AN EASTER PLAY

SCENE 1: (Light full on stage R couch with Boy, leaning on stage L arm, looking stage L)

GIRL (from other side of couch where she’s playing with iPod): Do you see him yet?

BOY: Not yet . . . Wait a minute, I—no, never mind. (Stops leaning, plops down on couch)

GIRL (Still not looking up from game): They should be here by now, shouldn’t they?

BOY: Yeah, they’re late. But you know how airports are. 

GIRL: Maybe Dad couldn’t find any parking, or Grandma got stuck in security. (Laughs) 

BOY (laughs): I hope they confiscated her vitamin C, so she doesn’t have any to force on us.

GIRL: This is the first time they’ve come for Christmas and Easter, both in one year!

BOY: And the first time they haven’t driven. You know how Grandpa hates flying. Why do you suppose he’s doing it? Usually they come just once a year, sometimes not even that. I wonder. . . . 

GIRL: You’re always wondering. They probably had such a good time at Christmas they couldn’t wait to come back! I know I had a great time. And I can’t wait for Grandpa to read to us about Easter. I loved the story of Christmas!

BOY: Grandpa read us the true account of Christmas. It wasn’t a story, remember? The Bible is God’s Word. Every bit is true.

GIRL: I know. (Gets up to look stage L, standing by couch arm behind Boy, staring): Do you think we should keep waiting, or just go to bed? Grandpa could always read to us in the morning. He might be too tired tonight. (Yawns and goes back to place on couch) I’m getting tired myself.

BOY: Mom didn’t think they’d be gone long. I say we stay up. Besides, it’s more fun to hear stories—I mean, true accounts—at bedtime. (Leans over arm again, staring stage L)

GIRL (stands, staring stage L): Look, more lights. One’s turning!

BOY (stands, Girl moves slightly behind him): Is that our car? Yesss!

GIRL (starts walking stage L): I’ll get the Bible, you—

BOY: I knew all those video games would make you blind! The Bible’s right here, on the couch. (Indicates) Put down your iPod and watch with me. 

GIRL (looks at Bible, comes back to stand slightly stage R of Boy): They’re getting out of the car . . . They’re walking up the steps . . . 

(As parents, grandparents walk in stage L)

BOY and GIRL: Happy Easter! (Everyone hugs, then Girl rushes over to couch, hands Grandpa Bible)

GIRL: Please read to us, Grandpa. We’ve been reading the Bible on our own since you left at Christmas, but nobody reads like you. We want to hear the . . .  true account . . . of Easter!

GRANDPA (laughs): I see we’re going to continue where we left off.

DAD: Kids, you can’t ask Grandpa to read yet. He hasn’t even taken his coat off!

GRANDPA (takes off coat, hands it to Dad): Well then, you may have it. (Sits down on couch, opens Bible as children plop down on either side of him: Boy stage R, Girl stage L)

MOM (to Grandma): Mom, please talk some sense into him!

GRANDMA (chuckles, looks at Grandpa): I’ve been trying to talk sense into him even before the doctor— (Catches herself, smiles) Never mind. He’ll do as he pleases. He always has. (Turns to Mom) Come on, dear, help me get settled in. We can keep catching up as I unpack. 

DAD (hands Grandpa’s coat to Mom as Mom and Grandma exit stage R):I’ll get the luggage. (Exits stage L)

GRANDPA (to children): Well, isn’t this cozy, children! Just like last time. (Adjusts glasses as opens Bible) Hmm . . . I’m not sure where I should start. (Pages through Bible, stops) Ah, yes! Let’s begin with John’s account. (Reads 1:1-3) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

BOY: Hey, this sounds like Genesis 1:1: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

GRANDPA (beams): You have been reading the Bible. And memorizing it, too!

BOY: Ihave. (Looks at Girl)But she likes other books better . . . and games, and movies. . . .

GRANDPA (sighs): Most folks do.

GIRL (defensively): I like the Bible! And I read it . . . sometimes. But memorizing is hard, and I can’t read like you do, Grandpa.

GRANDPA: I’ve had lots of practice. My father taught me to read the Bible when I was younger than you, and my mother read it to me before that. For family devotions, Father read to us all, every night.

GIRL: We do that, too. Sometimes. . . .

BOY: Please keep reading, Grandpa.

GRANDPA (reads John 1:9-10): There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

GIRL: What do you mean, they didn’t know Him? I thought a lot of people knew Jesus, even at his birth. You read to us at Christmas about the shepherds, and Magi, and of course Mary and Joseph. And later He had brothers and sisters, right?

GRANDPA (smiles): You’ve been reading, too. Yes, a lot of people recognized that Jesus was the Messiah at His birth—

BOY: King Herod sure did—and tried to kill Jesus. He didn’t want another King around, especially the King of Kings.

GRANDPA: The chief priests and scribes felt the same way, but their attempt to kill Jesus was successful. (Flips pages) I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves, though. Let’s back up . . . to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, which probably ended with his death about three years later.

DAD (enters stage L, carrying luggage): This sounds like it’s going to be a long story. You really should rest, Pop. And you should let him, kids. 

