Rejected by God or called to an uncommon path? The eleven apostles cast lots to determine whom the Holy Spirit would pick to replace Judas Iscariot; he must be someone who had been with Jesus the whole time. That left either Joseph bar Sabbas, called Justus, or Matthias. The stones were cast, and the lot fell to Matthias. Even so, Justus wouldn't be denied his dream. He had mingled among the disciples for more than three years. He had been close to Jesus, held private conversations with him, and had laughed with him. He'd slept around the same campfires, visited the same homes, and eaten at the same tables. Now, Justus would chart a new path. He would reveal everything he knew about his Lord from the viewpoint of a privileged witness. Justus began to write. What was it like to be near Jesus in everyday situations or to see him in action in his greatest moments? Did Jesus have a childhood best friend? How did he relate to his fish-breathed disciples? What did he feel when the crowd cried out for his death? Justus logged all of this in a series of scrolls and began a journey to house the treasure at the great library in Alexandria, Egypt. Perhaps, someday they would be seen.

New life. That is the essence of Easter. The playwrights featured in this book explore Easter's promise of new life in many creative ways. The aim Rhonda Wray took when selecting the scripts was to include a diversity of styles, age levels, and special days in the Lenten season. The book is divided into the following sections: Lent and Holy Week; Palm Sunday; Maundy Thursday; Good Friday; Tenebrae; Passion Play; Sunrise Services; Easter; Children and Youth; Monologues.