 The Mutual Broadcasting System, in cooperation with Family Theatre Incorporated, presents Ms. Ethel Barrymore in a dramatic narration of The Passion and Death. Ms. Barrymore will be introduced by tonight's host, Guy Madison. More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of. The Passion and Death is a love story, a true story. It recounts events in the lives of men and women who lived many years ago. But the events of their lives are as real today as if they happened only yesterday. These events give meaning to the sufferings in life, give meaning to sacrifice in our lives, because they are an inspiration to lift our sorrows and crosses out of the hopelessness and despair you hear so much about today. Yes, only love gives meaning to sacrifice. For centuries, this story has inspired men and women in all parts of the world to give themselves generously and unselfishly in service to their fellow men, and in charity to all. We present Ms. Ethel Barrymore in a dramatic narration of the greatest love story the world has known, the story of God's love for men. Before the festival day of the past, Jesus knowing that his hour has come, that he should depart out of this world unto the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them unto the end. Then they were gathered together, the chief priests and ancients of the people in the court of the high priest who was called Caiaphas, and they said among themselves... But this man doth many miracles. Yes, they speak of one four days in the grave whom he has raised to life. For three years now he's gone throughout the towns and villages of Palestine, healing and helping the sick, speaking his message of brotherhood. Do you not see that we prevail nothing? Behold, the whole world is gone after him. Then we must apprehend him. No, no, not on the festival days, lest there be a tumult among the people. We must apprehend him and put him to death, for it is better that one man die for the people so that a whole nation will not perish. And the chief priests and Pharisees gave commandment that if any man knew where he was, he should tell them that they might apprehend him. Then came one of the twelve apostles who was called Judas Iscariot to the chief priests and magistrates, and he went in and disgust with them, saying... What will you give me and I will deliver him unto you? You? You will deliver him? Are you not one of his disciples? What will you give me? Silver? Yes. Then we will give you thirty pieces of silver. And having given his promise, Judas from henceforth sought opportunity to depraise Jesus in the absence of the multitude. Now on the first day of the feast of unleavened bread, Jesus gathered his disciples to eat the past. And while they were at supper, he took bread and blessed and broke and gave to his disciples and said, Take ye and eat, this is my body. And taking the chalice he gave thanks and gave to them saying, Drink ye all of this, for this is my blood of the New Testament, which shall be shed for many unto the remission of sins. And when supper was done, he riseth and layeth aside his garments, having taken a towel girded himself. After that he puteth water into a basin and began to wash the feet of his disciples and to wipe them with a towel wherewith he was girded. And after he had taken his garments being set down, he spoke to them, Know ye what I have done, you call me Lord and Master, and you say well for so I am. If then I, being your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, I have given you an example that I have done to you, so you do also, for the servant is not greater than the Master, for the disciple greater than he that sent him. If you know these things, you shall be blessed if you do them. Amen, amen I say to you, one of you that eateth with me shall betray me. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom, one of the disciples whom Jesus loved. Peter therefore beckoned to him and said, Who is it of whom he speaketh, Lord, who is it? And Jesus answered, He it is to whom I shall reach bread dipped. And when he had dipped the bread, he gave it to Judas' scaliot, and after the morsel Satan entered into him and Jesus said to him, That which thou doest do quickly. Now no man at the table knew to what purpose he said this unto him, for some thought because Judas had the purse that Jesus meant he should buy these things needed for festival days, or that he should give something to the poor. He therefore having received the morsel went out immediately, and it was night. When Judas therefore was gone out, Jesus said, A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another as I have loved you. Peter loved in this no man hath that a man lay down his life for his friends. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me. And he that loveth me, should be loved of my father. Amen, amen I say to you, if you ask the father anything in my name, he will give it to you. Ask and ye shall receive. You have heard that I said to you, I go away, but I will come again unto you. Now I have told you before it come to pass, that when it shall come to pass, you may believe. Arise, let us go hence. They therefore went forth to the Mount of Olives, over the brook Sidron, to a place which is called Gethsemane. And when they had come into the garden, Jesus said to them, All you shall be scandalised in me this night, for it is written, I will strike the shepherd and the sheep shall be dispersed. But after I shall be risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Now sit you here while I go yonder and pray. And he taketh Peter and James and John with him, and he began to grow sad and said to them, My soul is sorrowful, even unto death. Stay you here and watch, pray lest ye enter into temptation. And when he was gone forward a little, he fell flat on the ground and prayed. And Peter and James and John spoke among themselves. Peter? He speaks of our being scandalised and scattered. Though everyone be scandalised in him, I will never be scandalised. I will never leave him. You will not deny him, Peter? No, though I should die together with him, I will not deny him. But he said this night before the cockroach, thou shalt deny him thrice. I am ready to go with him both into prison and to death. Peter? He is in an agony. We will go to him. No, it is better not. He asked us to stay here