Grouchy         

Hey, Cheery, It’s boring tending these dumb sheep all night!
Nothing interesting ever happens.

Cheery

I guess you’d be happier, Grouchy, if wolves came and bit you.
Look. A lantern is still glowing down there in Bethlehem.

Prompter & Echoes

The city of David!

Grouchy

Keep awake, Cheery. It’ll be a long, long night.
It’s clear now, but it’ll probably rain on us soon.

Cheery

Look, Grouchy, up there! (Point up)
Look! In the sky! What’s that bright light?

Grouchy

Oooh! I’ve never seen a light so intense.
It’s blinding me! Hide! Quick!

Cheery

It’s getting closer. Hey! Look out! Who’s that?
He’s blazing with light! Run!

Prompter & Echoes

Help!

Angel

Do not fear!

Grouchy

He says not to fear! What does he expect?
He’s an alien from outer space!
He could zap us in an instant!

Angel

That is not why I came… this time.
I am God’s messenger, with very good news.
Go into town. You’ll find a newborn baby wrapped in rags
and lying in an animal’s feeding trough.
He will be your savior.

Prompter & Echoes

Our savior!

Cheery

Look, Grouchy! Now there’s a whole army of angels!
They’re singing! The harmony is beautiful!
Oh, it’s so powerful! It’s frightening, yet comforting!

Angel

Glory to God in the highest!
Peace on earth to all men!

Prompter & Echoes

Peace on earth!

Cheery

Hurry, Grouchy. Let us go to Bethlehem.
We’ll find the baby and worship him.

Grouchy

Wait! I’m out of breath.
Oh, here’s a shack with a lantern still lit.
But how could our deliverer be born in a barn?

Prompter & Echoes

Amazing!

Cheery

Here is his mother. Hello, young lady.

Mary

What do you gentlemen want here?
We were here first.

Cheery

Angels sent us to see your child, ma’am.
They said he would be our Savior.

Mary

Angels? Did angels tell you about my son?
Oh, forgive my weeping! It’s from so much joy!
I will always treasure in my heart what you said.

Grouchy

Ma’am, why are you and your child out here
with these smelly animals?

Prompter & Echoes

It stinks!

Mary

There was no room in the Inn. Bethlehem is crowded this week.
We Jews have come from many towns to register for the Roman tax. We came all the way from Nazareth to register.

Cheery

Then you were born here in Bethlehem, the city of David.

Mary

Yes. My husband Joseph and I are descendants of King David. Have you shepherds registered for the tax?

Grouchy

I’m not going to. I’ll escape the Romans’ attention.
I hate those brutal invaders!

Mary

Careful! You’ll get in serious trouble!
This tax is an edict of Emperor Caesar Augustus.

Cheery

I wonder. How will this tiny baby save us, as the angels said?

Grouchy

He’ll grow up strong, and bash those greedy Romans!
We won’t have to pay their fiendish taxes anymore!

Cheery

I thought the Messiah was to free Israel,
but the angels said he’d bless all people. Strange!

Mary

All people? Really?

Cheery

Grouchy, let’s go tell all our friends the good news.
Just think! A savior who will bring peace to all people!

Prompter & Echoes

Peace on earth!

Cheery

Now everyone, let us discuss this.
How would you have felt,
had you been with us shepherds that night?
Mention some things that would have filled you
with fear, wonder or joy.

John the Baptist

I am John the Baptizer.
The prophet Isaiah foretold what I’d do out here by the Jordan River:
I am “A voice crying in the desert.”

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,
“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Prompter & Echoes

Beloved son of God!

Headwaiter

I am the headwaiter that is responsible for this grand wedding feast.
Servant, is everything is ready? The guests have arrived.

Servant

Yes, sir. We have prepared everything well.

Headwaiter

I hope so. The bridegroom invited Jesus, his mother and His disciples.

Servant

This must be the grandest celebration ever held in Cana of Galilee.

Prompter & Echoes

A lavish party!

Headwaiter

Look. Everyone is eating and drinking a lot!

Mary

I am so glad the bridegroom invited us!
Mr. Headwaiter, you are providing a wonderful banquet!

Headwaiter

Yes. The bridegroom is a generous host.

Mary

Oh! That servant looks worried. I wonder what is wrong.
Friend, can I help you?

Servant

More people have come than we servants had expected,
and the wine has run out. What a disaster!

Mary

Oh no!

Servant

The bridegroom will be furious.

Prompter & Echoes

How embarrassing!

Headwaiter

What? No wine? This shames all of us, especially the bridegroom.
What is a wedding party without wine?

Prompter & Echoes

More wine!

Mary

You will need a lot more wine. I will speak to my son Jesus.
He might know what to do.
(To Voice) Son, the wine has run out.

Voice

Dear woman, what has that to do with me?
My hour has not yet come.

Servant

What did Jesus mean?
Why did He not do what his mother Mary asked?

Mary

Go to Jesus yourself, directly, and do whatever he says.

Headwaiter

Servants, do what Mary told you. Go to Jesus.
She is not a mediator between Jesus and us.

Servant

Jesus, we have run out of wine.

Voice

Fill those six huge stone pots over there with water.

Headwaiter

But who wants to drink water at a wedding feast?

Mary

Do as Jesus said.

Servant

We have filled the pots up to the brim with water.
(Pretend to pour water from a jug.) Hey! Look at it!
The water has turned red! Let me taste it!
(Pretend to dip out some and taste it.) It is wine! Wow!

Prompter & Echoes

The very best!

Mary

Take some to the Headwaiter.

Headwaiter

Well now! This is excellent wine! The best ever!
I must congratulate the bridegroom.

Servant

Here he comes now.

Headwaiter

Sir, others serve the good wine first,
and when the people have drunk freely,
then they bring out the poorer wine;
but you have kept the good wine until now.
Well done! God has blessed your marriage!

Prompter & Echoes

Jesus’ first miracle!

Levi

I am Levi, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples.
We are in Capernaum now.

Prompter & Echoes

By the beautiful Sea of Galilee.

Levi

Oh, hello sir. I’m a bit surprised that you’ve come to hear Jesus;
you scholars normally oppose his teaching.

Scholar

I’m investigating it. Just look at this mob rushing to hear Him!

Prompter & Echoes

Hurry! Hurry!

Levi

Look! Four men are bringing a paralytic on a mat!
The door is too crowded to get in. They’re climbing up on the roof!

Scholar

(Look up) Hey! Stop tearing up the roof!
(Shield your face from falling debris) Debris is falling on us! Quit that!

Prompter & Echoes

What is going on?

