Opening Up To Jesus
Drama
Lectionary Scenes
58 Vignettes For Cycle B
Theme
Jesus fulfills all our needs.
Summary
At the home of Joash a crowd gathers because Jesus is going there to teach. Joash has his house ready -- even a new roof. During the evening friends bring a lame man but can't get to Jesus. What to do? They tear off the roof, of course. Jesus heals the man and the roof gets fixed too.
Playing Time
8 minutes
Setting
The home of Joash
Props
Wine and cups, litter for lame man, pallet
Costumes
Peasants of Jesus' time
Time
The time of Jesus
Cast
JOASH -- the master of the house
SERVANT
JESUS
SCRIBE
ONE PERSON
ANOTHER PERSON
FIRST MAN
SECOND MAN
HARETH -- the lame man
SOMEONE ELSE
SERVANT: (ENTERS AND BOWS BEFORE HIS MASTER) Master, the food is prepared.
JOASH: Do you think there is enough?
SERVANT: More than I've ever seen before.
JOASH: I just hope it is enough.
SERVANT: Surely it is. We couldn't have that many people.
JOASH: Where Jesus goes there's always a crowd.
SERVANT: People have started to arrive already.
JOASH: Save the wine until later, when Jesus arrives. And make sure you keep it away from all those scribes. Make sure Jesus gets the first cupful and then you may serve it to the others.
SERVANT: Master, the men who were working on your house said it was finished.
JOASH: The roof? It sure took them long enough. I don't like dealing with someone I don't know. Since Hareth had that accident I haven't had anything around here fixed correctly.
SERVANT: It sounds like Jesus is here and a lot of people came with him.
JOASH: I wonder if there are any scribes.
SERVANT: There are always a few following Jesus.
JOASH: They always make trouble and there's nothing anyone can do. (JESUS ENTERS WITH A LARGE CROWD FOLLOWING) Welcome, Lord. Will you have some wine?
JESUS: Later, thanks, Joash. These people came to hear my teachings and I must not disappoint them. (TO CROWD) Friends, you must turn from evil and turn to God.
ONE PERSON: But how, teacher? How do we turn from evil?
JESUS: You have heard it said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth."
SCRIBE: For it is written.
JESUS: Truly, it is written, but I say to you, do not resist violence. If someone slaps you on the cheek, turn the other cheek to him, that he may slap the other also.
ANOTHER PERSON: I don't understand.
SOMEONE ELSE: Just listen. Maybe you will.
JESUS: And if someone is going to sue you and take you to court, and you lose the case and your shirt is taken, let's say, well, then, I say, give him your coat as well.
SCRIBE: This is radical. This will change the structure of our entire law!
JESUS: Now you all know that the Romans ... (REACTION FROM THE CROWD) can force us to carry their gear for a mile.
SCRIBE: Now, what's he going to say, carry their horse as well?
JESUS: I say to you, not only carry their gear the one mile but carry it an additional mile, also. Give to those who ask and be generous to those who want to borrow from you. If you are forced to carry the gear one mile and offer to carry it an extra mile, the first mile you will be walking as a slave, but the second mile you will be walking as a friend.
SCRIBE: I can't believe it. This Jesus is turning our laws upside down. It's ridiculous.
SERVANT: (ENTERS QUICKLY) Master, come quickly -- the roof.
JOASH: Not now. What? The roof? What do you mean?
SERVANT: (LEADING HIM OFF) Oh, it's horrible.
JOASH: What is it? What? (JOASH AND SERVANT EXIT) Oh, no! Would you look at that mess? How am I ever going to fix that? (JOASH AND SERVANT ENTER) How did you let that happen?
SERVANT: I didn't know about it until it was too late. They had already made the hole in the roof.
JOASH: A big hole. I'll never get that fixed. My new roof. It took so long to ... (FOUR MEN ENTER WITH A PARALYZED MAN ON A PALLET) ... get it repaired.
FIRST MAN: We're sorry about the roof, Joash.
SECOND MAN: There was no other way. There was such a crowd.
JOASH: But my roof. I would have asked people to make a way for you if you would have asked me.
FIRST MAN: We were in a hurry. We had to get Hareth to Jesus so he could be healed.
JOASH: But, my roof ... Hareth? It's Hareth you've brought?
JESUS: Brothers, I have witnessed your great faith today. (TO HARETH) My son, your sins are forgiven.
SCRIBE: He goes too far this time. Why does he talk that way? That is blasphemy. Does he think he is God? Only God can forgive sins.
JESUS: You scribes, why do you question this way in your hearts? Let me ask you a question.
SCRIBE: Sure, go right ahead.
JESUS: Which is easier to say to a paralyzed man: "Your sins are forgiven and forgotten forever" or "Rise, take up your pallet and start walking ..."
