SermonStudio

Theme

If we trust Jesus He is with us empowering us with the Holy Spirit just like the disciples when Jesus breathed on them.

Summary

Peter, confronted with the death of a girl, relies on what Jesus taught him. A reader's theatre presentation.

Playing Time: 9 minutes

Place: A neutral reading area

Props: Four stools, wine skin, four glasses, bread

Costumes: Contemporary, casual

Time: Storytelling time

Cast: FIRST READER -- female, soprano

SECOND READER -- male, bass

THIRD READER -- female, alto

FOURTH READER -- male, tenor




(READERS ENTER AND SIT ON STOOLS. WINE, GLASSES, AND BREAD ARE ON TABLE)

SECOND: Shema, Israel, Adonai elohenu, Adonai ehad.

FOURTH: Hear, oh Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.

SECOND: (POURING WINE AND RAISING A GLASS) Blessed are you, O Lord, King of the universe who created the fruit of the vine. We thank you, our Father, for the holy vine of your servant David which you have made known to us through Jesus, the Messiah. To you be glory forever. (THEY ALL DRINK. SECOND READER HOLDS THE BREAD ALOFT)

Blessed are you. O Lord our God, King of the whole world, you who bring forth bread out of the earth. (HE BREAKS THE BREAD) We thank you, our Father, for the life and the knowledge which you have made known to us through your servant Jesus. To you be glory forever. (THEY EAT AND DRINK)

FIRST: The holy man of God began to eat. He was tired and hungry after the day's work. Not that he wasn't used to work. Not too many years ago he had spent many long hard nights weathered by the spray of the waves on the sea of Galilee.

THIRD: Now he sought another type of fish, the elusive soul of man. It still was not an easy life. Souls were just as difficult as fish to catch, but he liked the challenge and lately the nets were bulging with the harvest.

SECOND: It's peaceful here. Everything is so green this time of year.

FOURTH: Our rainy season is quite long here and the sea keeps the temperature low, so it's good for crops.

FIRST: And Lydda is just far enough off the Jerusalem-Joppa road so that not too many travelers pass this way.

THIRD: We're honored that you've come to be with us for a while, Peter.

SECOND: There are people everywhere who are now trusting the Messiah. I hope to visit as many as possible.

FOURTH: You'll have many more to visit after what happened yesterday and today.

FIRST: Yes. The story of how you healed Aeneas is being told everywhere.

SECOND: Yes, it's a good thing, but you must remember it wasn't I who did it, it was God. God healed Aeneas. Only He could do that.

FOURTH: Yes, the Lord God healed me. Praise His name. But what I don't understand us is how it happened. It's so wonderful! Paralyzed for eight years, and in an instant I'm up and moving around, as if I'd never been sick. How can this happen?

SECOND: My whole life with the Messiah has been a learning process. I was the last to learn most of the truths He taught, but He kept telling me in different ways until I finally understood. He's not physically with me now but nothing has changed. By the power of the Holy Spirit He's still teaching me.

FOURTH: It does seem strange. I don't know, all of a sudden I didn't think like a paralyzed man anymore. You said "Jesus the Messiah makes you whole," and I just got up.

FIRST: Loud knocking interrupted the meal and when the door was opened two travelers burst into the room almost knocking Aeneas down.

FOURTH: Peter! Peter! Come with us. We need you.

SECOND:
Calm yourselves. Sit and rest and tell me of the desperate need.

FOURTH: We're from Joppa. There's a group of people there who believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah. Well, one of the widows of the group, Tabitha is her name, just died. She had been sick for about a week. The leaders sent us to ask you to come immediately. Come with us, Peter.

SECOND: How far is Joppa?

FOURTH: About half a day's journey. But we just made it in half that time. We have a donkey; that will help, but we must go, it's getting dark.

SECOND: Finish your wine. I had intended to visit our brothers and sisters in Joppa anyway.

THIRD: The men finished their wine and bread and bid farewell to the house of Aeneas and were on their way, taking turns riding on the donkey.

FIRST: The cool night air, the close companionship, and the urgency of their mission sped them on their way and soon the thriving port of Joppa could be seen as they swiftly descended the last hill. (FIRST AND THIRD READERS BEGIN TO WAIL)

FOURTH: This is the house of Tabitha.

SECOND: Where is she?

FOURTH: Thank you for coming, Peter. She's upstairs. The women have prepared the body for your blessing.

FIRST: The fisherman slowly ascended the stairs and entered the room and saw the dead body of Tabitha.

THIRD: Look. Look at the fine work our dear dead sister has done.

FIRST: Fine linen garments stitched by her loving hands.

FOURTH: She was a good woman, loving and kind and well loved by our community.

SECOND: Yes, I can see that. She was well loved. Now, leave me alone with her. I'll be downstairs later.

FIRST: He knelt by the body and gazed into the darkness of the clear, cool night.

SECOND: (PRAYING) Lord God, King of the universe, You who set the stars in their place, and breathed life into man, I honor You. I glorify You. You gave us the perfect life of Your son, Jesus.

Hail to You, Jesus, Messiah, Son of the Most High God. Blessed be Your holy name. It was Your promise and Your will that provided our Comforter, the Holy Spirit.

Praise be to You, Holy Spirit of God. It was Your power that Elijah called upon to raise the widow's son. Elisha also raised a dead son by Your power. You gave power to the Master to raise the son of the widow of Nain. And the daughter of Jairus. And Lazarus. A word from You would awake the sleeping Tabitha. Oh, Lord God, send back the spirit into her body. Tabitha arise!

FIRST: Peter could see her breathing again and he silently thanked his Master.

FOURTH: Her eyes opened wide. She looked around the room and saw Peter.

FIRST: She sat up.

THIRD: Peter helped her to stand and after they embraced Peter called the others into the room.

FOURTH: The mournful sound of wailing was exchanged for the joyful sound of celebration. (ALL SING A JOYFUL PRAISE SONG)