The Radio Jerusalem Breakfast Show

CAST (in order of appearance)

1) Ruth Presenter, in the Studio

2) BenYamin Trottenyahu Roving Reporter

3) Joseph Of Arimathaea

4) Edilijah Grindy 1st Gardener

5) Antonius Archerus Roman Soldier

6) Simeon Oldrich Spokesman for Caiphas

7) Mary of Magdala

5) Mary the Mother of Jesus

3) Peter Disciple

4) ??? 2nd Gardener

Ruth Good morning Jerusalem, this is Ruth with the breakfast show on this Passover Sunday. Today we have our roving reporter getting some interviews for us on some extra-ordinary events which are unfolding as I speak, near the tomb where one of the crucified criminals was buried a couple of days ago. Our special reporter on the spot is BenYamin Trottenyahu. Over to you Ben

BenYamin Trottenyahu Thank you Ruth. I first spoke to Joseph of Arimathaea, who owns the tomb in question. What have you got to say, Joseph?

Joseph of Arimathaea I do not wish to make any comment at present. All I am prepared to say is that on Friday evening I obtained permission from Pilate to bury the dead body of Jesus of Nazareth in my own tomb. His one condition was that the tomb be securely sealed. This I duly did with a large rock. I have not been near the tomb from then until a few minutes ago when I heard a noise from near the tomb. I saw three women, and the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. I know no more: I did not arrange the moving of the stone. I complied with Pilate’s instructions, and am prepared to say no more.

Ben Thank you Joseph. Next I have one of Joseph’s gardeners with me, Edilijah Grindy. What have you got to say Edi?

Edilijah Well I was there on Friday, Joseph asked me to help the Roman soldiers move that great big stone to block off the entrance. You say you saw three women. That’s a joke, they would not stand any chance of moving that there stone. You can rule them out - it took 5 hefty soldiers and me to get it into place, and it was well and truly sealed tight. I’ve just been down there to look. I’m completely baffled.

Ben Thank you Edilijah. I have just managed to catch up with one of the Roman soldiers who were on duty: what is your version of events?

Antonius Archerus I have no comment to the media. I am reporting to Pilate. All press releases will be issued via the press spokesman in the usual way. Good day.

Ben Thank you for nothing. I will now go down to the tomb itself and describe the scene for you. I am entering the tomb now, the stone has been rolled completely clear of the entrance. Well there is certainly no body in here now, just an empty slab with a neat pile of linen wrappings , which the body was in, nothing else. Just an empty tomb. Back to the studio.

Ruth These extraordinary events are being brought to you by the Radio Jerusalem Breakfast show. With me in the studio is the official spokesman for Caiphas, the high priest who was instrumental in arranging for the arrest of Jesus and taking him to Pilate for crucifixion. What is your version of events?

Simeon Oldrich Thank you for the opportunity to give our official version of these events. We asked Pilate to ensure that the body of Jesus of Nazareth was securely locked and guarded because he had made some extravagant claims to his followers about rising from the dead on the third day - a ridiculous notion, of course, but in view of what has happened we now believe that 11 or 12 of his main followers may have sneaked into the garden under cover of darkness, surprised the Roman guard, removed the stone and stolen the body, in order to continue the myth of Jesus rising from the dead. We are continuing our search for these men and intend dealing with them severely when found.

Ruth Thank you for that slant on events still evolving this morning on the Radio Jerusalem Breakfast show. Ben who have you got with you now?

Ben I have got Mary of Magdala, one of the women who was seen near the tomb. Mary - what happened this morning?

Mary of Magdala Well, the other Mary, Salome and I thought it was only right and proper to try to get to the body to anoint it with the usual oils as is normal Jewish practice. It was just after sunrise this morning, of course we could not do it on the Sabbath, so we came out early to do it today. We were talking as we came along, wondering whether the Roman guards would be there and if they would let us see the body. Or if they had gone, however were we going to move the stone.

We could not believe our eyes when we turned the corner and saw the stone rolled away, and no sign of the guards anywhere. We went cautiously up to the tomb, and peered in. No, the guards were not there, so we went inside, all three of us.

And there was somebody there, only not dead, but sitting up. He gave us the fright of our lives. Oh no! It was not Jesus, it was a young man, and his garments seemed to shine in a strange way. Salome has since called him an angel, but I just don’t know, I’m a bit confused by it all, I just don’t know what to think. Anyway, angel or not, he told us not to be afraid, because Jesus had risen from the dead just as he said he would. Then he told us to return to Peter and the disciples to tell them what we had seen and heard. That’s what we have just done. I think they are as confused as we are, but thinking back, it is true that Jesus did say something about rising from the dead more than once. At the time we did not really take it in, did not really believe they would kill him, so the question would never arise. Even if we were killed, we thought, could somebody really rise from the dead. I mean, would you believe it?

Ben Thank you for speaking to us.

Now I am privileged to have Jesus’ mother, another Mary, with me and she has agreed to share with us some of her thoughts at this very difficult time. Mary thank you for talking to us, our listeners appreciate this very much. You must be overwhelmed by all the rumours and counter rumours

Mary, Mother of Jesus I have spent the last two days in constant prayer and reflection on my dear first-born son. I believe him to be the Son of the Most High God. He said many times that he would have to be killed, and the Romans killed him. He also said that he would rise from the dead on the third day. I am now quite calm about these events, and I firmly believe that he has risen from the dead. Everything else he said in life was true, and I believe these words to be true also.

Ben Quite extra-ordinary claims heard there from the mother of Jesus, the one at the centre of events this Passover Sunday. Remember - you heard it first on radio Jerusalem. Now Mary of Magdala is back with something else to tell us. She looks as if she has been crying - Mary what happened.

Mary of Magdala I thought it was the gardener, I really did, so I asked him what he had done with the body of my Lord, of Jesus. He did not say anything at first, just looked at me, straight at me looked in a sort of familiar way, but one I just could not place. Then he said one word, that’s all

"Mary".

I knew, I just knew that it was my Lord, knew it was Jesus. Has he really come back from the dead, can it really be true. Excuse me I must tell Peter and the others.

Ben Amazing, events are overtaking us, we are hearing it as it happens. I can now see one of Jesus’ friends emerging from a pub opposite. I will try to get him to speak to me. Excuse me, sir have you got a word for Radio Jerusalem.?

Peter I’m Peter and I want to see things for myself. There have been stories, rumours, counter-rumours, allegations and I don’t know what.

I am not having my Lord talked about liked that without good reason. I am going to the tomb. I want to see it for myself. Can’t stop to say any more. . .

Ben I am back near the garden where the tomb is again, to try to see if anybody else is about who might be able to shed some light on all these strange goings-on.

But wait, here is somebody who must be another gardener. Lets see what he can tell us

Gardener 2 Peace be with you all. How slow to believe are you of this generation. Did not Moses and all the prophets foretell that the Messiah had to suffer and die and that on the third day he would rise from the dead? Today all these texts have come to pass, have been fulfilled in your presence.

Ben He has gone - he just vanished, when he had finished talking.

Ruth did you hear that, can you take it now Ruth: I think I have just achieved a "first" in radio - a first for Radio Jerusalem -an interview with the man who rose from the dead.

An interview with the Risen Lord!!

©Terry Beckett 02/2000