Category: Passover

Chiseling the Rock ... Peter's Story

4/1/2015

Given the time of year this is, with the Passover season just around the corner, I thought it would be appropriate to share the stage play I wrote about the Apostle Peter.

Last year, on this blog, I started sharing this play with my readers in increments ... and I never finished, or followed through, with the series.

I have had some trouble with formatting the stage play in this program, so I apologize in advance if it appears awkward on your screen ... I did my best to format it properly as best I could.

This play is a One Act, and should only take about an hour to read in its entirety ... the dialogue flows at a fast clip; like normal conversations ... expect a lot of cutting off/interruptions, and over-lapping ... the natural flow of real exchanges between people.

Those of you familiar with The Gospels will immediately recognize what passages/scriptures I expounded upon ... and you will see how I clearly used my creative imagination to "flesh out" the scenarios.

Those of you unfamiliar with reading a stage play, please understand it is mostly dialogue ... and you, quite literally, have to create your own visualizations in your imagination ... when you read a stage play, you become the director and stage designer.

I know, and understand, reading straight dialogue can be tedious and uncomfortable but I do ask you that you give it a sincere chance ... I think you will be pleasantly surprised once you get into it.

And, please, I do ask you to let me know what you think ... thank you!

PLEASE CLICK

HERE

TO READ THE ENTIRE SCRIPT

... ...Chiseling the Rock is a comedic-laden, fast-paced, realistic drama that shines light upon Peter and Jesus as friends ... as MEN.

Easy to follow, and to read, for entertainment.

Appealing to both mainstream and religious theatre patrons alike, this play has excellent potential to be far-reaching.

Chiseling the Rock follows the chronology of the biblical/historical events closely, and fleshes out the events by keeping the characters human; keeping the characters REAL.

You will not find sad-eyed, solemn-stepped, soft-spoken martyrs in this play. But you will find real men with real lives, and real conflicts. Real drama.

Enjoy.

This online script is for reading entertainment only. There have been several revisions for stage production since this original script was written, and copyrighted with the Library of Congress, in 2005.

This play has been performed on stage, and has also won awards.

If you would like to produce this play for your church, community, or school, please contact me (Brooke Brookreson) for a hardcopy of the revised script, and for my generous terms.

My gracious appreciation, in advance, for respecting my endeavor and work by contacting me for permission. Thank you.

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It Just Doesn't Add Up ... or does it?

3/31/2015

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Today is Tuesday, March 31st ... it is 10:00 at night, and I am starting this blog.

Regardless of what "church" we go to, or what "religion" we are ... we all read from the same Bible, and read the same passages at this time of year: Passover/Easter.

We've all read the scriptures about how Jesus was crucified on the actual DAY of the Jewish Passover.

We've all read the scriptures about how the sun was near setting when He finally took his last breath, and there was a rush to get His body down, and wrapped, BEFORE the sun completely set because it was going to be the Sabbath.

"And now when the evening was coming, because this was the day of preparation, this is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathaea, went boldly unto Pilate and demanded the body of Jesus." Mark 15:42-43

And

"Joseph went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus, and he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, where never a man before was laid. And that day was the preparation day, and the Sabbath drew nigh. And the women followed, and beheld the sepulchre, and how His body was laid. And they returned [to their dwelling places] and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment." Luke 23:52-56

Yes, I think we all know that Jesus had to be taken down from the stake in a rush before the sun set because it was going to be the Sabbath ... He observed the Sabbath, and His followers observed the Sabbath ... and I think we all know it was such a rush that they did not have time to properly clean him, and rub His body with all the ointment/salves, and so He was quickly placed in the tomb before the sun set .... and it was understood that the women would come back to finish preparing His body later for His proper, final burial.

I think we all got that ... no confusion ... we all got the gist of the story.

And, like I said, I think regardless of what church we go to, or what our religion is, I think we can all read these passages and come to the same conclusion .... because we all read from the same Bible, and we all pretty much know the story.

I think we all know that Jesus proclaimed many times, and in many different ways, among His followers and the crowds, and here is just one example: "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." Matthew 12:40

And I think we also know what those pesky self-righteous Jewish Pharisees did ... they were the main (if not the only religious sect at that time) who were behind having Jesus killed ... they went to Pilate (The Governor of Rome - not a religious title, but a governmental title, since the Roman Catholic Church didn't come into existence until MANY years later) and said, "Excuse us, Sir, we remember what that deceiver Jesus said - while he was still alive - he said that after three days he will rise again! Command that the sepulchre be made sure [sealed] until the third day so his disciples won't come by night and steal him away and say unto the people, "See! He is risen from the dead!" And, so, we also all know that Pilate gave into their paranoid, spiteful wishes, and Jesus' tomb was sealed even tighter and was manned 'round the clock with guards. Matthew 27:62-66

And, since we all read the same Bible, we also know that the women showed up early "Sunday" morning to finish preparing Jesus' body with the spices and ointments ... and found the stone rolled away, and the tomb empty: "Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre bringing the spices which they had prepared ... and they found the stone rolled away ... and found not the body of the Lord Jesus." Luke 24:1-3

I think we got all of that, too ... still no confusion ... we all know the story.

