The Journey By Michael Paul Weber Summary: Joe and his wife Marilyn have to travel across several States to get to a new job that Joe desperately needs after having been…
The Journey
By Michael Paul Weber
Summary:
Joe and his wife Marilyn have to travel across several States to get to a new job that Joe desperately needs after having been long-term unemployed. Their present-day story is paralleled by the journey of Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
Characters:
Mary, Joseph’s wife, mid-teens. A simple country girl who loves God and desires to follow Him.
Joseph, husband of Mary. A first century carpenter. (Singing part.)
Elizabeth, wife of Bethlehem innkeeper, midwife, a bit cynical of life.
Sarai, Elizabeth’s servant girl, late pre-teen or teenager.
Marilyn, Joe’s new wife, young and carefree.
Joe, young product manager, a self-made man who laughs at the thought of God.
Beth, motel manager, single mother of 2 college students and a high school girl.
Sarah, Beth’s daughter.
Roman Centurion
Head Shepherd
Shepherds
Gabriel/Caroler leader
Angels/Carolers
Setting:
On the left side of the stage is first century Israel. A large stone dominates the center of this part of the stage. The back of this area is draped with cloths. One of the supports for the backdrop is a large wooden cross. The drapes hide the cross, but they are easily removable. On the right side is 21st century America. A couch and coffee table with an easy chair next to it are located in the right-center of this partition. Across the back bridging the two sections is a table with a pitcher of water, a cup, a small bowl of fruit, and a plate of cookies.
Script:
Elizabeth: [Enters sweeping the floor in front of the inn. Shepherds enter from behind her.] Oy! Another day, another back ache. You’d think Benjamin would learn to not feed his sheep in front of my inn. [Without turning around.] And the next time you do, Benjamin bar Elias, I will put the sheep droppings in your soup!
Benjamin: How did you know we were here?
Elizabeth: [Sniffs and turns around.] Are you kidding? The King in Jerusalem can smell you!
Benjamin: [Sniffs.] Ours is a wonderful and unique essence!
Elizabeth: It’s unique, all right. But wonderful? If you’re a sheep, maybe.
[Roman Centurion enters holding a scroll. He walks to center stage, turns to the audience. Phone rings. Joe enters from SR and answers the phone as the Centurion unrolls the scroll.]
Joe: I’ll get it! Hello? Yes! I’d been hoping you’d call…
Centurion: Hear ye, hear ye! By order of Caesar Augustus, Emperor of Rome, Lord and God of All the Civilized World, ALL subjects of His Deity are ordered to present themselves for a census. You will register yourselves with the Roman authorities in the city of your fathers’ birth. You are ordered to present yourselves to the authorities in 4 weeks time. Any and all who defy this order shall answer to swift Roman justice.
Signed, Augustus, Caesar of Rome.
[As the Centurion is reading, Joe’s expression goes from happy, to shocked, to defeated. Centurion exits.]
Benjamin: Wonderful.
[Shepherds and Elizabeth leave shaking their heads.]
Joe: Thank you for calling. No, nothing’s wrong, I’m just a little tired. Yes. Thank you. See you in 4 weeks! Bye.
[Marilyn enters.]
Marilyn: Who was it?
Joe: [Still seated, dejectedly.] It was TriCon. I got the job.
Marilyn: That’s fantastic! All right, honey! After so long you’ve finally got a good job! And… [Sees Joe looking dejected.] What’s wrong?
Joe: It’s in Cincinnati. The opening here in Dallas was taken by someone else. It’s so horrible!
Marilyn: Ohio? Well, at least it’s a job!
Joe: Yeah. In Cincinnati. [Marilyn stands up to rub his shoulders.] All our friends, our families are here in Dallas! [stands] They won’t even pay our moving expenses.
Marilyn: They won’t?… But… How in the world can we do that? We can’t move from Texas all the way to Cincinnati, Ohio on our own. There’s no way we have that much money left. You’ve been out of work for so long.
Joe: We still have a little left in savings, and we could sell one of the cars.