Levi

They made a hole! They’re lowering the paralytic in front of Jesus. Wow! That’s an unspoken prayer of faith.

Prompter & Echoes

Audacious faith!

Scholar

You up there! Stop disturbing our meeting! Pull that guy back up!

Levi

Jesus is looking with compassion on the paralytic. Listen!

Voice

Son, your sins are forgiven.

Scholar

What? This deluded rabbi is blaspheming!
Only God can forgive sins.

Voice

Why do you question these things?
Which is easier to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven’;
or, ‘Get up, and pick up your mat and walk?”

Scholar

Oh, any fool could simply tell a sinner his sins are forgiven!

Voice

I will prove to you that I, the Son of Man, have power to forgive sins. My paralyzed friend, get up, pick up your mat, and go home.

Levi

The paraplegic is getting up! He’s picking up his mat!

Prompter & Echoes

He is walking!

Scholar

I have never seen anything like it.
Jesus really can forgive sins, after all!

Prompter & Echoes

Amazing grace!

Oscar

(Stand and stretch) Time for bed. It’s been a long day.
(Start to lie down on the chairs)

Prompter & Echoes

You forgot something!

Oscar

Oh! My bedtime prayer.
(Sit up and fold your hands in an attitude of prayer)
Our Father…

Voice

(Interrupt. Speak loudly and slowly) Yes?

Oscar

(Jerk your head around looking for the speaker, then shrug)
Our Father…

Voice

(Interrupt) Yes, my son? What did you want to say to me?

Oscar

(Look around again, scratch your head) Who is that?

Prompter & Echoes

Who spoke?

Voice

To whom were you speaking?

Oscar

No one. I was just saying my prayers.

Voice

Then to whom were you saying your prayers?

Oscar

To our Heavenly Father.
Oh! Ah… Oh, no!
Ah… Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name…

Voice

(Interrupt) Do you know what the word “hallowed” means?

Oscar

Ah… no. It’s what they taught me to pray.

Voice

It means to respect me above all,
and enter my presence devoutly, with fear.

Oscar

Well, I have plenty of fear right now.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Voice

(Interrupt) Do you know what a kingdom really is?

Oscar

Yeah… We gotta obey a king’s commands.

Prompter & Echoes

Or he will zap us!

Voice

My Son Jesus is your King, and you will obey his commands. Continue.

Oscar

Right. Give us today, our daily bread…

Voice

(Interrupt) I already gave that to you.
Do you not have other needs?

Oscar

Yes. I need a job.
I also need your help to tell my friends about Jesus.

Voice

Then, ask me for that, as a child would.

Prompter & Echoes

Simply ask!

Oscar

Dear Father, I need a job, and power to testify for Jesus.
Ah… And forgive us our debts...
Um… Forgive us our debts… Ah…

Voice

(Allow a pause) Finish the sentence.

Oscar

(Mumble rapidly and softly)
Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

Voice

(Interrupt) I did not hear you.
Repeat it more clearly, my son.

Oscar

I am afraid to. I know what you will say. Well… Okay.
Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors,
and lead us…

Voice

Wait! Have you forgiven your friend Alex?

Oscar

I will. Someday…
Well… Okay. I forgive him now!
And I will ask his forgiveness tomorrow.
Ah… And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.

Voice

(Interrupt) Why do you ask for protection from the evil one?

Oscar

Because without your power and pardon,
I cannot resist Satan’s false lures.
For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever.

Prompter & Echoes

Amen!

 

Peter

I’m Peter. We’re sitting around Jesus on top of this mountain.
Listen to how our Lord concludes his Sermon on the Mount.

Voice

He who hears and obeys my words is like a wise man
who builds his house on the rock.

 

Prompter & Echoes

Watch him build!

 

Wise man

(Pretend to build, pounding nails.)
I am building on the rock, as Jesus said.

 

Voice

Rain falls, floods come, and winds slam against that house.
Hear the winds howl.

 

Prompter & Echoes

(Howl)

 

Voice

But the house stays solid; the wise man built it on the rock.

 

Prompter & Echoes

Our one solid foundation!

 

Voice

However, everyone who hears my words and fails to obey me
is like a foolish man who builds his house on the sand.

 

Sand man

(Pretend to build) Aha! It’s easier to build my house on this soft sand.

 

Voice

A storm comes, the winds howl and slam against that house.

 

Prompter & Echoes

Bang! Bang!

 

Voice

Rain falls and floods come.

 

Wise man

(Sprinkle drops of water on Sand Man) Down you go!

 

Sand man

My house! It’s collapsing! (Fall down)

 

Wise man

Both of us builders hear Jesus’ words.
One obeys them; the other does not.
Jesus is the rock; our part to build on it is to obey his commands.

 

Prompter & Echoes

To obey is the only way!

 

Wise man

Jesus said, “If you love me, obey my commands.”

 

Sand man

I thought Bible teaching was the foundation.

 

Peter

We’ve all learned that our one foundation is Christ,
and our part in building on it is simply to obey Jesus.
Learning God’s Word is one of the essentials that we build
on this rock foundation by obeying our Lord Jesus;
for all eternity we will be learning more and more about God.

 

Prompter & Echoes

Forever and ever!

 

John

Peter, look at this huge crowd here by the Sea of Galilee.
It is smothering Jesus!

Peter

He is going to do something about that, John. Listen!

Voice

Peter and John, bring your boat.
We will go to the other side of the sea.

John

All twelve of us disciples get into the boat with Jesus.

Prompter & Echoes

Row men, Row!

Peter

Look, John! An ugly storm is coming our way!

Prompter & Echoes

It’s getting closer!

John

Pull on those oars!

Prompter & Echoes

Row harder!

John

Peter, listen to the wind!

Prompter & Echoes

(Howl)

Peter

Row harder! The storm is upon us!

Prompter & Echoes

Faster!

Peter

Look! The waves are swamping the boat!
We’re going to drown! Help!

John

Peter, look at Jesus! He sleeping in the stern!

Prompter & Echoes

Asleep!

Peter

I rush to Jesus and waken him.
“Save us, Lord; we are perishing!”

Voice

Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?

John

Jesus stands and rebukes the winds and the sea.
Now it is perfectly calm!

Peter

What kind of a man is this, that even wind and sea obey him?

Prompter & Echoes

Even nature obeys him!

Peter

I am Peter, and my feet are aching. Jesus sets a fast pace!
We are traveling near Sychar in Samaria.
Hey, fellows, let’s go buy some bread.

Prompter & Echoes

We are all hungry!

Voice

You men go. I will stay here at the well and rest.

Peter

Come, guys. (Walk to one side)

Lady

  (Walk toward Voice, pretending to hold a water pot on your head.)

