Who Is Jesus? by Bob Denison Summary: The Book of Matthew presented in a way that will hold even the attention of teens. A one-act play consisting of a series of skits…
Who Is Jesus?
by Bob Denison
Summary: The Book of Matthew presented in a way that will hold even the attention of teens. A one-act play consisting of a series of skits and sermons from the book of Matthew; approx. 20 minutes. Although educational, the main purpose of the play is to show that Jesus is real, and that HE IS ALIVE!
Characters: 3 M/F
Duration: 30 minutes
Style: Drama
Themes: Salvation and Christian Education
Cast: PERSON 1, PERSON 2, PERSON 3 (either sex; ok for women to
speak men's lines)
Notes: There are eight places where it is imperative that Jesus be
seen as a real person and not an historical figure. They are
the three sermons and skits 10, 16, 20, 23, and of course,
24 (divide these equally among the actors). Play these as
you think Jesus may have done it. His passion and love for
those He came to save need to come through.
The word "forward" marks the beginning of a new skit or sermon, or occasionally a new topic within a skit. Most of the skits are not supposed to "hit a home run". They inform and help build up for those moments when "Jesus" can really connect with the audience on certain skits.
Script
(PERSON 1, PERSON 2, PERSON 3 enter)
Intro.
PERSON 1: (forward) Who is Jesus? We can find out by going to
the book about Him, the Bible. Specifically, the book
of Matthew. Here is what we know. (This PERSON
cannot be PERSON 1 in next skit.)
Skit #1 (Matt.1)
PERSON 1: (forward) His family tree included David the king, as
well as some not so kingly.
PERSON 2: (forward) His mother was Mary:
PERSON 3: And she will have a baby boy, and you shall call His
name Jesus, for He will save the people from their sins.
PERSON 1: Behold, the virgin shall be pregnant, and bear a Son, and
they shall call His name Immanuel, which means, God
with us.
PERSON 2: (forward) He was born in Bethlehem. (This PERSON
cannot be PERSON 1 in next skit.)
Skit #2 (Matt.2)[Jerusalem street]
PERSON 1: (forward) Kings searched for him:
PERSON 2: Wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying:
PERSON 3: Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For
we have seen His star in the East and have come to
worship Him.
Skit #3 (Matt.2)
PERSON 1: (forward) A king tried to kill him, but failed:
PERSON 2: Then Herod sent forth and put to death all the male
children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts,
from two years old and under.
PERSON 3: (forward) He grew up in Nazareth. (This PERSON
cannot be PERSON 1 in next skit.)
Skit #4 (Matt.3)[Jewish crowd]
PERSON 1: (forward) John the Baptist spoke of him:
PERSON 2: I baptize you with water because you want to repent,
but He who is coming after me is mightier than I am.
I am not worthy to carry His sandals. He will baptize
you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Skit #5 (Matt.3)
(If no additional stage light available, slightly dim stage lights.)
PERSON 1: (forward) He is the Son of God:
(PERSON 1 and PERSON 2 look at PERSON 3 for remainder of skit.)
PERSON 2: When He had been baptized, Jesus came up from the
water (PERSON 3 rises from kneeled position and
looks up), and the heavens were opened to Him, and
He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and
alighting upon Him (additional stage light on or
undim lights). And suddenly a voice came from
heaven, saying:
PERSON 1: This is my much-loved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
(additional stage light off)
Skit #6 (Matt.4)
PERSON 1: (forward) He was tempted by Satan:
(PERSON 2 and PERSON 3 face each other. PERSON 1 steps back.)
PERSON 2: Turn these stones to bread.
PERSON 3: It is written, "You shouldn't live by food alone, but by
every word that comes from God."
PERSON 2: Jump from this high place.
PERSON 3: It is written, "Don't test God unnecessarily."
PERSON 2: Worship me and all this is yours.
PERSON 3: Get out of here, Satan. It is written, "Worship the Lord
your God, and only serve Him."
Skit #7 (Matt.4)
PERSON 1: (forward) He is the Light of the world:
PERSON 2: The people who had no hope have seen Hope, and Life
has come to those who had no life.
Skit #8 (Matt.4)[Jewish crowd]
PERSON 1: (forward) He preached:
PERSON 2: From that time Jesus began to preach and to say:
PERSON 3: Admit to Me and others when you do wrong things.
Now that I am here, I can help you. If you don't come
to me, you won't have any excuse.
Skit #9 (Matt.4)[Simon and Andrew]
PERSON 1: (forward) He called disciples:
PERSON 2: Then Jesus saw two brothers, Simon and Andrew,
casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
Then He said to them:
PERSON 3: Come with Me. Instead of catching fish, you'll be using
your abilities to help Me rescue men and women.