Marilyn: Cincinnati… It’s so far from home. Who will help us when we get there? We don’t know anyone in the entire state. Joe, I’m scared.
Joe: I know. Me too. But we’ve made it this far on our own. I expect we will make it somehow. We’re pretty resourceful when we need to be. [Sits in chair.] You proved that with supper last night!
Marilyn: What? C’mon! It was good!
Joe: Yeah, but it was green!
Marilyn: You!!! [Throws pillow at him. Both laugh.]
Joe: C’mon. We have some packing to do.
Marilyn: Packing?
Joe: Yeah. [Takes Marilyn’s hand and walks off SR.] We’re moving to Cincinnati and we have just 4 weeks to get there.
[As Joe and Marilyn exit saying the last line, Joseph and Mary enter saying the same line at the same time.]
Joseph: …and we have just 4 weeks to get there.
Mary: Four weeks? Joseph, that will be my time! Praise God!
Joseph: We both knew this baby could not be born in Nazareth. The Messiah, our little baby Joshua, must be born in the City of David. Now God is making a way for that to happen.
Mary: But, who will help us with the birth? We can’t ask Marta to come with us, can we? We have no friends, no family there. How will we make it?
Joseph: I don’t know. All I know is that the centurion said we must go or face the wrath of Caesar. This is God’s work. This is His Son. He will provide a way.
Mary: He always has. Have you spoken with Rebecca yet? She still owes you many days wages for those tables you made for her.
Joseph: As a matter of fact… [He takes out his money bag which is quite full.]
Mary: Praise the God of Israel!
Joseph: And she even added a few shekels because she was so late in paying!
Mary: As God provided for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, He has provided for us.
Joseph: Come. We need to pack our things, load up the donkey and say good bye to our friends.
[As Joseph and Mary exit saying the last line, Joe and Marilyn enter saying the same line at the same time.]
Marilyn: …say good bye to our friends.
Joe: That will be the hardest part. We have enough money to get to Cinci, barely. I just wish we didn’t have to leave right before Christmas.
Marilyn: They wouldn’t budge an inch?
Joe: They said the project had to start this year. If it doesn’t, they lose the contract. And if they lose the contract…
Marilyn: They have no need of a new employee. I get the picture. Are you sure we have enough money?
Joe: If nothing unexpected happens we’ll be fine. Being off work like that ate almost everything we had in savings, but we got a good price for your car. If my budget is right we’ll still have money in our pockets when I get my first paycheck.
Marilyn: Yeah. Enough to buy a Pepsi!
Joe: Enough.
Marilyn: It’s a shame we can’t afford any Christmas presents. I had something nice picked out for you.
Joe: It’s OK. You’re all I need. And isn’t that what Christmas is supposed to be about, anyway? Family, friends, food?
Marilyn: It’s supposed to be a sacred time, too.
Joe: Ha! Sacred only to the cashiers at Wal-Mart. Cha-CHING!!!
Marilyn: Joe. You know what I mean.
Joe: Yeah, yeah. Going to the First Church of the Holy Hypocrites!
[singing] Oh, Come, All ye Faithful, Give us all your money!
You can go, but leave the checkbook at home.
Marilyn: If you’d just come once in a while…
Joe: And be bored out of my skull? I’d rather clean the bathroom!
Marilyn: Don’t say things like that!
Joe: Why? You afraid a lightning bolt will hit me? Don’t worry about God. He’s dead. My dad sang at his funeral back in the 60’s.
Marilyn: There are some good people there and you shouldn’t talk about them like that. That’s all.
Joe: Humph.
Marilyn: C’mon. Today’s the best day to get free boxes from the grocery stores.
Joe: What do we have left to pack? You sold almost everything in the garage sale!
Marilyn: I only sold what we didn’t need, and what wouldn’t fit in the car.
Joe: I noticed you didn’t sell that box of maps.
Marilyn: No, I didn’t.
Joe: I don’t need maps. I know exactly where we’re going.