Voice

Ma’am, please give me a drink.

Lady

Well, now! How is it that you, a Jew, ask me for a drink?
You snobbish Jews do not have any dealings with us Samaritans.

Voice

If you knew the gift of God,
and who it is that asked for a drink,
you would have asked him,
and he would have given you living water.

Lady

Sir, you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep.
So where will you get that ‘living’ water?
Are you greater than our father Jacob?
He dug this well, and his sons and cattle drank from it.

Voice

Everyone who drinks this water will thirst again,
but whoever drinks of the water that I give shall never thirst.
It will become in him a well of living water springing up,
giving eternal life.

Prompter & Echoes

Living water!

Lady

Sir, give this water to me, so I will not thirst
and have to come all this way to draw from this well.

Voice

Go, call your husband and come back.

Lady

I have no husband.

Voice

Correct. You have had five husbands,
and the one you are with now is not yours.

Lady

Oh! I see that you are a prophet!

Prompter & Echoes

A prophet!

Lady

Our fathers worshiped in this mountain,
but you Jews worship only in Jerusalem.

Voice

Lady, an hour is coming when you will worship the Father
neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
Soon true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth;
for such people the Father seeks to worship him.
God is spirit, and those who worship him
must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Lady

I know that Messiah is coming.
He will declare all things to us.

Voice

He who is speaking to you is he.

Lady

Oooh!

Prompter & Echoes

Christ the Messiah!

Peter

Look fellows. Amazing!
Jesus is talking with that Samaritan woman.
I wonder why. Oh! She left her water pot!
She’s hurrying into the city.

Lady

Neighbors! Come see a man who told me the things I have done!
He must be the Messiah!

Prompter & Echoes

Let’s go see him!

Peter

Rabbi, we brought you this food. Eat.
(Pretend to hold out food to him)

Voice

I have food to eat that you do not know about.

Peter

Hey, fellows, no one brought him anything to eat.
What does he mean?

Voice

My food is to do the will of him who sent me,
and to do his work.
Do not say, “In four months the harvest will come.”
Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes and see the fields,
white and ready to reap.

Peter

He means those Samaritans that are rushing toward us,
but they are our enemies! Oh! Now Jesus is talking with them.
He is friendly with them! Amazing!

Lady

They tell me they no longer believe
only because of what I said;
 they have heard for themselves.
Now they know that this man is the Savior of the world.

Prompter & Echoes

He gives the water of life!

 

About 4 minutes, from John 6: 24-63

Participants (No need to memorize lines; the aim is to relive sacred events, not to perform)
   Peter
   Grasper
   Voice (of Jesus)
   Prompter      Shout a brief line and Echoes repeat it.
   Echoes         Children and all adults who want to take part. Echoes need no script.

Peter

I am Peter. We disciples have arrived in Capernaum with Jesus
after fed thousands of hungry people in the wilderness.
Imagine! Oh, look! Crowds are thronging him!
Hear them shout.

 

Prompter &Echoes

More bread!

 

Voice

You seek me because you ate the loaves and they filled you.
Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that gives eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you.

 

Grasper

Work? Okay. What can we do to work the works of God?

 

Voice

This is the work of God: believe in him whom he has sent.

 

Grasper

Then give us a sign, so we can believe you.
Our fathers ate manna in the desert;
Moses gave them bread from heaven.
Do for us what Moses did for them.

 

Voice

It was not Moses who gave bread from heaven, but my Father.
He gives true bread from heaven that gives life to the world.

 

Grasper

Yes, yes, Lord! Give it to us!

 

Prompter & Echoes

Bread! Now!

 

Voice

I am the bread of life that came down from heaven.
He who comes to me will not hunger.
All who believe in the Son will have eternal life.

 

Grasper

Well, who do you think you are! Ha!
Did you hear what he said, folks?
Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph?
We know his mom, dad and brothers.
So how can He say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’?

 

Voice

Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.
I am the living bread; eat it and you will live forever.
This bread is my flesh.

 

Prompter &Echoes

He says to eat His flesh!

 

Voice

He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life,
and I will raise him up on the last day.
He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me,
and I in him.

 

Grasper

Whoa! That is too much!
I have heard enough! He is blaspheming.
I am not following that guy anymore. Let’s leave.

 

Peter

Look, Lord Jesus, they’re all leaving! Your words offended them.
They all left you, except a few of us disciples.
Your words were very hard.

 

Voice

Does this make you stumble, Peter?
What if you see the Son of Man rising to where he was before?
The Spirit is who gives life; the flesh profits nothing;
the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
You do not want to go away also, do you?

 

Peter

Oh, no, Lord! Never! To whom could we go?
You have the words of eternal life.

 

Prompter &Echoes

Only you, Lord!

 

Voice

Hear what the Kingdom of Heaven is like.
A sower goes to plant grain.

Planter

Why lug this heavy seed any farther?
I will sow them here by the road.
Pretend to scatter seeds.)
Now, what do you think happens to these seeds?

Prompter & Echoes

Tweet! Tweet!
Pretend to flap your wings, pick up seeds and eat them.)

Voice

Birds snatch up the seed! Some hear God’s Word
but fail to grasp it;
the evil one snatches it away before it takes root in their hearts.

.Planter

Thieving birds! I’ll sow the seed among these rocks,
where the birds `won’t see it. (Pretend to scatter seed.)

Voice

The seed springs up at once, as it has no depth of soil.

Planter

Hey! Something’s wrong!

Prompter & Echoes

Drying up!
(Stretch arms out like branches of a plant and look up.
Then wither, dropping slowly to the ground).

Planter

The sun dries the plants in the rocky soil; they lack root and wither.

Voice

The rocky soil is those who hear God’s Word
and receive it with joy,
but they have no firm root in themselves.
When trouble or persecution comes because of God’s Word,
they fall away. He who has ears, let him hear.

Planter

I’ll sow the seed here in the shade of these plants.
They have thorns, but they’ll shield the hot sun.
(Pretend to scatter seed.) What’s happening?

Voice

The thorn bushes choke the new plants out.

Prompter & Echoes

Strangled! (Grip your throat and fall.)

Voice

The thorny soil is like those who hear God’s Word,
but worries of the world and the treachery of riches choke it.
The seed yields no fruit.

Planter

I’ve been lazy. I’ll sow the seed far from the road and those birds,
where it’s neither rocky nor weedy. (Pretend to sow).
See how the seed grows!

Prompter & Echoes

(Stand straight and lift your hands toward heaven)
A huge harvest!

Voice

The good soil is like one who hears God’s Word, grasps it and bears fruit, thirty, sixty or a hundredfold. He who has ears, let him hear.

