St. John’s Messiah
Small-Cast Song Samples
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A journey to Jerusalem for Passover. A father, a mother, and a twelve-year-old boy whose heart is already drawn to something greater.
In this tender and prophetic song, a mother’s love and a mother’s sorrow meet.
Satan’s Throne
Satan looked down on Jesus from high up in his evil lair. It had been a long time since anyone had come anywhere near the place. And Satan was overjoyed at the prospect of ensnaring such easy prey.
Inescapable Trap
A woman accused. A divided crowd. A dangerous confrontation. Jesus faces an impossible choice — but turns the trap into a moment of truth that no one will forget.
Going Home
A mother cradles her beloved son in her arms one last time and says goodbye.
A Candle in the Night
Fear gives way to comfort, doubt gives way to courage, and darkness gives way to hope as Jesus delivers his final message.
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Please read the narration before playing the song. Then follow along with the lyrics and dialogue to see which characters are singing.
NARRATOR
The family left Bethlehem soon after Jesus was born, and moved to Nazareth, a small provincial town not too far from the Sea of Galilee. It was an idyllic childhood. Jesus had many friends and many cousins. There was always someone to play with and talk to. But what he loved the most was spending time in his father’s wood shop helping him craft the cabinets and furnishings that were the talk of all of Galilee.
The only thing that brought him more joy than that, other than his long walks with his mother in the rolling hills outside of Nazareth, was the family’s yearly pilgrimage to the Holy Land for Passover. But one year was especially eventful. Jesus had come of age and was ready to be examined by the priests and doctors of the Holy Temple.
The journey from Nazareth was long. It took days. One night the family had stopped and made camp, along with five or six other families, mostly relatives; and a few friends. Jesus was lying on a mat near the fire his father was tending. Mary, his mother, was folding clothes and putting them into a knapsack.
Everyone was in high spirits. Especially Jesus, who was, despite his mother’s repeated reprimands, utterly incapable of keeping his eyes closed. Finally unable to contain himself a moment longer, he sat straight up and said…
THE PILGRIMAGE — LYRICS
JESUS: (singing)
Father?
JOSEPH: (slightly amused)
Shh. Go to sleep Jesus.
JESUS: (singing)
But when will we be there?
JOSEPH: (showing mock frustration)
On the Sabbath. For the fifteenth time.
JESUS: (singing)
I’ve waited so long.
JOSEPH:
I know, son.
JESUS: (singing)
Father, just once more,
Could you sing me that song?
You know the one.
(Joseph looks at Mary and shrugs in feigned defeat, then picks up a lute leaning against a rock near the fire, then strums it as he sings…)
JOSEPH: (singing)
Jerusalem, your children have always roamed;
But today you’re calling us home.
So we come from Egypt, we come from Persia,
We come from Athens and Rome.
Oh, Jerusalem, your children are coming home.
JESUS: (jumping to his feet, singing)
Father?
JOSEPH: (as he’s about to lean the lute back against the rock)
Yes, son?
JESUS: (singing)
Do you ever see God in your dreams?
I see Him all the time.
And Father, when He smiles it’s too beautiful to describe…
JESUS: (singing)
Jerusalem…
(Joseph joins him as they both sing proudly)
Your children have always roamed,
But today you’re calling us home,
So we come from Egypt, we come from Persia,
We come from Athens and Rome,
Oh, Jerusalem, your children are coming home.
NARRATOR: (off stage)
Mary insisted that Jesus lie back down and go...to...sleep. Joseph watched as she tucked him in and stroked his head, and he thought about how blessed he was to be part of such a family as this.
Later that night, after everyone was fast asleep, a mysterious light descended on Jesus from high in the star-filled sky, fully enveloping him as God spoke to him in a dream. Jesus slowly awoke, rose, and walked, trance-like, deep into the desert. He seemed to be listening to a voice, continually nodding his head as if he was receiving some kind of profound instructions. Finally, far from the camp, he stopped, looked up, and said…
JESUS: (singing)
Father?
Has the journey begun?
Am I to be the one.
To lead your children to liberation;
To show them the way to sweet salvation?
And when they reach the destination,
Will they turn and continue to roam?
Oh, Father, will they let me bring them home.
