NICODEMUS Secret Friend of Jesus By Tim Pickl
Characters:
Nicodemus
Martha (his wife)
Rachel, Rebecca and Sarah (his children)
Jesus
Peter
James
Annas
Lame Man
Worshipper 1
Worshipper 2
Roman Soldiers
Pilate
Scenes:
Introduction
Jerusalem Temple
Jesus' Room
Bethesda
Pentecost
Act 1 - Scene 1 Introduction
------------------------------------------------------------
Enter Nicodemus, blindfolded, down one of the aisles where the audience is sitting,
Martha (his wife) and Rachel, Rebecca and Sarah (their children).
The children are gleeful, laughing as they lead him on to the stage.
------------------------------------------------------------
NICODEMUS
(laughing along with them)
Martha, are you there? where are they taking me this time?
MARTHA
I'm right here Nicodemus...You promised the girls
you would tell them your story again!
RACHEL
Yeah, dad. This time we brought our friends!
REBECCA
All of them!
SARAH
Yeah!
------------------------------------------------------------
When they get on stage, Martha removes the blindfold. Blinking,
rubbing his eyes, Nicodemus puts his hand up, to block the
light, as he looks over the audience.
------------------------------------------------------------
NICODEMUS
You girls....oh my....(the girls all laugh)... You girls weren't kidding! Go and sit
down while I tell them my story.
------------------------------------------------------------
Martha and the 3 girls all go and sit down on the front row
------------------------------------------------------------
NICODEMUS
hmmmm.....where should I start?
RACHEL
Oh dad...just tell us....Start at the beginning!
Act 1 - Scene 2 Jerusalem Temple
------------------------------------------------------------
Nicodemus is standing center stage, in front of the curtain.
Curtain: closed
Spotlight: White, on Nicodemus
------------------------------------------------------------
NICODEMUS
ok....(clears his throat)
Good [Morning/Afternoon/Evening]!
I am Nicodemus, one of the religious leaders in Israel. I am a very powerful and
wealthy man, one of the mighty Pharisees. My name comes from 2 words:
"Nike" and "Demos": it literally means "Victory of the People." Ultimately,
this is His (pointing towards heaven) storyJesus the Messiahthis is just my
little part in what happened.
------------------------------------------------------------
Curtain: opens
Sound Effects: Crowds buying and selling animals for offerings; cattle, sheep, goats, doves
Music: builds to anger
------------------------------------------------------------
NICODEMUS
(steps to the side of the stage, and continues)
It was time for the annual Passover celebration, and Jesus arrived in Jerusalem.
------------------------------------------------------------
Enter Jesus with 3 disciples. There is hay on the floor. Animals on tables
and in pens. All are being sold. It is like dozens of auctions all being held
at the same time.
Sound Effect: wait.then a whip-snapping sound
------------------------------------------------------------
NICODEMUS
In the Temple area Jesus saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices;
and He saw money changers behind their counters. He made a whip from some ropes
and chased them all out of the Temple. Then He drove out the sheep and oxen, scattered
the money changers' coins over the floor, and turned over their tables.
JESUS
(to those who sold doves) Get these things out of here! Don't turn my Father's
house into a marketplace! (He drives more of them out)
JAMES
(speaking to Peter) Peter Peter!
PETER
Yes, JamesWhat?
JAMES
Do you remember this(points at Jesus) this is a prophecy from the Scriptures!
PETER
Yes.yes! "Passion for God's house burns within me."
NICODEMUS
Then I watched as my fellow Jewish Leaders questioned Jesus, wondering who He was.
ANNAS
What right do you have to do these things? If you have this authority from God,
show us a miraculous sign to prove it.
JESUS
(motions with both hands toward his chest) All right, destroy this temple, and in three days
I will raise it up.
ANNAS
It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?
NICODEMUS
But Jesus was speaking of the temple of His body. Later on, when Jesus had risen from
the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the
Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.