GRANDPA: Oh, I need to unwind anyway.

DAD: All right, but the ladies might have something to say about that. I’ll see when I bring up your luggage.

GRANDPA: Thank you! Now where were we? Ah, yes, the beginning of Jesus’ ministry . . . (Reads John 1:28-29) These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’

BOY: John . . . wasn’t he Jesus’ cousin or something?

GRANDPA: The Bible says Mary and Elizabeth were relatives, and both mothers were pregnant with their first sons at the same time. 

GIRL: Didn’t Mary go to see Elizabeth after the angel said she would have God’s Son?

GRANDPA (nods): I imagine Mary felt they had something in common: Both pregnancies were miracles. John’s mother, Elizabeth, was old and unable to have children up ’til then, and Jesus’ Father was God.

BOY: So Jesus and John were probably friends, maybe even grew up together.

GRANDPA: That’s a good guess. We do know that John baptized Jesus, at which time . . . (Reads Matthew 3:16-17) “the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased’.”

BOY: Imagine seeing God’s Spirit and hearing His voice!

GIRL: I wish He was pleased with me.

GRANDPA: If Jesus is your Savior, God is pleased with you. He’s forgiven your sins because of His Son. That, in a nutshell, is the good news of Easter.

DAD (enters stage R): The ladies insist you come upstairs and rest, Pop. You know you’re supposed to take it easy.

GRANDPA (lifts hands): All right, all right. Tell them I’ll be there . . . in about a half hour. (Checks watch) I have to stay up to take my medication anyway, and I won’t be much good afterwards. It makes me so sleepy. . . .

BOY: What are you taking medication for, Grandpa? I don’t remember you taking any at Christmas.

GRANDPA: I did then too, but this is . . . different. (Grandpa and Dad look at each other) You haven’t told them?

DAD: We thought it would be better coming from you. But that can wait ’til tomorrow.

GRANDPA: Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed to anyone. (Takes off glasses and shuts Bible) Fact is, children, my doctor is worried about me. That’s why we didn’t drive here this time. He thinks I should take it easier. (Looks at Dad) How’s that?

DAD (shrugs): Fine, if that’s all you want to say.

BOY: What else is there to say, Grandpa?

GRANDMA (enters stage R): Are you breaking the news, dear?

GRANDPA: I was about to. Maybe you should.

GRANDMA (sits by Grandpa as he and children scoot over and Mom enters stage R): Dears, we don’t want you to worry, but for the past few years, Grandpa . . . hasn’t been feeling well. The doctor put him through a lot of tests, but they only ruled out some causes and confirmed that something is wrong. Recently the doctor thought a new medication might help. It’s experimental, though—and a bit risky.

MOM: I thought we were going to wait until tomorrow to tell the children.

DAD: Your pop thought the sooner, the better. Ready for bed now, Pop? I sure am.

GRANDPA (pats Grandma): I’ll be ready in a half hour or so. I just want to read to the children a while longer, and then I’ll come. All right?

GRANDMA: All right, dear. (To Mom) You see? There’s no crossing him. (Slowly raises herself up) And he does love reading to the children. That’s probably good medicine, too. (Exits stage R)

MOM (worried): I hope so. (Follows Grandma to exit stage R)

BOY: Dad, aren’t you going, too?

DAD: Nah, I think I’ll stick around awhile and see why you kids prefer Pop’s reading to mine. I’ll just get changed for bed first. Go ahead and start without me. (Exits stage R)

BOY: Grandpa, are you . . . going to die?

GIRL: You shouldn’t ask that!

BOY: Why not? Do you mind me asking, Grandpa?

GRANDPA: Not really. I don’t like to think about dying much, but I know where I’m going when I do.

BOY: Heaven, right?

GRANDPA: Right. I should be excited, and in some ways, I am. I just don’t like to think of leaving you all here.

GIRL: Uh, Grandpa? We don’t know for sure that you’re dying, do we? I mean, the medicine could . . . make you better, couldn’t it?

GRANDPA: That’s why I’m taking it. Besides, no one knows when their time is. 

BOY (cheerily): Right! One of us could die before you do, Grandpa.

GRANDPA: That’s not likely.

GIRL (shudders): I don’t like talking about this. Could we get back to reading about Easter?

(Dad in robe and slippers/socks enters stage R, sits stage L of Girl) 

GRANDPA: Easter doesn’t avoid the topic of death. But it does overcome it. 

BOY: Then let’s hear it!

DAD: I’d like to hear about that myself.

GRANDPA (pages through Bible): Okay, let me give you all a little background first. After his baptism, Jesus fasted for forty days in the wilderness, then was tempted by the devil. The devil offered him food—

BOY: That must’ve been really tempting, after not eating for forty days! I can’t even go one day. 

GIRL: Or even one meal.

GRANDPA: Then the devil tempted Jesus to jump off the top of the temple in Jerusalem—

DAD: How is that a temptation?

GRANDPA: Satan implied that if Jesus didn’t jump, He probably wasn’t the Son of God, because angels would catch Him if He was.

GIRL: That would tempt me! Imagine flying with angels!

BOY: I wonder how high we could go. Or how fast!

