The Greatest Gift: A Story of Jesus By Trudy Wright Edited by Janel Tyson and Barbara Chase Cast Character Description (20) Narrator Jesus The Gift of God, Messiah, Redeemer, Christ, Savior John the Baptist “Jehovah is Gracious,” Cousin of Jesus Pharisee Orthodox Jewish Sect, Separatists, Majority party Scribe Pharisee, Theologian, Teacher of the Law, Spiritual Guide Priest & High Priest Temple Priest, Caiaphas Mary The Mother of Jesus Levi Matthew Publican, Disciple of Jesus Simon Peter Fisherman, Disciple of Jesus Andrew Fisherman, Disciple of Jesus Phillip Fisherman, Disciple of Jesus Nathanael Fisherman, Disciple of Jesus James Fisherman, Disciple of Jesus John Fisherman, Disciple of Jesus Man 1 Costume changes Nicodemus, Nobleman, Blind Man, Centurion, Jairus Man 2 Costume changes Soldier, Money Changer, Samaritan, Invalid, Lame Man, Man in Synagogue, Deaf Man, Stretcher Bearer, Man Man 3 Costume changes Levite, Money Changer, Samaritan, leper, Simon the Leper, Demoniac, Stretcher Bearer, Man Man 4 Costume changes Disciple of John the Baptist, Lame Man, Samaritan, Man in Synagogue, Paralytic, Deaf man, Brother of Jesus Man 5 Costume changes Disciple of John the Baptist, Angel, Blind Man, Brother of Jesus Man 6 Costume Changes Satan, Man with an unclean spirit Man 7 Costume Changes Host Man with Withered Hand Woman Costume changes Woman Servant, Sick Woman, Samaritan woman, Mary Magdalene, Widow of Nain, anointed Jesus feet, Mother with dead child Guests Boy guest Widow of Nain’s son Girl guest Jairus’ daughter Child guest Dead child carried by mother to Jesus Resources: New King James Bible for verse, Desire of Ages, Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary Costume Leader Costume Crew Wright 2014 1 Cast: Scene they are in Character Description (20) Narrator 2,3,4//1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9//1,2,3,4,5 Jesus The Gift of God, Messiah, Redeemer, Christ, Savior 1,2//3,10// John the Baptist Jehovah is Gracious, Cousin of Jesus 1,2//6,7,8,9//2,3 Pharisee Orthodox Jewish Sect, Separatists, Majority party 1,2//6,7,9//2,3 Scribe Pharisee, Theologian, Teacher of the Law, Spiritual Guide 1,2//1,6,7,8,9//3 Priest & High Priest Temple Priest, Caiaphas 4//9//2,3 Mary The Mother of Jesus 1//7, 9//1.2,3,4,5 Levi Matthew Publican, Disciple of Jesus 3,4//3, 4, 5,6,9//1,2,3,4,5 Simon Peter Fisherman, Disciple of Jesus 3,4//3,4, 5,9//1,2,3,4,5 Andrew Fisherman, Disciple of Jesus 3,4//3,4,5,9//1.2,3,4,5 Phillip Fisherman, Disciple of Jesus 3,4//3,4,5,9//1,2,3,4,5 Nathaniel Fisherman, Disciple of Jesus 3,// 7,9//1,2,3,4,5 James Fisherman, Disciple of Jesus 4,//7,9//1,2,3,4,5 John Fisherman, Disciple of Jesus 1,2//1,2,5,9//3,5 Man 1 Costume changes Nicodemus, Nobleman, Blind Man, Centurion, Jairus 1,2//1,4.8,9,10//2,3,4,5 Man 2 Costume changes Soldier, Money Changer, Samaritan, Invalid, Lame Man, Centurion 1 & 2, Man in Synagogue, Deaf Man, Stretcher Bearer, Man 1,2//1,4,7,9, 10//2,3,4,5 Man 3 Costume changes Levite, Money Changer, Samaritan, leper, Simon the Leper, Demoniac, Stretcher Bearer, Man 1,2//1,3,7,9,10//2,3 Man 4 Costume changes Disciple of John the Baptist, Lame Man, Samaritan, Man in Synagogue, Paralytic, Deaf man, Brother of Jesus 1, 2,3//1,3, 6, 8,9,10//2,3 Man 5 Costume changes Disciple of John the Baptist, Angel, Blind Man, Brother of Jesus 1,2,3//1,6// Man 6 Costume Changes Satan, Man with Unclean Spirit, Publican, Poor man 1,3,4//8,9// Man 7 Costume Changes Host, Man with Withered hand, Repentant man, man 4//1,4,9//1,3,5// Woman Costume Woman Servant, Sick Woman, Samaritan woman, Mary changes Magdalene, Widow of Nain, anointed Jesus feet, Mother with dead child Guests Boy guest Widow of Nain’s son Girl guest Jairus’ daughter Child guest Dead child carried by mother to Jesus Wright 2014 2 Stage Backdrop & Props BACKDROP BACKDROP BACKDROP Stage I Stage II Stage III Stage IV Temple Countryside Simple Middle Eastern Jail Window STONE WITH WINDOW Home CARDBOARD UP HIGH HILLSIDE JAIL OFF TO PLAIN WALLS SIDE _______________ Low addition of a sea PROPS PROPS PROPS Law of the Prophets River Jordan Place to Recline Bars Scroll Sea of Galilee Table Shema Scroll Boat Water pots Pillars Rock Seat Alabaster Box- Perfume Chair Tree Brass Goblets Table for M. Changers Well Pita Bread & Hummus Whip of Cords Spotlight Ladder Stage