Paul, John Steven

English

Valparaiso University

Valparaiso UniversityValpoScholarSoul Purpose Liturgical Dramas and Essays Department of Theatre1-1-2004The Passion of Our Lord (According to St. Mark)John Steven PaulValparaiso UniversityFollow this and additional works at: http://scholar.valpo.edu/soul_purposeThis Liturgical Drama is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Theatre at ValpoScholar. It has been accepted for inclusion inSoul Purpose Liturgical Dramas and Essays by an authorized administrator of ValpoScholar. For more information, please contact a ValpoScholar staffmember at scholar@valpo.edu.Recommended CitationPaul, John Steven, "The Passion of Our Lord (According to St. Mark)" (2004). Soul Purpose Liturgical Drama. Paper 28.http://scholar.valpo.edu/soul_purpose/28The Passion of Our Lord According to St. Mark A play for actors and singers by John Steven Paul Developed in workshop by Soul Purpose, The Liturgical Drama Troupe of the Valparaiso University Theatre     Characters:   Evangelist Jesus Peter Judas High Priest Servant Girl Pilate    The Plot to Kill Jesus   EVANGELIST:  It was two days before the Passover and the festival of Unleavened Bread.  The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him; for they said, “Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.”    The Anointing at Bethany  EVANGELIST:  While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with and alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. But some were there who said to one another in anger, “Why was the ointment wasted in this way? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said,  JESUS:  “Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you with; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”     Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus  EVANGELIST:  Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. When they heard it, they were greatly pleased, and promised to give him money. So he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.   The Passover with the Disciples  EVANGELIST:  On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them,  JESUS:  “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”   EVANGELIST:  So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, he came with the twelve. And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said,  JESUS:  “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.”  EVANGELIST:  They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, “Surely, not I?” He said to them,     JESUS:  “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me. For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one  not to have been born.”   The Institution of the Lord’s Supper  EVANGELIST:  While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said,  JESUS:  “Take; this is my body.”  EVANGELIST:  Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them,  JESUS:  “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”   Peter’s Denial Foretold  EVANGELIST:  When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And  Jesus said to them,  JESUS:  “You will all become deserters; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before  you to Galilee.”  EVANGELIST:  Peter said to him,    PETER:  Even though all become deserters, I will not.”  EVANGELIST:  Jesus said to him:  JESUS:  “Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.”  EVANGELIST:  But he said vehemently,  PETER:  “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you”  EVANGELIST:  And all of them said the same. Jesus said to him,  JESUS:  “Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.”  EVANGELIST:  But he said vehemently,  PETER:  “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.”  EVANGELIST:  And all of them said the same.      Jesus Prays in Gethsemane   EVANGELIST:  They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples,  JESUS:  “Sit here while I pray.”  EVANGELIST:  He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. And he said to them,  JESUS:  “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.”  EVANGELIST:  And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said,  JESUS:  “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.”  EVANGELIST:  He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter,  JESUS:  “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  EVANGELIST:  And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy: and they did not know what to say to him. He came a third time and said to them,   JESUS:  “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”   The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus  EVANGELIST:  Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve,  arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying,  JUDAS:  “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.”  EVANGELIST:  So when he came, he went up to him at once and said,  JUDAS:  “Rabbi!”  EVANGELIST:  and kissed him. Then they laid hands on him and arrested him. But one of  those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to them,  JESUS:  “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled.”  EVANGELIST:  All of them deserted him and fled. A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked.     Jesus before the Council  EVANGELIST:  They took Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests, the elders, and  the scribes were assembled. Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the guards, warming himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none. For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree. Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying, “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’” But even on this point their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus,  HIGH PRIEST:  “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?”  EVANGELIST:  But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him,  HIGH PRIEST:  “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”  EVANGELIST:  Jesus said,  JESUS:  “I am; and ‘you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power,’ and ‘coming with the clouds of heaven.’”  EVANGELIST:  Then the high priest tore his clothes and said,  HIGH PRIEST:  “Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy! What is  your decision?”      EVANGELIST:  All of them condemned him as deserving death. Some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” The guards also took him over and beat him.    Peter Denies Jesus  EVANGELIST:  While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she stared at him and said,  SERVANT GIRL:  “You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.”  EVANGELIST:  But he denied it, saying,  PETER:  “I do not know or understand what you are talking about.”  EVANGELIST:  And he went out into the forecourt. Then the cock crowed. And the servant-girl, on seeing him, began again to say to the bystanders,  SERVANT GIRL:  “This man is one of them.”  EVANGELIST:  But again he denied it. Then after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean.” But he began to curse, and he swore an oath,  PETER:  “I do not know this man you are talking about.”    EVANGELIST:  At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.    Jesus before Pilate  EVANGELIST:  As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate asked him,  PILATE:  “Are you the King of the Jews?”  EVANGELIST:  He answered him,  JESUS:  “You say so.”  EVANGELIST:  Then the chief priests accused him of many things. Pilate asked him again,  PILATE:  “Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.”  EVANGELIST:  But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.   Pilate Hands Jesus over to be Crucified     EVANGELIST:  Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked. Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. Then he answered them,  PILATE:  “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?”  EVANGELIST:  For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed  him over. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. Pilate spoke to them again,  PILATE:  “Then what do you wish for me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?”  EVANGELIST:  They shouted back,  CROWD:  “Crucify him!”  EVANGELIST:  Pilate asked them,  PILATE:  “Why, what evil has he done?”  EVANGELIST:  But the crowd shouted all the more,  CROWD:  “Crucify him!”   EVANGELIST:  So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.    The Soldiers Mock Jesus  EVANGELIST:  Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort. And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. And they began saluting him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.    The Crucifixion of Jesus  EVANGELIST:  They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it. And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take. It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!” In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.    The Death of Jesus  EVANGELIST:  When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice,  JESUS:  “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?”  EVANGELIST:  which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.” And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.       (Silence is kept for a time.)  And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said,  CENTURION:  “Truly this man was God’s Son!”  EVANGELIST:  There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.    The Burial of Jesus  EVANGELIST:  When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead for some time. When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.     END 

