The Miracle Maker

Lucifer:
[showing Jesus a vast army of people worshipping him] I will give this authority and power and glory to you. Bow down before me, and it will all be yours.

Jesus:
No. It is written... in the Scriptures... you shall worship the Lord your God, and no one else shall you serve! No one!

Barabbas:
What can one man do against the might of Caesar?

Judas Iscariot:
What do they fear, hmm? What do Kings and Emperors fear? They fear the people. When they rise like one man, when they follow one man!

Herod:
You say this Jesus can perform the impossible?

Ben Azra:
Oh he can perform powerful illusions Majesty.

Herod:
Powerful illusions. Well isn't all human power an illusion?

Pharisee:
Not the Kingship granted to Herod.

Herod:
You really are encouraging to a vulnerable soul. Oh, if only Caesar was as sympathetic as you. But if I fail to govern my people, what will happen to us if Pilate sends reports back to Rome? And if this Jesus goes on and on performing such extraordinary tricks? Hmm? Where will it end?

Ben Azra:
Pilate will destroy the temple and all that we have!

Caiaphas:
You know nothing! Nothing at all. Don't you realise that all the might and anger of Caesar can be aimed at one man. At this magician from Nazareth. Let one man die, and all the people will be saved.

Herod:
Oh what a pleasure. What an honour to be in the presence of the King. The King of the Jews! Look, I bow, I kiss your feet. Robes! The finest. A crown.

[he presents the crown of thorns]

Herod:
Send his majesty back to Pilate! Let Rome decide the fate of this dumb prophet. This marvellous mute King of Jews.

Jesus:
Father. Father. Father. Let there... let there be some other way. Let there be... let there be some other way. [a cup of thorns appears] No! Take this cup away! Take it away! Take it away! Father! Father, dear father, listen to me, listen. If there is another way, another way, a way out!

Lucifer:
Go! Run, there's still time. Run, run for it! Come on, run.

Jesus:
No. No! Not my will! It's not my will it's your will, your will father, your will be done! Father... your will be done.

Pontius Pilate:
There are Jews from all over the Empire gathering here along the whole of Judea and the disgusting pilgrims from the North. They're the worst, the Galileans. Oh, but I hear you've already put down a little revolt up there.

Tribune:
One hundred and seventeen crucified sir.

Pontius Pilate:
And the ringleader?

Tribune:
Barabbas and the others? We thought...

Pontius Pilate:
Ah ah. Public execution of rebels on the day of freedom? Very good tribune.

Tribune:
[salutes] Hail Caesar, son of the Gods.

Pontius Pilate:
Hail Caesar... but don't let them hear you talk of 'The Gods'.

John the Baptist:
This is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. I should be coming to be baptised by you.

Jesus:
You shall not put your God to the test! You shall not put your God to the test!

Jesus:
Judas... go and do what you have to do.

Judas Iscariot:
Master?

Jesus:
Do it now. Do it quickly.

Rachel:
We must take her to him.

Jairus:
What?

Rachel:
We must take her to Jesus.

Jairus:
Rachel...

[Cleopas arrives]

Rachel:
Oh Cleopas... you must tell him.

Cleopas:
How is she?

Rachel:
She's dying.

Jairus:
No! She is not dying Rachel!

Rachel:
Oh Jairus! Are you that afraid of them? They have such a hold over your life!

Jairus:
God is my life! Not man... not any man!

Cleopas:
I think we should listen to this Jesus.

Jairus:
What?

Cleopas:
No one ever lost their soul by listening to a liar. Only by believing him and following him. And if he speaks the truth...

Simon the Pharisee:
The truth?

Cleopas:
We have nothing to fear from the truth, do we?

Simon the Pharisee:
No, no. We must question Jesus, see how he defends himself.

Rachel:
Yes! We must listen.

Simon the Pharisee:
Why should the people think their leaders do not listen? I will invite Jesus and his band of followers to my home, and we'll see whether he really is God's prophet.

Pontius Pilate:
Who is he, and what has he done?

Ben Azra:
Jesus, from Galilee.

Pontius Pilate:
Jesus? Oh, is this the man?

Pharisee:
He opposes paying taxes to Caesar!

Pontius Pilate:
In other words he shares your opinion. And?

Judas Iscariot:
Listen! I've made a mistake!

Ben Azra:
What's that to me?

Judas Iscariot:
No... I've betrayed an innocent man! I've betrayed a good man!

Pontius Pilate:
Who are you? Where do really come from? Don't you realise I have the power to release you or to crucify you?

Jesus:
You would have no power over me if hadn't been given to you from above.

Pontius Pilate:
From above? Who are you?

Pontius Pilate:
Don't you want your King?

Caiaphas:
The only King we want is Caesar, and if you do nothing about this, then you are no friend of Caesar.

Pontius Pilate:
...I'm washing my hands of this... of all of you. [sighs] Deal with their King according to Roman law.

Jesus:
Father... into your hands I commend my spirit. It is finished!

Andrew:
[to the disciples gathered around a fire] I was the first to follow him. If anyone's gonna be in charge, it's gonna be me.

Judas Iscariot:
Could you lead an army? Would man follow you to glory?

Andrew:
I was the *first*. [Jesus approaches carrying firewood]

James the Disciple:
Go on, ask him Judas.

Judas Iscariot:
Master, um... [hesitates]

James the Disciple:
[interrupts] We've been waiting for you to come, and tell us who will be the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven!

Jesus:
[laughs] All right. All right, I'll tell you. [walks toward a little girl, lifts her off a donkey] Unless you change utterly and become like little children, you will never even enter the kingdom of Heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this little child, he will be the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven.

Jairus:
Master, come with us. Sit by our fire.

Cleopas:
There are many things we don't understand.

Jesus:
[distracted] I will come and talk to you Cleopas. I... I promise... Jairus... very soon and we... we will talk about many things. [walks toward the Garden of Olives]

Tamar:
Where are you going?

Jesus:
You can't come with me now. [kneels before her] But one day you will.

Tamar:
[sad] I don't *want* you to go.

Jesus:
Shh, shh don't be upset. Don't be afraid. In my Father's house there are so many rooms, [smiles] *so* many. [he embraces Tamar] I'm going to find a wonderful place for you. One day, you will always be with me.

Pharisee:
He saved others, why can't he save himself?

Ben Azra:
[amused] If he's the Messiah, let him come down now.

Lucifer:
[hissing] Come down now, leap off! Prove your power, if you *are* the Son of God, *if*.