 

ZwPI8cfkA Samaritan Shows Practical Love to an Ailing Enemy
About 2 minutes, from Luke 10 25-37

Participants (No need to memorize lines; the aim is to relive sacred events, not to perform)
   Traveler
   Prompter              Shout a brief line, and Echoes repeat it.
   Echoes                  Children and all adults who want to take part. Echoes need no script.

 

 

 

Traveler

I am going down from Jerusalem to Jericho.
Oh, no! Robbers! They are attacking me!

Prompter & Echoes

Help!

Traveler

They beat me with clubs, and I fall!
They take my clothes and all I have!
They leave me half-dead and bleeding.

Prompter & Echoes

Bleeding!

Traveler

Oh! Here comes a priest, a man of God.
Surely, he will help me.

Prompter & Echoes

Help! Have mercy!

Traveler

The priest stops and looks at me.
Then he passes by on the other side.

Prompter & Echoes

There is no hope!

Traveler

Here comes a Levite, a servant of God. Good! He will help me.
Oh, no! He also passes me by. Oh! I am growing weaker.

Prompter & Echoes

Weaker and weaker!

Traveler

I see a Samaritan coming with a donkey.
He is an enemy of us Jews. He won’t help me.

Prompter & Echoes

  (Groan)

Traveler

But the Samaritan stops, looks at my injuries,
and begins to help me!

Prompter & Echoes

Compassion!

Traveler

He bandages my wounds, pours oil and wine on them,
and puts me on his donkey.
We go to an inn and the Samaritan continues to take care of me.
He even leaves money with the innkeeper
to take care of me after he leaves.

Prompter & Echoes

The love that Jesus demands!

 

ZwPI8cfkThe Lord Frees a Lady from Twelve Years of Suffering

About 5 minutes, from a reading by Paula Gamble, based on Mark 5: 21-43

Participants (No need to memorize lines; the aim is to relive sacred events, not to perform)
   Mrs. Griever
   Mrs. Grumble
   Voice (of Jesus)
   Jairus
   Prompter.     Shout a brief line, and Echoes repeat it.
   Echoes.        Children and adults who want to take part. Echoes need no script.

 

Mrs. Griever

Look, Mrs. Grumble. Our rabbi Jairus is racing after that crowd!

Mrs. Grumble

He is chasing after that rebel rabbi from Nazareth.
I dare say! Look how our rabbi is carrying on! Disgraceful!
Listen to him.

Jairus

Master! My little daughter is dying!
Come lay your hands on her!

Prompter & Echoes

Quickly!

Mrs. Griever

Look at Jairus fling himself down on this rocky road,
scraping his knees!

Mrs. Grumble

It is not proper conduct for a learned synagogue leader!
Groveling before that infamous, wandering rabbi!
Shame!

Mrs. Griever

Isn’t Jesus a prophet or something?

Mrs. Grumble

Oh, he is something all right! He hangs out with drunken tax collectors!
Why does Jairus fuss so over a mere 12-year-old girl?

Mrs. Griever

Twelve years? The girl was born the same year my sickness started.
My dreadful flow of blood has been going on since then.

Mrs. Grumble

Well! Then you are unclean by our Law!
(Step away) Get away from me!

Mrs. Griever

Twelve years not sleeping with my husband, unable to bear children,
unable to cook lest I infect my family! No hugs from my children.

Prompter & Echoes

Twelve years!

Mrs. Grumble

Now I know why you never chat with the ladies at the well;
you’d pollute the entire town.

Mrs. Griever

I am so lonely! Bitter at times,
but it won’t help to spread it around griping.
I gave all I had to doctors; but they made me worse.
I heard that Jesus heals the sick.

Mrs. Grumble

They say he touched a leper! Touched the filthy beggar, mind you!
No respectable Rabbi would ever touch a leper,
making himself unclean!

Mrs. Griever

But the leper became clean and joined his family again.
I heard that Jesus once cured a man’s shriveled hand.

Mrs. Grumble

Well, he did that on the Sabbath day,
so it had to be by Satan’s power.

Mrs. Griever

Oh, no! How can you say such a thing?
It is beautiful the way Jairus cares for his daughter!
I wish someone cared for me. I have no hope.
I heard that people merely touched Jesus and got healing.
Maybe I can sneak through this throng to touch his robe;
I dare not touch him; I would make him unclean, but I must!

Prompter & Echoes

Just touch his robe.

Mrs. Griever

I hope no one notices me! It is hard to move through this crowd.
There! I did it. I touched the hem of his robe!

Jairus

Why have you stopped, Master? Why look around?
My daughter is dying.

Mrs. Griever

What is happening? Oh! Dried up? My hemorrhage is dry.
I felt it dry up! Dry and whole, in an instant!

Voice

Who touched my robe?

Mrs. Grumble

How can he ask who toughed his clothes?
Many are pressing against him!

Mrs. Griever

How did he feel me touch the fringe of his robe?
I am in trouble now! Oh, my knees are shaking!
Please walk on, Jesus! Go heal Jairus’ little girl. Please, just go on!
Do not let them know that an unclean woman touched you!
You would not dare lay hands on the girl if they knew I defiled you!

Voice

Power went out from me. Who touched me?

Mrs. Griever

He is waiting; I must go to him. More shame and cruel words!
I go forward on my knees as Jairus did.
I fall at his feet, weeping. Lord! I confess!
I touched you! I defiled you!

Jairus

You did what? You touched Jesus? You meddler!
My daughter is dying, and you interrupt us!

Mrs. Griever

The crowd is silent, shocked. I wait for Jesus to scold me.

Voice

Daughter, your faith has healed your affliction.

Mrs. Griever

What? What did he say? No condemnation?
Before this leering, jeering mob that ostracized me,
Jesus says I am whole!

Voice

Rise.

Prompter & Echoes

Go in peace!

Mrs. Griever

Peace! No one has spoken so kindly to me.
Why… I feel young again! Jesus has restored me to my community.

Jairus

Oh! It’s no use now, teacher.
They have come to tell me my daughter has died.

Prompter & Echoes

Too late!

Mrs. Griever

(Groan) Oh, no! Jesus stopped for me and did not get to her in time.

Voice

Do not fear, Jairus. Just trust me.

Prompter & Echoes

Trust him!

Mrs. Griever

Jairus, trust Jesus! He healed me after twelve years of living death.
He can bring your little girl back. He must be the promised Messiah!

Prompter & Echoes.

Our blessed Messiah!

