Jesus And Peter's Confession
Children's Resources
Spotlight On Jesus
Readers' Theater For Children's Church
Characters
Narrator
James
John
Peter
Jesus
Questions
1.
Why did Jesus take the disciples into Gentile territory?
2.
What things did people believe about Jesus?
3.
What did Peter say he believed?
4.
After Peter's confession, what did Jesus tell his disciples?
Narrator: Jesus has been training the disciples for over a year. His followers were deeply impressed with Jesus, but they had not as yet said what they believe about him. So, Jesus has taken them up north, out of Israel and into Gentile territory. There he hoped to be alone with his disciples and to continue training them for when he must leave them.
James: Lord, this sure is great, getting away from the crowds. I'm so fed up having people crowding around, pushing and shoving, continually demanding our help.
John: It certainly is wonderful, being up here alone, relaxing and talking about important things.
Jesus: We all need rest, but more importantly to do some thinking. I still have many things to tell you.
Peter: What do you want to teach us, Lord?
Jesus: What are people saying about me?
James: If you're talking about the Pharisees, they think you're a lawbreaker, a radical who's trying to destroy our religion.
Peter: The zealots hope you're a revolutionary, about to gather an army and drive out the Romans.
John: Many think you're an impractical poet, more like a dreamer who talks about loving your enemies and turning the other cheek.
James: Some suggest you're crazy, or worse -- a devil who does miracles by the power of Satan.
Jesus: (chuckles) They don't seem to have very much good to say about me.
John: Oh, there's a whole lot of women who admire you. They think you're kind, gentle, and loving, a man with beautiful dreams.
Peter: Some sure don't like the company you keep --�the "riff-raff of society" they call them -- outcasts, prostitutes, tax collectors, people who don't keep the law.
James: Others resent the fact that you associate with Gentiles, like the time you healed that Roman soldier's servant.
Jesus: Not too good a reputation, eh?
Peter: Well, some think you're some new prophet sent by God. (chuckles) Crazy King Herod thinks you're John the Baptist, come back from the dead.
James: Awww, he's just got a guilty conscience from chopping off the Baptizer's head. Actually, everybody's got some idea about you.
Jesus: Everybody? What about you disciples? What do you think?
James: (confusedly) Wellll, of course we ... ah ... we all admire you deeply.
John: We certainly know that you can heal the sick. We've seen that happen plenty of times. And you can take someone who's messed up his life and make him into someone beautiful.
Peter: What an idiot I've been. We've lived with you for almost a year; we've heard your teachings, witnessed your miracles, seen your pure life and love for people. Yet I never realized before ... you're the Messiah! ... you're God's Son!
Jesus: God bless you, Peter. You know, you didn't figure that out by yourself. My Heavenly Father showed it to you. And that truth is the rock on which I'll build my kingdom -- faith in me as the Son of God.
James: Does this mean we're going to Jerusalem to set up God's kingdom?
Jesus: I'm going to tell you something I've never mentioned before. We are going to Jerusalem, but when I get there our leaders and the Romans will all turn against me. They'll snuff out my life.
Peter: (gasps) You're saying that when you're at Jerusalem, you'll be ... you'll be ... killed?
Jesus: (quietly) Yes.
Peter: (starts quietly but ends with a shout) No ... No! ... No! You don't know what you're talking about! You must never die!
Jesus: (quietly, not unkindly) Peter, I don't want you around to tempt me. A moment ago you were speaking for God. Now you speak for the devil. We must go to Jerusalem. There, according to the plan of God, terrible things will happen to me.
Peter: (quietly) I just don't believe that, and neither do any of the other disciples.
Jesus: Don't give up your faith, Peter. Whatever happens, keep on believing that I have come from God. If you do, you will see something you never dreamed possible.
Read the questions again, and prompt answers from the children.
Narrator
James
John
Peter
Jesus
Questions
1.
Why did Jesus take the disciples into Gentile territory?
2.
What things did people believe about Jesus?
3.
What did Peter say he believed?
4.
After Peter's confession, what did Jesus tell his disciples?
Narrator: Jesus has been training the disciples for over a year. His followers were deeply impressed with Jesus, but they had not as yet said what they believe about him. So, Jesus has taken them up north, out of Israel and into Gentile territory. There he hoped to be alone with his disciples and to continue training them for when he must leave them.
James: Lord, this sure is great, getting away from the crowds. I'm so fed up having people crowding around, pushing and shoving, continually demanding our help.
John: It certainly is wonderful, being up here alone, relaxing and talking about important things.
Jesus: We all need rest, but more importantly to do some thinking. I still have many things to tell you.
Peter: What do you want to teach us, Lord?
Jesus: What are people saying about me?
James: If you're talking about the Pharisees, they think you're a lawbreaker, a radical who's trying to destroy our religion.
Peter: The zealots hope you're a revolutionary, about to gather an army and drive out the Romans.
John: Many think you're an impractical poet, more like a dreamer who talks about loving your enemies and turning the other cheek.
James: Some suggest you're crazy, or worse -- a devil who does miracles by the power of Satan.
Jesus: (chuckles) They don't seem to have very much good to say about me.
John: Oh, there's a whole lot of women who admire you. They think you're kind, gentle, and loving, a man with beautiful dreams.
Peter: Some sure don't like the company you keep --�the "riff-raff of society" they call them -- outcasts, prostitutes, tax collectors, people who don't keep the law.
James: Others resent the fact that you associate with Gentiles, like the time you healed that Roman soldier's servant.
Jesus: Not too good a reputation, eh?
Peter: Well, some think you're some new prophet sent by God. (chuckles) Crazy King Herod thinks you're John the Baptist, come back from the dead.
James: Awww, he's just got a guilty conscience from chopping off the Baptizer's head. Actually, everybody's got some idea about you.
Jesus: Everybody? What about you disciples? What do you think?
James: (confusedly) Wellll, of course we ... ah ... we all admire you deeply.
John: We certainly know that you can heal the sick. We've seen that happen plenty of times. And you can take someone who's messed up his life and make him into someone beautiful.
Peter: What an idiot I've been. We've lived with you for almost a year; we've heard your teachings, witnessed your miracles, seen your pure life and love for people. Yet I never realized before ... you're the Messiah! ... you're God's Son!
Jesus: God bless you, Peter. You know, you didn't figure that out by yourself. My Heavenly Father showed it to you. And that truth is the rock on which I'll build my kingdom -- faith in me as the Son of God.
James: Does this mean we're going to Jerusalem to set up God's kingdom?
Jesus: I'm going to tell you something I've never mentioned before. We are going to Jerusalem, but when I get there our leaders and the Romans will all turn against me. They'll snuff out my life.
Peter: (gasps) You're saying that when you're at Jerusalem, you'll be ... you'll be ... killed?
Jesus: (quietly) Yes.
Peter: (starts quietly but ends with a shout) No ... No! ... No! You don't know what you're talking about! You must never die!
Jesus: (quietly, not unkindly) Peter, I don't want you around to tempt me. A moment ago you were speaking for God. Now you speak for the devil. We must go to Jerusalem. There, according to the plan of God, terrible things will happen to me.
Peter: (quietly) I just don't believe that, and neither do any of the other disciples.
Jesus: Don't give up your faith, Peter. Whatever happens, keep on believing that I have come from God. If you do, you will see something you never dreamed possible.
Read the questions again, and prompt answers from the children.
