As a spectator of the Resurrection Pageant, watching the scene play out at Pilate’s palace, my emotions are fragile. The shouts of “Crucify Him” from the actors standing in the crowd doesn’t help. My instinct to turn to them and say, “Stop that, don’t you know who that is!” Is tempting.
With almost 15 years of being involved with the Keene Resurrection Pageant, either as a spectator or helping lead behind the scenes, there are several things that have changed my life being involved with the pageant. At the top of the list are the sounds. In particular, the sound at Pilate’s palace and the walk to the crucifixion scene. Many people, after going through the pageant for the first time say that with the visuals and the actors, everything comes to life. For me, it is the sound that has had the biggest impact on me.
The book of Mark describes the scene between Pilate’s palace and the crucifixion of Jesus:
“The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. 17 They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18 And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” 19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. 21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.”
Mark 15:16-21
When we read scripture, we can see the humiliation that Jesus, our Savior, endured for us. In our minds, we can see the bitterness in the words used to mock Him, but do we hear the sounds?
Do you hear the sounds of the mob mocking Jesus?
Do you hear the voices choosing Barabbas over Jesus?
Do you hear the voices saying, “Crucify Him”?
Of all the sounds that I hear, the one that moves me the most is one I never really thought about before experiencing the pageant. Yes, the music of the song Via Delorosa is beautiful. Yes, the murmur of the crowd is noticeable as the scene moves from Pilate’s Palace to the long walk leading to the path of the cross. The most impactful sound I hear is a simple noise.
It is a “thud.”
It is the “thud” of the cross falling down to the ground as Jesus stumbles. It echoes and it is haunting. In one Bible verse, it simply says that Simon picked up and carried the cross. What I hear in that thud is the broken body of Jesus going through this because of His love for you and me. Even though his body is broken, he is steadfast in his resolve to keep going forward.
The sound of the “thud” is the one moment in the pageant that has changed my life.
By Pastor Rick Weaver Pastor for Administration at the Keene Seventh-day Adventist Church