Marilyn: I know you know where we’re going. It’s just that you keep asking, “Where are we?”
[Joe and Marilyn exit as Mary and Joseph enter carrying a bag of apples.]
Mary: Where are we?
Joseph: About 2 days journey from Bethlehem. [Sits Mary on the rock and sits beside her.] Apple?
Mary: Maybe later. I’m still full. May God bless Eliam for his gift. He was a wonderful innkeeper.
Joseph: I wouldn’t mind calling him my friend if we should meet again.
Mary: He gave us a large room, all to ourselves. He fed us a breakfast large enough for 6! And the bed! Such beds are for kings and queens, not mere peasants.
Joseph: But you do carry a Prince, remember. God gave us a blessing on our travels last night.
Mary: Why don’t you remember Eliam’s inn? You have gone up to Jerusalem for Passover many times. Didn’t you stop there before?
Joseph: I didn’t want to say anything to worry you, but I’ve never come “exactly” this way before.
Mary: Exactly this way? [Smiling sweetly.] Joseph, my husband. Do you have something to tell me?
Joseph: Well, I know Jerusalem is South of us, but we left the main road I usually take early yesterday. Remember I mentioned a shorter way?
Mary: Yes. And…
Joseph: Well… I’m still looking for the end of our little short cut.
Mary: You’re lost.
Joseph: No, not lost… I just don’t know exactly where we are right now. But I know where we’re going so we’re not lost. Right?
Mary: Joseph. Joseph, Joseph, Joseph.
Joseph: What? I know exactly where we’re going. But if we don’t keep moving, we’ll never get there. C’mon! [Helps Mary get up.]
Mary: Groan!
Joseph: It’s time to go!
[Exit as Joe and Marilyn enter.]
Marilyn: It’s time to go! The car’s packed and we need to be ready to follow Eli.
Joe: I can’t believe this! We paid $150 for a bed for one night!
Marilyn: We got a free breakfast out of the deal.
Joe: And lunch. I grabbed a couple of apples for later. They’re wrapped up in the spare bath towels.
Marilyn: Joe!
Joe: What? It’s not as if they couldn’t afford it!
Marilyn: But that’s…
Joe: Fair! If I’m paying $150 for a night, I’m getting my money’s worth!
Marilyn: We need to finish checking out and get downstairs. Eli will be waiting for us.
Joe: We don’t need Eli! I can find my way to Cincinnati by myself!
Marilyn: He said he could show us how to cut hours off our trip.
Joe: He’s a crazy old geezer.
Marilyn: Who knows his way around Tennessee. You don’t like him because he prayed before he ate breakfast.
Joe: Like I said, he’s a crazy old geezer.
Marilyn: Joe, someday you’re going to really regret saying things like that.
Joe: Lightning hasn’t hit me yet, has it? [Looks up.]
Marilyn: It’s just that…
Joe: C’mon. Old folk don’t like to be kept waiting.
[Joe and Marilyn exit as Elisabeth and Sarai enter.]
Elisabeth: …folk don’t like to be kept waiting and neither do I!
Sarai: Yes, Mistress.
Elisabeth: Roman census. Bah! New Roman tax, they mean! Mark my words! Rome’ll find a way to turn this into a new tax. At least the Inn is doing well.
Sarai: How will we keep the inn running with the master gone?
Elisabeth: Hezekiah? What help was he, anyway? You and I did all the work even when he was here. I’m just glad his father wasn’t born any farther away than Jericho. Ah! I need to sit a moment. [Sits on the stone, Sarai sweeps a little more and then sits on the bucket at Elisabeth’s feet.]
Elisabeth: Sarai? Have you noticed Levi paying attention to you?
Sarai: [Shyly] Levi?
Elisabeth: Ah! You HAVE noticed! [Sarai turns away.] I wouldn’t be surprised if he asked Hezekiah about you soon. You are coming of age, you know.
