Jesus is Coming
Written by Larry Nester and Lee Goodrum
CAST OF CHARACTERS
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
ASSISTANT
SINGERS
TEEN #1--DAVID, if male, ELIZABETH, if female
TEEN #2--ISAAC, if male, REBEKAH, if female
OLD LADY
CROWD
JESUS
JESUS' ENTOURAGE--DISCIPLES, FOLLOWERS, MUSICIANS, and DANCERS
PROPS
HORNS/SHOFARS* (If possible)
FLUTES
TAMBOURINES
LUTES (If possible)
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: Everyone, everyone! Jesus will be here shortly. I repeat, the Messiah--our rightful King, our Liberator--will be here in Jerusalem. (Beat) Now, where are those...
ASSISTANT: Musicians... and singers have already left--yes, they know where to go.
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: Right, aren't we supposed to be having some people dancing, praising, bowing down... Paving the way with...
ASSISTANT: Palm leaves?
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: Right, right.
TEEN #2: (Runs up to COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN with TEEN #1) That's us!
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: Ah, yes, you two are finally here! And that's everyone, right?
ASSISTANT: (Reading off mental checklist) Yes, that's it--we're good to go!
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: And we have... (Checks left wrist--NO WATCH!) Just a few minutes until Jesus arrives? (To TEENS) Well, what are you waiting for?
TEEN #1: Yes, sir! (Runs off with TEEN #2)
ASSISTANT: (Ad-libbed discussion with COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN--goes on for less than a minute)
OLD LADY: Oh, I can't wait to see Jesus, the Messiah and King! (She stumbles and falls)
TEEN #2: (to TEEN #1) Hey, aren't we supposed to go that way?
TEEN #1: Oh, right! (Beat) Can you believe we'll get to see Jesus?
TEEN #2: (Excited) That has got to be the hundredth time you've asked, and I still can't contain my excitement! I told you about my friend and how she saw Him turn all that water in those pots into wine, right?
TEEN #1: Yeah, and He raised... what's-his-name? Lazarus? From the dead!
TEEN #2: And wasn't your cousin working with Peter—you know, one of Jesus' Disciples?--when he ended up with all that fish? We ate on that for days!
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: Right, right.
TEEN #2: (Runs up to COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN with TEEN #1) That's us!
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: Ah, yes, you two are finally here! And that's everyone, right?
ASSISTANT: (Reading off mental checklist) Yes, that's it--we're good to go!
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: And we have... (Checks left wrist--NO WATCH!) Just a few minutes until Jesus arrives? (To TEENS) Well, what are you waiting for?
TEEN #1: Yes, sir! (Runs off with TEEN #2)
ASSISTANT: (Ad-libbed discussion with COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN--goes on for less than a minute)
OLD LADY: Oh, I can't wait to see Jesus, the Messiah and King! (She stumbles and falls)
TEEN #2: (to TEEN #1) Hey, aren't we supposed to go that way?
TEEN #1: Oh, right! (Beat) Can you believe we'll get to see Jesus?
TEEN #2: (Excited) That has got to be the hundredth time you've asked, and I still can't contain my excitement! I told you about my friend and how she saw Him turn all that water in those pots into wine, right?
TEEN #1: Yeah, and He raised... what's-his-name? Lazarus? From the dead!
TEEN #2: And wasn't your cousin working with Peter—you know, one of Jesus' Disciples?--when he ended up with all that fish? We ate on that for days!
TEEN #1: Yeah, Jesus took some
kids lunch—some fish and a bit of bread, I think—and, like, multiplied it to
feed a whole crowd.
TEEN #2: No way!
TEEN #1: Way
(In the middle of the path lies an OLD LADY. She is dressed in ragged clothing covering much of her body)
TEEN #2: Whoa, check it out!
OLD LADY: (Moans)
TEEN #1: I think she's hurt.
TEEN #2: Yeah,you're right. She looks bad.
TEEN #1: What are we going to do? We can't stay here—Jesus will be coming soon.
TEEN #2: (Becomes incredulous) Excuse me?
TEEN #1: (Is confused) You were just telling me how excited you were to see Jesus, weren't you?
TEEN #2: Yeah, but that was before this. (Points to OLD LADY)
TEEN #1: Look, we don't have time for this. How about we just find someone else to help her.
TEEN #2: Find someone else? In this crowd? On this day? (Folds arms and rolls eyes) By the time we find someone to help her, she'll be lucky to be alive!
OLD LADY: (Moans)
TEEN #1: We'll send someone. We've got a job to do!
TEEN #2: And what are you going to tell her family when they find her dead? DEAD, (TEEN #1)! “Oh, I'm sorry guys. We totally found her alive, but I was too stupid to help her to somewhere safe...”