ZwPI8cfkJesus Feeds Five Thousand with a Boy’s Small Gift
About 5 minutes, from John 6:1-15

Father

Look, daughter.
This huge crowd has followed Jesus all the way out here
to the far side of the Sea of Galilee!

Prompter & Echoes

Wow!

Girl

Daddy, hear what everyone is saying. They’re hungry!

Prompter & Echoes

We are famished!

Girl

(Pull at Father’s sleeve and beg loudly.)
Daddy, I’m starved, too! Please, Daddy! I’m hungry.
Oh, look! That boy brought food.

Father

Quiet! I’m trying to hear what Jesus is saying.

Boy

Ha! I was smart enough to bring five loaves and two fish.
(Take, or pretend to take, bread from a pocket, and look at it.)
Mmmm.

Prompter & Echoes

Yum! Yum!

Girl

(Walk toward the boy, eyeing the bread.)

Boy

(Turn, see the girl, hide the bread quickly where she can’t see it.
When she walks away, lift the bread again and look at it.)

 

Girl

(Walk away, then turn abruptly and go back.)
What you got in your hand? (Reach for it)

Boy

(Jerk your body around to turn your back to the girl.) Go away!

Girl

(Walk away) Greedy little pig!

Prompter & Echoes

Selfish!

Boy

(When girl walks away, lift bread to your mouth and look at it.) Yum!

Girl

 (Turn and eye the bread.) Hey!

Boy

(When the girl turns to see, quickly hide the bread again.)

Girl & Boy

(Repeat the above scene twice:
Boy lifts the bread, and Girl turns to see it,
Boy lowers the bread, and Girl turns away.)

Girl

(Pull father’s sleeve) I’m hungry! Everyone is!
Let’s go get something, daddy.

Prompter & Echoes

We are all hungry!

Father

Hush! Listen to Jesus.

Voice

Give and it will be given to you.

Prompter & Echoes

What does Jesus mean?

Voice

Give to all who ask of you!

Boy

Oh, oh! I am afraid I know what he means.
I heard you, Jesus. I guess I maybe was just a tiny bit selfish.
Well, yes, I was definitely selfish.
Okay, I was terribly selfish.
(Go to the girl and hold bread out to her.)

Girl

(Take the bread)
Oh! Thank you! (Look at Father.) My dad is hungry, too!

Father

You are very kind, young man.
But we are not the only ones who are hungry.
All these people are starving, too.
(Gesture toward those who are listening)

Boy

I only brought five barley loaves and two fish.

Father

Give them to Jesus, aon, and see what he does with them.

Prompter & Echoes

He feeds 5000 people!

Peter

How will I ever forget that shameful night when I denied Jesus?
Now he has risen from the dead.
How I yearn for him to forgive me!

Prompter & Echoes

Peter is miserable!

Peter

What made me realize how despicably I had behaved?
Not a scolding by a judge. Not a sermon. Not Scripture.
It was not even words. It was a bird! A stupid bird! A rooster!

Prompter & Echoes

Cock-a-doodle-doo!

Peter

Jesus warned me that I would deny him before the rooster crowed,
and I did. So I have given up hope.
I return to my fishing boat and take the other disciples
out on the Sea of Galilee.

Prompter & Echoes

Hopeless!

Peter

We fish all night and catch nothing.
We row back to shore, and there is Jesus, waiting!
I fear what he will say to me. But there is no rebuke;
he does not shame me, even though I’d denied him!

Prompter & Echoes

Three times!

Peter

Jesus simply asks if I love him ̶ three times!
After each time he tells me the same thing.

Prompter & Echoes

Feed my sheep.

Peter

Oh, how those blessed words of assurance echo in my soul!

Prompter & Echoes

Wonderful forgiveness!

Peter

Once I asked Jesus how often shall my brother sin against me
and I forgive him. “Up to seven times?”

Voice

Not up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Prompter & Echoes

490 times!

Peter

Jesus then explained this with a parable.

Voice

The kingdom of heaven is like a king
who wished to settle accounts with his slaves,
some of whom were very wealthy.

King

Slave, you have grown rich in my service.
Now, my accountant says you owe me a huge sum of money.
Pay me. Now!

Rich slave

But I do not have the money to repay you, master.

King

Very well. You will be sold, along with your wife,
children, and all that you own, to make repayment.

Rich slave

Mercy! Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.

Prompter & Echoes

Have mercy!

King

Well, I do feel a bit of compassion. I forgive your debt. Go in peace.

Voice

But that slave goes out and finds a fellow slave
who owes him a much smaller amount of money,
and he seizes the poor man and begins to choke him.

Rich slave

Pay back what you owe.

Prompter & Echoes

Pay me!

Peter

The poor debtor falls at the feet of the rich slave
and beseeches him for mercy.
He begs the man to have patience,
and promises to repay his debt.

Rich slave

Get up off the ground and pay me now!

Voice

The wealthy slave has the poor slave thrown into prison
until he pays back all that he owed.
The poor man’s fellow slaves hear what happened;
they are grieved, and report it to the king.

King

Now, this makes me angry. Captain, summon that wicked slave!

Peter

That slave looks pleased with himself, as he comes before the king.

King

You wicked hypocrite!
I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.
Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave,
in the same way that I had mercy on you?

Voice

The king hands him over to be tortured until he pays all that he owes. My heavenly Father will also do the same to you,
if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.

Peter

Oh, what an admonition to forgive!

Prompter & Echoes

A stern warning!

Voice of Jesus

Come with me, Peter, James and John, up this mountain

Peter

Well, James, now we are at the top. What will Jesus do up here?

James

Oh, look! His face is shining!

Prompter & Echoes

Like the sun!

Peter

His garments are glowing, as white as light!

James

Oh, look! Two men are talking with Jesus!
They are Moses and Elijah!

Peter

Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will make three tents,
one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

James

Quiet, Peter!
A voice is coming from the bright cloud overshadowing us.

Peter

It was the voice of God! He said,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.
Listen to him!”

Prompter & Echoes

Heed what he says!

Peter

I fall facedown, terrified!
Then I feel a hand raising me.

Voice of Jesus

Get up.

Prompter & Echoes

Do not be afraid!

James

Wow! Look Peter, no one is here now except Jesus.

Voice of Jesus

Come, let us go back down the mountain.
Tell the vision to no one, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.

Prompter & Echoes

He will rise from the dead!

Faithful  Fretter 

 

Prompter

Shout a brief line, and Echoes repeat it.

Echoes

Children and all adults who want to take part. Echoes need no script.

`Faithful

Hello. My name is Faithful. 

Jesus sent us disciples in pairs to Israel’s towns to announce His Kingdom. Oh! Here comes my coworker, Mr. Fretter.