The Passion of Our Lord (According to St. Mark)

ValpoScholar

Valparaiso University
ValpoScholar
Soul Purpose Liturgical Dramas and Essays Department of Theatre
1-1-2004
The Passion of Our Lord (According to St. Mark)
John Steven Paul
Valparaiso University
Follow this and additional works at: http://scholar.valpo.edu/soul_purpose
This Liturgical Drama is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Theatre at ValpoScholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in
Soul Purpose Liturgical Dramas and Essays by an authorized administrator of ValpoScholar. For more information, please contact a ValpoScholar staff
member at scholar@valpo.edu.
Recommended Citation
Paul, John Steven, "The Passion of Our Lord (According to St. Mark)" (2004). Soul Purpose Liturgical Drama. Paper 28.
http://scholar.valpo.edu/soul_purpose/28
The Passion of Our Lord 
According to St. Mark 
A play for actors and singers by John Steven Paul 
Developed in workshop by Soul Purpose, 
The Liturgical Drama Troupe of the Valparaiso University Theatre 
 
 
 
 
Characters:  
 
Evangelist 
Jesus 
Peter 
Judas 
High Priest 
Servant Girl 
Pilate 
 
 
 
The Plot to Kill Jesus 
  
EVANGELIST: 
 
It was two days before the Passover and the festival of Unleavened Bread.  The chief priests and 
the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him; for they said, “Not 
during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.” 
 
 
 
The Anointing at Bethany 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came 
with and alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the 
ointment on his head. But some were there who said to one another in anger, “Why was the 
ointment wasted in this way? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred 
denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, 
 
JESUS: 
 
“Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. For you 
always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you with; but you 
will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for 
its burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she 
has done will be told in remembrance of her.”  
 
 
 
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him 
to them. When they heard it, they were greatly pleased, and promised to give him money. So he 
began to look for an opportunity to betray him. 
 
 
The Passover with the Disciples 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to 
him, “Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” So he 
sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 
 
JESUS: 
 
“Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he 
enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I may 
eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and 
ready. Make preparations for us there.”  
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they 
prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, he came with the twelve. And when they had 
taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, 
 
JESUS: 
 
“Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, “Surely, not I?” He said to them, 
 
 
 
 
JESUS: 
 
“It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me. For the Son of Man 
goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would 
have been better for that one  not to have been born.” 
 
 
The Institution of the Lord’s Supper 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, 
and said, 
 
JESUS: 
 
“Take; this is my body.” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He 
said to them, 
 
JESUS: 
 
“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will never 
again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 
 
 
Peter’s Denial Foretold 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And  Jesus said to them, 
 
JESUS: 
 
“You will all become deserters; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be 
scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before  you to Galilee.” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
Peter said to him, 
 
 
 
PETER: 
 
Even though all become deserters, I will not.” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
Jesus said to him: 
 
JESUS: 
 
“Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three 
times.” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
But he said vehemently, 
 
PETER: 
 
“Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
And all of them said the same. Jesus said to him, 
 
JESUS: 
 
“Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three 
times.” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
But he said vehemently, 
 
PETER: 
 
“Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
And all of them said the same. 
 