Skit #10 (Matt.5)[Jewish crowd]
(End up in different standing order after this skit.)
PERSON 1: (forward) He taught the multitudes:
PERSON 2: These are known as the be-attitudes. (emphasize "be")
(PERSON 1 and PERSON 2 step back.)
PERSON 3: (Move all over stage.)
Here is how to be happy and contented with yourself:
Be honest about your bad points as well as your good
ones.
Be sorry over your bad points.
Be able to receive good advice and constructive criticism.
Be a learner of how to get better.
Be forgiving of others and their bad points.
Be determined to get rid of your bad points.
Be at peace with others, even if they are at fault.
Be a bold Christian, even if others make fun of you.
Sermon 1 (Matt.5-7)[Jewish crowd]
PERSON 1: (forward) His sermons are timeless. Allow us to
paraphrase and condense:
(PERSON 1 and PERSON 3 step back.)
PERSON 2: (Move all over stage.)
Be glad to be called a Christian. Get to that point.
Obey me because you love me, not because you have to.
Get to the place where it hurts you too much to hurt
others.
Desire to help others, even your enemies, because it is
so like me.
Prefer your good deeds to be seen by me rather than
others.
Do you worry about what might happen to you? About
what is happening around you and in the world? You've
got to get past that. Can you trust me with it?
Be very honest about yourself before you judge someone
else.
Come to Me when you need something.
Some say they know me, but they don't. If you know me,
you will know why I ask you to do things that are not the
way everyone else does them, and you will stand.
Skit #11 (Matt.8)[Jewish crowd]
PERSON 1: (forward) He was moved by faith:
PERSON 2: An officer of the Roman army asked Jesus to heal his
servant, who was critically ill. But instead of asking
Jesus to come to his house, he said:
PERSON 3: (to PERSON 1) I don't deserve making you go to all
that trouble, but I do believe that you have authority
over sickness so that all you have to do is command it
to go away, much like I command the men under me
to do things.
PERSON 1: (to audience) Amazing! I haven't seen this kind of faith,
even from those who should have it. This man's type
will be with me in heaven, but those other types will
not be, and will be tormented by the thought that
they could have been like this man but chose not to be.
(to PERSON 3) Go back home. Your servant is healed
because of your faith.
Skit #12 (Matt.8)[present audience]
PERSON 1: (forward) He told people what was most important in
life:
PERSON 2: (to PERSON 3) Lord, I want to completely follow you,
and I will when my life is more settled.
PERSON 3: (to audience) Follow me now. All those other things
don't give life. I do.
Skit #13 (Matt.8)
PERSON 1: (forward) He cast out demons:
PERSON 2: Two men who were filled with demons and were
horribly tormented by them confronted Jesus. When
the demons saw Jesus, they cried out in fear:
PERSON 3: (to PERSON 1) (contort face with frowns and grimaces;
use strained voice) Why are you here, Jesus? To torture
us before our time? If we have to leave, let us go into
`that herd of swine.
PERSON 1: (to PERSON 3) Go!
(PERSON 3 yells loudly with voice of demons as they are leaving, then falls to floor- yell loudly enough and weirdly enough to definitely startle the audience.)
PERSON 2: And the demons left the men and entered the pigs, and
the pigs ran violently into the nearby sea and drowned. (As this is being said, PERSON 1 kneels down and helps PERSON 3 to a partial sitting position. PERSON 3 is dazed, but ends looking up into the face of PERSON 1 with wonder and joy.)
Skit #14 (Matt.9)[Jewish group]
PERSON 1: (forward) He went to people on the bottom of society:
PERSON 2: Jesus went to a social outcast's house and was eating a
meal there with more social outcasts. Some people who
thought they were better than these outcasts wondered
why Jesus would be seen with such people. Jesus
answered them and said:
PERSON 3: Well people don't need a doctor. Sick people do. But
think about this: You should be more concerned about
helping these types of people rather than avoiding them.
Then you will be walking where I am, because I came to
help people get set free from their sins, not form a club
of those already set free.
Skit #15 (Matt.9)[His followers]
PERSON 1: (forward) He issued a call:
PERSON 2: Jesus went to many cities, small and large, preaching and
healing. But there were so many in need, unable to help
themselves. Jesus loved them and wanted them all to be
set free. He told His followers:
PERSON 3: There are many who are hurting, and few that can help
them. Pray that there will always be enough who have
been healed by God, my Father, and who will then go
out and heal others in My name.
