John Baptizes Jesus, and the Three that Are One Take Part

About 5 minutes, from Matthew 3

Participants (No need to memorize lines; the aim is to relive sacred events, not to perform)

John the Baptist
Voice (of Jesus)
Pharisee
PrompterÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Shout a brief line, and Echoes repeat it.
EchoesÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Children and all adults who want to take part. Echoes need no script.

John the Baptist	I am John the Baptizer. The prophet Isaiah foretold what I’d do out here by the Jordan River: I am â€œA voice crying in the desert.â€
Prompter & Echoes	Prepare the way of the Lord!
Pharisee	Look at all those people hiking out to the Jordan River! We Pharisees had better find out what’s going on. That fanatic, John, is baptizing them.
John the Baptist	Oh, look! Many are coming to me from Jerusalem and Judea. They confess their sins and I baptize them. Oh, oh! Here come those religious Pharisees and Sadducees. We may see a bit of hostility!
Pharisee	We Pharisees came for you to baptize us, John, because we live holy lives.
John the Baptist	Listen, you must repent first. Turn from your sins, because the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Pharisee	Who are you to tell us Pharisees to repent? What kind of a prophet are you? Look at you! Wearing camel’s skins, and living like a wild man, eating grasshoppers and wild honey!
John the Baptist	You vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? If you want me to baptize you, then bear fruit that shows your repentance.
Pharisee	We have no need to repent, John. Abraham is our father!
Prompter & Echoes	Blessed Father Abraham!
John the Baptist	God can raise up children of Abraham from these stones! The axe is applied to the trees; those that bear no fruit are cut down and thrown into the fire.
Pharisee	Are you threatening us? Just what do you mean?
John the Baptist	I baptize with water to show repentance, but he who comes after me is greater than I. I am not fit to untie his sandals; He will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire!
Prompter & Echoes	What kind of fire?
John the Baptist	The Messiah is holding his winnowing fan; he’ll blow the worthless chaff from the wheat on his threshing floor; and gather his wheat into the barn, but he will burn up the chaff with fire that you cannot put out.
Pharisee	Just who is that Messiah that will do all this? You, John?
John the Baptist	No. Turn around and see who is coming. Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
Prompter & Echoes	Lamb of God!
Pharisee	What is all this about? Why do you call that man the Lamb of God?
John the Baptist	Listen to him.
Voice	I have come to you, John, for you to baptize me.
John the Baptist	Lord! This is backwards! My baptism is for bad people who confess their wrongs and repent. You are righteous. I need to be baptized by you! Why do you come to me?
Voice	Permit it for now; it is fitting for us, in order to fulfill all that is right.
John the Baptist	I do as Jesus said. I baptize him. When he comes up out of the water, the heavens open! (Look up) Oh! The Spirit of God is descending on him like a dove! I hear a voice from heaven. Listen! It announces, â€œThis is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.â€
Prompter & Echoes	Beloved son of God!