Are you ready to experience the Easter story from a unique perspective? Imagine having the opportunity to interview one of the Roman soldiers who guarded the tomb of Jesus after the Crucifixion. In this free teaching script, we’ll transport you back in time to witness an interview with this soldier as he shares his personal experience of the Resurrection.
This interview provides another perspective of the story, revealing the details of what happened at the tomb and how it impacted this soldier. You’ll gain insights into the events that took place during those historical moments and learn how they affected those who were involved.
Join us as we listen to this special guest describe the Resurrection of Jesus and how it changed his life forever. This teaching script will provide a powerful and unique way to teach the Easter story to your congregation or small group. So, get ready to experience the Easter story like never before!
Don’t miss our new Easter Sunday School Lesson and Bible Teaching Activities for Kids Church to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Easter Bible Lesson Script: Were You There…? An Interview with a Roman Guard
Premise: The interviewer (reporter, narrator, leader, etc.) has a special guest to help describe the events of the Resurrection: one of the soldiers who guarded the tomb of Jesus after the Crucifixion. Through this interview, the soldier will provide another perspective of the story and reveal the details as he describes how the experience impacted him.
Reporter: Hello out there! I am so glad that you’re here today. We are so excited about the opportunity to celebrate Easter. But what does it mean, anyway? It’s not about candy or bunnies or eggs, but something much better, much more life changing and life-giving.
And to help me explain what this is all about, I have a special guest. He has traveled all the way from first-century Jerusalem, over two thousand years ago and many miles away! Thanks to the wonder of time travel (and our imaginations), we are about to meet a Roman soldier! Please help me welcome the chief of the guard, loyal protector of Rome and watchman over the tomb of Jesus Christ, General Petronius!!!
Applause; Petronius enters
Reporter: Hello sir. It’s a pleasure to have you here today. Thank you so much for coming.
Petronius: Well, I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my experience with as many people as possible. Although I must say, these children have very strange ways of dressing. Is this how everyone is around here? What are those things on their feet?
Reporter: Well, those are called shoes, and they are much more practical for 21st century (location) than sandals or bare feet. We can talk more about that later, but what I really wanted to bring you out here for was to get a little more information about what you experienced. First, can you tell me a little more about your job?
Petronius: This is not a job; it’s a way of life, a devotion to a cause bigger than ourselves. I was an officer of Rome. I was loyal to Caesar and served him at all costs. Roman soldiers are trained to fight, defend, and sacrifice for the state. We live and die for the empire. But some things have changed for me now, after what happened with this man Jesus.
Reporter: Yes, that’s what I want to know more about! Had you heard of Jesus before His arrest and execution? Did you know anything about Him?
Petronius: I had heard of Him, yes. Another upstart trying to threaten the power of Rome, or so I thought. There were a lot of people who went wild for Jesus, following Him around, listening to His teachings, marveling at His miracles…He made some pretty incredible claims, though. He said He was the Son of God, and there were many who believed that. He said that love was the greatest commandment. Ha! Love can’t control people. Love has no power.
I wouldn’t have paid much attention, if there hadn’t been a political threat posed. I have charge of 100 men; I don’t have time for raving carpenters claiming to be Messiah. Some thought He had come to overthrow the government. No man could challenge the authority of Rome. But if anyone tried, they would be swiftly eliminated.
Reporter: So…Jesus was put on trial and taken to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. Is that correct?
Petronius: That’s right. See, it was the priests and Pharisees who really wanted Him gone. The Jewish leaders were the ones who saw the biggest threat from what Jesus was saying and doing. But they didn’t have the power to condemn someone to death. Only Rome had that power. So Pilate had to agree to hand over Jesus to be crucified.
Reporter: And from what I understand, crucifixion was the method that Romans would use for criminals, to set an example for other people to avoid further crime?
Petronius: That’s right. It was pretty awful. Before we took Jesus to be crucified, we mocked Him, beat Him, spit on Him, and put a crown of thorns on His head, to make fun of what He was being killed for: being “king of the Jews.” We were following orders, doing what we always did. Pauses with remorse. If only we knew… Jesus didn’t even put up a fight. He let it all happen, like He accepted it. Like He had to die for some reason.
Reporter: And after all that, Jesus was crucified, and died?
