The Ark -- Found
Drama
Lectionary Scenes
56 Vignettes For Cycle C
Theme
Just who is Jesus? Just a historical figure or is He the Son of God who is alive now?
Summary
Indiana Smith has found the lost Ark of the Covenant, but lost it to the Nazis. Now he wants to recover it. The Nazis think there is power in the Ark, but Indy explains to them that there is power in God alone.
Playing Time
5 minutes
Setting
Somewhere near an archaeological dig
Props
The Ark (a trunk will do)
Soldier -- weapon
Indy -- whip
Costumes
Indy, Jane -- costumed like the movie
Soldier -- German uniform
Time
World War II
Cast
INDIANA SMITH -- the archaeologist
JANE -- his assistant
HEINRICH -- A Nazi archaeologist
SOLDIER -- a German soldier
(INDIANA SMITH AND JANE ENTER)
JANE: Indiana, you finally found the lost Ark of the Covenant, and then you lost it again to the Nazis. Now they are going to use the power in it to conquer the world for their evil desires.
INDIANA: Follow my lead. (NAZIS ENTER WITH ARK AND PLACE IT CENTER STAGE)
HEINRICH: We have won. With the power contained in this mighty ark of God we will certainly conquer the world. Open up the ark. (SOME SOLDIERS OPEN THE LID. EVERYONE COWERS AND HIDES THEIR EYES)
JANE: Don't look at the ark no matter what happens!
INDY: No, no. It's all right. You can all look. No one is going to get hurt.
JANE: But the power of God?
SOLDIER: It will fry us like hamburger!
HEINRICH: I'm melting! I'm melting!
INDY: Stand up, man. You're not melting.
JANE: He's not melting.
HEINRICH: I'm not melting.
INDY: Of course not.
HEINRICH: Then this isn't the real ark!
INDY: Of course this is the real ark. We both are archaeologists. We know this is the Ark of the Covenant.
HEINRICH: Then where is all the power that's supposed to be in here?
INDY: The ark was a sacramental symbol of God's covenant with His people. It represented the presence of God in the midst of His people.
HEINRICH: (KICKING ARK) I lost again!
INDY: But if you want power from on high, there is a new and better way.
HEINRICH: More power? What is it?
INDY: You mean who is it -- God Himself, that's where all power comes from.
SOLDIER: Hide! He's talking about God!
JANE: Don't look no matter what happens! (EVERYONE COVERS EYES EXCEPT HEINRICH)
SOLDIER: It will fry us like hamburger!
INDY: Now stop that! You don't have to be afraid of God. Just as the old ark was a symbol of God's covenant and represented God's presence with us, Jesus, God's son, is the new "Ark of the Covenant." Jesus' name is "Emmanuel."
HEINRICH: That's correct. I found that in my studies. "Emmanuel" means God with us.
INDY: Exactly. God with us, but not like this ark. It's a relic and belongs in a museum. Jesus, the Christ, is alive now. God is available to us now in His son, Jesus. He is the new ark of the New Covenant.
HEINRICH: I want the power of God.
INDY: He is all-powerful.
HEINRICH: I know that now.
SOLDIER: I'm getting out of here. (EXITS)
JANE: Me, too. I can't stand to hear it. (EXITS WITH OTHERS)
INDY: And what about you? Will you leave too?
HEINRICH: No. I won't leave you. I want to hear about the Christ, the son of God.
INDY: (AS THEY EXIT, WITH HIS ARM AROUND HEINRICH) You see, Jesus is God, alive now, not a relic in a museum.
Just who is Jesus? Just a historical figure or is He the Son of God who is alive now?
Summary
Indiana Smith has found the lost Ark of the Covenant, but lost it to the Nazis. Now he wants to recover it. The Nazis think there is power in the Ark, but Indy explains to them that there is power in God alone.
Playing Time
5 minutes
Setting
Somewhere near an archaeological dig
Props
The Ark (a trunk will do)
Soldier -- weapon
Indy -- whip
Costumes
Indy, Jane -- costumed like the movie
Soldier -- German uniform
Time
World War II
Cast
INDIANA SMITH -- the archaeologist
JANE -- his assistant
HEINRICH -- A Nazi archaeologist
SOLDIER -- a German soldier
(INDIANA SMITH AND JANE ENTER)
JANE: Indiana, you finally found the lost Ark of the Covenant, and then you lost it again to the Nazis. Now they are going to use the power in it to conquer the world for their evil desires.
INDIANA: Follow my lead. (NAZIS ENTER WITH ARK AND PLACE IT CENTER STAGE)
HEINRICH: We have won. With the power contained in this mighty ark of God we will certainly conquer the world. Open up the ark. (SOME SOLDIERS OPEN THE LID. EVERYONE COWERS AND HIDES THEIR EYES)
JANE: Don't look at the ark no matter what happens!
INDY: No, no. It's all right. You can all look. No one is going to get hurt.
JANE: But the power of God?
SOLDIER: It will fry us like hamburger!
HEINRICH: I'm melting! I'm melting!
INDY: Stand up, man. You're not melting.
JANE: He's not melting.
HEINRICH: I'm not melting.
INDY: Of course not.
HEINRICH: Then this isn't the real ark!
INDY: Of course this is the real ark. We both are archaeologists. We know this is the Ark of the Covenant.
HEINRICH: Then where is all the power that's supposed to be in here?
INDY: The ark was a sacramental symbol of God's covenant with His people. It represented the presence of God in the midst of His people.
HEINRICH: (KICKING ARK) I lost again!
INDY: But if you want power from on high, there is a new and better way.
HEINRICH: More power? What is it?
INDY: You mean who is it -- God Himself, that's where all power comes from.
SOLDIER: Hide! He's talking about God!
JANE: Don't look no matter what happens! (EVERYONE COVERS EYES EXCEPT HEINRICH)
SOLDIER: It will fry us like hamburger!
INDY: Now stop that! You don't have to be afraid of God. Just as the old ark was a symbol of God's covenant and represented God's presence with us, Jesus, God's son, is the new "Ark of the Covenant." Jesus' name is "Emmanuel."
HEINRICH: That's correct. I found that in my studies. "Emmanuel" means God with us.
INDY: Exactly. God with us, but not like this ark. It's a relic and belongs in a museum. Jesus, the Christ, is alive now. God is available to us now in His son, Jesus. He is the new ark of the New Covenant.
HEINRICH: I want the power of God.
INDY: He is all-powerful.
HEINRICH: I know that now.
SOLDIER: I'm getting out of here. (EXITS)
JANE: Me, too. I can't stand to hear it. (EXITS WITH OTHERS)
INDY: And what about you? Will you leave too?
HEINRICH: No. I won't leave you. I want to hear about the Christ, the son of God.
INDY: (AS THEY EXIT, WITH HIS ARM AROUND HEINRICH) You see, Jesus is God, alive now, not a relic in a museum.