Act 1 - Scene 3 The Room where Jesus was staying
------------------------------------------------------------
Nicodemus steps out to the front edge of the stage--
Curtain: close curtain
------------------------------------------------------------
NICODEMUS
After watching Jesus that day in the temple, I wondered about Him. I had trouble sleeping.
I thought about Him all the time. By what authority was He acting that way that day?
Was he simply just a crazy man with a mad agenda? But, deep down, I felt it was
something else. I just had to know. I just HAD to know more about Him. But.
I couldn't approach Him during the day. My Jewish Leader friends would have me
jailed.or worse
------------------------------------------------------------
Scene change: Jesus' RoomJesus is sitting on the chair
Curtain: open curtain
------------------------------------------------------------
NICODEMUS
So on one of my sleepless nights, under the cover of darkness, I slipped away, and I found Him!
(turns and walks toward Jesus)
Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs
that You do unless God is with him.
JESUS
(stands up) Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again,
he cannot see the kingdom of God.
NICODEMUS
(incredulous) How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time
into his mother's womb and be born?
JESUS
Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit,
he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh,
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you,
'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the
sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone
who is born of the Spirit.
NICODEMUS
How can these things be?
JESUS
Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say
to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not
receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how
will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but
He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
------------------------------------------------------------
Nicodemus nods, intently listening
------------------------------------------------------------
JESUS
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man
be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send
His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might
be saved.
------------------------------------------------------------
Nicodemus moves to the front of the stage--
Curtain: close curtain
Set up Bethesda scene, using stairs in front of the stage for "the pool"
------------------------------------------------------------
Act 1- Scene 4 Bethesda
NICODEMUS
Jesus answered my questions, but to-be-honest, I didn't fully understand what he meant,
until many weeks later. After several days, Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the
Jewish holy days. Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda,
with five covered porches. Crowds of sick people--blind, lame, or paralyzed--
lay on the porches. One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years.
When Jesus saw him and knew how long he had been ill, he asked him,
JESUS
Would you like to get well?
LAME MAN
I can't, sir, for I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred up.
While I am trying to get there, someone else always gets in ahead of me.
JESUS
(strong, with authority) Stand up, pick up your sleeping mat, and walk!
------------------------------------------------------------
Exit Jesus, side stage
------------------------------------------------------------
NICODEMUS
Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up the mat and began walking!
But this miracle happened on the Sabbath day. So my Jewish leader friends
objected.
ANNAS
You can't work on the Sabbath! It's illegal to carry that sleeping mat!
LAME MAN
The man who healed me said to me, `Pick up your sleeping mat and walk.'
ANNAS
(demanding) Who said such a thing as that?
LAME MAN
I. (looking around) . I do not know.
NICODEMUS
The man didn't know, for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd. But afterward
Jesus found him in the Temple and told him,
JESUS
Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.
NICODEMUS
Then the man went to find the Jewish leaders and told them it was Jesus who
had healed him. So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the
Sabbath rules.
JESUS
My Father never stops working, so why should I?
NICODEMUS
So the Jewish leaders tried all the more to kill him. In addition to disobeying the
Sabbath rules, he had spoken of God as his Father, thereby making himself
equal with God.
JESUS
I assure you, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the
Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves
the Son and tells him everything he is doing, and the Son will do far greater things
than healing this man. You will be astonished at what he does. He will even raise
from the dead anyone he wants to, just as the Father does.
------------------------------------------------------------
Exit Jesus
------------------------------------------------------------
NICODEMUS
The more I watched Jesus speak with such confidence and powerthe more I
witnessed his compassion for others, the more I believed. He was the Messiah!
But, I had to keep my thoughts to myself, because of my Jewish leader friends.
But, those friends had evil plans for Jesus.
Act 2 - Scene 1 The Temple
WORSHIPPER
(pointing to Jesus) Is this not He whom they seek to kill? Butlook! He speaks
boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly
the Christ? However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ
comes, no one knows where He is from.
JESUS
(cries out) You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not
come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know.
But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.
