The Prophet Has His Doubts
Drama
Thespian Theology
Advent/Christmas/Epiphany, Cycle A
Object:
Thespian Theological Thoughts
Jesus said that John the Baptizer was more than a prophet: He was a prophet of prophets, the one whom Malachi described as making the road smooth for the coming of God's Messiah. Among those born of women, Jesus said, none has appeared who is greater than John. And yet, this prophet of prophets, this towering figure of biblical history, this blood relative of Jesus -- has his doubts!
A prophet of prophets with feet of clay.
Hey, put yourself in John's place: you've devoted your life to doing the work God gave you to do; you baptized everybody (including Jesus) who came to you; you have continued, boldly and unashamedly, to speak the truth; you know the scriptures intimately, and you believe that God will be faithful to his promises to redeem Israel and bring his kingdom to pass ... but now you've been thrown in Herod's dungeon, and you know what happens to folks who get thrown in Herod's dungeon! Might you not begin to entertain some doubts about the future?
And look at Jesus' response to John's questions and doubts: He doesn't just say, "Of course I'm the Messiah, John; you know that!" Instead, Jesus points to the fruits of his life on earth: the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, and the poor hear the Good News of God's kingdom.
When the world wants to know if we follow Jesus today, they need to see and hear the same from and about us.
Cast
Narrator
John
Herod
Guards (2)
Dan Disciple
Doug Disciple
Jesus
Followers (6)
Blind
Lame
Leper
Deaf
Dead
Poor
Props
John -- Bible
Herod -- Burger King crown
Guards -- spears
Narrator: Prophets: those weird, outspoken little guys who run around speaking God's truth. We say that we admire them, but when all is said and done, we really don't like prophets, do we? Because we really don't like the truth!
(Herod enters stage left; John enters stage right)
Narrator: Ol' King Herod had a problem with a prophet,
A problem with a prophet had he --
The prophet said that Herod was a-livin' in sin,
And Herod answered, "No, not me!"
John: Herod! Hear God's truth: Herodias, the woman you are fooling around with, is not your wife. She is the wife of your brother Phil, Herod, and the name of that tune is adultery! You're the king of Israel, Herod: You can't be doin' this, bubba! (Shouts) Give it up, Herod, and get right with God!
Herod: I don't want to hear this. (Shouts) Guards! (Guards enter stage left) Take this misguided miscreant and lock him in the dungeon. It's bread and water and no contact visits for you, bubba!
(Guards rough John up, and lead him off, stage right)
John: Hey, watch it! Don't mess up the camel's hair.
Herod: That oughta fix his little red wagon. (Exits right)
Narrator: So the king locked up the man whom Jesus described as "more than a prophet." In fact, Jesus said that, "Among men born of women, there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptizer."
(Guards enter with John; they throw him down center stage and exit right)
John: Oh, maaan! What's goin' on here? I'm just doing my job -- telling the truth and preparing the way for the Messiah -- and they throw me in the slammer! (Picks up a Bible and starts reading) I thought Isaiah promised that "the wilderness and the desert will be glad." And that "the recompense of God will come and he will save you." And that "the ransomed of the Lord will return with joyful shouting." Maaan, I don't feel like doing any joyful shouting in this dump!
(John's Disciples enter stage left; it's dark in the dungeon and they're having a hard time seeing)
Dan Disciple: Man, it's dark in here. I'm scared!
Doug Disciple: John, are you in here?
John: Doug? Dan? Is that you? I'm over here!
(Doug and Dan find John and come to him)
Dan: What happened to you, man?
John: I guess I ran afoul of the Man, Dan. Ol' Herod couldn't deal with my telling him he had to quit foolin' around with Phil's wife ... so he locked me up!
Doug: What can we do to help you, John?
John: Hmmmm ... well, you know what, guys? Gettin' locked up has made me start thinking about this whole Messiah thing. Wouldn't you think that if Jesus really is the Messiah, he could get me out of here? (Shows them his Bible) I mean, look at all the wonderful things Isaiah wrote about the coming of the kingdom of God. When is that good stuff gonna happen to me? I'm just rotting here in prison!
Dan: What are you saying, John?
John: I'm saying that I'm wondering if this Jesus is the real deal. I want you to go and ask him if he's the one, or if we are to expect somebody else.
Doug: John, you're our main man! You're the premier prophet. Are you telling us that you are having doubts about Jesus?
John: I'm scared, Doug ... and I just want to know, okay?
Dan: That's some heavy stuff, John. If you are having doubts, I guess we need to find out for ourselves.
Doug: We'll go find Jesus and ask him, John. God bless you, man! (Dan and Doug exit stage left)
(Jesus enters stage right, accompanied by Followers; they move downstage, and Jesus pantomimes ministering to Followers, who are seated around him)
Narrator: Meanwhile, Jesus was continuing to preach and live the Good News of God's kingdom.
(Dan and Doug enter stage left and move toward Jesus)
Dan: Jesus! Herod has thrown your cousin John in prison.
Doug: John sent us to ask you, Jesus: Are you the Messiah of God, or shall we look for someone else?
Jesus: I am sad to hear about what happened to John, and I can understand his fears and doubts. Go and tell John what you see and hear in the streets:
(Jesus' Followers stand up one by one and deliver the lines joyfully)
Blind: The blind receive sight ...
Lame: The lame walk ...
Leper: Lepers are cleansed ...
Deaf: The deaf hear ...
Dead: And the dead are raised up ...
Poor: And the poor -- that's all of us -- have the Good News preached to them!
Jesus: And blessed is the one who keeps from stumbling over me.
Dan and Doug: Then you are saying...?
Jesus: I am saying: You will know that I am authentic by the fruits of my life. (Turns toward the audience) And even today people will know that you are authentic followers of me by the fruits of your lives. So go, and do as I have done: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind ... and love your neighbor as yourself!