Fretter

Mr. Faithful, I am leaving now, while the weather is good. Goodbye!

Faithful

Wait, Fretter! Jesus told us to go in pairs. We must go together.

Fretter

Okay, grab your raincoat; it might storm.  Better take extra socks, too.

Faithful

Not so fast! Jesus said not to take extra clothes. 

Faithful

You are in too much of a hurry. 

Jesus said to pray first for harvesters.

Fretter

Yeah, and we’ll need God’s help to face those wolves, too.  Jesus said we would be like lambs among wolves. 

What kind of wolves did He mean?

Faithful

We will soon find out.

Fretter

Wait, Faithful. 

I will fill these bags with dried fish and bread, and get some money.

Faithful

No, Fretter! Jesus said to let our hosts feed us.

Fretter 

Oh, that is right. 

Faithful

We start out.

On the way, friends beg us to stay with them and play games.

Fretter

Faithful, let us spend a day or two with my friends here. 

My aunt lives nearby. 

She serves her visitors delicious kosher food.

Faithful

No! Jesus said not to greet people on the way.  Let us not allow anyone to sidetrack us. 

We can stop by your aunt’s place on our way back.

 

 

Faithful

We travel on. 

Look, Fretter, here is the town that Jesus sent us to.

Fretter

Finally! Let us go sing in the town square and attract a crowd.

Faithful

No. Jesus said to find persons of peace. 

We are to stay with them, and eat what they give us.  He meant persons who will help us meet their friends,  so we can tell them about Jesus. 

Fretter

Well, I hope our peace person can cook. I am starved. 

What if the food isn’t kosher? 

These villagers have weird customs. 

Faithful

Jesus said to eat whatever they give us. 

Let us stop worrying about our own needs. 

We are to pray for the sick in Jesus’ name and announce His Kingdom.

Fretter

Oh, that is right, but what if we do not find a hospitable person of peace?

Faithful

Then we go elsewhere; Jesus said to shake the dust from our feet;  leave those who do not receive Him.

Fretter

That guy is building a fence around his house.  Maybe he is a man of peace.

Faithful 

Oh, no! He turned his dog loose to chase us away! 

Fretter

Now, after two more people reject us, we find a family of peace. 

Faithful 

Thank God! We stay in their home, announce that God’s Kingdom is near, and heal sick folk in Jesus’ name.

Fretter

Now we have returned to Jesus, and I tell Him joyfully,  “Lord, we cast tormenting devils out of people. 

That was exciting! Evil spirits yielded to the authority of Your Name.”

Faithful 

Jesus is not impressed. He tells us not to rejoice because demons are subject to us, but to rejoice because our names are written in heaven.

Peter

I’m Peter. Jesus is taking us disciples up on the Mount of Olives
where we admire the beauty of the holy city of Jerusalem.
Look, Lord! See how enormous and glorious the great temple is!

Prompter & Echoes

Magnificent!

Peter

Look at those immense walls! 
No enemy will ever get past them!

Voice

Wrong, Peter. 
The day is coming when there’ll not be left one stone upon another.

Peter

What? How could that be? 
Rabbi, when will such destruction happen? 
What will be the sign when these things are about to take place, and when will you establish your eternal Kingdom?

Voice

Let no one mislead you; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He.’ When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified. These things must take place first; the end does not follow immediately. Nation will rise against nation; there will be wars and rumors of wars. There will be great earthquakes, plagues and famines, also terrors and great signs from heaven.

Prompter & Echoes

Dear God, spare us!

Voice

Your enemies will arrest and persecute you. 
They’ll imprison you and take you before governors because of Me. 
This will give you opportunity to testify on my behalf. 
Do not prepare a defense beforehand; I’ll give you answers
and wisdom that your opponents cannot refute.

Peter

It sounds so dire! 
Surely, Lord, you’ll establish your rule on earth first, to avoid that.

Voice

Not now. You’ll be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends. They’ll kill some of you, and you’ll be hated by all because of My name. Yet, not a hair of your head will perish.

Peter

I can’t imagine such a huge temple being totally destroyed.  When will it happen?

Voice

When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then her destruction is near.  Those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and of those in the city must leave.

Prompter & Echoes

How terrifying!

Voice

Woe to those who are pregnant or are nursing babies in those days; there’ll be great distress upon the land and wrath to this people.  They’ll fall by the edge of the sword, and be led captive into all the nations; Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by Gentiles until their time is fulfilled.
The Holy City that we are looking at now is doomed!

Prompter & Echoes

Doomed!

Peter

And then? Will you return to rule over all the earth?

Voice

Not yet. There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay, perplexity at the roaring of the sea and waves, men fainting from fear, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 

Prompter & Echoes

Power and glory!

Voice

When you see these things begin to take place, take courage.  Your redemption is drawing near.

Prompter & Echoes

Lord, give us courage

Son

Dad, give me my share of the estate. It’s my inheritance.

Father

Your inheritance! I’m not dead yet!

Son

But I want to enjoy it now, dad.

Father

Very well, son. Here is your portion of the family wealth.

Son

Goodbye. You will not be seeing me. I am going far away.

Prompter & Echoes

Sad!

Son

Now, here I am where I can live just as I want.

Bargirl

Hi, handsome! I like a man who enjoys sharing his wealth.
Buy me a drink.

Son

Why not? Call your friends over, and we will all celebrate.

Prompter & Echoes

Watch out!

Son

Well, I live extravagantly for a few years. Then…

Prompter & Echoes

His money runs out!

Bargirl

What? Now you beg me for a drink? You’ve got things backward!
You’ve squandered all your coins, sonny. Foolish boy! Get lost!

Son

Please don’t make fun of me. Now I have nothing.
Do you know anyone who might offer me a job?

Bargirl

There is a famine now. Everyone is looking for a job!

Son

But I am desperate! I will do any kind of work.

Prompter & Echoes

Anything!

Bargirl

See that drunk stumbling away from the bar? Ask him when he’s sober. He raises pigs, thousands of the filthy things.
He hires drifters like you. Wait! You look Jewish.
Jews and pigs do not get along.

Son

Pigs! Oh, no! I can’t! But I have to!
Sir! May I have a word with you?

Prompter & Echoes

He goes to the hogs!

Son

Here I am, feeding these filthy pigs, and I am still hungry!
I wish I could eat these pods that I give to the hogs.
They eat better than I do!

Prompter & Echoes

Months go by.

Son

My dad's hired hands have lots of bread but I am wasting away
with hunger! It’s time that I came to my senses.

Prompter & Echoes

Finally!

Bargirl

That Jewish boy is leaving town. I wonder where he is going.