and watch. Listen. He is praying to his father. Father, all things are possible to thee, if thou wilt remove this chalice from him. Nevertheless not my will, but thine be done. And being in an agony, he prayed the longer, and his sweat became his drops of blood trickling down upon the ground. And when he rose up from prayer and was come to the disciples, he found them sleeping. And he said to them, Why sleep you? Could you not watch one hour with me? The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Behold, the hour is at hand when the son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners. And while he was still speaking came Judas, who knew the place because Jesus had gone there often together with his disciples to pray. And with him came a multitude of swords and clubs, and the chief priests and the scribes and the ancients. But how shall we know him? They are grouped together in the dark. Which one is he, Judas? I shall go up to them. Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he. Hold him fast and lead him away carefully. Hail Rabbi. Judas, does thou betray the son of man with a kiss? And then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and held him. And Peter, having a sword stretching forth his hand, drew it and struck in the servant of the high priest, cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, put up thy sword into its place, for all that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot ask my father, and he will give me presently more than twelve legions of angels, where this is done that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. And now you come out, as if it were against a thief, with swords and clubs. When I was daily with you in the temple, you did not stretch forth your hands against me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness. Then the disciples leaving him fled, but Peter and another disciple watched from afar off, and the band and the tribune and the servants took Jesus and bound him and they led him away. And they brought Jesus to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and ancients were assembled together. When therefore they had gone in to where they sat in judgment, they questioned him. What witnesses bring you against this man? He has called himself the king of the Jews. We know that in secret he is perverting the nation to set up a new kingdom. That is true, because he has refused to pay tribute or to visit the temple. He said that he will destroy the temple of God, and after three days rebuild it. You are not a sorceress, thou nothing to the things that are charged against thee? You see, he cannot answer, he is guilty. He called himself a prophet. Blindfold him and let him prophesy who struck him. Va, if he were a prophet, he would know who it is. Is this the promised one, the redeemer, the Christ who is to deliver his people? As high priest, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us if thou be the Christ the Son of God. I am, and thou shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of the power of God and coming with the clouds of heaven. What need we of further witnesses, for we have heard the blasphemy from his own lips. What think you? He is guilty of death. Let him be crucified. Away with him. And they led Jesus outside to the court of the high priest where Peter had entered that he might see what would happen. And Peter sapped with a servant at a fire warming himself, but one of the maid servants seeing him in the light began to say to the bystanders. This man is one of them. You, are you not also with Jesus of Nazareth? Me? I neither know nor understand what thou sayest. Surely thou art one of his disciples. Did I not see thee in the garden with him? By all that is holy I am not. I do not even know him. Never truth thou art a follower of his. For even thy speech doth discover thee as a Galilean. Have I not said I know not the man of whom you speak? Must I swear by oath? Jesus turn he looked on Peter when Peter remembered the word of the Lord as he had said, Before the cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice. And going out Peter wept bitterly. And when morning was come the chief priests and ancients of the people who took counsel against Jesus they might put him to death. And having bound him they led him away from Caiaphas to Pontius Pilate the governor. Now Judas who had betrayed him seeing that he was condemned repented and went back to the chief priests and ancients. Judas, I would speak with you concerning Jesus. It is finished. He is condemned to death. But this man hath done no evil. He has been judged guilty. I have sinned and betraying innocent blood. If you have sinned, Judas, then look you to it. What is that to us? I will return the money. It is not lawful for us to take it because it is the price of blood. I have betrayed him. Here! He has become as a madman. This money it shall be used for the purchase of a burying place for strangers. And with the money they bought the potter's field that is called the field of blood even to this day. One was fulfilled the word spoken by Jeremiah the prophet and they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was prized and they gave them unto the potter's field. Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate the governor, the scribes and ancients went not into the hall. They might not be defiled on the festival days. Pilate therefore went out and spoke to them saying. What accusation bring you against this man? If he were not a malefactor we would not have delivered him to you. He is guilty of death. Why? What evil has he done? We have found him perverting our nation and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar. Thus thou hear the accusations they bring against thee? Answereth thou nothing? He stirreth up all the people teaching throughout all Judea beginning from Galilee even to this place. He says that he is Christ the king of the Jews. Art thou the king of the Jews? Art thou a king? And Jesus answered, thou sayest that I am a king. For this was I born, for this came I into the world. That I should give testimony of the truth. And having questioned Jesus, Pilate spoke again to the Jews. Find no cause of guilt in this man. I will chastise him therefore and let him go. He has been judged guilty, but you have accustomed that I should