OLD LADY: (Moans louder)
TEEN #1: Okay already, but let's hurry. (to OLD LADY) We're going to get you to some help.
TEEN #2: Maybe if we're lucky, we can catch a glimpse of Jesus.
TEEN #1: A glimpse of the Messiah? I could live with that. Now, help me take her to my Aunt Esther's house.
TEEN #2: Will she be home today?
TEEN #1: We don't have a choice. (As they pick her up) Careful, CAREFUL! There!
(TEEN #1 and TEEN #2 carefully walk with OLD LADY to AUNT ESTHER's house—a small one-bedroom mud-and-brick house. Once they approach, TEEN #1 knocks on the door)
AUNT ESTHER: Whoa! What is this?
TEEN #1 She's hurt bad.
AUNT ESTHER: (Opens door) Aren't you kids supposed to be out there greeting...?
TEEN #2: We were, but you see...
AUNT ESTHER: What happened to her?
TEEN #1: We don't know. Can you help her?
AUNT ESTHER: Come in, come in—, just try to get her on the bed over there. I'll see what I can do to help. SAPHIRA (her daughter), bring me some moist towels and some water.
SAPHIRA: Yes Ma'am (as she goes to get towels)
(Teens gently place the old lady on bed)
AUNT ESTHER: All this fuss about this Jesus. After all I here He's just a carpenter from Nazareth. That hardly qualifies anyone to be King.
TEEN #1: Have you not heard of His Miracles?
AUNT ESTHER: He's still just a man.
OLD LADY: Oh, no. He's more than that. He's the Messiah that was prophesied by Isaiah (then passes out).
AUNT ESTHER: Hurry with that water and towels!
(At the sound of a horn, JESUS and ENTOURAGE begin the procession. The crowd begins praising and waiving palm leaves. The musicians begin playing and singers begin singing. The various dancers begin dancing as the procession moves down the aisle toward the stage. Jesus is smiling and blessing the crowd and the disciples are waving and praising. When they reach the stage...)
JESUS: (Dismounts noble steed, and holds up his hands) Wait!
(Beat. Then a DISCIPLE comes before JESUS. Although confused by His act, he also knows that He is surely doing this for a reason.)
DISCIPLE: What is it, my Lord?
JESUS: There is someone in need—here in the house! (Points to AUNT ESTHER's house) I must go there.
(JESUS knocks)
AUNT ESTHER: Who could that be now? (She opens the door to find JESUS) Oh my... (A beat passes as she is rendered speechless—JESUS at the door.)
JESUS: I came because I knew there was someone in need of my healing.
AUNT ESTHER: I, uh... Yes, yes! This way!
(JESUS enters in. TEEN #1 and TEEN #2 stand dumbstruck, bowing and clutching each other's hand. JESUS arrives to the OLD LADY.)
JESUS: Woman, rise up, you are healed.
OLD LADY: Oh, my God... I'm... I'M HEALED! (Instantaneously, she begins to dance and jump)
JESUS: (To teens) And thanks to you two for getting her here. Join me and my Disciples.
JESUS (To AUNT ESTHER) And bless you too my daughter for helping her. Come let's join the celebration.
TEEN #1 and TEEN #2: (Run up and hug JESUS. He leads them outside to the procession and the celebrations continue, lead by acrobats doing flips etc..)
OLD LADY: He healed me! Jesus healed me! (as she twirls in jubilation)
EVERYONE: Hosana to the King!
TEEN #2: No way!
TEEN #1: Way
(In the middle of the path lies an OLD LADY. She is dressed in ragged clothing covering much of her body)
TEEN #2: Whoa, check it out!
OLD LADY: (Moans)
TEEN #1: I think she's hurt.
TEEN #2: Yeah,you're right. She looks bad.
TEEN #1: What are we going to do? We can't stay here—Jesus will be coming soon.
TEEN #2: (Becomes incredulous) Excuse me?
TEEN #1: (Is confused) You were just telling me how excited you were to see Jesus, weren't you?
TEEN #2: Yeah, but that was before this. (Points to OLD LADY)
TEEN #1: Look, we don't have time for this. How about we just find someone else to help her.
TEEN #2: Find someone else? In this crowd? On this day? (Folds arms and rolls eyes) By the time we find someone to help her, she'll be lucky to be alive!
OLD LADY: (Moans)
TEEN #1: We'll send someone. We've got a job to do!
TEEN #2: And what are you going to tell her family when they find her dead? DEAD, (TEEN #1)! “Oh, I'm sorry guys. We totally found her alive, but I was too stupid to help her to somewhere safe...”
OLD LADY: (Moans louder)
TEEN #1: Okay already, but let's hurry. (to OLD LADY) We're going to get you to some help.
