Why Isn't Jesus Here?

On the Sabbath that Jesus lay in the tomb thousands came seeking Him. This is their story.

(Several pilgrims are gathered in Jerusalem on the Sabbath just after the crucifixion. There is a strong difference of opinion.)

Person 1: I tell you that Jesus was a man of God!

Person 2: Have any of the priests or rulers believed on Him?

Person 3: Go away! This Jesus was a fraud.

Person 4: Caiaphas and the chief priests have told us so.

Person 1: Caiaphas is an evil man.

Person 3: Hey! Take care how you speak of God's servant!

Person 4: Away with you!

Person 1: But I have proof from scriptures that Jesus...

Person 2: Nooo...!

Person 3: Away with you, if you want to stay in good health.

Person 4: And keep your blasphemous talk to yourself, if you know what's good for you. (Exit person 1)

Person 3: Poor deluded fool.

Person 2: Don't worry, their leader is dead and in a few weeks they'll forget they ever heard of Him.

Eleazar: Good pilgrims.

Person 2: What?

Person 4: Who's that?

Person 3: Who are you?

Person 2: (Whispered) He dresses well.

Eleazar: My name is Eleazar. I am a man of Jerusalem.

Person 4: And a rich one, it seems.

Eleazar: God has been good to me.

Person 3: Well, what do you want with us?

Eleazar: Only to talk with you and learn what you know about the trial of a certain individual named...

Person 4: It was Jesus of Nazareth.

Person 3: The great Sanhedrin found Him guilty of sedition and blasphemy.

Eleazar: A very serious crime to be sure. And seriously has He paid for it.

Person 2: He deserved to die.

Person 3: Yeah. He was leading the whole nation astray.

Eleazar: But isn't this Jesus the one who healed the sick?

Person 4: All by the power of Beelzebub.

Eleazar: I have heard that He has also cast out demons. If He was a servant of the devil then He must have been confused.

Person 3: Oh, all the better to deceive the people.

Eleazar: Of course. That must be the answer. After all, it was Caiaphas who condemned Him.

Person 3: And Caiaphas is God's servant!

Eleazar: Yes, a man of God.

Person 4: Yes, a man of God!

Person 3: A good man.

Person 2: Very righteous.

Eleazar: Tell me, gentlemen. Have you heard the details about the trial?

Person 3: Only that He openly committed blasphemy.

Person 2: Before the full jury.

Person 4: And that Pilate gave his seal to their sentence.

Person 3: And had the deceiver executed as He deserved.

Eleazar: Do you want to hear more?

Person 4: Hmmm, yes. Tell us more.

Person 3: All you know of the matter.

Eleazar: I have been talking to several men who saw the whole affair. I can give you the facts.

Person 3: Yes, the facts. Give us all of the facts.

Eleazar: Everything?

Person 4: To the smallest detail.

Person 2: Leave nothing out.

Eleazar: All right. You are honest men. Therefore, all the facts it will be. On Thursday night Jesus kept the Passover with His disciples, as Moses commanded us. Odd that such a lawbreaker would bother to keep the Passover, isn't it.

Person 2: All the better to deceive the people!

Eleazar: Hmmm. No doubt true, for Caiaphas called Him a lawbreaker, and Caiaphas is a man of God.

Person 4: Yes! A good man!

Eleazar: After the Passover supper He went to the mountain to pray. It seems that a blasphemer should curse God rather than teach his disciples to pray. But Caiaphas called Him a blasphemer, and Caiaphas is a man of God.

Person 3: Most surely so. (Ad lib the others agreeing)

Eleazar: Later that night, the priests and soldiers of Caiaphas arrested the Man. It is against our laws to arrest a man by night, but, they came from Caiaphas, and Caiaphas is a man of God.

Person 2: This must have been some sort of a special case.

Person 3: Yes, a special case. For Caiaphas is God's servant.

Person 4: A man of God.

Eleazar: Indeed. From the mountain they led Him bound to Annas. It is not lawful for us to bind a man until he has been proven guilty. But, it was done by those sent by Caiaphas, and Caiaphas is a man of God.

All: (Puzzled - ad lib) Hmmm?

Eleazar: He was questioned by Annas before the trial. By our law all questioning must be public. But, surely, Annas must know what is best, for Annas too, is a man of God.

Person 2: Hmmm. That was not a good thing to do.

Person 3: He was a blasphemer!

