Judas admits he has betrayed Jesus and now Judas has misgivings. Jesus, he says, seemed to have "an aura of majesty about Him, an aura of hope, of salvation." Judas confesses, "At this moment I was not sure I was doing the right thing, and my legs were urging me to run away from this place and undo everything I'd done!"
These scenes and monologues are perfect for an evening of Gospel Theatre in the Chancel or as adjuncts to Sermons or even lessons in Sunday School. They place their characters in the present but the characters talk about their impressions of Jesus and His effect on their lives as if they were there with Him during His Ministry. Explore the feelings and perceptions of ordinary people whose lives have been dramatically changed. Some of them knew God in the wilderness others were healed by Jesus. Some are living today, learning about grace as they face life's tough issues. Two- to seven-m...
Mary Magdalene, who was forced to fend for herself at a young age and fell in to a sinful life, says it was when she first met Jesus that her life really began. She relates how, knowing she would not be welcomed, she walked into a house unannounced to wash His feet with perfume. Later, she was allowed to travel with Him and his disciples when other women were not. And now Mary Magdalene sits by His tomb and wonders how will they all go on without Him . until the stone is rolled away and she speaks to a wondrous stranger!
A reflective Miriam believes she was truly God's humble prophetess . at first. But she allowed seeds of rebellion and jealousy to slowly grow in her heart. When pride enters in, the door is wide open for other inner sins to follow. She wants to be God's humble servant again.
As she rocks a new grandchild in her arms, Noah's wife reflects on her earlier doubts and confusion about the need for the ark that her faithful husband built and loaded with animals. Now that they have been saved from the floods, she knows her husband was right, and a rainbow reaffirms God's plans have been fulfilled.
A Wise Man has seemingly always been on a journey, searching for a goal that would give his life deeper meaning. He finds the star and follows it where, in a lowly stable, he finds the Babe . more than a child, a king. The Wise Man's journey is now at an end, for once you find God, all your searching is over.
Peter-his name means "rock," yet when Jesus needed him most, he let Him down. He denied Him, eventually three times. Peter yearns for forgiveness. But wait-that look in Jesus' eyes. It's not condemnation. It's pity, yes, but moreover, it's love. Peter realizes Jesus will always forgive us.
The disciple Peter describes how he failed Jesus the last night, how he fell asleep when Jesus asked him to stay awake and ultimately, denied knowing Jesus three separate times. Peter says, "As I passed through that gate ... a cock crowed. It was at that instant that I realized how badly I had failed Him." Would Jesus forgive him and still have faith in him? Can Peter find peace?
Pilate is being forced to decide the fate of this man called Jesus. Pilate can find no legal basis to sentence Him to death, and even Pilate's wife urges him to let this "just man" go. Yet, Jesus won't defend himself, and the high priest Caiaphas insists Pilate sentence Jesus to death, or Caiaphas will report Pilate to Rome. It's all political, but there's so much at stake.
A mother recalls a recent dinner at a restaurant with her husband where their three children were amazingly well behaved, but a woman at a neighboring table wasn't so lucky with her little one. Rather than feel superior, she and her husband empathize and offer encouragement. She wants men and women alike to be members of the special Mommy Club, to support each other through the treacherous - and sometimes embarrassing! -times of parenthood.
A mother craves just a moment of peace from the needs of her children. Forget Dorothy from "The Wizard of Oz" saying there's no place like home. Once in a while it's great to get away from home. Still, the mom knows what would happen if she were away-she'd just be thinking about the kids!
The three Wise Men prepare for the long journey to find the Christ Child. Balthazar is determined to go, Melchior argues because he hates to travel, and Caspar repeats everything Balthazar says or does, much to everyone's irritation. When Caspar sees the bright star, however, they all become anxious to leave.
An exhausted new mother, trying to get her baby to sleep, reminds herself that she and the baby are a team, trying to do the best they can together to help her be the happiest, most secure little baby she can be.
After many months of silence, Zacharias lifts his tiny son in his arms and speaks: "You, my child...are one who prepares the way for our Lord...so that all who live in silence will hear His voice." Zacharias now knows peace and is quiet, not silent.
Mary says Jesus talked to her many times about his death, trying to prepare her for it. But she always pushed the thoughts away. It would happen later, some time in the distance. And she admits she even started to believe that He wouldn't have to die, that the prophecies were wrong. But now He is on the cross, dying, and she can do nothing about it, except be there for Him.