 
 
 
 
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane 
 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, 
 
JESUS: 
 
“Sit here while I pray.” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. And he said 
to them, 
 
JESUS: 
 
“I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the 
hour might pass from him. He said, 
 
JESUS: 
 
“Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but 
what you want.” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, 
 
JESUS: 
 
“Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? Keep awake and pray that you 
may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And once more he came and found 
them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy: and they did not know what to say to him. He 
came a third time and said to them, 
 
 
JESUS: 
 
“Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is 
betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.” 
 
 
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve,  arrived; and with him there 
was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. Now the 
betrayer had given them a sign, saying, 
 
JUDAS: 
 
“The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, 
 
JUDAS: 
 
“Rabbi!” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
and kissed him. Then they laid hands on him and arrested him. But one of  those who stood near 
drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to 
them, 
 
JESUS: 
 
“Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day 
I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be 
fulfilled.” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
All of them deserted him and fled. A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but 
a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked. 
 
 
 
 
Jesus before the Council 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
They took Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests, the elders, and  the scribes were 
assembled. Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and 
he was sitting with the guards, warming himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and the whole 
council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none. For 
many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree. Some stood up and 
gave false testimony against him, saying, “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is 
made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’” But even on this 
point their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, 
 
HIGH PRIEST: 
 
“Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him, 
 
HIGH PRIEST: 
 
“Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
Jesus said, 
 
JESUS: 
 
“I am; and ‘you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power,’ and ‘coming with 
the clouds of heaven.’” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, 
 
HIGH PRIEST: 
 
“Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy! What is  your decision?” 
 
 
 
 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
All of them condemned him as deserving death. Some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, 
and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” The guards also took him over and beat him. 
 
 
 
Peter Denies Jesus 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came by. 
When she saw Peter warming himself, she stared at him and said, 
 
SERVANT GIRL: 
 
“You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
But he denied it, saying, 
 
PETER: 
 
“I do not know or understand what you are talking about.” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
And he went out into the forecourt. Then the cock crowed. And the servant-girl, on seeing him, 
began again to say to the bystanders, 
 
SERVANT GIRL: 
 
“This man is one of them.” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
But again he denied it. Then after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you 
are one of them; for you are a Galilean.” But he began to curse, and he swore an oath, 
 
PETER: 
 
“I do not know this man you are talking about.” 
 
 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said 
to him, “Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and 
wept. 
 
 
 
Jesus before Pilate 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and 
the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate asked 
him, 
 
PILATE: 
 
“Are you the King of the Jews?” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
He answered him, 
 
JESUS: 
 
“You say so.” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
Then the chief priests accused him of many things. Pilate asked him again, 
 
PILATE: 
 
“Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed. 
 
 
Pilate Hands Jesus over to be Crucified 
 
 
 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked. Now a 
man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the 
insurrection. So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. 
Then he answered them, 
 
PILATE: 
 
“Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed  him over. But the 
chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. Pilate spoke to 
them again, 
 
PILATE: 
 
“Then what do you wish for me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
They shouted back, 
 
CROWD: 
 
“Crucify him!” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
Pilate asked them, 
 
PILATE: 
 
“Why, what evil has he done?” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
But the crowd shouted all the more, 
 
CROWD: 
 
“Crucify him!” 
 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he 
handed him over to be crucified. 
 
 
 
The Soldiers Mock Jesus 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters); 
and they called together the whole cohort. And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after 
twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. And they began saluting him, “Hail, King 
of the Jews!” They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. 
After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then 
they led him out to crucify him. 
 
 
 
The Crucifixion of Jesus 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was 
Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. Then they brought Jesus to the place called 
Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but 
he did not take it. And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to 
decide what each should take. It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. The 
inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” And with him they crucified 
two bandits, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their 
heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save 
yourself, and come down from the cross!” In the same way the chief priests, along with the 
scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; he cannot save 
himself. Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see 
and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also taunted him. 
 
 
 
The Death of Jesus 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three 
o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, 
 
JESUS: 
 
“Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders 
heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.” And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour 
wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will 
come to take him down.” Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. 
 
     (Silence is kept for a time.) 
 
And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who 
stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, 
 
CENTURION: 
 
“Truly this man was God’s Son!” 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and 
Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. These used to follow him and 
provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up 
with him to Jerusalem. 
 
 
 
The Burial of Jesus 
 
EVANGELIST: 
 
When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the 
Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting 
expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then 
Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he 
had been dead for some time. When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted 
the body to Joseph. Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in 
the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone 
against the door of the tomb. 
 
 
 
 
END 


https://scholar.valpo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1027&amp;context=soul_purpose

The Passion of Our Lord (According to St. Mark)

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Valparaiso University

ValpoScholar