Sarai: I know, but…
Elisabeth: Now, don’t give me any of that Messiah talk. This is life, not the dreams of a young girl. Levi needs a good wife and you need a good husband. You would do well together. I’m sure your parents would have approved of Levi if they were here.
Sarai: But I have been praying for Messiah to come. I’m sure it will be soon!
Elisabeth: And for hundreds of years girls have kept themselves virgins just in case The Lord God wants to use them, I know. The prophet Isaiah tells us the Messiah will be born of a Virgin, but you are a servant girl, not the mother of the Messiah.
Sarai: I wish you could have…
Elisabeth: You wish I could have heard your mother tell stories of how any girl could be the Mother of the Messiah. I know. You’ve told me before. But your father was a Zealot and now they are both killed.
Sarai: But, you just don’t understand! [Runs off stage.]
Elisabeth: I don’t want to hurt your feelings but there is no way the Mother of the Messiah is anywhere close to this Inn!
[Joseph and Mary enter.]
Joseph: Madam? Are you the owner of this establishment?
Elisabeth: No! We have NO ROOM! Didn’t you see the sign on the door? NO ROOM!
Joseph: But we just…
Elisabeth: You just need a room! So do hundreds of others! The answer is… [Mary has a contraction.] Oh, you poor dear!
Mary: Joshua is ready to be born, Joseph!
Elisabeth: Joshua? You know it’s going to be a boy, already? What is this world coming to? People giving names to their babies before they’re born. Next you’ll tell me God Himself told you what to name the child!
Joseph: Well…
Elisabeth: We will find you something. Sarai! Come quickly! [Elisabeth takes Mary on her arm and all exit.]
[Phone rings, Sarah enters and answers phone.]
Sarah: I’ll get it! Hello, Cinci Motel, may I help you? I’m sorry, we have no rooms available. No, there are no rooms available for almost 100 miles. Sorry! [Hangs up, talks to phone.] It’s Christmas Eve, our busiest time of year, and we’re in the middle of a blizzard. Be REAL, people!
[Beth enters.]
Beth: How many does that make?
Sarah: That was “nice” phone call number 23. I’ve also had 14 threats, 7 people beg, and 1 request for a date.
Beth: Bad night?
Sarah: I don’t know. I turned him down.
Beth: Huh?
Sarah: The date. I turned him down.
Beth: [Distractedly.] Oh, good! I’ve got to call Brian and make sure he can get the parking lots plowed before morning. It looks like it’ll stop soon, I hope. [Door bell.]
Sarah: Your turn!
Beth: Let’s hope it’s not your friend wanting a date!
Sarah: Puh-lease!
[Beth goes to door, Joe and Marilyn are there.]
Beth: Yes, can I help you?
Joe: Please, ma-am. We’re desperate. We are moving here to Cincinnati, got caught in the storm. There’s no vacancy signs all over the place.
Beth: I know. With the Holiday and the storm, every room within 100 miles is taken. I’m afraid we are booked as well.
Joe: What’s going on? Is there a retired Santa convention in town or something?
Marilyn: Is there any place we could stay? All we need is a spot in your laundry room! Really!
Beth: I’m sorry, we can’t allow that. You’ll have to keep going.
Joe: We can’t. We ran out of gas about 3 miles down the road.
Beth: You’ve been walking in this for 3 miles?
Marilyn: It seemed like 30 in this storm.
Beth: Oh, you poor… Come in! Come in. Sarah, go make some fresh coffee. [Sarah leaves.]
Let me have your coats. I’ll turn up the heat. Go ahead and sit down. Walking 3 miles in a blizzard. [Looking up.] Lord, what are we going to do? I need a place for them to stay.
Joe: You said that you didn’t have any rooms.
Beth: Now don’t you worry about that. We’ll get you taken care of tonight and then get you to a gas station tomorrow so you can fill up. There’s bound to be something open, even on Christmas Day.
Marilyn: Thank you, very much, but I’m afraid even that won’t help. We don’t have any money left.
Beth: You just let all that wait until after you warm up a bit. Sarah! Where’s that …
[Sarah enters with a pot of coffee and 3 cups.]