Sermon 2 (Matt.10-11)[Jewish crowd]
(End up in different standing order after this skit.)
PERSON 1: (forward) Another sermon:
(PERSON 1 and PERSON 3 step back.)
PERSON 2: (Move all over stage.)
If you believe in me and live for me, it won't always be
easy. As you try to tell others about me, some will shut
the door in your face. Others will actively attack you in
some way. But trust Me to show you what to do and
say to such people. As the world gets more and more
evil, the cost will be more severe. Even members of your
own family may hate you and attack you. But don't fear
anyone, even if it costs you your life. They may kill your
body, but they can't kill your spirit, the real you. That
belongs to God. So don't deny that you are a Christian,
even if they kill you for it.
You must put aside your past opinions and be open to
who I am. People are being set free: from addictions,
from sickness, from hopelessness, from having no
purpose to life. But others are trying to find ways not to
believe. It makes them blind and deaf. Those people
will have no excuses on the day of judgment.
(looking up) Father, thank you for giving sight to those
who want to see, and blinding those who think they see.
(back to audience) You can only get to God through Me.
So if you can't see Me for who I really am, you will never
see God, My Father. Come to Me, and I will give you
rest.
Skit #16 (Matt.12-13)[Jewish crowd]
PERSON 1: (forward) He confronted His enemies:
(PERSON 3 faces PERSON 1 and PERSON 2.)
PERSON 2: You and your followers are working on Sunday.
You're breaking our law.
PERSON 3: Now that I have come, follow me, not your laws,
because I can show you a better way to live.
PERSON 1: You aren't supposed to heal on Sunday. It's work.
PERSON 3: You get your sheep out if it falls in a pit on Sunday.
Yet you condemn me for healing a man on Sunday,
who is worth vastly more than an animal?
PERSON 2: Your power comes from the devil.
PERSON 3: The devil wouldn't give me power to use against himself.
So My power has to be from the Holy Spirit. But you
better not speak against the Holy Spirit, because it is by
His power that you are saved. So you will never be saved
from eternal death into eternal life if you talk against
Him.
PERSON 1: We want to see a supernatural sign that you are who you
say you are.
PERSON 3: Only those who don't want to believe demand to see a
sign. I am the sign. If you had an open mind and heart,
you would see that.
(PERSON 1 and PERSON 2 step back.)
(to audience- move all over stage)
If your heart is hard, you won't receive what I am
saying. Even if your heart receives, if you don't make
changes in your lifestyle, it can become hard again. And
you can choke out what you receive by being too busy
with things that seem important in life, but aren't. But if
you keep your heart soft towards me, your life will be
blessed in every part. So put Me first in every part of
your life. If you could buy Me, but you would have to
sell your house and all your possessions, that is what you
should do. I know it doesn't make sense in your mind, but
it will to your heart. If you let your heart be soft towards
me.
Skit #17 (Matt.14)
PERSON 1: (forward) He fed thousands with five loaves of bread and
two fish.
PERSON 2: He walked upon the sea.
Skit #18 (Matt.15-16)[Jewish crowd]
PERSON 1: (forward) His words were the bread of life:
(PERSON 1 and PERSON 3 step back.)
PERSON 2: It's not what goes into your mouth that defiles you, it is
what comes out of your mouth. What you say.
I will build a true church that nothing can destroy and
nothing can stand against.
It costs to follow me. Instead of what you want for your
life, it must be what I want for your life. But it's worth it.
You won't regret it.
Skit #19 (Matt.17)[His followers]
PERSON 1: (forward) He foretold His death and resurrection:
PERSON 2: Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to
them:
PERSON 3: I am about to be betrayed into the hands of those who
hate me. They will kill Me. But God will bring me back
to life after three days of being dead.
Sermon 3 (Matt.18-19)[Jewish crowd]
PERSON 1: (forward) And yet another sermon:
(PERSON 1 and PERSON 3 step back.)
PERSON 2: (Move all over stage.)
Become child-like in your desire to know and follow me.
Never cause another to fall.
Forgive, forgive, forgive.
Give, give, give.
Skit #20 (Matt.20-25)[present audience]
PERSON 1: (forward) He spoke of the Kingdom of Heaven:
(PERSON 1 steps back.)
PERSON 2: (Move all over stage.)
A man needed laborers, so he hired some in the early
morning to work for him. Late in the afternoon he hired
some more. At the end of the day he paid everyone the
same amount. Those hired early complained. The man
said "Why are you mad because I was good to them?"
PERSON 3: (Don't move.)
The lesson here is: Do you expect to get more from Jesus
than someone you think isn't doing as much for Him?
