029A. Our Lord Gives His Great Commission and Ascends to Glory

Our Lord Gives His Great Commission and Ascends to Glory
About 5 minutes, from Luke 24:44-53, Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:1-11

Participants (No need to memorize lines; the aim is to relive sacred events, not to perform)
Â Andrew
Â Voice (of Jesus)
Â Peter
Â Prompter Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Shout a brief line, and Echoes repeat it.
Â EchoesÂ 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.

Andrew	I am Andrew, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. Peter, it has been 40 days since Jesus rose from the dead.
Peter	Yes. Now he has gathered us on the Mount of Olives to give final instructions. Listen.
Voice	Wait in Jerusalem for the Father’s promise; you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
Peter	Lord, will you now restore the kingdom to Israel?
Voice	It is not for you to know the times that the Father has set. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.
Prompter & Echoes	To all peoples!
Voice	I have received all authority in heaven and earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all that I commanded you; and look, I will be with you always, even to the end of the age.
Peter	Â Â (Point up) Andrew! Look! Jesus is going up in the air! Up and up!
Andrew	Oh! A cloud received him out of our sight.
Prompter & Echoes	He ascended on high!
Peter	Look, Andrew! Two men in blazingly white clothing are coming down from heaven! Oh, we are in for it!
Andrew	They say not to fear, Peter.
Peter	Listen! They say that Jesus will return the same way that we saw him go up into heaven. They were angels!
Prompter & Echoes	God’s messengers!
Peter	Jesus now sits at the Father’s right hand, where he intercedes for us.
Andrew	And he will soon send the Holy Spirit to dwell in us forever, and empower us to be his witnesses.
Peter	His Great Commission is to make disciples of all peoples on earth by having them obey his commands; he has been given all authority in heaven and earth.
Prompter & Echoes	King of Kings!
Peter	Well, Andrew, the Holy Spirit now has come, and we’re obeying Jesus’ Great Commission as he commanded with all authority in heaven and earth. Hear what his disciples are saying:
Â	Our Lord’s total authority makes him our head. Â Â Â Â He commanded to baptize and break sacred bread. He proclaimed these commands for his own to obey, Â Â Â Â which means every group of believers today. But a hundred strict voices wherever we go Â Â Â Â Disregard these commands by telling us NO! â€œYou’re too new, not ordained, you lack knowledge,â€ they say. Â Â Â Â And point to man’s rules, pushing Scripture away. Fellow servant of Christ, will men’s human decrees Â Â Â Â Cause your group to delay and its passion to freeze? Will you crown Christ as King? There is only one way. Â Â Â Â Just shout YES! when you’re asked if it's Christ you’ll obey!