JESUS: Sit here while I go over there and pray. My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me. (Jesus moves on alone away from the others and drops to His knees.) Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but Yours be done. (He rises and goes back to the disciples) Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation. (He goes back alone and drops to His knees again) Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will… (He rises again crosses back to the men) Why are you sleeping? So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Goes back a third time and drops to His knees) My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done. (He rises and goes back to the men) Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!
(The disciples rise and as the sound of men coming is heard… the others gather close by. Judas enters with soldiers and Jewish leaders)
JUDAS: Hail, Rabbi! (He kisses Jesus on the cheek)
JESUS: Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss? (Judas steps back and acts very guilty and shocked at His comment.) Friend, do what you have come for. (Jesus turns to the soldiers) Whom do you seek?
ROMAN SOLDIER: Jesus the Nazarene.
JESUS: I am He. (At this…they all fall back on the ground, but quickly get back up, not understanding what just happened.) I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way.
JAMES: Lord, shall we strike with the sword?
(Peter grabs his small sword and runs at one of the guards named Malchus and swings at his upstage ear)
MALCHUS: (Screams and grabs his ear) Aaaaaahh!
JESUS: Stop! No more of this. Put your sword back into its place; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?
(He crosses to Malchus and places His hand on the ear and heals it. Malchus suddenly feels the pain stop and knows he is healed.)
JESUS: (To the disciples) All those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way? (To the mob) Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me. But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets. For this hour and the power of darkness are yours.
(The soldiers grab Jesus and the disciples all run in all directions, as the mob marches with Jesus off the stage. John and Peter come back and follow along behind the crowd, keeping their distance.)
Copyright 2009 Warren Sager
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