Sarah: Here, mom.
Beth: Good girl. Now you go clean up my bedroom so…
Joe: I’m sorry. Joe, Joe Tate and this is my wife Marilyn.
Beth: …so Joe and Marilyn have a place to stay tonight.
Sarah: Sure, mom. [Leaves.]
Beth: My name’s Beth and that is my daughter, Sarah.
Joe: Are you sure?
Marilyn: [At the same time.] We can’t let you do that!
Beth: Don’t you worry about it. The good Lord has taken care of Sarah and I for many a year. It’s just right to do a little for others in need.
Marilyn: Thank you, so much for helping us. I don’t know where we would be without you!
Beth: Christmas alone was never much fun for Sarah and I. It’ll be a treat for us. But tell me how you got here.
[Mary, Joseph and Elisabeth enter from left. Mary sits on the rock, obviously in pain.]
Joe: We were living in Dallas when the company I worked for went belly up. I got a new job here in Cincinnati with Tri-Cor. But they aren’t paying any moving expenses so we had to make the trip on our own.
Marilyn: It’s been quite the journey….
[Shift focus to left.]
Mary: It’s been quite the journey. We started out and had no trouble until we came to a little village on the third night…
Joe: We heard a “POW” and I thought “The engine’s on fire!”
Joseph: The thieves took my money pouch, but Mary was carrying half our money.
Joe: I asked the guy, “Seven hundred dollars? For a water pump?”
Mary: When we came to Samaria, of course, we had to cross the Jordan.
Marilyn: The lady told us our hotel was 200 miles away! I still don’t know how we ever got so lost.
Joseph: But God protected us all the way.
Joe: I said, “A hundred and WHAT a night? What in God’s name are we going to do?”
Mary: Praise the Name of the God of Israel! He provided everything we needed.
Beth: $150 a night? It must have been a pretty nice place.
Marilyn: I’ve seen apartments smaller than the bathroom!
Joe: I’ve LIVED in apartments smaller than the bathroom!
Marilyn: At least the breakfast was free.
Beth: Was it a full breakfast or just juice and donuts?
Joe: Shoot! The buffet line wouldn’t fit in this room! Eggs, bacon, grits, flapjacks… You name it. We ate up. Skipped lunch ‘cause we were still full.
[Sarai goes to the table to get a cup of water for Mary and Sarah goes to get the plate of cookies. They glance at each other and then turn back to deliver the cup and plate.]
Beth: Then, how’d you get back on track?
Marilyn: A nice old man happened to be going north. He said he knew the back roads and could cut hours off our trip if we’d follow him.
Joe: Crazy old geezer in a ’53 ford. Knew his way around Tennessee, though.
Marilyn: He was a nice old man.
Beth: So, now you are in a strange city far from home with no friends, no family, no money, and no place to stay. That story sounds familiar.
Marilyn: It happened to you when you were younger?
Beth: No, much longer ago than that. About 2000 years ago, as a matter of fact.
Joe: Huh?
Beth: Don’t you recognize the Christmas story?
Joe: Christmas? My dad used to tell us silly stories about a guy called Jesus driving a sleigh with 8 tiny reindeer. We laughed till we cried.
Beth: That does sound pretty silly, but I think you could really relate to the true story. You see, Mary was to be married to Joseph…
Mary: I was to be married to Joseph next year. We had the whole thing planned. It was going to be wonderful. Then an Angel came to me and said… [Freeze]
Joe: An angel? You really believe that fairy tale?
Marilyn: Shhhh! Don’t be rude!
Beth: That’s OK. Yes, I do. Let me tell you why, but after I finish the story. An Angel came to…
Mary: An Angel came to me and said that I would bear a son by the power of God, and that we should name him Joshua. In Greek his name would be Jesus. Then Caesar’s decree forced us to come to Bethlehem just as it was my time. <Contraction>
Elisabeth: You poor dear! Sarai! SARAI! Where is that girl. SAR…
Sarai: [Running in] Here I am, my mistress.
