Kiwi Easter

the easter story in real time

[Kiwi Easter @KiwiEaster]

DISCIPLE: Jesus is with us now, breathing, talking. Now we get it. This was the plan! He says: as the Father sent me, I send you. Let's go.

[Kiwi Easter @KiwiEaster]

MARY: At the tomb again. Where's the body? Hopeless. And suddenly he's here. HE's here. Jesus. Alive. Now. It's really him! JESUS IS ALIVE!

[Kiwi Easter @KiwiEaster]

MARY: At the tomb to prepare Jesus' body. But the stone's been moved! And the body's gone too! Just two angels saying, He is risen! Huh?

[Kiwi Easter @KiwiEaster]

DISCIPLE: They've put a guard on the tomb. How can it have ended like this? Our Jesus a dead body. He was supposed to save us but he's dead.

[Kiwi Easter @KiwiEaster]

DISCIPLE: We saw them take Jesus down from the cross. Put the body in a tomb, sealed with a huge stone. Gone. Hope gone. Jesus is dead.

[Kiwi Easter @KiwiEaster]

DISCIPLE: Jesus says, It is finished. And to the God who has abandoned him, Father, I put myself in your hands. AND HE'S DEAD.

[Kiwi Easter @KiwiEaster]

COMPLETE DARKNESS FALLS. Jesus hanging on the cross, totally alone, deserted. He cries, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

[Kiwi Easter @KiwiEaster]

MARY: My own son dying. I cannot bear to look. He sees me, then sees his best friend. Tells us, Now he's your son, and you're his mother.

[Kiwi Easter @KiwiEaster]

THIEF: I'm dying on a cross beside Jesus. I'm guilty, but him... Is it all true? He looks at me, says: Today you'll be with me in paradise.

[Kiwi Easter @KiwiEaster]

CROWD: His words, Father, forgive them, they don't know what they're doing. We shout, Come down! Save yourself! Why doesn't he?

[Kiwi Easter @KiwiEaster]

DISCIPLE: We're walking behind Jesus. He drags his cross up the hill. Now they nail him to the wood. Can't watch. How can it end like this?

[Kiwi Easter @KiwiEaster]

CROWD: He is broken, beaten, bloody. Pilate's soldiers are hitting him, making fun of him. They give him a crown of sharp, twisted thorns.

[Kiwi Easter @KiwiEaster]

CROWD: The governor, Pilate, tries to release Jesus. But we're with the priests now, screaming: Kill him! Crucify! We win. Death sentence.

[Kiwi Easter @KiwiEaster]

PETER: Waiting outside. Scared. Someone says, Peter, you know him! I say, No. No way. Not me. I let Jesus down just like he said I would.

[Kiwi Easter @KiwiEaster]

RELIGIOUS LEADERS: Jesus on trial. He's silent, until the priest asks if he's God's son. Jesus says, Yes. Guilty! We spit in his face.

[Kiwi Easter @KiwiEaster]

DISCIPLE: What's this?! Jesus? A crowd coming with swords. Jesus calm. Judas with them, betrays Jesus with a kiss. Jesus arrested. We run.

[Kiwi Easter @KiwiEaster]

DISCIPLE: Asleep again! Sorry Jesus. He's praying, God, not what I want, but what you want. Can't keep our eyes open…

[Kiwi Easter @KiwiEaster]

DISCIPLE: Wake up! How could we fall asleep? Jesus is praying, asking God: is there any other way? We're praying too, not sleeping, not sl…

[Kiwi Easter @KiwiEaster]

DISCIPLE: We've walked back to the Mount of Olives. Jesus tells us to keep watch and pray. He's praying, sweating, pleading. Struggling.

[Kiwi Easter @KiwiEaster]

DISCIPLE: Now Jesus is saying that we're all going to desert him- rubbish! We'd go with him anywhere. Die with him, even. Whatever it takes.