Summary: This was developed for a monthly teenagers‟ drama group consisting of mostly non-church background kids. The challenge was to write a piece for keen young people whose knowledge of the scriptures and of the gospel was very hazy as well as in one case having literacy problems. In the event they pulled it off. The basic thought was the witness of real characters from the Bible who actually physically touched the Lord. It is important to work out some appropriate actions if this is not to become too static.
Style: Dramatic. Duration: 10min
Actors: 4M, 4F, 2M/F, +V (non-speaking)
Characters:
Jairus, Chaya, Eliana, voice of Jesus, voice of Peter, voices of the crowd, Pharisee, servants, Jesus, Narrator, guests, Mary Magdalene, Mary, Angel
Script
(Tableau of Jairus, Chaya,Eliana. Back to audience. They turn one by one, speak and turn back after speaking.)
Jairus: I am Jairus.
Chaya: My name is Chaya. It means life.
Eliana: I am Eliana. It means “God has answered”. It’s very appropriate for me, I think.
(All face audience.)
Chaya: I am 12 years old. It’s a great age to be.
Eliana: 12 is important for me too. But in not such a happy way. I was ill for 12 years. 12 long years. I so needed help-help because of my illness. I tried everyone-but no-one could help me. No-one could heal me. 12 years of suffering and I had run out of places to turn.
(Pause)
Jairus: I have an important job. People look up to me. I lead worship in the synagogue. And also I…
Chaya: He’s my dad. That’s important too.
Jairus: Yes. That’s important. Very important. Chaya means the world to me.
(Pause)
Eliana: Of course, I know Jairus. He’s very big around here. I see him most weeks in the synagogue. He chooses who is to lead the prayers, who leads the worship and who preaches. A very responsible position. We all look up to him.
Chaya: I look up to him. He means the world to me. He saved my life. I was very ill, dying…
Jairus: I know, love, but it wasn’t me who saved you, Chaya. It was Jesus. He is the one who has power to heal.
Eliana: That’s true. I know that very well. Do you remember that day….?
Jairus: How can I ever forget it?
Chaya: Dad had come to fetch Jesus. To plead with him to come. He was in that massive crowd of people who went to welcome him. They were all expecting great things.
Eliana: That’s why I was there too. I was in that crowd. There were so many people. They were almost crushing Jesus. But I wanted to touch him. I just needed to get near him.
Jairus: He was on his way to my house. I wanted him to see Chaya. She was so ill. I was desperate.
Eliana: And so was I. I thought, if only, I could touch, touch his cloak… anything… then I know I would be healed. I pushed through the crowd …I reached out… and I touched his cloak...right on the edge... on the hem. I did and all that pain stopped. I was instantly healed. But he knew. He just knew…
Jesus voice off: Who touched me?
Voices: Not me. Not me.
Voice of Peter: Master, we’ve got crowds of people on our hands. Dozens have touched you.
Eliana: But Jesus said “Someone has touched me. I felt the power going from me.”
(She drops to the ground prostrate) Master, it was me. I have been ill for 12 years. I knew you could heal me…I touched you and I was instantly made well. Thank you, master. Thank you, thank you, thank you, master.
Jairus: He is the great healer. I got a message that Chaya was dead but he told me not to be afraid. He told me just to believe. He said she would be healed.
Chaya: It was like a dream… no a nightmare. All around me I heard this terrible wailing… people were crying because they thought I was dead. I could hear Jesus come in to my room. And then I heard his voice…so gentle…so lovely.
Eliana: What did he say, Chaya?
Chaya: He stopped the crying of all the people and then he took my hand. He said, “My child, get up!”
Jairus: We were amazed. Chaya got up. She was back with us again. Jesus told us top get her something to eat. My daughter was really healed. She is alive.
(Freeze)
(Mime with music)
(Scene shifters(servants) come in with table and cushions. Food and drink put on table. Other guests recline.)
(Pharisee welcomes Jesus to home; Jesus reclines at the table; Jesus begins to eat food and drink wine.)
(Woman comes cagily in, trying to hide. She moves to a position behind him. She cries over his feet, she wipes his feet with her hair, she kisses his feet, she pours perfume on his feet.)
(Pharisee mimes outrage with this to Jesus. Jesus stands.)
(Characters freeze)
Narrator: (Voice of Jesus, over music) Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet. She wet my feet with her tears. She wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss but she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head; she has poured perfume on my feet. Her many sins have been forgiven.
(Jesus unfreezes and mimes forgiveness to the woman.) Your sins are forgiven.
(Music)
(The two Marys stand, each with a flask of perfume.)
M: We woke before daylight and…
MM: with heavy hearts we came…
M: …with the first light of that Sunday morning…
MM: …to look at the tomb where he had been laid.
(Pause)
MM: With heavy hearts we came, heavy with loss and bitter sadness.
M: The loss of our Master, Saviour and Friend.
MM: Deeply sad to have lost the one who had meant the world to us.
M: Deeply sad because of the things we had seen.
MM: The torture, the whippings, the death on a cruel cross.
(Pause)
M: We came to do what we could.
MM: To pay our last respects, to look at the tomb…
M: …the tomb tight sealed, cold and unfriendly.
MM: With heavy hearts we come.
(Music changes. Earthquake SFX. The two Mary’s clasp each other in fright.)
Angel: Do not be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus. Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. He is risen. Like he said. Come and see…
(The women turn to run and suddenly see Jesus (mimed). They fall at his feet, clasping them.)
Voice of Jesus (off): Do not be afraid. Go, go to my brothers. Tell them they will meet me in Galilee again.
………………………………………………….
© Andy Lund, all rights reserved
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