Bucket/Rope/Dipper Mat/Blanket Staff Cage/Doves Nets Table Paper Mache Stones Money Wright 2014 3 The Greatest Gift: A Story of Jesus Act I - Prepare Ye the Way, A.D. 27 Scene I – A Cry in the Wilderness- Spring Scene II – Baptism- Autumn Scene III – Temptation- Autumn Scene IV – The First Miracle- Winter Act II – Ministry, A.D. 28-29 Scene I – Cleansing the Temple- Spring Scene II – A Visit in the Night- Spring Scene III – Contention- Autumn Scene IV – The Women at the Well- Autumn Scene V – Nobleman’s Son- Winter Scene VI – Rejection at Nazareth- Spring Scene VII – Capernaum- Spring Scene VIII – Bethesda- Spring Scene IX – Sermon on the Mount- Summer Scene X – Inquiry of John the Baptist- Autumn Act III – Galilee – A.D. 29-30 Scene I – Anointing of Jesus- Autumn Scene II – Demoniac in the Synagogue- Autumn Scene III – By the Sea– Autumn Scene IV – He Calms the Sea- Autumn Scene V – The Cost of Discipleship- Autumn Wright 2014 4 Act I – Prepare Ye the Way Scene I – A Cry in the Wilderness Setting: Stage IV Cast: John the Baptist, Priest, Nicodemus, Publican, Scribe, Pharisee, Soldier, Repentant Man, Disciples of John the Baptist Props: Jordan, Money Bag Narrator: We take you to the wilderness of Judea during the reign of Tiberius Caesar, and Governor Pontius Pilate, Herod Antipas is Tetrarch of Galilee, his brothers: Philip, Tetrarch of Iturea; and Lysanias, Tetrarch of Abilene. Caiaphas is High Priest. Before John was born the angel said, “He shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost.” i God called John to a great mission and to do this he must have sound mental, physical, and spiritual strength. He was a Nazarite, keeping their strict diet and ways. ii He also took on characteristics of another Jewish sect, that of the Essenes though he was never part of them. This was a small legalistic Jewish sect that was somewhat monastic in nature, did not marry, worked at manual labor, shared goods, repudiated war and slavery, and refused to cooperate with the corrupt Jewish system in Jerusalem. They took an extreme position to the corrupt and immoral practices of Jewish life. Baptism was an accepted practice with this sect. iii In John’s time the people were greedy for wealth and power, luxury, and sensual pleasure. Drinking and feasting led to disease and their sensibility to sin was lost. John by his example was to call them back to God. His youth determined his character for life just as it does for youth today. He was to turn the hearts of the fathers and mothers to God and prepare a people for the Messiah. Temperance had a place in the preparation for Christ’s coming. John as the son of a priest would have been schooled for the Priesthood, but God had another plan. In the wilderness John was to learn about his Creator through both the lessons of nature and scripture. In the wilderness he escaped from the impurity of a society steeped in unbelief though he visited society from time to time. He wore a rough garment woven from camel hair and bound with a leather girdle. His soul was girded with meditation, prayer, and reading the prophecies of the Messiah. In this atmosphere self was forgotten by looking at the Glory of God. He longed to arouse people from their sins. The nation was on the verge of a revolution under the tyranny of Rome’s Caesar. Revolt against Rome had already been bloodied by thousands of the bravest from Israel. Eight thousand Pharisees had been crucified for their part in a civil war. Rome was hated. The temple was led by a corrupt High Priest; these leaders were put in power by Rome. The people had separated themselves from God and were now living in the results. iv “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.” v John came in the spirit and power of Elijah. Multitudes flocked to be baptized. The common people recognized the resemblance of John to Elijah, as a forerunner to the Messiah. Even the priests, scribes, and elders recognized that John was a prophet and were afraid of him. vi Wright 2014 5 John the Baptist: “Repent and be baptized: for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. Prepare ye the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be brought low and the crooked shall be made straight and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”vii Repentant Man: (Coming forward) I would be clean.