SCRIBE: Ridiculous.
JESUS: "... and keep on walking"? But that you may know positively and beyond a doubt that I, the Messiah, have the right, the authority and the power on earth to forgive sins, (TO HARETH) I say to you, arise, pick up and carry your pallet and go home. (HARETH ARISES AT ONCE)
HARETH: I'm healed! (JUMPING ABOUT AND TRYING HIS MUSCLES) After that fall from the roof a year ago, I've been paralyzed. But I'm healed. I'm healed. (KNEELING AT JESUS' FEET) Thank you, Master. You've done it. You've healed me.
ONE PERSON: I've never seen anything like this before.
ANOTHER PERSON: Follow Jesus. You'll see a lot more.
SCRIBE: How do we know that wasn't a trick? He's probably a friend of Jesus.
SOMEONE ELSE: If he wasn't before, he certainly is now.
SCRIBE: I've had enough. I'm getting out of this madhouse. (EXITS)
SOMEONE ELSE: And now that the scribe's gone we can celebrate. (ALL PRAISE AND THANK GOD)
FIRST MAN: Isn't it wonderful? We've seen a mighty miracle this day. A man's been healed.
JOASH: Yes, it's true, a mighty miracle, but at the expense of my roof. How will I ever get it fixed?
JESUS: Don't worry so much, Joash. Isn't a healing more important than a roof?
JOASH: I suppose so, but it's not your roof.
JESUS: (LAUGHS) You're right. But I could fix it for you. I am a carpenter.
JOASH: No, I couldn't let you do that.
HARETH: I couldn't either.
JOASH: Hareth, how does it feel to be completely well again?
HARETH: It's like being born all over again.
JOASH: Interesting concept.
HARETH: But it feels much better to know my sins are completely forgiven ... (HE HUGS JESUS) ... and completely forgotten. Jesus, I love you.
JESUS: And I love you. Well, Joash, I think I'm ready for that cup of wine now. (JOASH MOTIONS TO SERVANT WHO SERVES JESUS)
HARETH: Don't worry, Joash. I'll fix your roof.
JOASH: But you'll need time to gain your strength back.
HARETH: I'm stronger now than I was before my fall. I'll fix your roof.
JOASH: Well, thanks. That's great.
HARETH: It's the least I can do for a man that "opened up" his home to me. (THEY BOTH LAUGH AND HUG)
JESUS: You see, Joash, everything can be healed.
Jesus fulfills all our needs.
Summary
At the home of Joash a crowd gathers because Jesus is going there to teach. Joash has his house ready -- even a new roof. During the evening friends bring a lame man but can't get to Jesus. What to do? They tear off the roof, of course. Jesus heals the man and the roof gets fixed too.
Playing Time
8 minutes
Setting
The home of Joash
Props
Wine and cups, litter for lame man, pallet
Costumes
Peasants of Jesus' time
Time
The time of Jesus
Cast
JOASH -- the master of the house
SERVANT
JESUS
SCRIBE
ONE PERSON
ANOTHER PERSON
FIRST MAN
SECOND MAN
HARETH -- the lame man
SOMEONE ELSE
SERVANT: (ENTERS AND BOWS BEFORE HIS MASTER) Master, the food is prepared.
JOASH: Do you think there is enough?
SERVANT: More than I've ever seen before.
JOASH: I just hope it is enough.
SERVANT: Surely it is. We couldn't have that many people.
JOASH: Where Jesus goes there's always a crowd.
SERVANT: People have started to arrive already.
JOASH: Save the wine until later, when Jesus arrives. And make sure you keep it away from all those scribes. Make sure Jesus gets the first cupful and then you may serve it to the others.
SERVANT: Master, the men who were working on your house said it was finished.
JOASH: The roof? It sure took them long enough. I don't like dealing with someone I don't know. Since Hareth had that accident I haven't had anything around here fixed correctly.
SERVANT: It sounds like Jesus is here and a lot of people came with him.
JOASH: I wonder if there are any scribes.
SERVANT: There are always a few following Jesus.
JOASH: They always make trouble and there's nothing anyone can do. (JESUS ENTERS WITH A LARGE CROWD FOLLOWING) Welcome, Lord. Will you have some wine?
JESUS: Later, thanks, Joash. These people came to hear my teachings and I must not disappoint them. (TO CROWD) Friends, you must turn from evil and turn to God.
ONE PERSON: But how, teacher? How do we turn from evil?
JESUS: You have heard it said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth."
SCRIBE: For it is written.
JESUS: Truly, it is written, but I say to you, do not resist violence. If someone slaps you on the cheek, turn the other cheek to him, that he may slap the other also.
ANOTHER PERSON: I don't understand.
SOMEONE ELSE: Just listen. Maybe you will.
