By Rob Heverling (robhev@yahoo.com)
Used with Permission

Introduction: John – It’s hard to believe it was three days ago. Three days since I last saw my friend alive. He was a good man and an even better friend. The people loved him because he had compassion for them. He did so much for them, things like healing them of their sicknesses, giving them their sight, or curing their leprosy. Why once I even saw him bring a little girl back to life. He truly was like no other. It’s sad because at one moment they were ready to crown him king and a little later they were calling for his death. He did nothing wrong! Yet they acted as though they hated him. I can’t help but wonder just what went wrong. Why did they turn against him? He said he came to his own but yet for some reason they received him not. This was not the way it was supposed to end, no, not like this. His body is buried just down the road. The Romans have placed a guard in front of the tomb. They say it’s so no one can steal the body. Now tell me why would anyone want to do that?

Scene 1
Hiding out

John walks a little ways and knocks on the door of a small house.
Luke whispers through the door from the inside

Luke – Were you followed?

John – No, I am alone.

Luke opens the door.

Peter – John, where were you, we were worried about you?

John – Well the master’s followers are not the most popular people right now. I had to sneak around just to get here without being caught.

Thomas – Are you sure you were not followed?

John – Yes, I’m sure. (Walks over to Peter) Peter how are you holding up?

Peter – It’s been a rough three days. I don’t think I can ever forgive myself for what I have done.

Thomas – Peter we all denied him, we all ran away.

Peter – But you were not there. You didn’t see him look straight into your eyes at the moment of your betrayal, you didn’t see the hurt! Oh, how could I betray him? He was my friend, my Lord. (Crying)

John – Peter you have to pull yourself together. He wouldn’t want you to be this way. I’m sure he has forgiven you. No, I know he has forgiven you.

Peter – But how can you be so sure?

John – Isn’t that what he taught? Forgiveness, and not only did he teach it but the man lived it. Why, can you think of one person that he didn’t forgive when they asked for it.

Peter – No

John – All right then you have to believe that he has done the same for you.

Luke – So what do we do now?

John – We wait.

Thomas – Wait for what? The Romans to come kicking down the door!

John – Okay Thomas calm down.

Thomas – (Get’s up from the table) Calm down, you want me to calm down! I spent the last three years following a man that I, thought was going to deliver us from the Romans and you want me to calm down. My friend has just been executed and you want me to calm down. (Heads for the door) 

John – Where are you going?

Thomas – I can’t stay here anymore.

John – Thomas, what about the Romans, what about the Pharisees and the Sadducees. If they catch you, you might be next.

Thomas – I don’t care! They can find me just as easy on the street as they could if I stayed here. I have to go.

Peter – Wait Thomas! (Thomas slams the door as he leaves.) Well this is great; if he get’s caught, he might just turn us in as well. Someone should go get him.

Luke – Leave him. Maybe some time alone will do him some good.

End scene 1
Scene 2
He’s Alive 

The guards are sitting in front of the tomb. There is a large Rock sealing the tomb. All of the sudden there is a violent earthquake. Light begins to shine through the cracks around the outside of the stone and all the sudden an Angel from heaven rolls the stone away and sits on it. The soldiers are so scared they become like dead men. Jesus steps out of the tomb with his arms out stretched and looks up to the sky. Then he slowly exits behind the tomb. As soon as he is out of sight Mary Magdalene and the other Mary arrives at the tomb.

Mary Magdalene – Mary, do you see what I see?

Mary – What is this? What has happened here?

The guards are too afraid to respond just sit there pointing at the angel.

Angel – Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples. He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him. Now I have told you.

Mary sits on a stone and wonders what has happened while Mary Magdalene runs back to tell the disciples.

End scene 2

Scene 3
The empty tomb

Peter and John are still at the house everyone else is gone. There is a knock at the door.

Knock, Knock 

Peter – (Whispers through the door) Who is it?

Mary Magdalene – It’s Mary, Mary Magdalene.

Peter opens the door

Peter – What’s wrong?

Mary M. – They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!

Peter and John start off running to the tomb. They run right past Mary who is still sitting on the rock crying. John gets there first he bends over and looks in but does not enter. Peter shows up and enters the tomb.

Peter – Look here are the strips of linen and the burial cloth that was wrapped around his body. Why are these things here and who folded them up like this?

John enters the tomb and inspects the grave clothes. He falls on the floor and gives glory to God.

John – Peter, don’t you see what has happened here? It all makes sense now. The masters said destroy this temple and in three days, I will raise it back up again. Peter, the Lord is risen, He’s alive Peter, He’s alive!

Both of them get up and leave the tomb. They are so excited they do not see Mary sitting on the rock weeping. She gets up and goes over to the tomb again to look inside. When she looks in there are two angels sitting where Jesus body was laid. One at the head and one at the foot. 

Angel 1 – Woman why are you crying?

Mary – They have taken my Lord away, and I don’t know where they have placed him. (After saying this, she turns around and sees Jesus standing there. She does not realize it is him) 

Jesus – Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?

Mary – Sir are you the Gardner? If you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him and I will get him.

Jesus – Mary.

Mary – Rabboni (or Teacher)

Jesus – Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.

End scene 3

Scene 4
Back at the house

Peter and John are back at the house with a few of the other disciples when Mary M. and the other Mary knock on the door. 

Peter – (opens the door.) Come in

Mary – (Excited) I have seen the Lord he is alive!

John – What, you saw him…where.

Mary – He was at the tomb right after you left. He told me to tell you that he was returning to his Father and your Father. His God and your God.

Jesus comes and stands in there midst. 

Jesus – Peace be with you. (Everyone is shocked to see him; they think they are looking at a ghost.)

Jesus – Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.

The disciples are overcome with joy and amazement.

Jesus – As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven, If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.

End Scene 4
Scene 5
Jesus appears to Thomas 

Thomas enters the house to find everyone happy.

Thomas – What’s going on everyone? You all seem different, happy. What happened since I was last here?

Luke – We saw the master. He’s alive!

Everyone – Yes, he’s alive we saw him!

Thomas – Come on he’s dead. John you were there you saw him die on that cross. Have you all gone mad.

John – Thomas, were telling you the truth. He was here, you have to believe us.

Thomas – Look, unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails marks were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.

Jesus appears behind Thomas 

Jesus – Peace be with you! Thomas, put your finger here, see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.

Thomas – (Excited) My Lord and my God!

Jesus – Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed.

The End

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