THE STORYTELLER'S BIBLE
Act VI - The Gospel of John
Script by Bob Allen
For four voices

Scene 7

                                    (READERS HUDDLE TOGETHER IN A TIGHT GROUP AS IF IN HIDING.) 

                                                                                                                        1  4

                                                                                                                        3  2

VOICE ONE:             None of the disciples would have been allowed to claim the body of Jesus even 

                                   if they hadn’t forsaken Him and fled.  They were in danger of their very 

                                   lives themselves.

VOICE FOUR:          Into this void stepped two very unlikely men, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemas.

VOICE THREE:        Joseph was a rich man who served as a member of the Sanhedrin, a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews.

VOICE TWO:            Nicodemas was a member of the Sanhedrin as well, who had come to Jesus by night.  He was also a disciple but had not let it be known.

VOICE ONE:             But all that was about to change.

VOICE FOUR:          (CROSS DOWN RIGHT)  This was their last opportunity to do something for Christ, their last chance to take the stand for Him they had avoided while He was still alive.  For a member of the Sanhedrin to approach Pilate and ask for the body of Christ?  Well, there was no way that could be done in secret.

VOICE THREE:        They would have to go to the judgment hall to make the request.  Pilate would check to see if Jesus were really dead before giving permission.  The entire event would take place under intense public scrutiny.  No more secret following.

VOICE TWO:            The irony of the story is that Joseph didn’t gain his courage until he thought it was too late.  He was finally willing to take a public stand and do something for Christ without fearing men, but at the same time he thought that what he was doing was too late.  Jesus was dead and would never know how much Joseph loved Him.

VOICE ONE:             (CROSS DOWN CENTER)  Nicodemas also went public, offering a generous, expensive gift of myrrh and aloes.  It was a lavish, extravagant preparation for burial seen only in other historical accounts in reference to the death of royalty.  Nicodemas wanted everyone to know of the great honor he accorded to Jesus.  But he also thought it was too late.

VOICE FOUR:          (READERS # 4 AND # 1FACE EACH OTHER AND PANTOMIME BURIAL PREPARATIONS)  They prepared the body in accordance with Jewish burial customs. That meant wrapping the entire body with long strips of cloth while all of the time spreading the spices over the cloth.  Each limb was wrapped tightly and then the entire body was wrapped again from head to foot.

VOICE THREE:        Just as there had been witnesses to His death, there were now witnesses to His burial.  The testimony of John concerning the graveside preparations of the body came from two who handled that very body themselves.  They knew He was dead.  They would be ready to testify to that fact when faced with the miracle of the resurrection.