Person 4: True. But even blasphemers deserve fair trials!

Person 3: Yes, that is true.

Eleazar: While it was yet dark, they held a preliminary trial before Caiaphas and some of the Sanhedrin. A trial by night is illegal by our law. But, Caiaphas is the servant of the Most High. A man of God.

Person 4: Caiaphas held a trial by night? I can't believe it.

Person 3: And with an incomplete jury? This is hard to believe of a man of God!

Person 2: Are you sure of your facts, Eleazar?

Eleazar: Quite sure. Shall I go on?

Person 2: Yes, tell us all the facts.

Person 3: The whole story.

Eleazar: Caiaphas put Jesus under oath saying, 'I adjure you by the Living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.'

Person 3: Hmmm.

Eleazar: Jesus answered, 'You have spoken correctly.' Caiaphas tore His robe and pronounced Him a blasphemer!

Person 4: Tore his robe! The High Priest must never rip his robe. That is grounds for the death sentence!

Eleazar: Indeed. And I have been taught that our nation will not condemn a man on His own testimony. But that is what Caiaphas did. And Caiaphas is a man of God.

Person 3: These do not seem to be the actions of a 'man of God'.

Person 4: But the High Priest is God's servant. We have been taught that from our youth up.

Person 2: But it is illegal to condemn a man on his own testimony. I don't understand.

Eleazar: Hear me, faithful pilgrims. There is more.

Person 2: Shhhh. Hear him speak.

Person 3: Speak on.

Eleazar: After the court pronounced Him guilty, solely on His own testimony, He was given to the rabble of the street, bound and unprotected. They beat Him and spit upon Him. They cursed Him and mocked Him.

Person 4: What! Such a thing should not be done in Israel.

Person 3: A grave mistake on Caiaphas' part.

Eleazar: And yet Caiaphas permitted, yea, encouraged it. And Caiaphas is a man of God.

Person 4: Man of God? These are serious mistakes for a man of God to make!

Eleazar: When the dawn came they called the full jury, and again, on His own testimony, they condemned Him. The vote was instant and unanimous!

Person 2: Unanimous! But our law says that at least one man must vote for acquittal or the trial is invalid.

Person 3: And the voting must be done in an orderly fashion-not instantly!

Person 4: And the trial must not be held before the morning sacrifice.

Person 2: Never just before the Sabbath.

Person 4: These proceedings were all illegal!

All: (Ad lib agreement)

Eleazar: But they were conducted by Caiaphas. And Caiaphas is a good man. A man of...

Person 2: Good man! An evil man!

Eleazar: Do you call Caiaphas evil for these things? There is worse to tell, if you can bear it.

Person 3: Continue! Tell us the rest!

Person 4: Yes. Tell us about the 'man of God'.

Eleazar: I don't know. I see the color beginning to rise in your faces. I fear I shall stir you up if I continue.

Person 4: We will hear the rest! Go on!

Person 2: Yes. Tell us the rest!

Eleazar: You are sure?

Person 2: Tell us the rest!

Eleazar: All right. But against my better judgment. After they had condemned Him again, they returned Him to the Rabble. They attacked Him as if they would tear Him to pieces.

Person 2: And Caiaphas?

Eleazar: Caiaphas? Caiaphas and the other 'good men' looked on as laughed.

Person 4: Monsters!

Person 2: Foul men! An evil day for Israel.

Eleazar: It was the soldiers who saved Him. Heathen soldiers forced the animals back while the 'men of God' laughed. Then Caiaphas and his 'good men' mocked and taunted him. One fellow put an old robe over His head and, striking Him asked who had done it.

Person 3: Had they no pity?

Person 4: Monsters! Evil monsters!

Person 2: Worse than soldiers!

Eleazar: From there they took Him to Pilate, expecting Him to immediately give his seal to their sentence. But Pilate pronounced Him innocent, and gave them the choice of Jesus, or Barabbas.

Person 2: Barabbas! The revolutionary and murderer?

Eleazar: The same. They freed him and had Jesus scourged.

Person 2: They scourged Him?

Person 4: But Pilate pronounced Him innocent! You don't scourge innocent men!

Eleazar: It was to satisfy Caiaphas that he did it. After the scourging, he brought Jesus forth all bruised and bleeding, hoping to arouse their sympathies and set Him free. But the 'men of God' cried out, 'If you set this man free, you are not Caesar's friend.'

