BIBLE PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS

BIBLICAL DRAMA

from

FALLBROOK RANCH PRODUCTIONS

The Bible presents many characters and settings with which we can teach Biblical truths in an entertaining way. We trust that the following Bible Playhouse dramatical presentations will encourage our audience to know more about God's Word as they relax and see our plays unfold before their eyes.

Please feel free to use these plays in your church, Sunday School or little theater groups who may wish to use them.

Our list of plays is as follows:

A WORD ABOUT THE

PLAYWRIGHT

The infallible Word of God has always held a very special place in my life, because, through it, the Saviour revealed Himself to me and gave me Eternal Life.

After many years of studying the Bible and teaching young people the wonderful truths contained in it, I have recently attempted to dramatize a few of the true and fascinating stories involving the people and events God has revealed to us in His Word.

It is my sincere hope that you, the "viewers" of these dramas, will get to know the Lord Jesus Christ better as you see how He guides and influences the lives of the characters which are portrayed from within the pages of the Bible.

God has freely given us His Word, and the FALLBROOK RANCH PRODUCTIONS is presenting these plays to you for use in your Sunday Schools or wherever else you may find the opportunity to do so.

 

 

 

"A DINNER PARTY IN BETHANY"

a 2-Act Play

CAST: SIMON, the host

JESUS, the honored guest

JUDAS, Simon's son and one

of the 12 disciples

11 DISCIPLES

MARTHA

LAZARUS

UNNAMED GUESTS

PHARISEES

MARY, sister of Martha and Lazarus and identified as the woman

with the precious ointment

SPECIAL NOTE: All activities are documented by Bible references to verify the

accuracy of the story as set forth in this play. When the viewers

compare the following references, they will see the complete picture

of this incident in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Matthew 26: 6-16 Luke 7: 36-50

Mark 14: 3-11 John 12: 1-9

John 11: 1, 2 (these two verses identify the woman who is annointing

the head and feet of Jesus and tells us why she is doing it)

PROLOG

Six days before the Passover feast, there is a dinner party in Bethany which is a suburb of Jerusalem. It is held in the house of a man called, "Simon, the leper." He was probably one of the lepers whom Jesus healed during His 3-year ministry on earth.

SETTING

Guest are arriving and servants are guiding them to low tables where they will recline Roman-style at the dinner table.

Simon, the host, enters the room and is seated at the head of the table next to Jesus who is the guest-of-honor.

Lazarus is seated on the other side of Simon, and the 12 disciples fill the rest of the table.

Other guests are seated at nearby tables.

Servants are busy preparing food, and Martha is making sure everything is ready for the guests.

ACT I

(Simon turns to Jesus and speaks to Him)

SIMON: 'Master, I appreciate having you as my guest today!"

JESUS: "Thank you for inviting my friends and me to your home, Simon. Bethany is a very nice place in which to live. I spend time here with my friends, Mary, Martha and Lazarus as often as time permits."

SIMON: "Yes, they are my neighbors, and as usual Martha is helping to serve the food for this party. She is such a capable woman. (pause) By the way, I see that many people have been looking in at our festivities today because Lazarus is with us. I understand he was dead in the grave for four days, and then you brought him back to life!"

JESUS: "Yes, Lazarus' returning from the dead has caused many who were at the grave-site to appreciated the power of God!"

God!"

(there is a pause in the conversation between Jesus and Simon, and the rest of the guests are enjoying the food and conversation at their tables, when suddenly Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, appears. She goes directly to Jesus, opens a container of very precious ointment and begins to put it on Jesus' head and His feet! She is weeping softly as she does this, and then she wipes Jesus' feet with her hair)

Simon is observing all of this, and then he begins to speak very quietly to some of those sitting near him, but not to Jesus)

SIMON: "This man Jesus, if he were a prophet like people are saying he is, would know what kind of woman this is, and he would not allow her to do such a thing to him. She's making a spectacle of herself!"

(Jesus turns to Simon. He read Simon's thoughts)

JESUS: "Simon, let me tell you a story. There was a man who was a creditor, and two men owed him money. When the man learned that the two were unable to pay their debt to him, he forgave them both. Which of the two debtors appreciated that forgiveness most?"

SIMON: "The one who owed the most, of course!"

JESUS: "That is the correct answer! Now, Simon, observe this woman! When I came into your home, you gave me no water to wash my feet, but she has washed them with tears and is wiping them with her hair! Furthermore, you did not greet me with a kiss when I entered your home, but she has not stopped kissing my feet. Neither did you annoint my head with oil, but this woman has annointed it with this precious ointment. Here's something for you to think about, Simon: this woman's sins, which are many, are forgiven because she loved much! To a religious Pharisee like you who is also a very moral man, there is little to forgive, and you love little!"

(Judas is sitting close enough to hear their conversation, and then speaks to those at a nearby table)

JUDAS: "Why was this wasteful act performed? That ointment could have been sold for a great deal of money and given to the poor!"

(other guests chime in agreement)

UNNAMED GUESTS: "That's right! Why wasn't the ointment used for a better purpose, and who is this man who says he can forgive sins?"

JESUS: "Judas, let the woman alone! Stop criticising her! She is annointing my head and my feet for my burial. For three days I've been telling you and the other men that have been with me that I will be arrested, tried and crucified soon. Mary has heard and believed what I said, because she has spent much of her time sitting at my feet and learning about the Father's plan for me."

(Jesus looked around at the other guests in the room and speaks to them)

JESUS: "I want you all to remember that wherever this story is told in the whole world, this woman, Mary of Bethany, will be remembered for what she has just done!"

(Jesus then turns to the woman and says to her:)

JESUS: "Your sins are forgiven! Your faith has saved you! Go in peace!"

(the woman exits quietly. Then Judas has been embarrassed. He slips out of the room without being noticed, and then goes to find some Pharisees in the temple two miles away. Judas is unnoticed by the other guests as he leaves)

END -- ACT 1

ACT 2

SETTING

(We see a group of Pharisees on the steps of the temple. They are talking together when Judas

approaches and speaks to them)

JUDAS: "How much money will you give me if I show you where Jesus can be found so you can arrest him?"

(the Pharisees discuss the question among themselves, and then they turn to Judas and say:)

PHARISEES: "If you are able to show us where we can find and arrest this man Jesus, we will give you thirty pieces of silver."

JUDAS: "It is agreed! I'll be back very soon to lead you to Jesus. I know where he'll be in a few days. It will be wonderful to get a nice reward like you are offering, and I'll be very happy to deliver Jesus to you!"

THE END

THOUGHTS TO PONDER IN CONCLUSION:

Judas, having been humiliated by Jesus in his own home, and in front of his own family and friends, is led to betray Jesus. He did just that a few days later in the Garden of Gethsemane after the Last Supper with the eleven disciples.

 

 

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