Here's where it DOES get confusing though.

For the longest time I could never understand how people could be confused about Jesus' death and resurrection ... the timing of it.

I never could understand how the general majority got three days and three nights from Good Friday to Easter Sunday ... it just seemed so simple, the mathematics of it all, and it just didn't make sense to me ... it just didn't add up.

At all.

There were no calendars back in those days ... there were no clocks ... there were no formal names for the days (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, etc) ...

The days were numbered (First Day through Seventh Day) since the beginning of time ... and God's DAILY timing (also since the beginning of time) was literally sunset to sunset.

Not sunrise to sunrise ... not midnight to midnight ... but sunset to sunset.

But even if the general majority didn't realize these facts, there's still no way in the world to calculate three days and three nights from the sixth day of the week to the first day of the week ... from Friday to Sunday.

Try it ... count ... from Friday to Sunday ... see what I mean?

But then I got to thinking ... well, wait ... maybe they must think Jesus HAD to die on a Friday since, you know, His body had to be hurried down and put into a tomb BEFORE the Sabbath (which most everyone knows is Saturday, the seventh day.

They read the same scriptures ... they think He has to die on a Friday because of the Sabbath ... and they read more scriptures that clearly say the women discover Him gone on the first day of the week (Sunday) .... okay, wow, I think I get where they are coming from ... they are trying to force it to make sense.

But, you see, you really can't force these things.

So, anyway, yes, the confusion kinda began to make a little bit of some sense to me ... the confusion of why the majority of the world can't add Friday to Sunday, and why they have their timing all messed up ... maybe they just don't realize that there is another kind of Sabbath that is observed, and it is called a High Sabbath, and it is a Holy Day that is even holier than the seventh day weekly Sabbath.

Let me explain.

The "day" that Passover itself falls on is NOT a Holy Day ... but that night, when the sun sets, the next day, IS ... it is The First Day of Unleavened Bread ... it is a High Sabbath ... and this is why the actual "day" of Passover is CALLED a preparation day ... the Jews are busy on this day, during the day, preparing for the Passover meal that they will partake of after the sun sets and the Holy Day starts ... sunset to sunset.

How do they prepare on the day OF Passover? By getting their meal prepared and ready, by slaughtering the lamb and getting it ready to roast, by cleaning their main dining area, by getting their candles, etc ... there's a lot to prepare for before the sun sets, and before the High Sabbath begins.

So, you see, Jesus didn't die on a Friday ... He didn't have to be rushed down because the next day was a Saturday (Sabbath.)

Jesus died on - what we call now - a Wednesday.

The actual day Jesus died ... He actually died at the precise time the High Priest was slitting the throat of the Passover lamb ... was a Wednesday, and the next day (Thursday) was a High Sabbath, a Holy Day called The First Day of Unleavened Bread.

Now ... count the nights Jesus was DEAD in God's time ... Wednesday night, Thursday night, Friday night ... THREE NIGHTS.

Now ... count the days Jesus was DEAD in God's time ... Thurs-day, Fri-day, Satur-day ... that equals THREE DAYS.

The women couldn't take care of Jesus Wednesday night because after sunset it was a High Sabbath ... and they couldn't take care of Him Thurs-day because that was THE High Sabbath which ended at sunset ... and they couldn't take care of Him on the next day Fri-day because that was another preparation day for the regular, weekly Sabbath.

Okay, now, so since Saturday DAY is still the regular weekly Sabbath ....... the women still couldn't get to Jesus to properly prepare Him for His final burial.

They had no choice but to go to Him in the wee hours of Sun-day morning ... daybreak ... and He was already gone, as we all well know the story.

It is estimated Jesus died probably around 5/6 o'clock in the late afternoon/early evening ... not long at all before sunset.

Jesus was not dead three days and four nights ... He was dead three days and three nights ... Jesus did NOT resurrect/rise on a Sunday ... He was found GONE on a Sunday, YES, but He did not resurrect/rise on a Sunday.

For Him to resurrect on a Sunday, He would have had to be dead Wednesday night, Thursday night, Friday night, and Saturday night ... rising on Sunday after the sun set on Saturday.

No, Jesus was resurrected on a regular, seventh day, weekly Sabbath ... probably about the same time He died ... around 5/6 o'clock in the late afternoon/early evening BEFORE the Sabbath day ended at sunset, and BEFORE the new day Sunday started.

In closing, I am wondering if anyone out there reading this realizes what tonight is.