Please read the narration before playing the song. Then follow along with the lyrics and dialogue to see which characters are singing.
NARRATOR:
Jesus turned and walked back to the pharisees to continue the debate. Joseph looked at Mary in disbelief, then turned his attention to his son. Stunned, Mary fell back into the crowd, and then left the temple in a daze. When she regained her senses she found herself in a deserted area near the west wall. Below her, off in the distance, she saw three men being crucified.
MARY’S LAMENT — LYRICS
MARY: (singing)
Dear God, how fast the years have passed,
But he’s still a child, and childhood should last,
He’s a boy, not a man; and I know that the plan
Is to deliver a savior as fast as we can,
But he’s still just a child, He’s not ready for what lies ahead,
He needs more time to prepare for this road he must tread.
I was your chosen one, so pure and young,
I did what you asked, I gave You Your son,
So now, dear Lord I pray, please don’t take him away!
Oh God, please forgive me, I’m frightened, I don’t mean what I say,
But he’s asking for trouble, and trouble will find him one day.
Everyone has a path. Everyone makes their way alone,
But we have the choice, to journey far, or to turn around and come home.
Oh God, take care of our precious child! Hold him close to Your heart.
I know he belongs to the world, but if I lose him my world will come apart!
Please read the narration before playing the song. Then follow along with the lyrics and dialogue to see which characters are singing.
NARRATOR:
For forty days, he wandered in the desert alone, hardly sleeping, eating not a morsel of food, preparing to do battle with the enemy of his father, the enemy us all. Preparing to fight for not only his own soul, but for the soul of all Mankind.
And as dusk was falling on his fortieth day of solitude and starvation, Satan looked down on Jesus from high up in his evil lair. It had been a long time since anyone had come anywhere near the place. And Satan was overjoyed at the prospect of ensnaring such easy prey.
SATAN’S THRONE — LYRICS
SATAN: (singing)
Hmm, now what have we here? It’s too good to be true.
A man all alone, what evil things I could do!
He looks so tired and hungry, he’s practically mine.
Keep on coming, son, I need a closer inspection,
To see if you’re worthy of my collection.
I’ve got some of the greatest souls of all time!
And I love each and every one of them.
The fisher, the baker,
The priest, and cross maker.
They’re all the same to me.
I sneak up behind ‘em,
I dazzle and blind ‘em,
And offer them the whole world for free.
Yeah, they fall for it!
Then I mention my small fee.
But we can worry about that later.
So what should I do?
What shall I become?
A monster from hell?
At least he’ll know where I’m from!
Or should I be more subtle?
He won’t have a chance.
I don’t know, should I seduce him,
Or scare him to death?
Now scaring’s more fun,
But seduction’s my best bet.
No one ever escapes
When they’re under my trance.
Either way, fisher, baker,
Priest, or cross maker,
They’re all the same to me.
I sneak up behind ‘em,
I dazzle and blind ‘em,
And offer them the whole world for free.
Hey, I can’t help it if people are stupid.
Don’t they know,
There’s always something in it for me.
Duh.
Please read the narration before playing the song. Then follow along with the lyrics and dialogue to see which characters are singing.
NARRATOR:
Jesus was saddened by the cold heartedness of these supposed religious leaders. He turned his back to the crowd and walked a few feet away, then knelt down and began writing distractedly with his finger in the sand. The Pharisees looked at each other, perplexed, as the bystanders started to gossip about exactly what should be done with this despicable woman.
INESCAPABLE TRAP — LYRICS
MAN 1: (singing)
What will he do? It’s a dilemma,
An inescapable trap.
MAN 2: (singing)
He can’t condemn her, and he can’t forgive her,
Without taking the rap himself.
MAN 3: (singing)
Our laws are clear. She’s an adulteress,
And she was caught in the act.
No sin is greater;
It’s hard not to hate her
When she’s not even denying the fact.
CAIAPHAS: (singing)
Rabbi, we’re waiting. What’s your decision?
We need an answer sometime today.
We know what we saw.
Do we honor our law?
Or shall we just let her go her way?
WOMAN 1: (singing)
What will he do? Is he not a prophet?
Is he not a merciful man?
MAN 3: (singing)
The woman has sinned again and again;
She’s pushed it as far as she can.
MAN 1: (singing)
But we cannot stone her.