And are you jealous when He blesses someone you think
doesn't deserve it, even though He is blessing you, too?
If so, watch out. That's not how the kingdom of heaven
operates.
PERSON 2: (Move all over stage.)
A man held a wedding for his son, but the invited guests
didn't want to come. They even insulted the man. So the
man invited anyone who would come, even the less
desirable types.
PERSON 3: (Don't move.)
This, too, is like the kingdom of heaven. You need to be
finding out what God is all about now...while there is still
time, and He is inviting you to know Him. That's what is
most important.
(PERSON 3 steps back.)
PERSON 2: (Move all over stage.)
I really don't like it when a so-called religious person acts
like he is better than everyone else, and tells others they
need to do things in order to be holy that he doesn't do
himself. Stay away from those people.
Just before the world, as it is now, is ended, those
pretending to be me will appear. Wars, rumors of wars,
nation against nation, famines, plagues, earthquakes.
Troubles, tribulations, betrayals, killings, hatred,
lawlessness, coldness. Great tribulation, false signs and
wonders, the sun and moon darkened, the stars fallen.
Then I will appear in the heavens to gather My own. So
live as though that day could be today. Be ready for my
appearing. Otherwise you will miss it. Use your talents
and abilities for me. Otherwise I will have to say I never
knew you. Feed the hungry, visit the sick, get clothes for
those who need them.
Skit #21 (Matt.26-27)[present audience]
(look into eyes of audience for these lines- somber voice and expression- scan eyes of audience as delivering lines- pause between PERSONS going forward. Definite step forward, deliver line, definite step back.)
(dim lights slightly if possible)
PERSON 1: (forward) He was betrayed by one of his own followers.
PERSON 2: (forward) He was unjustly tried and condemned.
PERSON 3: (forward) He was nailed to a cross for our sins.
PERSON 1: (forward) He died in our place.
PERSON 2: (forward) He was put in a grave. (This PERSON cannot
be PERSON 1 in next skit.)
(longish pause)
Skit #22 (Matt.28)[women]
(Joyful expressions and voices- with excitement)
PERSON 1: (lights undimmed same time as begin speaking) (forward)
After three days, He was raised from the dead:
PERSON 2: Now as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary
Magdalene and another lady named Mary came to see
the tomb. And there was a great earthquake, for an angel
of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled
back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His face was
like lightning, and his clothing was white as snow. And
the guards shook for fear of him, and fell down senseless.
But the angel answered and said to the women:
PERSON 3: Don't be afraid. I know you're looking for Jesus who was
killed. He's not here. He is alive, as He said He would be.
Look, see where His body used to be.
Skit #23 (Matt.28)[His followers]
PERSON 1: (forward) His command and promise just before
ascending into heaven:
(PERSON 1 and PERSON 3 step back.)
PERSON 2: All things have been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Wherever you are, tell them about Me: who I am, and
what I have done for you, and what I can do for them.
And after they believe, help them to live the kind of life
that I have modeled for you while I was with you. And
remember this above all: I will always be with you and
all who believe in me. You may not can see me. You
may not always feel my presence. But I will be there.
(all exit)
Skit #24 (Matt.1-28) (Exodus3:13-14)[present audience]
(pause)
(PERSON 1 enters, goes to center stage- do NOT say these lines mechanically or woodenly; more than any other skit, this one must convey the reality of Jesus.)
PERSON 1: (Move as feels suitable.)
So, who am I? Or, as I said to my disciple, Peter, "Whom
do you say I am?"
(pause)
(for the following lines, slightly emphasize every "I am",
and follow every "I am" with a slight pause.)
I am ... He who was born as a baby for you.
I bring you victory over the devil.
I speak words that bring you life.
I give purpose to your life.
I heal you of diseases.
I am ... he who delivers you from fear and darkness.
I shield you from your enemies.
I provide you with food and shelter and clothing.
I work miracles for you.
I guide your steps.
I protect you from the storms of life.
I am ... He who died for you.
I took your sins upon Me.
I was resurrected for you.
I give you eternal life.
I complete you and make you whole.
I am ... He who loves you and is calling you into deep
union with me.
(longer pause)
I ...(pause)...am.
(pause)
(All who exited earlier now walk back on stage, person who was already on stage goes over to them, and they all joyfully exit.)
(Just as all have exited, one or more actors come back and give call for salvation, re-dedication, or whatever, depending upon which is appropriate for that audience.)
end of play
Copyright 2007. robert denison. All rights reserved.
Bob Denison
No fees for use.
www.bobsplays.com (USA)