All: (Ad lid shocked reaction)

Person 4: Since when have our leaders been concerned for Caesar's affairs?

Person 3: Treason!

Person 2: Traitors! They are traitors!

Eleazar: Pilate asked, 'What then shall I do with the man called Jesus?' Caiaphas cried out, 'Crucify Him, crucify Him!'

Person 2: Crucify!

Person 3: But that is only for the worst of criminals!

Eleazar: And yet Caiaphas insisted upon it.

Person 4: Evil man!

Eleazar: Pilate asked, 'Shall I crucify your king?' And the 'good men' answered, 'We have no king but Caesar.'

Person 2: No king but Caesar?!

Person 3: Blasphemers! We have God as our king.

Person 4: They are traitors!

Eleazar: And when Pilate washed his hands of the entire matter, the 'men of God' cried out, 'His blood be upon us and upon our children.'

Person 2: No!

Person 4: Our nation has the curse of innocent blood over it!

Person 3: Evil, evil men!

Eleazar: Not evil men.

Person 3: Yes, evil men.

Eleazar: But they pray daily in public places.

Person 2: They are frauds!

Eleazar: They pay tithe even of their garden herbs.

Person 4: They are blasphemers and evil men.

Eleazar: They wear God's word tied to their wrists and foreheads.

Person 4: Hypocrites!

Person 2: Murderers!

Person 3: Blasphemers! They must be brought to justice.

Person 2: Yes. Bring them to trial! (Ad lib agreement)

Eleazar: Before whom? Caiaphas and the 'good men' of the Sanhedrin are the highest authority in the nation.

Person 4: He is right.

Person 2: There is no one to appeal to. They will go free.

Eleazar: They may not go to prison. But they will never be free again.

SCENE II

Ben Ezra: Oh, of course He'll be there. They say He's been teaching and healing all week. Your troubles are almost over, my boy.

Reuban: I hope so. I don't think I can...

Person 1: Excuse me, but are you speaking of Jesus of Nazareth?

Ben Ezra: As a matter of fact we are. My friend here has heard of the Man's wonderful ability to heal and has come on a long and painful journey for just that purpose.

Person 1: I'm sorry to be the one to tell you, but you won't be healed today.

Ben Ezra: You mean He's very busy, no doubt. Well, if we must wait until tomorrow, what is one more day?

Person 1: No. Not today, or tomorrow, or ever. He will not be healed.

Reuban: Not healed?

Ben Ezra: Nonsense! Of course he will. The Man heals everyone who comes to Him. Why, there are entire villages where there is not one person ill because of Him.

Person 1: He can't heal you. He's not here.

Ben Ezra: Not here? Why, where could He have gone? He has been teaching and healing since the day He rode in as a King. Of course He's here.

Person 1: No He isn't. He's dead.

Reuban: No!

Ben Ezra: Dead! Ha ha...my dear young friend, that's impossible. He is still a young man, and very strong. He will be with us for some time to come.

Person 1: No He won't. At this very moment He lies dead.

Reuban: How did He die?

Person 1: He was crucified by...

Ben Ezra: Crucified! Now see here, young man, this joke is in very poor taste. I have a good mind to...

Person 1: Hey! Don't take my word for it. Ask anyone.

Ben Ezra: Come on, Reuban. Off to the temple with us. This man is a raving maniac. To think people like that are allowed to walk the streets.

Reuban: But suppose he is telling the truth? I shall not be healed. I have no strength to return home and I have no friends or work here. I shall starve.

Ben Ezra: Stop worrying. Look, you see? There are others coming for the same purpose. You there...You there on crutches...yes, you...where are you going?

Cripple: To the temple, to be healed by Jesus of Nazareth.

Ben Ezra: You see! Look up and down the street. There are hundreds of people just like yourself, perhaps thousands. Let us hurry or we'll have to wait for hours. ...Pardon me, sir....Oops, excuse me Ma'am...good sabbath...uh, pardon me, sir. Good sabbath.

Crier: I tell you all to go back! Jesus is not here! He is in Joseph's tomb, dead. Go back!

Reuban: Oh, no!

Ben Ezra: Don't listen to him, Reuban. On festival weeks the city crawls with maniacs and fools....Good sabbath, Rabbi.

Reuban: Good sabbath, Rabbi...why didn't he answer? He looked angry and worried.