The Romans forbid us to execute anyone.
MAN 3: (singing)
We don’t need permission.
It’s our decision.
We know what to do, now let’s get it done!
CAIAPHAS: (singing)
Rabbi, we’re waiting. What is your judgement?
What do you want us to do?
MAN 3: (singing)
He must condemn her.
WOMAN 1: (singing)
No, he will forgive her.
MAN 3: (singing)
Whatever he does, he’s through!
MAN 1: (singing)
What will he do? It’s a dilemma,
An inescapable trap.
MAN 3: (singing)
The woman has sinned again and again,
She’s pushed it as far as she can.
CAIAPHAS: (singing)
Rabbi, we’re waiting.
What is your verdict?
WOMAN 1: (singing)
He seems like a merciful man!
CAIAPHAS: (singing)
What’s your position?
MAN 3: (singing)
The woman’s a sinner.
CAIAPHAS: (singing)
We need a decision.
MAN 3: (singing)
He must condemn her!
CAIAPHAS: (singing)
Rabbi, we’re waiting. It’s very simple.
Why have you suddenly lost your voice?
Her crime is severe, and our laws are clear.
There is only one choice!
JESUS:
Alright! Alright… Stone her.
Please read the narration before playing the song. Then follow along with the lyrics and dialogue to see which characters are singing.
NARRATOR:
John asked if Jesus’ mother could hold him for just a few moments and say good-bye. One of the soldiers agreed and carried Jesus to Mary, and laid him gently in her arms. And so, with dusk approaching and a light rain beginning to fall, and the joy and laughter of the Passover celebration all around her, Mary cradled her beloved son and held onto him one last time.
GOING HOME — LYRICS
MARY: (singing)
Jesus, my child.
Look what they’ve done to you.
Wasn’t it just yesterday
You were playing with the children?
It always made me smile
When they would run to you.
And as I watched you there
I whispered a prayer
That this dream could just go on and on.
And then it was gone.
It’s all gone.
Suffer no more, my son.
Lay your head against my heart
Just once more, my son.
You have given all that you could give.
You gave your life so the world could live.
And now your work is done.
And though I feel so alone, I know
You’re finally going home.
You’re going home.
Please read the narration before playing the song. Then follow along with the lyrics and dialogue to see which characters are singing.
JESUS:
The truth, Thomas, is I have never left you. I’m with you now, in this room. In your heart. I’m everywhere, all around you. You are one of my disciples, one of my closest friends. Don’t deny my presence. Don’t shut me out of your life.
A CANDLE IN THE NIGHT — LYRICS
JESUS: (singing)
I feel what you feel,
And I know what you’re going through.
If it were up to me,
I’d be there instead of you.
But when you’re lost and alone in the dark,
And you’re just trying to make it to the morning light,
I’ll be there like a star
That shines through the night;
There like a flame burning
Forever bright.
I’ll be there
Like an answer to a prayer.
I’ll be your light.
Like a candle in the night.
You brought me your sick
And I took away their pain.
You learned how to love one another
And that’s the reason I came.
And though it’s time I depart,
Remember I’m in your heart,
And that everything is alright.
‘Cause I’ll be there like a star
That shines through the night;
There like a flame burning
Forever bright.
I’ll be there
like an answer to a prayer.
I’ll be your light.
Like a candle in the night.
Like a candle in the night.
Time will pass.
This won’t last.
You just gotta ride it out.
And I know that’s easy
For someone else to say.
But I’ve stood in your rain.
I’ve suffered your pain.
I’ve walked through darkness and doubt.
So now together we’re going to light up
A brand new day.
I feel what you feel
And I know what you’re going through.
And I know the pain is real,
But I’m right here beside you.
So when the battle’s raging in your heart,
You will never be alone in the fight.
‘Cause I’ll be there like a star
That shines through the night;
There like a flame burning
Forever bright.
I’ll be there
Like an answer to a prayer.
I’ll be your light.
Like a candle in the night.
Like a candle in the night.
I’ll be there.
I’ll be there.
Like a candle in the night.
Like a candle.
Like a candle.
Like a candle in the night.
I’ll be there
Like an answer to a prayer,
Like a candle.
Like a candle in the night.
Like a candle in the night.