Jesus Is Risen ... So What?
Drama
ThespianTheology
Lent/Easter
This homily/drama was written -- with much more than the usual amount of blood, sweat, and tears -- during a difficult time in my life: I'm recovering from major surgery for colon cancer. The good news is they got it all; the bad news is I still feel yucky a lot of the time. But the process of writing this play --along and painful though it was -- has ministered to me in many wonderful ways.
I hope that it will minister to you as well.
Alleluia! Christ is risen,
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Cast
Narrator
Mary Magdalene
Mary, The Mother Of James
Joanna
Wayfarer
Props/Costumes
None
(Narrator is at podium, stage left. Mary Magdalene, Mary, The Mother Of James, and Joanna enter stage right)
Narrator: It is now several hours since the wondrous events at the tomb of Jesus ... Mary Magdalene and the other women are still trying to make sense of it all ...
Mary Magdalene: Well, I don't know why you're making such a big mystery of it. Jesus told us that he was going to be put to death and then rise again ... and he did it, just like he said!
Mary, The Mother Of James: Well, so he did, Mary ... But where does that leave us? James and John are bouncing off the walls at home, because their Master is gone. They're like ships without a rudder. I'll tell you --athe sons of thunder are driving me batty! Somebody has to tell these two clowns what's next.
Joanna: And, for sure, that somebody isn't old stumblebum Peter! I hear he's talking about just going back to fishing!
Mary, The Mother Of James/Joanna: We're lost and confused! What does this all mean?
Mary Magdalene: Why are you asking me? I don't know ... All I know is that Jesus said this would happen, and it did. And that's good enough for me.
Mary, The Mother Of James: Well, it's not good enough for me!
Joanna: Yeah ... what does all this mean?
(Wayfarer enters stage left)
Wayfarer: It appears that you ladies have a problem --
Mary, The Mother Of James: Who are you?
Wayfarer: Let's just say I'm a wayfarer --aa traveler from another place and time.
Joanna: Oh, brother -- another whacked-out fortune cookie! What can you possibly have to tell us?
Mary Magdalene: Now, wait a minute, Joanna. Let's listen to this stranger. He might be able to help us --
Mary, The Mother Of James: All right, Mr. Know-It-All. Here's one for you: I know that Jesus rose from the dead ... but so what? What does that mean for us?
Wayfarer: One thing it means, Mary, is that the kingdom of heaven has entered into human history. God has intervened, once and for all, and humanity is now headed for redemption, not disaster.
Joanna: Sure doesn't look like it to me, bub! The Romans are out to get us, and so is the Sanhedrin ... and those ding-bat disciples are so scared of their own shadows that they can't do anything but whine and go fishing!
Wayfarer: Have patience, Joanna. God is working all this out, in his good time.
Joanna: Well, maybe so ... But you still haven't answered my question: Jesus is gone now, so what are we supposed to do without him?
Wayfarer: Jesus isn't gone, Joanna. He is with you always. And God's power, which brought Jesus back from the dead, is available to you as well, so that you can live an overcomer's life --
Joanna: Say what?
Wayfarer: You can overcome the forces of evil in the world, Joanna, because of Jesus' death and resurrection. That's what this is all about! I think Mary Magdalene understands that ...
Mary Magdalene: I do? ... I mean, I do ... I guess.
Wayfarer: Sure you do, Mary. You just said that Jesus said all this would happen, and it did -- and that was good enough for you.
Mary Magdalene: Right.
Wayfarer: That simple, genuine faith is all you need to live the rest of your life for the Lord, Mary. Just trust him and his over-comer's power is yours.
Mary, The Mother Of James: But what does it mean to live your life for the Lord? My sons of thunder are so angry and scared and confused. What can I tell them?
Wayfarer: Living your life for the Lord means spreading the good news about Jesus to everyone you meet. And now that you've seen all this for yourselves, you have the confidence of knowing that this good news story is true. Jesus really did die on that cross, he rose from the dead, and he is alive! Jesus isn't a legend or a myth; he is real flesh and blood, and he lives. And he rules his kingdom: the kingdom of God.
Joanna: That's nice, in the Great-Bye-And-Bye ... But what about today? We're stuck here between a Roman rock and a Jewish hard place, and I can see pain and agony in our future ...
Wayfarer: You're right, Joanna. I won't try to kid you. The forces of evil in the world will come down hard on you, and there is some pain in your near future ... But the fact is that, for your sake, Jesus has overcome death. You, too, will be raised from the dead, to spend eternity with Jesus. Trust him, Joanna! He will bring joy and peace -- and true meaning -- into your life, no matter what the world throws at you.
Mary, The Mother Of James/Joanna: How can we do that?
Wayfarer: Let me quote the words of another apostle: one who has not been raised up yet. "If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above ... set your minds on things above, not things on the earth ... your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory." In other words: Keep your minds on Jesus. He is always with you!
Joanna: Wow, that's good stuff! How do you know all this stuff, Wayfarer?
Wayfarer: Let's just say I have an eternal perspective on things, okay? (Exits stage right)
Mary Magdalene: Thank you, Wayfarer. You've helped us a lot, hasn't he, girls?
Mary, The Mother Of James/Joanna: You sure have!