Son

I will return to my father. But how can I face him?
What can I tell him?

Prompter & Echoes

The truth!

Father

It has been so long now since my son left! So very long!
It breaks my heart!
 (Shield your eyes with your hand, looking far off.)
Daily I scan the horizon, hoping to see him coming down the road.
Dear God, hear my prayer!

Prompter & Echoes

Bring him home!

Father

Oh! Is that my son I see, coming down the road? Is it…?
Yes! It is he!

Prompter & Echoes

He has come back!

Son

To my surprise, my father runs, weeping,
embraces me and kisses me!

Prompter & Echoes

Mercy and grace!

Son

Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I am no longer worthy to be called your son.

Father

Come. Servant, bring out the best robe and put it on him, quickly.
Put our family ring on his hand and sandals on his feet!
Bring the calf that we have fattened, and kill it.
We will feast and celebrate! My son was dead and now lives again;
he was lost and has been found.

Older brother

I come in from the field and hear music. They are dancing!
What is going on? What’s that?
They killed the fattened calf to celebrate my brother’s return!
I will not go in! I won’t! I won’t!

Prompter & Echoes

He won’t share the joy!

Father

Come, son. I have received your younger brother back,
safe and sound. Come join the celebration.

Older brother

(Wave a clenched fist in the air.)
No, father, I won’t go in! How could you?
Look! For years, I have served you and obeyed your every command;
yet you never gave me even a goat, to celebrate with my pals.
Now this son of yours comes, who wasted your wealth with prostitutes,
and you kill the fattened calf for him!

Father

Oh, son! You have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.
But we must celebrate with joy, for your brother was lost
and has been found. He was dead; now he is now alive!

Prompter & Echoes

He is alive!

John

Master, this man has been blind from birth.
Who sinned, this man or his parents,
to cause him to be born blind?

Voice

It is not because anyone sinned, John.
Neither this man nor his parents.
It was to let the power of God be displayed!”

John

Jesus astonishes every one by what he does next.
He spits on the ground, makes clay
and applies it to the man’s eyes!

Voice

Go wash in the pool of Siloam.

John

The pool of Siloam is filled from an underground channel;
it is Jerusalem’s water supply.
The man goes and returns, having washed.
Oh, look!

Prompter & Echoes

He can see!

Pharisee

Then he is not the same man that was blind.
You do not fool us Pharisees!
He just looks like the blind man.

Blind man

Yes, I am he who was blind.

Pharisee

So how did you come to see?
What happened?

Blind man

A man called Jesus did it.
He put clay on my eyes and told me to go wash.

Pharisee

Aha! That Nazarene Jesus did this on the Sabbath.
He worked on the holy day of rest!
He violated God’s law, so he is a sinner!

Prompter & Echoes

Oh, no!

John

But how could an evil sinner do such a miracle?

Pharisee

Anyone who labors on the Sabbath is a sinner, isn’t he?
You there, who say you were healed,
what do you say about that man Jesus?

Blind man

He is a prophet.

Pharisee

Aren’t these your parents who accompany you?
Pardon me, sir. Is this man your son that was born blind?
How does he now see?

John

They reply that the man is their son
and he was blind from birth,
but they do not know how he was healed.
They tell the Pharisees to ask their son, since he is of age.

Pharisee

You are dodging our question.

John

The parents fear the Jews.
If anyone says Jesus is Messiah,
they throw him out of the synagogue.
They’ll have no place to worship.

Pharisee

You who were blind, give glory to God.
The man whom you say healed you is a sinner.

Blind man

I don’t know if he is a sinner or not;
but one thing I know: I was blind, but now I see.

Pharisee

How did that man Jesus open your eyes?

Blind man

I already told you! Do you want to hear it again?
Do you want to become his disciples, too?
God does not hear sinners;
He could do nothing if He were not from God!

Prompter & Echoes

He is from God!

Pharisee

Who are you to teach us?

John

The Pharisees become angry
and throw the man out of the synagogue.
Jesus hears about it, finds the man, and asks him a question.

Voice

Now that you can see, do you believe in the Son of Man?

Blind man

The Son of Man? Who is he, Lord?
Tell me, so I may believe in him.

Voice

You have seen him; he is the one who is talking with you.

Blind man

Lord, I believe!

Prompter & Echoes

Joyful faith!

Voice

I came into this world to put men to the test,
so that those who do not see may see,
and that those who see may become blind.

Pharisee

We are not blind too, are we?

Voice

Were you blind, you would have no sin;
since say you see, your sin remains.

John

Wow! It is dangerous to be a religious know-it-all.

Prompter & Echoes

Lord, remove our spiritual pride!

Peter

(Groan.) Lord, we’ve walked a long time, and we’re hungry.

Prompter & Echoes

Very hungry!

Voice

Look, Peter. This field has ripe grain.
Moses said not to harvest the corners of one’s field,
so that hungry travelers could glean from them.

Prompter & Echoes

Eat a bit of grain!

Abby

Hello, mister! You’re eating grain from my father’s field.
I’m glad that you don’t have to go hungry.
My name is Abby. What is your name?

Peter

I’m Peter. We’ve walked a long ways,
and we appreciate this bit of food.

Prompter & Echoes

Crunch, crunch!

Abby

Oh, look! Those men have been watching you, and are coming.
Wow, they look angry!

Pharisee

Aha! You ate with unwashed hands!
Who is that law breaker that you are following?

Peter

He is Jesus of Nazareth. You Pharisees should follow him, too.
Come join us. Let me introduce you to him.

Pharisee

Stay there! Do not come near me.
We Pharisees do not associate with such as you.
I’ve heard about that Nazarene: he violates our sacred Law!

Peter

Oh, really? What law has he broken?

Pharisee

He lets you eat without ceremonially washing your hands.
You are doing it now!

Abby

Oh, oh! You are defiled, Peter. I‘m sorry.

Prompter & Echoes

Defiled!

Voice

Pharisee, you disobey God’s command and follow your own tradition.
Your rules about washing came from men, not from God.
You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you:
“They honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”

Abby

Look. Those Pharisees are holding their hands over their ears,
but they still hear what Jesus is saying.

Voice

Listen. It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles a person,
but what proceeds out of the mouth, this is what defiles a person.

Peter

Lord, the Pharisees were offended by that statement.

Voice

Never mind; they are blind guides of the blind.

Peter

Please explain to us what you said about what defiles a man.

Voice

What goes into the mouth passes into the stomach
and is eliminated;
but what leaves the mouth comes from the heart
and defiles a person.
From the heart come evil ideas, murders, adulteries,
thefts and lies.
These defile a person; but to eat with unwashed hands does not.

