Jesus And Mary And Martha
Children's Resources
Spotlight On Jesus
Readers' Theater For Children's Church
Characters
Narrator
Jesus
Martha
Mary
Peter
Note: requires pans for rattling
Questions
1.
How did Martha show her love for Jesus?
2.
How did Mary show her love?
3.
Did Jesus think both were necessary?
4.
Which was the most important?
Narrator: Jesus and his disciples have come to Bethany, a town just outside of Jerusalem. They are visiting in the home of Mary and Martha.
Jesus: Martha, you are a kind and generous hostess, inviting us to stay at your home.
Martha: You need a place to get a healthy, filling meal, and I'm delighted to provide it.
Mary: And you need a place to relax from the pressure of your ministry.
Jesus: I am tired; so to relax in your home is wonderful, but I also need to continue teaching my disciples.
Martha: You just go in the other room and do whatever you want. We'll cook a meal that'll put new life in you.
Jesus: Heaven bless you for your generous spirit, Martha, but don't fuss with one of your extravagant feasts.
Martha: (chuckles) I think you'll be pleased with all I've prepared. Hey, Mary, where're you going?
Mary: Into the living room to hear Jesus.
Martha: Oh, no, you're staying out here in the kitchen to help with the meal.
Mary: But Jesus doesn't come this way that often. This is an opportunity to hear him talk.
Martha: (confidently) What Jesus needs is one of my good meals. After eating and cleaning up, you can listen him talk. In the meantime, what he'll appreciate most is this fantastic meal.
Mary: He'll also appreciate someone listening to his words.
Martha: (angrily) Look, dear sister, if we're going to get this meal on the table, we both must work. So forget Jesus' speeches and think about his stomach. That's what's important.
Mary: I'll just go in for a little while. I'll be out very soon.
Martha: (pleads) Mary! Well, let her go. I'll show Jesus I can put on the dinner all by myself.
Narrator: Mary went in and sat just inside the doorway, listening to Jesus. Meanwhile, Martha was overwhelmed with her work, becoming angry and frustrated.
Martha: (frustratedly) The meat isn't going to be done in time. The bread isn't rising like it should. There's no time to slice the fruit. Where is that sister of mine? Doesn't she know how much I need her? Maybe if I rattle a few pans, she'll realize how desperate I am. (starts beating pans)
Peter: Jesus, you keep talking about being arrested and condemned. Surely God won't allow his Messiah to be rejected. The Christ is coming to unite our people and set us free.
Jesus: The prophet Isaiah spoke about the Messiah when he wrote, "He was despised and rejected by the people. He endured suffering and pain. The Lord made the punishment we deserve to fall on him."
Peter: But teacher, people love you. They'd never allow anyone to attack you.
(Martha beats pans again)
Peter: What in the world is that?
Jesus: Martha is telling us that all is not going well out in the kitchen.
Mary: Perhaps I should go out and help her.
Peter: You might as well, because if you don't, we'll never be able to hear what Jesus is saying.
Martha: (irritatedly) Yes, I've been rattling my pots, trying to get you people to understand I need help. While I'm out there slaving away, my sister sits in here, doing nothing. I should think that of all people, you, Jesus, would care about me with the difficulties of preparing this fine meal.
Mary: I'm sorry, Martha. I'll come out and help.
Jesus: Martha, dear Martha, I know you're upset. I certainly appreciate all your efforts, but we don't need a fancy meal. Only a simple casserole is necessary. We'd rather have you in here, where we could enjoy your company, and share the things of God.
Martha: (confusedly) You'd rather have me in here, even if it means a miserly lunch?
Jesus: Martha, we came to your home, not to eat, but to be with you. Food is necessary, but even more important is the role Mary has chosen, spending time with loved ones and friends.
Read the questions again, and prompt answers from the children.
Narrator
Jesus
Martha
Mary
Peter
Note: requires pans for rattling
Questions
1.
How did Martha show her love for Jesus?
2.
How did Mary show her love?
3.
Did Jesus think both were necessary?
4.
Which was the most important?
Narrator: Jesus and his disciples have come to Bethany, a town just outside of Jerusalem. They are visiting in the home of Mary and Martha.
Jesus: Martha, you are a kind and generous hostess, inviting us to stay at your home.
Martha: You need a place to get a healthy, filling meal, and I'm delighted to provide it.
Mary: And you need a place to relax from the pressure of your ministry.
Jesus: I am tired; so to relax in your home is wonderful, but I also need to continue teaching my disciples.
Martha: You just go in the other room and do whatever you want. We'll cook a meal that'll put new life in you.
Jesus: Heaven bless you for your generous spirit, Martha, but don't fuss with one of your extravagant feasts.
Martha: (chuckles) I think you'll be pleased with all I've prepared. Hey, Mary, where're you going?
Mary: Into the living room to hear Jesus.
Martha: Oh, no, you're staying out here in the kitchen to help with the meal.
Mary: But Jesus doesn't come this way that often. This is an opportunity to hear him talk.
Martha: (confidently) What Jesus needs is one of my good meals. After eating and cleaning up, you can listen him talk. In the meantime, what he'll appreciate most is this fantastic meal.
Mary: He'll also appreciate someone listening to his words.
Martha: (angrily) Look, dear sister, if we're going to get this meal on the table, we both must work. So forget Jesus' speeches and think about his stomach. That's what's important.
Mary: I'll just go in for a little while. I'll be out very soon.
Martha: (pleads) Mary! Well, let her go. I'll show Jesus I can put on the dinner all by myself.
Narrator: Mary went in and sat just inside the doorway, listening to Jesus. Meanwhile, Martha was overwhelmed with her work, becoming angry and frustrated.
Martha: (frustratedly) The meat isn't going to be done in time. The bread isn't rising like it should. There's no time to slice the fruit. Where is that sister of mine? Doesn't she know how much I need her? Maybe if I rattle a few pans, she'll realize how desperate I am. (starts beating pans)
Peter: Jesus, you keep talking about being arrested and condemned. Surely God won't allow his Messiah to be rejected. The Christ is coming to unite our people and set us free.
Jesus: The prophet Isaiah spoke about the Messiah when he wrote, "He was despised and rejected by the people. He endured suffering and pain. The Lord made the punishment we deserve to fall on him."
Peter: But teacher, people love you. They'd never allow anyone to attack you.
(Martha beats pans again)
Peter: What in the world is that?
Jesus: Martha is telling us that all is not going well out in the kitchen.
Mary: Perhaps I should go out and help her.
Peter: You might as well, because if you don't, we'll never be able to hear what Jesus is saying.
Martha: (irritatedly) Yes, I've been rattling my pots, trying to get you people to understand I need help. While I'm out there slaving away, my sister sits in here, doing nothing. I should think that of all people, you, Jesus, would care about me with the difficulties of preparing this fine meal.
Mary: I'm sorry, Martha. I'll come out and help.
Jesus: Martha, dear Martha, I know you're upset. I certainly appreciate all your efforts, but we don't need a fancy meal. Only a simple casserole is necessary. We'd rather have you in here, where we could enjoy your company, and share the things of God.
Martha: (confusedly) You'd rather have me in here, even if it means a miserly lunch?
Jesus: Martha, we came to your home, not to eat, but to be with you. Food is necessary, but even more important is the role Mary has chosen, spending time with loved ones and friends.
Read the questions again, and prompt answers from the children.
