The Sunday school children led worship on the 8th. In place of a sermon they performed a skit. Below is the script; including the stage directions.
A tour guide in 1st century Israel takes the congregation on a tour of sites. They include:
a reed shaken by the wind
a king/queen in soft robes
John the Baptist at the Jordan River
the cross of Jesus
Cast: Tour Guide
Reed shaken by the wind (dressed in tan or wearing a burlap tunic, can be holding some
palms from Palm Sunday last year.)
King/Queen – fancy robes from the costume closet
John the Baptist – wild looking, beard, dressed in burlap
Cross – a voice offstage speaking into a microphone
Two adult members of the congregation, or a couple of the Sunday school teachers who
stand up the cross and put it in its base.
Props/staging: three rolling dividers to distinguish the different locations. A chair is in front of each for the character to sit on until their part. Then they stand (except the King/Queen)
Farthest left – The Reed simply sits/stands in front of the divider.
Right - The King/Queen sits in the fanciest chair we can find, which is set on top of the platform the pulpit sits on. A rolling divider is placed behind the platform.
Near left – John the Baptist sits/stands in front of the divider.
Cross – The cross we use for Good Friday is laying down with its base at the altar and the top towards the back of the sanctuary. It is literally a tripping hazard and the Tour Guide will trip over it several times. The cross will be stood upright near the end of the skit.
Guide: (speaking to the congregation from the front center of the sanctuary) Welcome tour guests! I am (name) and I will be your tour guide as we see sites along the Jordan river in first century Palestine.
Come with me to our first site. (Walks toward Reed but trips over the cross) Sorry, I tripped over that beam laying there.
Here we have a reed that is shaken by the wind.
Reed: (stands and sways slightly and slightly waves palm branches) Welcome to the bank of the Jordan River!
Guide: (to Reed) Tell us what it’s like for you to live here on the river bank.
Reed: Life is pretty easy. I just go with whatever the flow is. When the water rises I just bend with the current. When the wind blows I just bend to it. If the wind changes direction I switch and bend in that direction instead.
Guide: Do you ever stand firm for anything?
Reed: Why would I do that? No, I just go along with whatever is happening around me. Standing firm for something might get others upset. If they get upset then they may want to hurt me.
Guide: But what do you do when things are wrong? Don’t you ever stand up for truth or rightness?
Reed: Now why would I want to do that? I don’t care what is right or wrong. I just bend to whatever is going on. Whenever that changes, I change. That’s what suits me best. Everyone around me also does the same. Life is easier that way.
Guide: So you’re just out for the easiest possible way through life?
Reed: That pretty much sums it up. That’s me. I go along with whatever is going on. I have no spine and no real strength. All I ask is that you don’t hurt me and keep my life easy.
Guide: I suspect our tour visitors may not agree with you, but thank you for your time today.
Reed: My pleasure. Come back again sometime and always go with the flow.
Guide: (to congregation) Next let’s journey to Herod’s fortress palace of Masada. There we’ll meet someone living in soft robes and comfort.
(Guide begins to walk to the right side where King/Queen is seated. Guide trips over the cross yet again.)
Ugh, that thing is still there. It is quite a stumbling block to doing what you want to do!
(arriving at the King/Queen, spoken to the congregation) Here you can see we have arrived at the splendid palace of Masada. It is a fine example of Herodian Architecture. It was begun in the year 37 B.C. and took six years to build. Inside we’ll find staterooms, an advanced water system, a bathhouse, and defensive fortifications. Anyone living here is wrapped in comfort and security. Let’s go inside and meet the ruler.
(steps to the King/Queen and addresses him/her) Thank you for letting us tour your lovely home!
King/Queen: Welcome to Masada! This is one of several palaces I use. This one is especially designed to be secure while still being very comfortable to live in.
Guide: Tell us about living here and about ruling Judea.
King/Queen: Oh, it’s a tough thing to do, you see. Most people don’t like me. But that’s okay. I don’t like them either! Ordinary people are always jealous of those who have power and money. After all, what’s the point of power and money if you can’t use it for yourself?
Guide: Well, if we’re honest, a lot of people do question if you really do have the right to be the leader of the Jews.
King/Queen: That’s all nonsense! Of course I have the right to rule! The Romans have given me the title of ruler. And some of my ancestors are actually Jews, so it’s all legitimate, I assure you!
Guide: What do you do to the people who disagree with you?
King/Queen: I either have them killed or I put them in jail.
Guide: Doesn’t that seem a little harsh just because someone disagrees?
King/Queen: Not at all! If you want power you have to do what you have to do to keep it. Maybe I do have taxes a bit high, and maybe I do demand a lot from the population, but if I didn’t do it, someone else would. So, it might as well be me!
Guide: Do you ever feel bad about people suffering?
King/Queen: Why should I? They serve me, don’t they? I’m the ruler. They do what I say. If they don’t, then I replace them with someone who does obey me.
Guide: Before we go, what is one of your biggest concerns right now?
King/Queen: You know that John the Baptist guy? He’s a weirdo. He’s been gathering big crowds and getting them all riled up. I understand he says a lot of nasty things about me. I’m going to have to bring him in and silence him.
Guide: Thank you for your time. We’ll be on our way.
(Guide turns to leave. After taking a step the Guide says to the congregation.)
As it turns out, John the Baptist is the next stop on our tour. I wasn’t going to say that to the ruler, however!