Prompter & Echoes

Our own thoughts defile us!

Peter

Lord, purify our hearts!

Observer

Look! Isn’t that Jesus of Nazareth? He’s coming into Jericho.
Come. Let’s see what that famous rabbi is doing here.

Prompter & Echoes

A crowd quickly gathers.

Observer

Oh! Here comes Zacheus; the richest guy in town,
and the shortest.
Why does such a sneaky, stingy sinner want to see a holy prophet?

Prompter & Echoes

Sneaky and stingy!

Zacheus

I can’t see Jesus! Too many people! I’m too short!

Observer

That’s just as well, Zacheus. You have no place with Jesus!
You’re boss of the tax collectors that serve the Roman invaders.
You cheat us. You charge us more than what we owe.

Zacheus

Yeah? Prove it!
I can’t see Jesus because of this crowd around him.
I’ll run ahead and climb that sycamore tree
to watch as He passes below.

Prompter & Echoes

He climbs up!

Zacheus

Oh, oh! Jesus has stopped below me. He’s looking up!
He sees me!

Voice

Zacheus, hurry and come down.
Today I must stay at your house.

Zacheus

Who, me? You sure you got the right man? Amazing!
Okay, I’m coming.

Observer

Why does Jesus bother with that little cheater?
How can a truly holy person associate with such a scoundrel!

Prompter & Echoes

Lowlife!

Observer

Well! He has done it!
Jesus is the guest of a foul, treasonous sinner! Ha!

Zacheus

Lord Jesus, half of my possessions I will give to the poor,
and if I have defrauded anyone of anything,
I will give back four times as much.

Voice

Today salvation has come to this house,
because the Son of Man comes to seek and save
those who were lost.

Prompter & Echoes

Angels are rejoicing in glory!

Mary

Martha, why hasn’t Jesus come?

Prompter & Echoes

It’s an emergency!

Martha

I don’t know, Mary. We sent word to him days ago
that our brother Lazarus was seriously ill.

Prompter & Echoes

Why hasn’t Jesus come to Bethany?

Thomas

Meanwhile, we disciples of Jesus also wonder why he delays.
Martha and her sister Mary had sent him word several days ago,
that their brother Lazarus was dying. They are close friends,
but Jesus has done nothing about it. Hear what he tells us.

Voice

I love Lazarus and his sisters very much.
This sickness is not to end in death; it will glorify God.

Prompter & Echoes

Jesus waits two days longer!

Voice

I am going to Judea, to Bethany, to awaken Lazarus out of his sleep.

Thomas

Lord, if he has fallen asleep, then he will recover.

Voice

Lazarus is dead.

Prompter & Echoes

Oh no!

Thomas

Rabbi, Jewish leaders tried to stone you the last time
you went to Judea. Are you going there again?

Voice

I must go.

Thomas

  (Groan) Then let us go, too, and die with him!

Prompter & Echoes

We will die with him!

Voice

Come with me.

Thomas

It’s a long, sad journey to Bethany.
The closer we get, the more dread I feel.

Mary

Martha, I’m surprised that so many Jews have come to console us
after our brother Lazarus’ death.

Martha

Oh, Mary, look! Jesus is coming! I’m going out to meet him.

Prompter & Echoes

See Martha run!

Martha

Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

Voice

Martha, your brother will rise again.

Martha

I know he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.

Voice

He who believes in me will live even if he dies.
I am the resurrection and the life.

Prompter & Echoes

Resurrection and life!

Martha

Oh! Jesus sees Mary and the Jews weeping, and he is deeply troubled.

Voice

Where have you laid Lazarus?

Martha

In a tomb, Lord; it’s a small cave. Come.

Thomas

Look. Now Jesus is weeping!

Prompter & Echoes

Weeping!

Voice

Remove the stone.

Martha

But Lord, by now there’ll be a stench;
he’s been dead for four days.

Voice

I told you, Martha, that if you believe,
you will see the glory of God.
(Shout loudly) Lazarus, come forth!

Martha

My brother comes forth bound hand and foot with wrappings!

Voice

Unbind him.

Thomas

Look! He’s come back to life!

Prompter & Echoes

He’s alive!

Thomas

Peter, I warned Jesus that we’d all die if we went into Jerusalem.

Peter

But here we are, Thomas,
descending this Mount of Olives into the city,
where the religious leaders intend to kill him.

Thomas

And us, too, probably.

Prompter & Echoes

It won’t be long now.

Peter

Jesus knows that he’s stepping into their trap.
I guess that’s why he let Mary anoint him
for his burial with that priceless perfume.

Thomas

The aroma of that costly nard still lingers on him.
We’re getting close. I’m scared, Peter.

Peter

I am, too, Thomas.
It gets more dangerous with every step we take!

Prompter & Echoes

It’s too risky!

Thomas

Jesus has stopped here on the Mount of Olives.
Has he changed his mind?

Peter

He won’t turn back, Thomas. Listen to him.

Voice

Go to that village; you will find a donkey tied,
and a colt that no one has ridden. Untie them and bring them here.
If anyone asks why you’re untying them, tell them I need them.

Peter

We go and find them just as Jesus had told us.
The donkey greets us.

Prompter & Echoes

Hee haw!

Peter

We release the donkey and colt, and the owner comes running.
He shouts, “Why are you untying them?”

Thomas

The Lord needs them, sir.
I don’t know why he prefers a donkey to a horse,
to enter the city of Kings.

Peter

The prophet Zachariah predicted it, Thomas.

Thomas

We bring the colt to Jesus, and throw our coats on it.
Jesus sits on it, and rides down the Mount of Olives.

Prompter & Echoes

Clip clop, clip clop!

Thomas

We are close to Jerusalem now. What will happen?
Oh, oh! Here comes trouble. Those Pharisees are furious.

Pharisee

That deceiver’s disciples are running to greet him.
Look at the misguided rabble wave palm branches and shout. Disgraceful!

Thomas

His disciples are spreading their coats on the road
to make a path for the King of Kings!

Prompter & Echoes

Glory to God in the highest!

Peter

Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!

Prompter & Echoes

Our savior and king!

Pharisee

This is too much! I’ll tell that brazen Nazarene to stop this scandal.
You there, riding on that jackass – rebuke your disciples!

Voice

I tell you, if they become silent, the stones will cry out!

Prompter & Echoes

Hosanna!

Thomas

Jesus rides on, and stops to look sorrowfully down on Jerusalem.

Prompter & Echoes

He is weeping!

Voice

Jerusalem, Jerusalem!
If you’d only known, you could have won peace this day!

Prompter & Echoes