Elisabeth: Go fetch some water for this child. Then bring my birthing things. <Sarai runs out.> And be quick about it!
Mary: I’d better hurry with my story. The same Angel went to Joseph and told him not to be afraid to take me as his wife. He didn’t want to embarrass me, since I was with child before we were wed. He and I were simply going to part, but God put his fears to rest. <Another contraction.>
Elisabeth: It is very near your time. Where is that servant girl! Sarai!
Sarai: Coming! <Enters> Here is the water and your birthing bag.
Elisabeth: You’ll have to help since Ruth is busy with another arrival. You know what to do?
Sarai: Yes, Elisabeth. I can do it.
Elisabeth: Good. Help me get her comfortable.
[Elisabeth and Sarai help Mary to lay down behind the rock.]
Joe: And this relates to us… how?
Beth: Persistent, isn’t he?
Marilyn: Like a bulldog at times.
Beth: Mary and Joseph had to travel halfway across the country to a place where they had no family, no friends, and since they were poor carpenters, no money. When they got to Bethlehem, there were no rooms available in the city because of the census. They were allowed to use the inn keepers stable to sleep in and to have the child. Beginning to sound familiar?
Joe: Hmph. [Crosses his arms.]
Marilyn: Yes, it is! Go on!
Beth: Like I said, the baby was born and laid in a manger.
[Shepherds enter and sit on steps.]
At the same time, out in the hills of Judea, shepherds were being visited by angels also. They were watching their flocks of sheep when an angel appeared.
[Carolers enter. Caroler leader knocks on door. Choir starts singing Angels we have Heard on High. Shepherds turn to watch caroler/angels.]
[Beth answers door.] Carolers! How wonderful!
[Choir sings several carols and exits. Elisabeth stands up with a newborn baby wrapped in cloths.]
Shepherd 1: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel! You have visited your people!
Shepherd 2: We must go and see our Messiah! [Shepherds exit.]
Beth: Back to our story. This little baby grew up, lived 33 years teaching, healing and showing people how to love each other. Ever notice how evil this world can be at times?
Joe: Oh, yeah!
Beth: That’s because of sin. Sin is knowing what’s right and choosing to do wrong. That’s pretty common these days.
Joe: That’s for sure!
Beth: Do you know how common it is? The Bible says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” All have sinned. Some more than others, but we all have sinned. Have you?
Marilyn: A little.
Joe: Well, yeah! But I’m a LOT better than some people I know. I’m even better than some of them so called preachers!
Marilyn: I go to church when I can. I don’t… like… SIN. You know? I mean, I’m a good person.
Joe: Yeah. Doesn’t that count for something?
Beth: Think about it. Just because you go into a garage, does that make you a car? You see, being a Christian isn’t about what you do or don’t do, it’s a relationship. Joe, you said you’re better than some. Marilyn, you go to church and don’t commit major sins. That’s good! I’m glad I didn’t invite ax murderers into my home! But, are you perfect? 100% sinless?
Joe: Well, no. But nobody is!
Beth: [To Marilyn.] Does Joe like omelet’s?
Marilyn: Oh, yeah!
Joe: With ALL the fillings!
Elizabeth: Sarai, go and get Joseph! [Sarai exits.]
Beth: Me, too. Let’s say that Marilyn is making your favorite omelet, and when she breaks the last egg, it’s rotten. Ever smelled a rotten egg?
Marilyn: Yuck!
Beth: But, since there are so many good things in there, it should be fine, right?
Marilyn: No way!
Beth: No? But it’s mostly good stuff! What’s the matter with it? [Pause] It’s not perfect, is it? You see? God can’t accept a “mostly perfect” person any more than you would eat that “mostly perfect” omelet. The Bible says, “Be perfect just as I am perfect.” In another place it says, “The wages of sin is death.” That’s one, single sin.
Joe: One? What a racket! Who can do that?
