's so wishy-washy and so afraid of losing
his position, he can be persuaded.
Ah, here he comes! Get ready!
Pilate enters, addresses Mob
Pilate: You have brought Jesus
which is called the Christ to me, as one who is misleading the people. Behold,
I have just examined Him in the Judgment Hall. And, I found no fault in him. I
will therefore chastise him, and release Him.
Mob: Away with that Jesus!
Crucify him!
Pilate: I find in him no fault at
all. But you have a custom that I should release unto you one prisoner at the
Passover. Whom will you that I release unto you at this feast? Barabbas, the
notorious robber, or Jesus of Galilee?
Mob: Barabbas! Release
Barabbas, the robber!
Pilate: What shall I do then with
this Jesus whom you call "King of the Jews?"
Mob: Nail him to the cross!
Pilate: Why, what evil hath he
done?
Mob: Crucify him! Crucify him!
Spokesman: If you let him go, you are
not Caesar's friend! Whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar!
Pilate: Ah, I suppose so. Whirls
around to call servant. Bring water! Washes hands in bowl. Dries
them on towel held by servant. I am innocent of the blood of this just
person. This is your doing! Let Jesus of Nazareth be scourged, and, crucified!
Curtain closes. Cleopas and
Companion talk on.
Cleopas: Another thing I couldn't
understand: There was no reason for the Roman Soldiers to mock Jesus after He
was turned over to them.
Companion: None. And later they were
laughing about it. I can't forget hearing some of them talk just before they
were ready to take Jesus and the other two prisoners to the place of the
crucifixion.
Curtains part, showing three
Roman soldiers talking together. One holds Jesus' robe.
1ST
Soldier: I'll
be glad when my assignment here in Jerusalem is over! Many more details like
this one this morning I couldn't take!
2ND
Soldier: Aw,
come on! It's just going to be another crucifixion. Only difference is today
we've got three of them to hang up--two Jerusalem thieves and some carpenter
from Nazareth. I think his name is Jesus.
Wow! Did we have fun mocking
him! Turns to First Soldier You ought to have been there! Flavius, here,
plaited a crown of thorns, and somebody brought out a scarlet robe to put on
him. And I got a reed and stuck it in his right hand!
Ha! What a sight! We all
bowed the knee before him and chanted: "Hail, King of the Jews!"
Soldier does pantomime to
show how he knelt.
Flavius: I wish now I hadn't put
that crown of thorns on his head.
1ST Soldier: Why?
Flavius: Well, when I mashed it
down on his forehead, he looked to me so strangely--as if he had great pity for
me.
1ST
Soldier: Forget
it! Say, what've you got there? It looks like a good robe.
Flavius: It is. It's the robe of
that Jesus. I don't know what to do with it.
2ND
Soldier: Give
it to me. I can use it!
1ST
Soldier: Well, now,
if anybody is going to get his garments, it's going to be me! After all, I'm in
charge!
Flavius: We could divide all his
clothes among us. There'll be one more soldier assigned to help, and we could
split the garments four ways. But it would be a shame to cut this nice robe. It
doesn't have a seam in it. Holds up robe Let's cast lots.
2ND
Soldier: Good
idea. But we don’t have time for that right now. You just hold on to the robe till
we get the prisoner on the cross. We'll have plenty time to roll the dice while
we wait for him to die.--You know, those crosses are heavy. I just wonder if
this so-called "King of the Jews" is going to be able to carry his.
Pilate had him flogged unmercifully.
Simon of Cyrene approaches.
1ST
Soldier: I see
the answer to that problem coming up the street right now. Just let me handle
him.
1ST Soldier: Halt! Your name?
Simon: I'm Simon of Cyrene. I'm a
stranger in Jerusalem.
1ST
Soldier: Well,
now, that's very interesting! But you're no longer a stranger. You just
volunteered to join a band of Roman soldiers! We've been ordered to crucify
three prisoners. And we're going to let you carry the cross for one of them!
Simon: But I-- I-- I'm just a
stranger. I don't even know who's being crucified! I don't want--
1ST
Soldier: Never
mind what you want! Or what you don't want! Come on! Grabs Simon and compels
him to move along.
Curtains close. Cleopas and
Companion talk on.
Cleopas: When the terrible darkness
and the earthquake came, those same soldiers and their Centurion were crying:
"Truly this was the Son of God!"
Companion: At least our Master had a
decent burial.
Cleopas: Yes, I was glad when I
heard that Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea, asked Pilate for the body and
laid it in his own new tomb. And he rolled a large stone unto the door of the
Sepulcher.
Companion: You heard, too, didn't
you, that Mary Magdalene and some of the other women had planned to go to the
tomb this morning. They were to take more burial spices.
Curtains open, showing three
women hurrying along, with small containers in their hands. They talk as they
go.
Mary Magdalene: I'm glad we decided to rise early to take these
burial ointments.
Salome: Do you know exactly which
tomb it is?
Other Mary: Oh, yes. We made sure of that. We stood in the garden
and watched to see where they laid Him. It's a new tomb, hewn out of the rock.
Mary Magdalene: Oh, I just happened to think! Who will roll us
away the stone?
Curtains close. Cleopas and
Companion rise and start walking off right side of stage, following road signs
to Emmaus.
Cleopas: Come, let's us go. I can
think of these tragic things no more.
Epilogue
The Spirit of Pilate comes
to the front of the stage and addresses audience. At first, he is calm. Toward
the last he becomes quite agitated. Finally, almost wild.
Spirit of Pilate: Good
Morning, my Modern-Day Ones! Take a good look at me and say to yourselves,
"Oh, we're seeing the ghost of Pontius Pilate!"
So you are--or, we'll say that
you are. As the Spirit of Pontius Pilate I'll ask you three questions and tell
you more than three things.
You are all Christians,
believers in Christ! If you were not, you wouldn't be here this morning,
breaking bread together, and talking and reading and remembering how Jesus,
God's son, was crucified. You'd be somewhere else, doing something else.
And, each of you has two
hands ... most people do. It's about being a Christian and about those hands
that I put now the questions to you!
Will you be like Simon of
Cyrene, who was compelled to bear the cross? That is, will you do just what you
have to do for Christ's sake? No more?
Will you be like the Roman
soldiers, who took advantage of the situation and got what they could--the
garments, the robe? That is, will you accept all the fringe benefits that come
from living in a Christian land, and never lift your finger to promote Christ's
kingdom and to show His love, His mercy, His saving power, to others?
Or, will you be like the
Galilean women who prepared sweet spices? It is the lot of women such as you to
be in a position to do for Christ the little things. When I was yet procurator
in Jerusalem, Jesus was teaching His disciples that the giving of a cup of cold
water in His name would bring its reward.
Water?
Did I say water?
I must go find water! I must wash clean my hands!
Starts pacing up and down,
wringing hands. Quickens tone of speech.
I adjure you not to do as I did! Do not wash your
hands of Christ!
I bid you fold your hands in
prayer that God will show you how to use your hands for Him.
Daily He will give you the
choice. You must decide between useful, praying hands and idle, guilty hands
that must be washed!
Spirit of Pilate turns
around quickly, crying out.
Bring me water! Bring me water! Bring me water!
He rushes off stage.
Final Curtain