(All three women come together at center stage and recite the following from Psalm 118)
Mary Magdalene/Mary, The Mother Of James/Joanna: The Lord is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation.
I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the Lord.
Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
(All bow and exit)
I hope that it will minister to you as well.
Alleluia! Christ is risen,
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Cast
Narrator
Mary Magdalene
Mary, The Mother Of James
Joanna
Wayfarer
Props/Costumes
None
(Narrator is at podium, stage left. Mary Magdalene, Mary, The Mother Of James, and Joanna enter stage right)
Narrator: It is now several hours since the wondrous events at the tomb of Jesus ... Mary Magdalene and the other women are still trying to make sense of it all ...
Mary Magdalene: Well, I don't know why you're making such a big mystery of it. Jesus told us that he was going to be put to death and then rise again ... and he did it, just like he said!
Mary, The Mother Of James: Well, so he did, Mary ... But where does that leave us? James and John are bouncing off the walls at home, because their Master is gone. They're like ships without a rudder. I'll tell you --athe sons of thunder are driving me batty! Somebody has to tell these two clowns what's next.
Joanna: And, for sure, that somebody isn't old stumblebum Peter! I hear he's talking about just going back to fishing!
Mary, The Mother Of James/Joanna: We're lost and confused! What does this all mean?
Mary Magdalene: Why are you asking me? I don't know ... All I know is that Jesus said this would happen, and it did. And that's good enough for me.
Mary, The Mother Of James: Well, it's not good enough for me!
Joanna: Yeah ... what does all this mean?
(Wayfarer enters stage left)
Wayfarer: It appears that you ladies have a problem --
Mary, The Mother Of James: Who are you?
Wayfarer: Let's just say I'm a wayfarer --aa traveler from another place and time.
Joanna: Oh, brother -- another whacked-out fortune cookie! What can you possibly have to tell us?
Mary Magdalene: Now, wait a minute, Joanna. Let's listen to this stranger. He might be able to help us --
Mary, The Mother Of James: All right, Mr. Know-It-All. Here's one for you: I know that Jesus rose from the dead ... but so what? What does that mean for us?
Wayfarer: One thing it means, Mary, is that the kingdom of heaven has entered into human history. God has intervened, once and for all, and humanity is now headed for redemption, not disaster.
Joanna: Sure doesn't look like it to me, bub! The Romans are out to get us, and so is the Sanhedrin ... and those ding-bat disciples are so scared of their own shadows that they can't do anything but whine and go fishing!
Wayfarer: Have patience, Joanna. God is working all this out, in his good time.
Joanna: Well, maybe so ... But you still haven't answered my question: Jesus is gone now, so what are we supposed to do without him?
Wayfarer: Jesus isn't gone, Joanna. He is with you always. And God's power, which brought Jesus back from the dead, is available to you as well, so that you can live an overcomer's life --
Joanna: Say what?
Wayfarer: You can overcome the forces of evil in the world, Joanna, because of Jesus' death and resurrection. That's what this is all about! I think Mary Magdalene understands that ...
Mary Magdalene: I do? ... I mean, I do ... I guess.
Wayfarer: Sure you do, Mary. You just said that Jesus said all this would happen, and it did -- and that was good enough for you.
Mary Magdalene: Right.
Wayfarer: That simple, genuine faith is all you need to live the rest of your life for the Lord, Mary. Just trust him and his over-comer's power is yours.
Mary, The Mother Of James: But what does it mean to live your life for the Lord? My sons of thunder are so angry and scared and confused. What can I tell them?
Wayfarer: Living your life for the Lord means spreading the good news about Jesus to everyone you meet. And now that you've seen all this for yourselves, you have the confidence of knowing that this good news story is true. Jesus really did die on that cross, he rose from the dead, and he is alive! Jesus isn't a legend or a myth; he is real flesh and blood, and he lives. And he rules his kingdom: the kingdom of God.
Joanna: That's nice, in the Great-Bye-And-Bye ... But what about today? We're stuck here between a Roman rock and a Jewish hard place, and I can see pain and agony in our future ...
Wayfarer: You're right, Joanna. I won't try to kid you. The forces of evil in the world will come down hard on you, and there is some pain in your near future ... But the fact is that, for your sake, Jesus has overcome death. You, too, will be raised from the dead, to spend eternity with Jesus. Trust him, Joanna! He will bring joy and peace -- and true meaning -- into your life, no matter what the world throws at you.
Mary, The Mother Of James/Joanna: How can we do that?
Wayfarer: Let me quote the words of another apostle: one who has not been raised up yet. "If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above ... set your minds on things above, not things on the earth ... your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory." In other words: Keep your minds on Jesus. He is always with you!
Joanna: Wow, that's good stuff! How do you know all this stuff, Wayfarer?
Wayfarer: Let's just say I have an eternal perspective on things, okay? (Exits stage right)
Mary Magdalene: Thank you, Wayfarer. You've helped us a lot, hasn't he, girls?
Mary, The Mother Of James/Joanna: You sure have!
(All three women come together at center stage and recite the following from Psalm 118)
Mary Magdalene/Mary, The Mother Of James/Joanna: The Lord is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation.
I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the Lord.
Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
(All bow and exit)
