Readers Theater - Golgotha
Based on Luke 23:26-38

by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
Other online lessons from Luke | Lessons in book format

READER 1 As they led him away,
READER 2 away from Pilate's judgment hall,
READER 3 away from the soldiers' mocking
READER 2 and lacerating scourge
READER 3 and began the journey from the Praetorium to the place of execution.
READER 1 Jesus begins to carry his cross-beam,
READER 2 But stumbles and falls
READER 3 stumbles and falls
READER 1 Weak from blood loss
READER 2 Too weak to carry the heavy beam on his own bloody shoulders.
READER 1 They seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country,
READER 2 and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.
READER 1 Jesus in front
READER 2 Followed by Simon
READER 3 Carrying Jesus' cross.
READER 1 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.
READER 2 Weeping
READER 3 Mourning
READER 2 Wailing
READER 3 Crying
READER 1 Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.
READER 2 Weep for yourselves
READER 3 And for your children
READER 1 For the time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!'
READER 2 Blessed are the childless
READER 3 For their children will not suffer the horror that is to come.
READER 1 Then " 'they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!"
READER 2 And to the hills, "Cover us!" '
READER 1 For if men do these things when the tree is green,
READER 3 what will happen when it is dry?"
READER 1 Green wood has a tough time burning
READER 2 But dry wood supports a blazing fire
READER 1 If such a horror is visited upon innocent Jesus in the streets of Jerusalem
READER 3 How great a horror will be visited upon guilty Jerusalem?
READER 1 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.
READER 2 Two other men
READER 3 Both criminals
READER 2 Thieves
READER 3 Robbers
READER 1 Followed in the procession to the killing place.
READER 2 Golgotha
READER 3 Called "the place of the Skull"
READER 1 When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals--one on his right, the other on his left.
READER 2 They nailed his hands
READER 3 They nailed his feet
READER 1 And stretched him out upon a cross,
READER 2 Suspended between sky and earth
READER 3 To die a tortured death
READER 2 To die
READER 3 A tortured death
READER 1 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
READER 2 Father
READER 3 Father
READER 2 Forgive them
READER 3 Forgive them
READER 2 For they do not know what they are doing.
READER 1 And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
READER 2 They gambled for his bloody garments that remained.
READER 3 To the victor go the paltry spoils.
READER 1 The people stood watching,
READER 2 And the rulers even sneered at him.
READER 1 They said, "He saved others;
READER 2 let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."
READER 1 The soldiers also came up and mocked him.
READER 2 They offered him wine vinegar
READER 1 and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."
READER 2 "If you are the king of the Jews,
READER 3 save yourself."
READER 1 There was a written notice above him, which read:
READER 2 this is the king of the Jews.
READER 1 This is the King
READER 2 This is the King of the Jews
READER 3 This is the King ...
ALL Of us all.

Copyright © 2024, Ralph F. Wilson. <pastor@joyfulheart.com> All rights reserved. A single copy of this article is free. Do not put this on a website. See legal, copyright, and reprint information.

Sign up now!To be notified about future articles, stories, and Bible studies, why don't you subscribe to our free newsletter,The Joyful Heart, by placing your e-mail address in the box below. We respect your privacy and never sell, rent, or loan our lists. Please don't subscribe your friends; let them decide for themselves.
FirstLast
E-mail
Country(2-letter abbreviation, such as US)
Preferred FormatHTML (recommended) Plain text