(Guide begins to walk towards the left where John the Baptist is. Once again the Guide trips over the cross.)
Guide: Sorry, I tripped over this thing yet again. We’ll have to see about getting it out of the way. It really does get in our way!
(Guide arrives at John the Baptist, who stands.)
John the Baptist: (Points at congregation) Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come, you brood of vipers!
Guide: (a bit hesitantly) Um, hi John. We’re a tour visiting Palestine and you’re on our list. Wouldn’t you like to greet your guests with a bit more kindness?
John the Baptist: Greeting them with kindness doesn’t change anything! They need to repent. For the kingdom of heaven is coming near. The Messiah is coming and they’d better watch out!
Guide: They’re good people, I assure you.
John the Baptist: Are they really, or do they just think they are?
Guide: I see there’s no changing your tone.
John the Baptist: And why should I? They need to know. The Messiah is coming. He’s going to give them what they’ve got coming to them!
Guide: What do you mean with all this?
John the Baptist: Only that the Messiah will bring God’s justice. For too long the good haven’t been rewarded for their goodness. The bad have gotten away with being bad. The coming Messiah will kick out the Herods. He’ll kick out the Romans. He’ll get rid of all government corruption. And he alone will rule with strength and justice. He’ll kill and destroy all that is bad.
Guide: That sounds pretty scary.
John the Baptist: God’s judgment is. So you’d better watch out! The world is about to change. The bad guys are about to get what’s coming to them! It’ll be death, destruction, fire, and wrath!
Guide: Will there be any mercy from God?
John the Baptist: Why should there be mercy? Sin deserves punishment. Period. Those who sin get punished. Those who do not sin will feel satisfied as they see the sinners get what they deserve.
Guide: I have to admit, it is good to see bad guys punished and good people rewarded.
John the Baptist: That’s what I preach. I’m sure that’s what the Messiah will do!
Guide: We need to be moving on with our tour now. Thank you for being a part of it.
John the Baptist: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near!
Guide: (Turns away from John and steps towards the center.) That wraps up our tour of Palestine. I hope you enjoyed the places you saw. Be sure to check out the gift shop before you head back to your cars.
(Guide steps across the cross and trips yet again.)
Guide: (yelling) WILL SOMEONE PLEASE GET THIS STUMBLING BLOCK OUT OF HERE!
(The adult congregational members who have been selected, or two Sunday school teachers, pick up the cross and put it in its stand.)
Guide: Thank you. That thing is always getting in the way! What a stumbling block it is!
Cross: Indeed I am.
Guide: (startled and looking around) Who said that?
Cross: I did.
Guide: (reaching out and tentatively touching the cross) I didn’t know you could talk. You’re not a part of the tour.
Cross: I can talk. And I should be a part of the tour.
Guide: Why? You’re not a reed shaken by the wind. You’re not someone in soft robes. You’re not a crazy man yelling out a message of repentance to everyone who walks by. You’re just in the way of everything!
Cross: True. I’m not any of those things. And I do often get in the way of everything. People often stumble over me.
Guide: Tell me about it! I’ve been tripping over you all along!
Cross: I don’t fit into the things people like and find convenient. I also don’t fit into logic. You see, I don’t make sense in human terms.
Guide: What do you mean by all that?
Cross: I’m not a reed shaken by the wind. I stand solidly for what is right all the time. I do not yield. I do not bend. Ever. No matter how hard things get.
Guide: Indeed, you’re a hard thing when I tripped over you!
Cross: I am also not to be found with those who live in palaces wearing soft robes. I am not about getting power or keeping it. I am not about comfort, ease, and luxury. Those who live by me do not scheme for their own benefit. They are willing to work hard, even when they don’t see the benefits of it.
Guide: Yes, but must you be in the way of everything?
Cross: Yes, quite often I am. I can even get in the way of human ideas of justice.
Guide: You mean like John the Baptist saying that God’s going to get the bad guys and reward the good guys?
Cross: Indeed. While God is just, God’s justice is not like we often expect. John thinks that God’s kingdom will be about punishment and reward. That sounds good at one level. But ultimately, punishments and rewards just cause things to go round and round until everyone gets hurt. God’s justice does something different.
Guide: I don’t understand you.
Cross: John the Baptist will be arrested soon. He will be put in jail. From jail he will hear about the ministry of Jesus, the Messiah. And it will not look the way he expects. Jesus will not focus on punishing the bad. Jesus will spend time healing people, feeding people, and proclaiming the love of God. That won’t make sense to John. That’s not justice in the way John understands it. But as I said, I don’t make sense to a lot of people. That is why I am such a stumbling block.
Ultimately Jesus will be lifted up on me. He will die instead of the many people who deserve it. It’s hard to understand it, but in that way the cycles of sin and evil are broken. That is God’s justice. That sets us free.
Guide: That sounds good, but then why was I always stumbling over you?
Cross: Because even though I am good, I do not fit into the ways of the world at all, and people stumble over me. But believe me, true freedom comes when you aren’t worried about fitting in, like the reed;
or getting comfort, like the ruler;
or getting your idea of justice fulfilled by God, like John the Baptist.
Freedom is letting all of that up to God because you know what God has done for you.
Guide: I’ll try not to stumble over you again!
Cross: That’s a good idea! But you will probably stumble over me again anyway no matter how hard you try.
Guide: Well I can definitely make sure you’re on the tour in the future!
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