Petronius: Yes. I’ll spare you the details, but crucifixion is not a pretty thing. But while he was hanging on that cross, He spoke. One thing He said was “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” That caught my attention. A man writhing in pain, dying, and taking time to speak forgiveness to His killers? A man that could love so deeply that even death could not deter Him?
(Pause)…When He finally died, the earth shook. It struck me that this was no mere man…He was either a lunatic, a liar…or Lord.
Reporter: What happened next?
Petronius: There was a rich man who asked Pilate for the body. So we gave it to him and he laid it in a stone tomb. I thought that was that, but it wasn’t quite over…we received a request for a new assignment.
Reporter: An assignment? Oh, you mean the guard duty?
Petronius: Yes. Some of the priests were worried because Jesus said He would rise from the dead. They thought His followers might come and steal the body. So we were put on watch and secured the tomb. First, we rolled a six-foot stone over the entrance, and sealed it with the wax of the sacred Roman seal. Breaking that seal is punishable by death. Then our company took turns, four at a time for four hours at a time, standing guard. This was no slouch duty. If a prisoner escapes from a guard, the punishment is execution. If something had happened, we’d all forfeit our lives. If one of us fell asleep, it would be over. But guarding a dead man’s tomb shouldn’t have been too much of a challenge.
Reporter: It wasn’t exactly a peaceful job, though, was it?
Petronius: Sunday morning, I was on watch. Some women were approaching the tomb, and I was ready to send them off and put them in their place. Suddenly, there was a blinding light and a huge earthquake. A terrifying figure came and rolled this thousand-pound stone away like a pebble, and then sat down on top of it. He looked like lightning. That was all I remember seeing for awhile.
Reporter: Well, what do you think happened?
Petronius: I’m no scholar, but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out. This earthquake was sent by God. An angel moved that stone. Jesus was no quack zealot saying crazy things. He truly was the Son of God, and He proved it that morning!
Still, though, we were in a tight spot. How could we explain this to the people who hired us? We were assigned to guard that tomb, on pain of death. The body was gone!
Reporter: So what did you do?
Petronius: We went to the city and told the chief priests what happened.
Reporter: Did they believe it? Did they know it was an angel, and change their ways and recognize that Jesus was the Lord and Messiah?
Petronius: (Pause) No. I don’t know if it even crossed their minds. They were set on getting rid of Jesus, and nothing could convince them otherwise. The priests bribed us. They told us to tell people the disciples came and stole the body. They gave us a generous amount of money to spread this word around, and promised to keep us out of trouble.
What a joke! There’s no way the disciples could have gotten past us, moved the stone, and taken the body. Impossible! Most of my fellow soldiers were willing to spread the lie, though, to keep the money and save their skins.
Reporter: What about you?
Petronius: I was a Roman soldier for over fifteen years. I’ve seen a lot in that time, and nothing could keep me from service to Caesar…until now. I’ve switched loyalties. If this man could cause earthquakes and angels and miracles, what else can He do? When Caesar dies, he isn’t coming back to life. Rome won’t last forever. I need to learn more about Jesus. I need to find His disciples and learn how I can be one, too. I don’t know how I will do it, but I need to serve this God they know.
Reporter: But won’t that mean giving up your job, your status…maybe even your life? What if they kill you, too?
Petronius: My life is worth nothing if I’m living for the wrong things. True, I am setting aside my position, and I will probably die. But I would rather die for Jesus than live for anything else.
Reporter: Petronius, thank you so much for that remarkable eyewitness account. I’ll let you get back to your time now, and maybe you can tell Jesus hello for me, if you see Him!
Petronius: You are very welcome. And I’ll let you talk to Him yourself. He’s alive now, too, you know. Thank you, kids! Exits
Reporter: You know what, he’s right! Jesus IS alive and He’s still with us! He died on the cross to bear the pain of our sins. We were supposed to be punished and die, but Jesus did instead. He rose again so that we could have eternal life with Him. He promises that death is not the end. Someday we will be in Heaven. Meanwhile, His promised to be with us always, and He is. That’s the hope and joy of Easter! Christ has come. Christ is risen. Christ will come again! Why don’t we talk to Jesus right now? Let’s say a prayer to thank God for the new life we have in Jesus.
(Echo prayer)
Dear God,
Thank you for sending your Son.
Thank you that He died for our sins
And rose again to give us life.
Thank you for always being with us.
Help us to love and follow you
And remember what Easter is all about.
Thank you for loving us.
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!