Jesus And Nicodemus
Drama
Robert Lakey
Readers’ Theater for Children’s Church
Object:
Characters
Narrator
Nicodemus
Jesus
Questions
1. Why did Nicodemus come to visit Jesus at night?
2. What did Jesus say needed to happen to Nicodemus?
3. What did Jesus tell Nicodemus to believe?
Narrator: One time when Jesus was visiting in Jerusalem, a man named Nicodemus came to visit him. It was obvious Nicodemus didn't want it known that he was meeting with Jesus. That's why he came at night, when the streets were dark and few people were about.
Nicodemus: Are we alone?
Jesus: There is no one but us in this room, Nicodemus.
Nicodemus: Good. I don't want it known that I was conferring with so controversial a person as you.
Jesus: If you're embarrassed to be associated with me, why have you come?
Nicodemus: Look! I'm a member of the high council, Israel's ruling body, the Sanhedrin. I must be selective, yes, even cautious, as to which religious persons I endorse.
Jesus: Has the Sanhedrin sent you to investigate me?
Nicodemus: (short chuckle) Hardly. They've already made up their minds about you. They see you as one who at best is misguided and confused.
Jesus: And at worst?
Nicodemus: At worst, a dangerous heretic and a political threat to peace. They fear you may lead our nation into open warfare with the Romans.
Jesus: I have no political or military ambitions. Our people have already suffered too much from the bloodletting of warfare. As to my "heretical" beliefs, I only preach what my Father in heaven has told me to say.
Nicodemus: I'm sure that's true. You see, I've watched you and listened to you very carefully these past few days. I've seen you do some absolutely remarkable wonders. I can't believe you could do such things unless you were on God's side. But I have to be sure.
Jesus: Nicodemus, you need to be born again.
Nicodemus: I need to be what?
Jesus: To be born again, born of God's Spirit, to experience new life.
Nicodemus: You've lost me there. What's this talk about being born again? Am I supposed to enter my mother's womb a second time and go through the birth process all over again?
Jesus: You're not understanding what I'm saying. To enter the kingdom of God a man must first go through a physical birth, with pain and labor and the breaking of the amniotic or water sac. Then he must also go through a second birth, a spiritual rebirth when one is made a new person, born into God's kingdom.
Nicodemus: I don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about. Look, I assure you that I believe in God. I follow the commands in the law of Moses. I live a good life. I love my fellow man. I help the poor. I'm faithful to my wife. I try to serve God. I offer sacrifices at the temple. I contribute to its support. But I don't know anything about this rebirth.
Jesus: I'm surprised that you, a religious leader of Israel, knows so little of the spiritual birth.
Nicodemus: I was born a Jew, a descendant of Abraham, one of God's chosen people. I became a child of the covenant when I was circumcised on the eighth day. I became a son of the commands at my bar mitzvah at the age of thirteen. What more do I need? How do I get this rebirth?
Jesus: It's not something you can control anymore than you can control the wind. The wind blows wherever it wishes. The Spirit comes and goes wherever God sends it.
Nicodemus: I keep hearing you talk about having faith, believing in God, believing in you. What must I believe?
Jesus: Believe that God so loved the world that he sent his only Son. Believe that the Father sent me to lead his wandering children back to himself.
Nicodemus: And if a man refuses to believe, will God's judgment be eternal torture in the flames of hell?
Jesus: I did not come to threaten people with judgment. I came to save them, to transform their lives, to bring them to a new birth, a new life.
Nicodemus: There are many things in my life that need to be changed. I do need to be born anew.
Jesus: Friend, you are not far from the kingdom. Right now you have only that tiny spark of faith. But someday it will flare up into bright flame, lighting up your life and shining out in God's world. Right now you're embarrassed, even a little ashamed of me, but there will come a time when you will be proud to tell the world that you follow me.
__________
Read the questions again, and prompt answers from the children.
Narrator
Nicodemus
Jesus
Questions
1. Why did Nicodemus come to visit Jesus at night?
2. What did Jesus say needed to happen to Nicodemus?
3. What did Jesus tell Nicodemus to believe?
Narrator: One time when Jesus was visiting in Jerusalem, a man named Nicodemus came to visit him. It was obvious Nicodemus didn't want it known that he was meeting with Jesus. That's why he came at night, when the streets were dark and few people were about.
Nicodemus: Are we alone?
Jesus: There is no one but us in this room, Nicodemus.
Nicodemus: Good. I don't want it known that I was conferring with so controversial a person as you.
Jesus: If you're embarrassed to be associated with me, why have you come?
Nicodemus: Look! I'm a member of the high council, Israel's ruling body, the Sanhedrin. I must be selective, yes, even cautious, as to which religious persons I endorse.
Jesus: Has the Sanhedrin sent you to investigate me?
Nicodemus: (short chuckle) Hardly. They've already made up their minds about you. They see you as one who at best is misguided and confused.
Jesus: And at worst?
Nicodemus: At worst, a dangerous heretic and a political threat to peace. They fear you may lead our nation into open warfare with the Romans.
Jesus: I have no political or military ambitions. Our people have already suffered too much from the bloodletting of warfare. As to my "heretical" beliefs, I only preach what my Father in heaven has told me to say.
Nicodemus: I'm sure that's true. You see, I've watched you and listened to you very carefully these past few days. I've seen you do some absolutely remarkable wonders. I can't believe you could do such things unless you were on God's side. But I have to be sure.
Jesus: Nicodemus, you need to be born again.
Nicodemus: I need to be what?
Jesus: To be born again, born of God's Spirit, to experience new life.
Nicodemus: You've lost me there. What's this talk about being born again? Am I supposed to enter my mother's womb a second time and go through the birth process all over again?
Jesus: You're not understanding what I'm saying. To enter the kingdom of God a man must first go through a physical birth, with pain and labor and the breaking of the amniotic or water sac. Then he must also go through a second birth, a spiritual rebirth when one is made a new person, born into God's kingdom.
Nicodemus: I don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about. Look, I assure you that I believe in God. I follow the commands in the law of Moses. I live a good life. I love my fellow man. I help the poor. I'm faithful to my wife. I try to serve God. I offer sacrifices at the temple. I contribute to its support. But I don't know anything about this rebirth.
Jesus: I'm surprised that you, a religious leader of Israel, knows so little of the spiritual birth.
Nicodemus: I was born a Jew, a descendant of Abraham, one of God's chosen people. I became a child of the covenant when I was circumcised on the eighth day. I became a son of the commands at my bar mitzvah at the age of thirteen. What more do I need? How do I get this rebirth?
Jesus: It's not something you can control anymore than you can control the wind. The wind blows wherever it wishes. The Spirit comes and goes wherever God sends it.
Nicodemus: I keep hearing you talk about having faith, believing in God, believing in you. What must I believe?
Jesus: Believe that God so loved the world that he sent his only Son. Believe that the Father sent me to lead his wandering children back to himself.
Nicodemus: And if a man refuses to believe, will God's judgment be eternal torture in the flames of hell?
Jesus: I did not come to threaten people with judgment. I came to save them, to transform their lives, to bring them to a new birth, a new life.
Nicodemus: There are many things in my life that need to be changed. I do need to be born anew.
Jesus: Friend, you are not far from the kingdom. Right now you have only that tiny spark of faith. But someday it will flare up into bright flame, lighting up your life and shining out in God's world. Right now you're embarrassed, even a little ashamed of me, but there will come a time when you will be proud to tell the world that you follow me.
__________
Read the questions again, and prompt answers from the children.