TEEN #2: Maybe if we're lucky, we can catch a glimpse of Jesus.
TEEN #1: A glimpse of the Messiah? I could live with that. Now, help me take her to my Aunt Esther's house.
TEEN #2: Will she be home today?
TEEN #1: We don't have a choice. (As they pick her up) Careful, CAREFUL! There!
(TEEN #1 and TEEN #2 carefully walk with OLD LADY to AUNT ESTHER's house—a small one-bedroom mud-and-brick house. Once they approach, TEEN #1 knocks on the door)
AUNT ESTHER: Whoa! What is this?
TEEN #1 She's hurt bad.
AUNT ESTHER: (Opens door) Aren't you kids supposed to be out there greeting...?
TEEN #2: We were, but you see...
AUNT ESTHER: What happened to her?
TEEN #1: We don't know. Can you help her?
AUNT ESTHER: Come in, come in—, just try to get her on the bed over there. I'll see what I can do to help. SAPHIRA (her daughter), bring me some moist towels and some water.
SAPHIRA: Yes Ma'am (as she goes to get towels)
(Teens gently place the old lady on bed)
AUNT ESTHER: All this fuss about this Jesus. After all I here He's just a carpenter from Nazareth. That hardly qualifies anyone to be King.
TEEN #1: Have you not heard of His Miracles?
AUNT ESTHER: He's still just a man.
OLD LADY: Oh, no. He's more than that. He's the Messiah that was prophesied by Isaiah (then passes out).
AUNT ESTHER: Hurry with that water and towels!
(At the sound of a horn, JESUS and ENTOURAGE begin the procession. The crowd begins praising and waiving palm leaves. The musicians begin playing and singers begin singing. The various dancers begin dancing as the procession moves down the aisle toward the stage. Jesus is smiling and blessing the crowd and the disciples are waving and praising. When they reach the stage...)
JESUS: (Dismounts noble steed, and holds up his hands) Wait!
(Beat. Then a DISCIPLE comes before JESUS. Although confused by His act, he also knows that He is surely doing this for a reason.)
DISCIPLE: What is it, my Lord?
JESUS: There is someone in need—here in the house! (Points to AUNT ESTHER's house) I must go there.
(JESUS knocks)
AUNT ESTHER: Who could that be now? (She opens the door to find JESUS) Oh my... (A beat passes as she is rendered speechless—JESUS at the door.)
JESUS: I came because I knew there was someone in need of my healing.
AUNT ESTHER: I, uh... Yes, yes! This way!
(JESUS enters in. TEEN #1 and TEEN #2 stand dumbstruck, bowing and clutching each other's hand. JESUS arrives to the OLD LADY.)
JESUS: Woman, rise up, you are healed.
OLD LADY: Oh, my God... I'm... I'M HEALED! (Instantaneously, she begins to dance and jump)
JESUS: (To teens) And thanks to you two for getting her here. Join me and my Disciples.
JESUS (To AUNT ESTHER) And bless you too my daughter for helping her. Come let's join the celebration.
TEEN #1 and TEEN #2: (Run up and hug JESUS. He leads them outside to the procession and the celebrations continue, lead by acrobats doing flips etc..)
OLD LADY: He healed me! Jesus healed me! (as she twirls in jubilation)
EVERYONE: Hosana to the King!
__________________________________
Yes, this is the script
I wrote for the short play I mentioned in my previous blog. It was
completed after a few weeks--Lee, the head of Grace To The Nations'
Drama Department, received the basic idea (a short play for Palm
Sunday) from one of the pastors, relayed the idea to me after I told him
I had a talent in writing (well, at least I could probably do this),
bounced ever-developing versions back and forth, and finally completed
it. I basically decided to post this as a "Hey, everyone, I made
this..." sort of thing. If you ever want to use this for your church
production, you'll need to contact me or Lee Goodrum so we can make the
final decision--it's nothing personal, and it's not some ego thing, but
it is our work and I figure he'd like to have some sort of control over
distribution. I mean, sure it's free, but it's also our intellectual
property.
Note: Pretty much none of us are more than amateurs at best--quite a few of us have next to no experience with acting or just recently got into this--and the Grace Drama Department (or whatever the proper name for it is) is sort of new and on a small budget. This play is also intended to be bilingual (the Spanish service hadn't had much experience with these sorts of things). We do this to give glory to God and because we can.
Note: Pretty much none of us are more than amateurs at best--quite a few of us have next to no experience with acting or just recently got into this--and the Grace Drama Department (or whatever the proper name for it is) is sort of new and on a small budget. This play is also intended to be bilingual (the Spanish service hadn't had much experience with these sorts of things). We do this to give glory to God and because we can.