Beth: No one ever has, with one exception. [Joseph enters, Elisabeth hands him the baby.] Remember Jesus? He lived 33 years a perfect, sinless life. At the end, He was crucified. [Joseph takes the cloth down to wrap the baby revealing the cross.] He was tortured to death on a cross. He was killed on a cross to pay the penalty for your sin.
Joe: So God is dead? I thought that was just a headline from the 60’s.
Beth: God died, but He came back to life after 3 days. That’s what we celebrate at Easter.
Joe: I had a feeling it wasn’t just fake bunnies and chocolate eggs. But this relates to me, how?
Beth: Jesus died. He never sinned. That means that He can pay your debt for sin. Jesus is offering you a new start, a clean slate. The Bible puts is this way, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life.”
Marilyn: Why? Why would God do all that?
Beth: He Loves you! He wants to be with you, and He has a plan for your life.
Joe: A plan? I thought it was all just churchy stuff and all that.
Beth: No, but I can see why you would think that. It’s much more a relationship with someone who wants you to be the best you can be. He made you in a special way for a purpose that you don’t see right now. But God’s plan is always amazing!
[Joseph comes forward and sings Michael Card’s “Joseph’s Song”. All 1st Century people exit quietly.]
Joe: How can it be? What’s the catch?
Beth: The catch is that you have to take the gift. You can live the best life you can, go to church every time the doors are open, and still not be saved. It’s not what you do or don’t do, it’s one simple thing: Do you have a relationship with Jesus? Do you know Him and does He know you?
Marilyn? Do you know Jesus?
Marilyn: No. I’ve been to church all my life and I never knew there was anything more.
Beth: Joe?
Joe: There’s no way He would want to know me!
Beth: Wanna bet!
Joe: But… you don’t know me!
Beth: Joe, I know of a guy who killed hundreds of people, sent women and children into slavery, or worse, and taught kids to be twice as evil as he was. He did all this to people just because they were Christians. If you were God, what would you do when you met up with him?
Joe: He’d be dead meat!
Beth: Are you as bad as this guy? Have you done things worse than he did?
Joe: Well, no. But I bet he didn’t get to heaven!
Beth: Betcha again! His name was Saul. You know him better as Saint Paul. He wrote over half the New Testament. If God would accept a murderer and even make him a leader in His church, I believe He would accept you.
Joe: I don’t know…
Beth: Do you know what Jesus said about the soldiers who had just nailed his hands and feet to the cross? He prayed for them. He said, “Father, forgive them!” If anyone had gone to far, don’t you think it would have been the guy with the hammer and nails?
Joe: But, I thought I had gone too far. That God would never accept someone like me.
Beth: Here’s what God says, “While we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us!” God knows all about you and He still loves you.
Joe: You mean I haven’t gone to far?
Beth: No way. God DOES want to love you. Wouldn’t you like to know Him?
Joe: But… Yes. If He will take me.
Beth: He will.
Marilyn: What do we need to do?
Beth: It’s simple. Just ask Him.
Marilyn: Just… It can’t be that simple.
Beth: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that whosoever would believe in Him would never die but would have eternal life.” All He asks is for us to believe in Him and ask Him into our hearts.
Joe: Wow. I never heard it like that before.
Beth: If you’d like, I’ll lead you both in a simple prayer and you can invite Him to come into your life. Would you like to do that? [Joe and Marilyn nod.]
Then let’s pray…
[All bow heads and the Pastor comes to front to invite anyone else to join with Beth, Joe and Marilyn in prayer.]
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© Copyright Michael Weber, all rights reserved. The script may not be reproduced, translated or copied in any medium, including books, CDs and on the Internet, without written permission of the author.
This play may be performed free of charge, on the condition that copies are not sold for profit in any medium, nor any entrance fee charged. In exchange for free performance, the author would appreciate being notified of when and for what purpose the play is performed. He may be contacted at:
The Journey Page PAGE 1
Copyright 2002, 2011, Michael Paul Weber DATE \@ "M/d/yyyy" 9/13/2011