GRANDPA (turns to Matthew and reads 4:8-11): Then the devil showed Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give you, if You fall down and worship me’. Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’ Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.”

BOY: Imagine getting the chance to be king of the whole world! That would’ve been hard to resist.

GRANDPA: And if Jesus had given in one bit, He wouldn’t have been without sin anymore, and He couldn’t have died for our sins on the cross: Only a perfect sacrifice could, as Satan well knew. 

BOY: So we all would have gone to hell.

DAD (startled and skeptical): Really?

GRANDPA (nods): Jesus was, and still is, our only Hope. But He never fell to Satan’s schemes, like Adam and Eve and every one of us has ever since. He answered each temptation with Scripture, refusing the devil’s suggestions. And when He walked out of that wilderness, He began His earthly ministry.

GIRL: Is that what you do when you’re tempted, Grandpa? Use Scripture to refuse it?

GRANDPA: I try. But if you don’t know the Bible, you can’t quote it. Satan doesn’t wait around. Temptation comes and wham: you’d better know your Bible right now. Otherwise. . . you’ll probably fall.

BOY: What happened after Jesus beat Satan in the wilderness, Grandpa?

GRANDPA: Jesus started preaching, did miracles, gained friends . . . and enemies. Two of his first followers were originally John’s disciples. One of them told his brother, Simon, also known as Peter, then Jesus recruited Philip, who told another and soon Jesus had twelve disciples, who followed Him ’til He died. They were His closest companions, but even one of them betrayed Him. 

BOY: Judas

GRANDPA: Yes. In a whirlwind trial, after a whirlwind week, Jesus went from being hailed as a king to being hung as a criminal. 

DAD: All that happened in one week?

GRANDPA: Less than a week, actually. Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday—we call it that because the people laid down branches from trees and even their own clothes for Him to ride over, crying before and behind Him, (Mark 11:9-10): ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the Highest!’ 

BOY: They thought Jesus would be their King and rescue them from the rule of the Romans.

GRANDPA (nods): At one point they even tried to make Him their King by force. But by Friday they weren’t adoring subjects crying “Hosanna!” anymore. They were a bloodthirsty mob screaming, “Crucify Him!” 

BOY: I wish I could’ve been there.

GIRL: Why would you want to?

DAD: Do you think you could have changed anything?

BOY: No. I just wonder . . . what I would’ve done, especially if I’d been one of His disciples. In just a few days, they went from being buddies of the biggest celebrity to hit Jerusalem to being wanted men, hiding for their lives because they knew Him. Imagine what a wild ride that must’ve been! 

(Light begins to fade)

GIRL: I’m not sure I want to imagine that.

BOY: Of course you do. And you, too, Dad.

DAD: Maybe you should imagine for me. You’ve got a big enough imagination for both of us.

GIRL: For all of us. 

BOY: Come on, you don’t want to miss out! Think of being with Jesus, not on Palm Sunday, but. . . . what day did Judas decide to betray Jesus, Grandpa?

GRANDPA (pages through Bible): Wednesday. (Begins reading Mark 14:1-3) “Now the Passover and Unleavened Bread were two days away; and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to seize Him by stealth and kill Him;  for they were saying, ‘Not during the festival, otherwise there might be a riot of the people’.”

(Boy, then Girl leave couch, Dad follows behind as they walk to stage L Simon’s scene) 

GRANDPA: “While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His head.”

SCENE 2: (Light up on stage L “Simon’s:” a low, long table lengthwise with bowls and Jesus, Judas gathered around it, reclining on the floor. Boy and Girl sit/kneel on downstage side of table, facing audience: Simon (Dad) at the head of the table stage right, feet away from stage toward left, Boy kneeling on back side of table beside him, Girl, kneeling away from the table near Jesus, Jesus at the head of table stage left with feet toward Judas, Judas on front side of table with feet toward Simon)

BOY: Dad, uh, I mean, Simon—would you please pass the potat— Oh! (Sniffs, grimaces) Hey, who spilled the perfume? Ugh! Everything’s going to taste like nard now.

JUDAS (says Mark 14:4-5 angrily): ““Why has this perfume been wasted?  For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.”

BOY: Yeah, instead it’s only going to wreck our meal! 

JUDAS (venomously to Girl, who looks startled after he speaks): You wasteful woman! 

BOY: Oh, she did it? Figures. Wasteful, yeah. But woman? (Looks at Jesus, with Girl scooting closer beside Him, shrinking, looking down) Oh, sorry, Jesus. I shouldn’t be complaining. She spilled it all over You!

JUDAS (seething at Girl): How could you be so careless, so—

JESUS (says Mark 14:6-9): ““Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me. She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”

(Light fades from stage L, comes up on Grandpa who reads as Judas exits stage R and Boy, Girl and Dad retake their places; stage L is cleared, “Simon’s” sign flipped to “Gethsemane”)

GRANDPA (slowly reads Matthew 26:14-16): “Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?’ And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him. From then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus. Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, and said, ‘What are you willing to give me to deliver Him up to you?’ And they weighed out to him thirty pieces of silver. And from then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Him.”

END PART 1

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org