My blog yesterday described and explained that Jesus knew He wasn't going to be able to observe the Passover meal BECAUSE HE KNEW HE WAS GOING TO BE THE PASSOVER ... so what did He do?

He gathered His followers the night before and had His own intimate supper.

My blog tonight describes and explains that Jesus died on a Wednesday ... and, I also told you at the beginning of this blog that I was writing to you on a late Tuesday night.

Do you realize that at this precise moment ... this exact same day/night ... some, oh, maybe 1982 years ago ... Jesus sought privacy in a garden .. kneeling and pacing and kneeling and pacing ... crying and moaning and shouting ... in agony ... knowing what He was going to be facing tomorrow?

It just doesn't add up ... or does it.

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Preparing For The Passover

3/27/2015

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Millions of Jews all over the world are preparing to observe the Holy Day, Passover, this coming Friday, April 3rd ... which is, ironically, also the so-called holiday "Good Friday" that millions of Christians will celebrate (but that subject will have to be addressed in another blog.)

Meanwhile, a very small scattering of people will be preparing to do what the real Jesus did ... why? Because He asked us to.

In fact, it is the only "thing" He asked us to do for Him.

He didn't ask us to celebrate His birthday ... and He dang-sure didn't ask us to celebrate the Mass of Christ with the Roman Catholics.

He didn't ask us to celebrate His resurrection ... and He dang-sure didn't ask us to pay pagan homage/respects to the goddess of fertility, Ishtar, either.

He simply asked us to honor, and remember, His death.

"Do THIS in remembrance of me."

That's all ... that's it.

So, anyway, I have been asked by a few people about how to "keep" Passover ... how to observe it, how to prepare for it.

I honestly try to keep it just as Jesus did, and just how He asked us to ... we do not observe the Jewish Passover; we observe it the night BEFORE just like He did.

This is Christ's Passover; not the Jewish Passover ... this is the New Covenant; not the Old.

As far as physical preparations for the actual service, it is really quite simple ... we have a table with a platter of unleavened bread and a bottle of wine with small glasses.

We read all of the scriptures that pertain to this night ... in Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, John 13, and I Corinthians 11:24-29.

We also wash one another's feet ... just as He commanded us to do ... John 13:1-17 ... and the last thing He said on this very humbling subject of feet-washing was "If you know to do these things, happy are you if you do them."

And, then, we simply sing a hymn and leave ... just as they did ... Matthew 26:30 and Mark 14:26 ... "And when they had sung a hymn, they went out ....."

We do not fix an elaborate meal on this night ... it is not a festive occasion ... it is more of a reflective, respectful, solemn memorial service.

And, that is where the Spiritual preparations come in ... yes, it is important to Spiritually prepare for this occasion.

The observance should move us forward in the faith, and in the mind, of Jesus Christ ... we should strive to make it a very personal and private occasion.

This is a personal occasion because, not only did Christ die for the sins of all mankind, but He died for YOU ... He personally died for YOU.

This is a private occasion because, if you consider and reflect upon what it took for Jesus Christ to suffer and die for YOUR sins ... well, like I said, that is a very private matter.

Something else that makes it personal, and private, as you Spiritually prepare for this special night is taking the time for retrospection and self-examination of your Life ... realizing that we are made worthy through the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ ... we should look back and reflect on the turns our new life has taken since we made our decision to follow, and OBEY, Him.

And, then ask ourselves, am I still going in the right direction?

I think it is also important to evaluate your relationships and make amends ... make amends with ourselves, and forgive ourselves ... and also make amends with people who have hurt us, and forgive them ... before we take part in this special ceremony.

Why? "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."

The Passover is an annual opportunity to "wipe the slate completely clean" again ... start all over ... and so evaluating yourself, and your relationships is a Good, Spiritual preparation ... and a Good, Spiritual time to deal with issues, find closure where needed, and start over with a clean slate and a new understanding.

Observing Christ's Passover deals with the Attitude of Mind ... I think it is important to go into this solemn ceremony with the right Spirit and attitude ... so we are not guilty of the body and blood of the Lord (I Cor 11:27.)

We need to prepare ourselves Spiritually so as to not partake of the service unworthily ... not that anyone is actually "WORTHY" ... but what I mean is, we must recognize we are bad enough to need it, instead of good enough to deserve it ... and the word "unworthily" in this context means to partake of this service arrogantly, disrespectfully and irreverently.

Can you really take Passover worthily? Yes ... examine yourself, and think about what you truly are, and where you truly are in your Life, and repent.

What does repent mean? It means CHANGE.

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"It's all about living your Life like a full-time job...writing about it is easy once you get into the groove." John Wells

(Best Advice I've Ever Been Given)

Chiseling the Rock ... Peter's Story

It Just Doesn't Add Up ... or does it?

Preparing For The Passover

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