PORTSMOUTH

JESUS SAT AT A TABLE mumbling, a cell phone earpiece hooked to his right ear. Lipstick smudges representing bruises, and gashes covered his body.

Female members of the angry mob stood nearby practicing shouts of "crucify him" and shaking their fists.

Meanwhile, Billie Cook paced around the dressing room Friday night and wondered aloud about the whereabouts of Pontius Pilate. The show was supposed to start any minute.

Cook, the coordinator, had hoped for a smoother start to Third Baptist Church's drive-through Easter pageant "Scenes of the Savior." During the event, vehicles make their way past live actors re-enacting aspects of Jesus' life.

But a bunch of volunteers had come down with the flu, meaning key characters were missing.

A frustrated Cook left the dressing area, a room in the church's fellowship center. "They say the show must go on," she said.

Outside, in a field across the street from the church, members of the angel choir stood on a raised stage overlooking what would be the nativity scene, complete with live donkeys and goats. Some of the other scenes had to be cut Friday night because of the low volunteer turnout.

The panorama, designed by Cook, portrays everything from Jesus' birth to his death on the cross.

Not until Easter Sunday will people see the final scene - an empty tomb symbolizing Jesus' resurrection.

Third Baptist - at 461 Godwin Street, not far from Olde Towne - was holding the event for the second time since 2006. Last year's drive-through pageant was cancelled because of bad weather.

The free event continues from 7 to 9 tonight, barring rain.

Attendance was up at the church's Easter Sunday services two years ago. Senior Pastor Joe Fleming credits the pageant. It reminds people of the value of Jesus' death, he said.

Cook has had her share of hardships in planning this year's event. "Our standard Jesus was deployed," she said. "I think he's in Kuwait."

But through it all, Cook said, she thinks of the lives that have been touched. She remembers one woman who held up traffic at the scene of Mary holding a bruised and battered Jesus moments after the crucifixion. Tears filled the visitor's eyes.

"It reminds us of a reality," Cook said. "Christ was a real person, and he walked."

Hattie Brown Garrow, (757) 222-5562, hattie.brown@pilotonline.com