Ben Ezra: Oh, I suppose a rabbi must have many things to think about on the sabbath day, my boy. Ah! Here is the court where Jesus usually teaches. Your years of suffering are almost over.

Reuban: Do you see him?

Ben Ezra: Hmmm, no, not yet. Strange.

Reuban: What is?

Ben Ezra: That I don't see Him. He usually sits right over there. I wonder where He could be. Excuse me, sir...

Person 2: Good Sabbath.

Ben Ezra: Good Sabbath. Sir, have you seen Jesus yet today?

Person 2: Jesus who?

Ben Ezra: Why, Jesus of Nazareth, of course. My friend here has come to be healed.
Person 2: Hmmph. Tell your friend to go home. Jesus is dead.

Ben Ezra: No...you don't understand. We want Jesus of Nazareth, the healer.

Person 2: Jesus of Nazareth, the healer, is dead.

Ben Ezra: But He was still a young man, and very...

Person 2: That doesn't matter. He is dead.

Ben Ezra: But how?

Person 2: He was crucified by Pontius Pilate.

Reuban: No! Not Him!

Ben Ezra: Crucified! No! That is only for the worst of criminals. He was a good man. I don't believe you.

Person 2: Ask anyone.

Ben Ezra: I certainly shall. Excuse me, sir. We are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, the healer. Have you seen Him yet?

Man: I've only just arrived myself, but I've heard rumors that the priests and rulers have had Him put to death.

Ben Ezra: Now I know it's a lie. The priests and rulers are men of God-good men. They would never allow anything like that to happen.

Person 2: It's true, old man. He died on a cross yesterday, at three o'clock.

Ben Ezra: How do you know?

Person 2: I was there.

Ben Ezra: Who could have done such a thing?

Person 2: The priests and rulers.

Ben Ezra: But why? He was a good man.

Person 2: He had the people thinking so, but the priests were not deceived. He deserved to die.

Reuban: You actually believe that?

Person 2: Of course! Men of God do not make mistakes.

Ben Ezra: There must be a mistake. Come, let us go ask the priests. They will know the truth of the matter.

Reuban: It's no use. He is dead, and I shall never be healed.

Ben Ezra: Of course you will. It's a false rumor. The priests will set everything straight...oh Rabbi...Rabbi.

Rabbi: Good Sabbath.

Ben Ezra: Good Sabbath, Rabbi. Say, we are seeking Jesus, the healer. Can you tell us what has become of Him?

Rabbi: Jesus of Nazareth was a blasphemer, sentenced to death by the great Sanhedrin.

Ben Ezra: What! But what proof was there?

Rabbi: We heard Him claim to be the Son of God with our own ears.

Ben Ezra: When was the trial. Why didn't we hear of it? Where are you going, Rabbi?

Rabbi: This is the holy Sabbath. We must not profane it by talking about blasphemers. I am a very busy man.

Ben Ezra: But my friend, Reuban, has come a long way to be healed.

Man: So have I.

Woman: And I have brought my baby.

Rabbi: I am too busy in the Lord's work to be troubled by sinners. Let me by!

Reuban: But Rabbi, I have come a long journey. Jesus was my last hope.

Man: And mine as well. Rabbi, you must help us.

Rabbi: Am I God, that I can heal you?

Ben Ezra: Jesus can. Why isn't Jesus here?

Rabbi: Don't speak that name in God's holy temple!

Man: Rabbi, please help me. I cannot bear the pain any longer.

Rabbi: If God has seen fit to punish your sins, what right have I to interfere?

Rabbi: Jesus never talked to the sick like that. He always gave them hope and courage.

Rabbi: Look where that got Him, and learn a lesson.

Ben Ezra: So! Jesus was right when He called you hypocrites and murderers! You pray long prayers on the street corners, and fast and pay tithe, but inside you are evil men!

Rabbi: Take care how you address God's servants!

Ben Ezra: God's servants would not have killed a man like Jesus.

Man: We want Jesus, the healer.

Rabbi: I tell you, He is dead!

Reuban: Bring us Jesus!

Man: I must be healed soon, or I will die.

Woman: My child needs Him!

Rabbi: Can I raise a man from the grave?

Ben Ezra: We want the man of God.

Reuban: The priests have killed our only hope. Evil men.

Man: Evil men!

Rabbi: Silence! You are desecrating the Holy Temple with your noise!

Ben Ezra: Is the crying of the poor more unholy than the sounds of your cattle market?