NICODEMUS
Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour
had not yet come. The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning
Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him.
JESUS
If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the
Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.
NICODEMUS
But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive;
for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
WORSHIPPER
Truly this is the Prophet! This is the Christ, the Messiah!
WORSHIPPER 2
Will the Christ come out of Galilee? Doesn't the Scripture say that the Christ comes
from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
NICODEMUS
So there was a division among the people because of Him. Now some of them wanted
to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him. Then the officers came to the chief priests
and Pharisees
ANNAS
Why have you not brought Him?
ROMAN SOLDIERS
No man ever spoke like this Man!
ANNAS
Are you also deceived? Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him?
But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.
NICODEMUS
Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?
ANNAS
Are you also from Galilee? Search the scriptures and look, for no prophet has
arisen out of Galilee.
-----------------------------------------------------------
INTERMISSION
-----------------------------------------------------------
Act 2 - Scene 2 Jesus and Pilate
NICODEMUS
So the Pharisees chose NOT TO believe that which was right before their eyes.
Their unbelief led to hatred. I was there the day Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him.
The soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put a purple
robe on Him
CROWD
Hail, King of the Jews! (and they struck Him with their hands.)
PILATE
Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.
------------------------------------------------------------
Then Jesus comes out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe.
------------------------------------------------------------
PILATE
Behold the Man!
ANNAS
(yell out, saying) Crucify Him, crucify Him! Crucify Him, crucify Him!
PILATE
You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.
ANNAS
We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made
Himself the Son of God.
PILATE
Jesus, Where are You from?
(But Jesus gave him no answer.)
Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify
You, and power to release You?"
JESUS
You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from
above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.
PILATE
(speaking to the crowd) If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar's friend.
Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar. Behold your King!
CROWD
Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him! Crucify Him!
PILATE
Shall I crucify your King?"
ANNAS
We have no king but Caesar!
NICODEMUS
Pilate delivered Him to the Jews to be led away to be crucified. And He,
bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, where
they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus
in the center. I stayed in the temple, weeping for my friend.
The skies darkened.
The wind whipped.
The earth shook.
When Jesus died, the veil in the temple was ripped from the top to the bottom.
If I had any doubts about Him, they all died that day.
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly,
for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and
Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus.
Then I brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.
Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices,
as the custom of the Jews is to bury. Near the place where He was crucified there
was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
So there they laid Jesus.
Three days later, He arose.Jesus rose from the dead! Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
------------------------------------------------------------
Scene change: Upper Room
------------------------------------------------------------
Act 3 - Scene 1 Pentecost
NICODEMUS
I was in Jerusalem when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, the disciples of Jesus
were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven,
as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Then there appeared to them cloven tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues,
as the Spirit gave them utterance. Peter went on to preach to everyone:
PETER
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus,
whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.
CROWD
Men and brethren, what shall we do?
PETER
Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise
is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord
our God will call.
SARAH
(runs up on stage....to Nicodemus and hugs him) Daddy,
please, I want to be baptized! I want the Holy Ghost!
MARTHA
(chasing Sarah) I'm sorry, Nicodemus, she just did this on her own, and --
NICODEMUS
(to Martha) It's ok, it's ok. (comforts Sarah, hugging her) Baptized?
SARAH
Yes daddy! I see it. I want to be born again,
in the water....and in the Spirit of God! Just like Jesus and Peter said!
(looks at Nicodemus with a question) Daddy, don't you see it?
NICODEMUS
(pauses) I do. I do see it. Thank you Sarah.Thank You Jesus! This is a revelation!
(pauses, then to everyone on stage) We need to do this.
(then, to the audience, motioning with his hands)
We need to do this! All of us! Blessed be the name of the Lord, Jesus!
------------------------------------------------------------
Curtain: close curtain.