Jesus said that John the Baptizer was more than a prophet: He was a prophet of prophets, the one whom Malachi described as making the road smooth for the coming of God's Messiah. Among those born of women, Jesus said, none has appeared who is greater than John. And yet, this prophet of prophets, this towering figure of biblical history, this blood relative of Jesus -- has his doubts!
A prophet of prophets with feet of clay.
Hey, put yourself in John's place: you've devoted your life to doing the work God gave you to do; you baptized everybody (including Jesus) who came to you; you have continued, boldly and unashamedly, to speak the truth; you know the scriptures intimately, and you believe that God will be faithful to his promises to redeem Israel and bring his kingdom to pass ... but now you've been thrown in Herod's dungeon, and you know what happens to folks who get thrown in Herod's dungeon! Might you not begin to entertain some doubts about the future?
And look at Jesus' response to John's questions and doubts: He doesn't just say, "Of course I'm the Messiah, John; you know that!" Instead, Jesus points to the fruits of his life on earth: the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, and the poor hear the Good News of God's kingdom.
When the world wants to know if we follow Jesus today, they need to see and hear the same from and about us.
Cast
Narrator
John
Herod
Guards (2)
Dan Disciple
Doug Disciple
Jesus
Followers (6)
Blind
Lame
Leper
Deaf
Dead
Poor
Props
John -- Bible
Herod -- Burger King crown
Guards -- spears
Narrator: Prophets: those weird, outspoken little guys who run around speaking God's truth. We say that we admire them, but when all is said and done, we really don't like prophets, do we? Because we really don't like the truth!
(Herod enters stage left; John enters stage right)
Narrator: Ol' King Herod had a problem with a prophet,
A problem with a prophet had he --
The prophet said that Herod was a-livin' in sin,
And Herod answered, "No, not me!"
John: Herod! Hear God's truth: Herodias, the woman you are fooling around with, is not your wife. She is the wife of your brother Phil, Herod, and the name of that tune is adultery! You're the king of Israel, Herod: You can't be doin' this, bubba! (Shouts) Give it up, Herod, and get right with God!
Herod: I don't want to hear this. (Shouts) Guards! (Guards enter stage left) Take this misguided miscreant and lock him in the dungeon. It's bread and water and no contact visits for you, bubba!
(Guards rough John up, and lead him off, stage right)
John: Hey, watch it! Don't mess up the camel's hair.
Herod: That oughta fix his little red wagon. (Exits right)
Narrator: So the king locked up the man whom Jesus described as "more than a prophet." In fact, Jesus said that, "Among men born of women, there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptizer."
(Guards enter with John; they throw him down center stage and exit right)
John: Oh, maaan! What's goin' on here? I'm just doing my job -- telling the truth and preparing the way for the Messiah -- and they throw me in the slammer! (Picks up a Bible and starts reading) I thought Isaiah promised that "the wilderness and the desert will be glad." And that "the recompense of God will come and he will save you." And that "the ransomed of the Lord will return with joyful shouting." Maaan, I don't feel like doing any joyful shouting in this dump!
(John's Disciples enter stage left; it's dark in the dungeon and they're having a hard time seeing)
Dan Disciple: Man, it's dark in here. I'm scared!
Doug Disciple: John, are you in here?
John: Doug? Dan? Is that you? I'm over here!
(Doug and Dan find John and come to him)
Dan: What happened to you, man?
John: I guess I ran afoul of the Man, Dan. Ol' Herod couldn't deal with my telling him he had to quit foolin' around with Phil's wife ... so he locked me up!
Doug: What can we do to help you, John?
John: Hmmmm ... well, you know what, guys? Gettin' locked up has made me start thinking about this whole Messiah thing. Wouldn't you think that if Jesus really is the Messiah, he could get me out of here? (Shows them his Bible) I mean, look at all the wonderful things Isaiah wrote about the coming of the kingdom of God. When is that good stuff gonna happen to me? I'm just rotting here in prison!
Dan: What are you saying, John?
John: I'm saying that I'm wondering if this Jesus is the real deal. I want you to go and ask him if he's the one, or if we are to expect somebody else.
Doug: John, you're our main man! You're the premier prophet. Are you telling us that you are having doubts about Jesus?
John: I'm scared, Doug ... and I just want to know, okay?
Dan: That's some heavy stuff, John. If you are having doubts, I guess we need to find out for ourselves.
Doug: We'll go find Jesus and ask him, John. God bless you, man! (Dan and Doug exit stage left)
(Jesus enters stage right, accompanied by Followers; they move downstage, and Jesus pantomimes ministering to Followers, who are seated around him)
Narrator: Meanwhile, Jesus was continuing to preach and live the Good News of God's kingdom.
(Dan and Doug enter stage left and move toward Jesus)
Dan: Jesus! Herod has thrown your cousin John in prison.
Doug: John sent us to ask you, Jesus: Are you the Messiah of God, or shall we look for someone else?
Jesus: I am sad to hear about what happened to John, and I can understand his fears and doubts. Go and tell John what you see and hear in the streets:
(Jesus' Followers stand up one by one and deliver the lines joyfully)
Blind: The blind receive sight ...
Lame: The lame walk ...
Leper: Lepers are cleansed ...
Deaf: The deaf hear ...
Dead: And the dead are raised up ...
Poor: And the poor -- that's all of us -- have the Good News preached to them!
Jesus: And blessed is the one who keeps from stumbling over me.
Dan and Doug: Then you are saying...?
Jesus: I am saying: You will know that I am authentic by the fruits of my life. (Turns toward the audience) And even today people will know that you are authentic followers of me by the fruits of your lives. So go, and do as I have done: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind ... and love your neighbor as yourself!