JESUS: And if someone is going to sue you and take you to court, and you lose the case and your shirt is taken, let's say, well, then, I say, give him your coat as well.
SCRIBE: This is radical. This will change the structure of our entire law!
JESUS: Now you all know that the Romans ... (REACTION FROM THE CROWD) can force us to carry their gear for a mile.
SCRIBE: Now, what's he going to say, carry their horse as well?
JESUS: I say to you, not only carry their gear the one mile but carry it an additional mile, also. Give to those who ask and be generous to those who want to borrow from you. If you are forced to carry the gear one mile and offer to carry it an extra mile, the first mile you will be walking as a slave, but the second mile you will be walking as a friend.
SCRIBE: I can't believe it. This Jesus is turning our laws upside down. It's ridiculous.
SERVANT: (ENTERS QUICKLY) Master, come quickly -- the roof.
JOASH: Not now. What? The roof? What do you mean?
SERVANT: (LEADING HIM OFF) Oh, it's horrible.
JOASH: What is it? What? (JOASH AND SERVANT EXIT) Oh, no! Would you look at that mess? How am I ever going to fix that? (JOASH AND SERVANT ENTER) How did you let that happen?
SERVANT: I didn't know about it until it was too late. They had already made the hole in the roof.
JOASH: A big hole. I'll never get that fixed. My new roof. It took so long to ... (FOUR MEN ENTER WITH A PARALYZED MAN ON A PALLET) ... get it repaired.
FIRST MAN: We're sorry about the roof, Joash.
SECOND MAN: There was no other way. There was such a crowd.
JOASH: But my roof. I would have asked people to make a way for you if you would have asked me.
FIRST MAN: We were in a hurry. We had to get Hareth to Jesus so he could be healed.
JOASH: But, my roof ... Hareth? It's Hareth you've brought?
JESUS: Brothers, I have witnessed your great faith today. (TO HARETH) My son, your sins are forgiven.
SCRIBE: He goes too far this time. Why does he talk that way? That is blasphemy. Does he think he is God? Only God can forgive sins.
JESUS: You scribes, why do you question this way in your hearts? Let me ask you a question.
SCRIBE: Sure, go right ahead.
JESUS: Which is easier to say to a paralyzed man: "Your sins are forgiven and forgotten forever" or "Rise, take up your pallet and start walking ..."
SCRIBE: Ridiculous.
JESUS: "... and keep on walking"? But that you may know positively and beyond a doubt that I, the Messiah, have the right, the authority and the power on earth to forgive sins, (TO HARETH) I say to you, arise, pick up and carry your pallet and go home. (HARETH ARISES AT ONCE)
HARETH: I'm healed! (JUMPING ABOUT AND TRYING HIS MUSCLES) After that fall from the roof a year ago, I've been paralyzed. But I'm healed. I'm healed. (KNEELING AT JESUS' FEET) Thank you, Master. You've done it. You've healed me.
ONE PERSON: I've never seen anything like this before.
ANOTHER PERSON: Follow Jesus. You'll see a lot more.
SCRIBE: How do we know that wasn't a trick? He's probably a friend of Jesus.
SOMEONE ELSE: If he wasn't before, he certainly is now.
SCRIBE: I've had enough. I'm getting out of this madhouse. (EXITS)
SOMEONE ELSE: And now that the scribe's gone we can celebrate. (ALL PRAISE AND THANK GOD)
FIRST MAN: Isn't it wonderful? We've seen a mighty miracle this day. A man's been healed.
JOASH: Yes, it's true, a mighty miracle, but at the expense of my roof. How will I ever get it fixed?
JESUS: Don't worry so much, Joash. Isn't a healing more important than a roof?
JOASH: I suppose so, but it's not your roof.
JESUS: (LAUGHS) You're right. But I could fix it for you. I am a carpenter.
JOASH: No, I couldn't let you do that.
HARETH: I couldn't either.
JOASH: Hareth, how does it feel to be completely well again?
HARETH: It's like being born all over again.
JOASH: Interesting concept.
HARETH: But it feels much better to know my sins are completely forgiven ... (HE HUGS JESUS) ... and completely forgotten. Jesus, I love you.
JESUS: And I love you. Well, Joash, I think I'm ready for that cup of wine now. (JOASH MOTIONS TO SERVANT WHO SERVES JESUS)
HARETH: Don't worry, Joash. I'll fix your roof.
JOASH: But you'll need time to gain your strength back.
HARETH: I'm stronger now than I was before my fall. I'll fix your roof.
JOASH: Well, thanks. That's great.
HARETH: It's the least I can do for a man that "opened up" his home to me. (THEY BOTH LAUGH AND HUG)
JESUS: You see, Joash, everything can be healed.
