Christ on Trial

A Lenten Service Series

Easter Sunday

"Witness: Mary Magdalene Returns"

Drama

Prosecutor:  During the last several weeks, this church has been the scene of a trial. We put Christ on trial. As the prosecutor, I have presented to you, the jury, the evidence against Jesus, the Christ, who claimed to be the Son of God and Savior of humankind, who would die for our sins, rise again, and live with us eternally--thus transforming our lives.

In the course of this trial, we heard the testimony of Matthew who claimed that Christ came to call and befriend sinners. He implied that we are sinners just like the tax collectors and prostitutes Jesus hung out with. We heard from a woman crippled for 18 years until Jesus healed her ... on the Sabbath, no less, breaking laws that have governed our worship and relationship with God for centuries. She tried to play on our emotions by insisting that not only had she been healed, but also that we had all been freed to worship God with our whole hearts.

We next interrogated a woman caught in adultery who claimed Christ's forgiveness was more important than the consequences of the law. I will say she made a good point about judging others, but that doesn't change the fact that Jesus undermined the very foundation of our society by not joining in condemnation of this sinner. And she claims the experience totally changed her life.

The following week, we heard from the Apostle John, who tried to confuse the issue by talking about Jesus as "the bread of life" who lives on in the Word and the Lord's Supper. I think we made a solid case there, that mystery religions, such as the one Jesus was trying to start, don't survive long.

Next, we heard from Mary of Magdala, who was actually at the foot of Jesus' cross and heard His last words. She painted an unbelievable portrait of a man suffering unspeakable agony. But He was still able to speak words of kindness, forgiveness, and love. She claimed this was all part of God's plan of salvation. We had to cut short her testimony when her delusional thinking about a resurrection overcame the healing that Jesus had done for her early in His ministry.

Finally, we heard from the Apostle named Simon Peter. He gave a detailed account of the last meeting of Jesus with His closest disciples--His "generals," if you will--which took place in a second-story room during the celebration of the Passover Feast. At that meeting Jesus' words and actions clearly threatened our delicate fiber of society as we know it. In essence, Jesus' plan was to turn society on its ear, destroying our mores and disregarding our norms.

After hearing all these witnesses, the jury was duly charged to consider the evidence, reach a verdict and mete out the appropriate punishment--crucifixion in this case. As you all are aware, that verdict was reached and the accused was summarily executed on Friday--some are now calling it "Good Friday" or "God's Friday"--like dying Christ somehow won a victory for God.

We had thought that that would be the end of it, but this Mary of Magdala is a most persistent defender of Jesus. She has petitioned the court to be allowed to return and complete her testimony. We do apologize for calling you, the jurors in this case, back together, but Mary does seem determined to clear the name of this friend of hers.

Therefore, the court recalls Mary Magdala. And we remind you that you are still under oath.

Mary:  Oh yes, that's all I want--an opportunity to tell the truth about Jesus, and how His transformation is also our transformation.

Prosecutor:  All right, now recap--you were there when He died. You've already testified that you heard Him breathe His last breath. You certainty don't plan to retract that statement and claim like some, that he just fainted or was resuscitated, do you?

Mary:  Oh no, Jesus definitely died. I saw the soldiers pierce His side with a spear. I saw blood and water run out of Him. That's a sign, you know, that His body fluids had gravitated to the lower part of His body because the heart was no longer pumping the blood. And after that, I followed Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimethea to the tomb cut in the rock. I watched them prepare His body, place it on a shelf in the cave tomb, and roll the great stone across the opening. Yes, Jesus was definitely dead and buried.

Prosecutor:  Then why have you persisted in petitioning this court to give further testimony? Why have we dragged these good people from their homes on this one day of the week when they could be resting or getting things done at home? If Jesus is dead, that's the end of it. (turning to the congregation) We are sorry, members of the jury, this obviously is another of those frivolous suits...

Mary:  (cutting prosecutor off) But, Jesus is not dead! That's what I tried to tell you when I was here last time. After the burial, I went home to observe the Sabbath. It was really hard to thank God for His goodness and I kept thinking of Jesus all through the prayers. I went to bed, but I couldn't sleep. When it was almost morning, I got up and made my way in the dark back to the tomb. I thought that just being close to Jesus, even in death, might ease the pain of my grief a little.

Prosecutor:  Yes, that's understandable. It must have been a terrible night for you. Now, I know what is coming next. We've all heard the story of you finding the stone rolled away, of your getting Peter and that other disciple, and of their finding that the body had been stolen--they may even have done it themselves. We've been looking into that--grave robbing is a serious offense. 

Now I do hope you're not going to try to convince this court that the absence of a body proves Jesus' claim to be able to rise from the dead. I did hear a rumor going around to that effect.

Mary:  Oh, it's no rumor. I saw Jesus. He spoke my name and I recognized Him. I touched Him--even tried to cling to him, but He wouldn't let me. He explained that He must return to the Father so that His Spirit could be with us always. I wasn't sure I knew what He meant about the Spirit...

Prosecutor:  Mary, Mary, try to think rationally. You were stressed out and exhausted. You were overcome with grief. Someone, perhaps the gardener spoke to you, tried to comfort you in your overwrought state. Wanting so much for the events of the previous days to be undone or untrue, you imagined that this person was Jesus. Now that makes a lot more sense, doesn't it?

Mary:  (firmly, with conviction) I can only tell you what I saw and heard and experienced. I did think it was the gardener at first, but when He spoke my name, I knew it was Jesus. And when I looked at Him directly, I saw that He wasn't as He had been, all bruised and bloody. He was different than I'd ever seen Him. He appeared like the description Peter, James and John gave of Him when He was transfigured on the mountain. He was transformed in a way I just can't describe. You have to have been there to experience the risen Christ for yourself to understand.

Prosecutor:  Yes, well, that was an experience limited to you, and, I guess, if it gives you comfort, there's no harm done, but you really can't expect this court to take the word of a woman with your history of mental instability. Without corroborating witnesses, we really must close this case. The court and these good people of the jury can't be expected to get excited about the spectral vision of one woman.

Mary:  But there are corroborating witnesses. First, there are the disciples who spoke with Jesus after I did. And then there was Thomas who actually put his hand in the wound in Jesus' side. And what about the two disciples who met Jesus on the Road to Emmaus but didn't recognize Him until He broke bread in their home? And don't forget the thousands, no, millions of people who have been transformed and whose lives have been changed by believing that through the forgiveness of sins, brought about by Jesus' death and resurrection, they are now children of God. All these people can testify that my story is true.

Prosecutor:  You're getting excited. Please try to calm down and stick to the facts.    

Mary:  But these are the facts. Jesus Christ was truly the Son of God. He gave up His power and glory to live and die for us. By believing that through Him, we are forgiven for our sins, we have the hope of eternal life with God. He has made us brothers and sisters and through Him we can now call God our Father too. We continue to meet Jesus and be nourished in faith through the working of the Holy Spirit in the Word and Sacraments. And this transforms us. It gives us hope for the future--for life after death. But more than that, it transforms us now, in this life. Having a continuing relationship with God makes even the pains of this life endurable. It makes how we relate to each other and to all people different, for we see others with the loving eyes of Christ. And it unites us with people in every time and place. In fact, it especially unites us on this day as believers in Jesus all over the world who celebrate His resurrection with that ancient greeting ... He is risen!

All:  He is risen indeed!!!