POY!
jit 3a 36

Jesus’ Burial
Based on Matthew 27:57-66

POY! skit guidelines:

·  Participants may simply read their lines, or glance at their lines to get the idea and speak in their own words.

·  Most POY! skits require no practice in advance, and need no costumes or props.

·  Let tots play a brief part. Most scripts have children do the “Echoes” part, under PARTICIPANTS.

·  Most skits have someone serve as Narrator, who should read a skit beforehand to see how to keep it moving along.

·  There is no need to have an audience watch the skit. All present may participate, as “Echoes”.

·  Scripture and paraphrases, if any, usually appear in bold.

·  In large groups, ask folks, especially children, to talk loudly and slowly, and add actions if they want.

PARTICIPANTS
Joseph (of Arimathea), who also serves as Narrator
Voice (of Jesus) Stand to one side, read slowly and loudly.
Priest
Pilate

Prompter (Optional). Prompter shouts a brief line and Echoes repeat it.

Echoes (Optional): children and all adults that want to take part. Make sure Echoes know who the Prompter is, and that they are to repeat Prompter’s words.

SCRIPT

Joseph Governor Pilate, may I enter?

Pilate Yes, come in, Joseph of Arimathea. I’m glad that weird darkness has passed! It covered the whole land after they nailed that Galilean to the cross, the one some of you call King of the Jews.

Joseph Sir, please let me take His body. I’ll take it down from the cross and care for it in a proper way. I shall wrap His body in clean linen cloth and lay it in my own new tomb.

Pilate You may have it as soon as the soldiers inform me that that He’s dead, Joseph of Arimathea. I’ve heard you’re a good citizen.

Joseph (Speaking to the audience…) I prepared Jesus’ body and laid it in my own new tomb. I had it hewn out of solid rock. I then learned that priests had also gone to Pilate to make a request.

Priest Governor Pilate, we recall that when that deceiver was still alive that He said, “After three days I am to rise again.” Therefore, please give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come and steal Him away. They’ll tell the people that He has risen from the dead, and the last deception will be worse than the first.

Pilate Soldiers! Go with these priests and make that grave secure.

Prompter &
Echoes Yes, Sir. No one will get past us!

Joseph The soldiers came, rolled a huge stone against the entrance of the tomb, and stayed, standing guard. Oh, Mary Magdalene is watching. She’s shy. Jesus freed her from seven demons. And now other women have come to mourn Jesus; they are sitting near the tomb. It’s all over.

Prompter &
Echoes How sad! How sad!

Joseph Night came and passed. The next day, God the Son kept the Sabbath, and gave its keeping an entirely new meaning. That Day of Rest divided all history:

Before that day… God’s people lived under the Law given to Moses.

During that Day… His body lay in total repose in a tomb, in a realm in which, up to that time, the devil had dominion and kept his captives in death’s darkness.

Following that day… Jesus rose and raised death’s captives with Him. Thus began the New Covenant by which God saves sinners by grace through faith in Jesus.

DISCUSS

Before reading Romans 6:3-11, ask your listeners to find in what way believers are buried with Christ.

What are the results, in God’s view, of our being buried with Christ?