Down from the Cross-Drama Skit

Down from the Cross-Drama Skit

Themes: Easter; Jesus' death and resurrection; celebrating Jesus life and all he does for us; seeing things through the eyes of a child
Categories: With God, Easter, Topical 
Summary:

It's Easter, and the decorating committee is preparing for the annual service. According to the committee, "We can't make the stage look too cheerful."....Easter is "a terrible, awful time when Jesus suffered and died. It's full of pain and misery. There's nothing happy about it."  However, when Jesus makes a surprise appearance, he doesn't like the focus of the day. He can't understand why everyone wants to focus on his pain and suffering, instead of celebrating his life and victory over death.  The ladies of the committee try to convince Jesus to get back up on the cross but he tells them the suffering is over and that he came down from the cross a long time ago.  He'd rather focus on his relationship with them now.  But they aren't buying it, and even the Pastor agrees.  He tells Jesus that if he doesn't get back on the cross, he's going to ruin the whole service! Jesus wonders if everyone has "gone mad" and asks "Doesn't anyone care that I'm alive?" It doesn't appear so, until a little girl sees him. Finally, it takes the eyes of a child to see Jesus as he really is and to recognize what Easter is truly about.

 
 
Style: Comedy/Drama

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Characters: 5 (2 Male, 3 Female)
Length: 5-8 minutes
 
Excerpt (Sample)

Setting: A church preparing for an Easter service. A cross stands in the middle of the stage. A sheet is draped decoratively over the arms of the cross.

As the scene opens, Betty and Louise are busy discussing decorations for the stage. Katy (a young girl) sits nearby coloring.

Betty:

How about decorating the stage with lilies?  Lilies are always a nice touch at Easter.  They’re such a happy flower. 

Louise:

I think it would be okay as long as we don’t use too many.  We don’t want to make the stage look too cheerful.  After all, it’s Easter, you know.

Betty:

(appalled at the very thought) Good heavens!  I almost forgot what we were decorating for.  Of course you’re right, Louise.

Katy:

What’s wrong with making the stage look cheerful? Isn’t Easter supposed to be a happy time?

Louise & Betty:

(in unison) NO!

Betty:

It’s a terrible, awful time when Jesus suffered and died.

Louise:

It’s full of pain and misery. There’s nothing happy about it.

Katy:

What about when Jesus rose from the dead? Wasn’t that happy?

Louise:

Well, of course but the focus of Easter should be about Jesus’ death.   

Katy:

Why?

Louise:

Because we should appreciate what Jesus did for us on the cross.

Katy:

But what about all the stuff he did for us after the cross?

Louise:

Those things are important too but on Easter we should remember how much Jesus suffered.  

Katy:

But that doesn’t make any sense. Jesus rose from the dead, and makes our lives better every day, so Easter should be happy. 

Louise:

(realizing she is losing this battle, she changes tactics) You know what Katy, it’s a beautiful day outside, why don’t you go play for awhile and Betty and I will finish our work.  Okay?

Katy:

Okay.  (she exits)

Louise:

(to Betty) Kids!  Now, where were we?

Betty:

We were focusing on Jesus’ suffering.

Louise:

Right. 

Betty:

Hey…(getting excited)…is there such a thing as black lilies?

Jesus enters.

Jesus:

Good morning, ladies. 

Upon seeing Jesus, Betty & Louise gasp in unison.

Betty:

Jesus, what are you doing here?

Jesus:

It looked like you needed some help, so I came to see if I could offer some ideas on how to celebrate my life.

Louise:

But it’s Easter.

Jesus:

The perfect time for a celebration, don’t you think?

Betty & Louise:

(in unison) No!

Jesus:

(confused) Excuse me?

Louise:

(a bit angry, points at the cross) You get back up on that cross right now, Mister!

Jesus:

Why?

Betty:

You’re supposed to be suffering!

Jesus:

I am?

Betty:

Yes!

Betty pushes Jesus back into the cross and using the sheet, she lightly “ties” one of his arms to the cross while she speaks. As Louise speaks, she lightly ties the other arm of Jesus to the cross. As the ladies speak, they should be a bit over-dramatic.

Betty:

You were wounded for our transgressions. 

Louise:

Crushed for our iniquities!

Jesus:

(easily removing his arms from the sheet and taking a step away from the cross) That was a long time ago…

Louise:

(interrupting and ignoring Jesus, she pushes him back into the cross and attempts to tie his arm again as she speaks) Oppressed and afflicted!

Betty:

(also tying his other arm to the cross as she speaks) Bearing the sins of many! 

Jesus:

(again, Jesus easily slips out of the sheet and steps away from the cross) Wait a minute, it’s true, I did suffer on the cross but…

Betty:

(interrupting) Aha! So, you admit you’re supposed to be suffering?

Jesus:

No!  The suffering is over!

Louise:

(shakes her head) I don’t think so.

Jesus:

But I came down from the cross and rose from the dead.  It should be a happy occasion.

 

 

Louise:

Umm…(tilts her head as if considering it for a moment, then shakes her head “no.”) No.

Jesus:

What do you mean “no”?  I’m alive!

Betty:

Look, either you get back up on that cross and suffer or I’m afraid I’ll have to call in a higher authority.

Jesus:

(in disbelief) You’re kidding, right?

Betty:

(calls out) Pastor Bill, could you come in here, please?

Pastor:

(voice heard from off stage) Is it important?  I’m working on my sermon for Easter Sunday.

Louise:

Oh, I think you’ll want to see this, Pastor.

Pastor enters and upon seeing Jesus gasps

Pastor:

Jesus? What’s going on?

Jesus:

I’m glad you asked. I was just telling these ladies…

Pastor:

You should be up on the cross!

Betty:

(smirks) See.