Following Jesus
(Character stands and reads Isaiah 53:1-6 from Bible)
Character:
1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
(Repeat last line slowly) The LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
SCENE 1: (Curtain opens on crowd as Joseph and Mary enter (left))
Joseph: Innkeeper!! Innkeeper!!
Innkeeper: Go away, there's no room here.
Joseph: I must have a room for my wife ...
Innkeeper: I said, "Go away"!!
Joseph: Sir, my wife is with child! Surely you have some place we can rest!
Innkeeper: I don't have room to turn around! I'm sorry, son... I only have a stable, but there are some animals in it...
Joseph: A stable?! My wife is with child...
Mary: It's alright, Joseph. It will have to do.
(They leave right, all is silent)
SCENE 1B (Narrator stands on left)
Narrator: They expected Jesus to come as a mighty military man, or perhaps born in royalty. Instead, He chose a stable, to be swaddled and laid in a manger. You know the Christmas story, with its shepherds, wise men and so on. So tonight let's jump ahead about 30 years. Let's look not at the Babe born in Bethlehem, but at Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
(John the Baptist enters from left)
John the Baptist: "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. I am not the Christ.
Pharisee: What then?! Are you Elijah?
John the Baptist: I am not.
Pharisee: Who are you?! What do we tell those that sent us? What do you say of yourself?!!
John the Baptist: I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, "Make straight the way of the Lord!!" (He leaves stage, still preaching) I indeed baptize with water unto repentance, but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire!
SCENE 2
Narrator: Jesus came to give His life for our sins. But while He was here, He touched lives everywhere He went. He cleansed the lepers, healed the lame, and made the blind to see...
Judge: What do you say of him who "openeth your eyes"?
Blind Man: He is surely a prophet.
Judge: (Addressing couple) You are this man's parents. Is not this your son, that was born blind? How is it that he can see?
Man: We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind.
Woman: But we do not know how he has come to see, or who it is that has opened his eyes.
Man: We know nothing! Ask him, he is of age. He can speak for himself.
Judge: You must give God the praise, for we know this man Jesus is a sinner. He has been seen with sinners, eating at the very same table!
Blind Man: Whether he is a sinner or not, I do not know. But one thing I do know-- where I was once blind, I now can see.
Judge: But what did He do to thee? It was the Sabbath, and yet did He not do some work to open your eyes?
Blind Man: I have already told you!! Why would you hear it again? Do you want to be His disciple?
Judge: You are His disciple! We are Moses' disciples! As for this man Jesus, we know not where He is from!
Blind Man: (Getting upset!) And neither do I! (He stops, and takes a deep breath) All I know, ... is that (Singing "He Touched Me"... leaves)
(Lights out)
SCENE 3
Narrator: The more good Jesus did, and the more love He showed, the more opposition He met. The Jews rejected Him as their King, in the end, even His closest friends deserted Him.
(Lights come up on lower left stage)
(Peter is standing with a group of people)
Peter: Is there any news of the one they call Jesus? What is to happen to Him?
Pharisee: They will take Him before Pilate, there is a rumor that He shall be crucified.
Peter: On what charge?!
Pharisee: On whatever charge possible!! The man blasphemes God by saying He is His Son!!
Woman: You were with Him!! That day in the Temple, you were with Jesus of Galilee.
Peter: I... I don't know what you are talking about!!
(Lights up on scene at right)
James: Andrew, I don't understand!! Why would Jesus let them take Him that way?
Andrew: (Disturbed) I don't know, James, Surely He could have stopped them!! Peter drew his sword, but Jesus would not even let Him fight!!
James: What do we do now?
Andrew: We wait, James. (Pause) We wait.
(Lights fade on right -- Lights go up on upper stage right)
Judge: What do you want, Judas?
Judas: I have returned your money. I have sinned by betraying my master.
Judge: What is that to us?
Judas: What do you plan to do with Him?!
Judge: Pilate will decide! Your part is over! Go!!
(Judas throws money on floor and leaves)
(Lights fade -- Lights go on lower left)
Peter: Is there no news of this Jesus yet?
Woman: What are you so concerned about Him? Are you one of His followers?
Peter: No! I follow no man!
Woman: You are one of them! Your speech gives you away!!
Peter: (Angrily) I know not the man!! I swear to you that this Jesus means nothing to me!!
(Actors freeze)
Narrator: Before you criticize the disciples, be honest with yourself. What would you have done? Would you have admitted that Jesus was your master, and then followed Him up Calvary's hill? Or would you have done as Peter did -- deny Him again, and again, and again...
(Lights go out, and then upper spotlight comes on slowly)
SCENE 4
(Soldiers push Jesus roughly to His knees)
Roman Centurion: Hail, King of the Jews!
Pilate: (To Judge) I bring Him to you that ye may know I find no fault in Him. Behold the man!
Judge: Take Him and crucify Him.
Pilate: You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.
Judge: We have a law, and by our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.
Pilate: (Walking over to Jesus) Who do you come from? Don't you know that I have the power to crucify you, or the power to release you?!
(Walking back to the Judge) You have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the Passover. Shall I release unto you the robber, Barabbas, or the King of the Jews?
Woman: Give us Jesus!
Man: Yes, Jesus.
Judge: Not this man, but Barabbas.
Pilate: (Walking over to Jesus, but speaking to the Judge) Behold your King!
Judge: Away with Him! Crucify Him!
Pilate: Shall I crucify your King?
(Pilate walks back to his wife, and turns toward the audience)
(All actors then freeze!!)
Narrator: (From lower left) What would you have done? Surely you would have stood by Jesus. And yet, 2000 years later we deny Him. We deny Him by putting other things before Him; by living our lives tuned to the world, and not His Word; by not living the life He would have us live. We fool ourselves. We say we love the Baby, but we crucify the man.
Pilate: Deliver Him to the Jews. (Turning to the Jews angrily) I am innocent of the blood of this man.
(Lights down on Pilate scene)
SCENE 5 (Crucifixion)
(Crowd stands on 3 levels, looking up at the cross) (Song -- "The Man On The Middle Cross")
SCENE 6
Narrator: Three days later Jesus rolled the stone away from the tomb and rose from the dead. At first the disciples couldn't believe it. And today, the world cannot really believe it. The question He asks the Church today is not "Do we believe?", but "Do we love Him?" To those who love Him, He gives the same command that He gave to Peter... (Lights go on upper right stage) He said "Simon, Son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?"
Peter: Yes, Lord. Thou knowest that I love thee.
Narrator: Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." (Pause) "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?"
Peter: Yes, Lord. Thou knowest that I love thee.
Narrator: Jesus said, "Feed my sheep." (Pause) "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?"
Peter: Lord, thou knowest all things. Thou knowest that I love thee.
Narrator: And Jesus said again, "Feed my sheep." And when He had said this, He said unto him, "Follow me..."