release one on to you at the past. Do you not wish therefore that I release on to you the king of the Jews? We have no king but Caesar. Crucify him. Shall I release Jesus or Barabbas, who is a judged thief and murderer? Release Barabbas. This man must bless thee. He calls himself the son of God. He's destroyed the temple. Crucify him. Why? Crucify him. Why? What evil hath he done? Find no cause of death in him. I will chastise him therefore and let him go. No more. Then therefore Pilate took Jesus and delivered him to the soldiers. They led him away into the court of the palace and called together the whole band. And stripping him they scourged him and clothed him with a scarlet cloak and plaited a crown of thorns. They put it on his head and a reed in his right hand. And bowing the knee before him they mocked him and spitting upon him, took the reed and struck his head. And when the hour was come Jesus went forth bearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. Pilate therefore went forth again and spoke to the ancients. I bring him forth unto you that you may see I find no cause in him. Behold the man. Let him be crucified. I find no cause of death in him. We have a law. And according to the law he should die because he made himself the son of God. Pilate your wife wishes to speak with you. Yes. I have done nothing to do with this just man. But I have suffered many things this day and a dream because of him. Let him be crucified. If thou release this man thou art not Caesar's friend. For whosoever maketh himself a king, speaketh against Caesar. Bring me a basin of water. I shall wash my hands of this deed before the people. I am innocent of the blood of this just man. Look you to it. His blood be upon us and upon our children. Then therefore Pilate delivered him to them to be crucified. And they took Jesus and bearing his own cross he went forth. And there followed after him a great multitude of people and of women who bewailed and lamented him. When Jesus turned to them said daughters of Jerusalem weep not for me but weep for yourselves and for your children. But also two malefactors led with him to be put to death when therefore they came to the place which is called Golgotha which is the place of Calvary. They gave him wine mingled with myrrh but he took it not. It was the third hour and with the robbers one on his right hand and the other on his left they crucified him and Jesus said father forgive them for they know not what they do. Save thyself. Let him come down from the cross that we may see and believe. See the inscription above his cross. Yes. Jesus of Nazareth the king of the Jews. See the thieves on the crosses. They are talking to it. If thou be the Christ save thyself and us. That is enough. Neither dost thou fear God seeing thou art under the same condemnation and we indeed justly but this man has done no evil. Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. When Jesus said to him amen I say to thee this day thou shalt be with me in paradise. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother and his mother's sister and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciples standing whom he loved he saith to his mother woman behold thy son after that he saith to the disciples son behold thy mother and from that hour the disciple took her to his own and it was almost the sixth hour the sun was clouded and there was darkness all over the earth and Jesus cried my God my God why hast thou forsaken me? Loud voice he cried out father into thy hands I commend my spirit and saying this bowing his head he yielded up the ghost. The temple was rent in two from top even to the bottom and the earthquake to the rocks were rent and the graves were open and many bodies of the saints that had slept arose and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection came into the holy city and appeared to many. Now his friends from Galilee stood afar off beholding these things and all the multitude of them that were there came together to that site and saw the things that were done returned striking their breasts of the centurion and they that were with him watching Jesus and having seen the earthquake and the things that were done were so afraid and said indeed this man was the son of God and in the hearts of the disciples who had watched on the hill of Calvary they echoed the words of Christ father forgive them for they know not what they do little children a new commandment I give unto you that you love one another as I have loved you greater love than this no man hath that a man lay down his life for his friend. Thank you Miss Barrymore for an inspiring performance the passion and death is a fitting family theater program because it is a story of sacrifice a lesson of love yes and in a family sacrifice and love go together every mother knows what it is to give up things for her children every father makes sacrifices for his wife and family keeping a family together and happy demands continual sacrifices sometimes the things you must do and the things you must do without are almost too much to bear that's why a home needs God's help that's why a family needs family prayer only when you pray together as a family do you know the wonderful help that comes through family prayer if you've never turned to God before turn to him now and this will indeed be a joyful and happy Easter for you and your family your family will be united together with God's love with this help and this realization a family that prays together stays together this is Guy Madison saying good night and God bless you our thanks to Miss Ethel Barrymore for her performance this evening and to Max Terror for his music the script was prepared by Mark Carney this production of family theater incorporated was directed by David Young others who appeared in tonight's play were Norman Field Janet Scott Victor Perron Edward Coleman's Charles Maxwell Herbert Rawlinson Bob Purcell and Howard Culver next week our family theater stars will be Gene Crane and Robert Walker in Little Boy Blue your host will be William Gargan series of the family theater broadcast is made possible by the thousands of you who felt the need for this kind of program and by the mutual broadcasting system which has responded to this need be with us next week Tony LaFranco speaking this is the mutual broadcasting system