On screen: Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church--
about 3000 in all. Acts 2:41
------------------------------------------------------------
+ + +
Tim Pickl's Testimony:
http://www.pickl.com/timandmarsha/timtestimony.htm
FaithWriters Profile:
http://www.faithwriters.com/member-profile.php?id=22603
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com - CHRISTIAN WRITERS
Characters:
Nicodemus
Martha (his wife)
Rachel, Rebecca and Sarah (his children)
Jesus
Peter
James
Annas
Lame Man
Worshipper 1
Worshipper 2
Roman Soldiers
Pilate
Scenes:
Introduction
Jerusalem Temple
Jesus' Room
Bethesda
Pentecost
Act 1 - Scene 1 Introduction
------------------------------------------------------------
Enter Nicodemus, blindfolded, down one of the aisles where the audience is sitting,
Martha (his wife) and Rachel, Rebecca and Sarah (their children).
The children are gleeful, laughing as they lead him on to the stage.
------------------------------------------------------------
NICODEMUS
(laughing along with them)
Martha, are you there? where are they taking me this time?
MARTHA
I'm right here Nicodemus...You promised the girls
you would tell them your story again!
RACHEL
Yeah, dad. This time we brought our friends!
REBECCA
All of them!
SARAH
Yeah!
------------------------------------------------------------
When they get on stage, Martha removes the blindfold. Blinking,
rubbing his eyes, Nicodemus puts his hand up, to block the
light, as he looks over the audience.
------------------------------------------------------------
NICODEMUS
You girls....oh my....(the girls all laugh)... You girls weren't kidding! Go and sit
down while I tell them my story.
------------------------------------------------------------
Martha and the 3 girls all go and sit down on the front row
------------------------------------------------------------
NICODEMUS
hmmmm.....where should I start?
RACHEL
Oh dad...just tell us....Start at the beginning!
Act 1 - Scene 2 Jerusalem Temple
------------------------------------------------------------
Nicodemus is standing center stage, in front of the curtain.
Curtain: closed
Spotlight: White, on Nicodemus
------------------------------------------------------------
NICODEMUS
ok....(clears his throat)
Good [Morning/Afternoon/Evening]!
I am Nicodemus, one of the religious leaders in Israel. I am a very powerful and
wealthy man, one of the mighty Pharisees. My name comes from 2 words:
"Nike" and "Demos": it literally means "Victory of the People." Ultimately,
this is His (pointing towards heaven) storyJesus the Messiahthis is just my
little part in what happened.
------------------------------------------------------------
Curtain: opens
Sound Effects: Crowds buying and selling animals for offerings; cattle, sheep, goats, doves
Music: builds to anger
------------------------------------------------------------
NICODEMUS
(steps to the side of the stage, and continues)
It was time for the annual Passover celebration, and Jesus arrived in Jerusalem.
------------------------------------------------------------
Enter Jesus with 3 disciples. There is hay on the floor. Animals on tables
and in pens. All are being sold. It is like dozens of auctions all being held
at the same time.
Sound Effect: wait.then a whip-snapping sound
------------------------------------------------------------
NICODEMUS
In the Temple area Jesus saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices;
and He saw money changers behind their counters. He made a whip from some ropes
and chased them all out of the Temple. Then He drove out the sheep and oxen, scattered
the money changers' coins over the floor, and turned over their tables.
JESUS
(to those who sold doves) Get these things out of here! Don't turn my Father's
house into a marketplace! (He drives more of them out)
JAMES
(speaking to Peter) Peter Peter!
PETER
Yes, JamesWhat?
JAMES
Do you remember this(points at Jesus) this is a prophecy from the Scriptures!
PETER
Yes.yes! "Passion for God's house burns within me."
NICODEMUS
Then I watched as my fellow Jewish Leaders questioned Jesus, wondering who He was.
ANNAS
What right do you have to do these things? If you have this authority from God,
show us a miraculous sign to prove it.
JESUS
(motions with both hands toward his chest) All right, destroy this temple, and in three days
I will raise it up.
ANNAS
It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?
NICODEMUS
But Jesus was speaking of the temple of His body. Later on, when Jesus had risen from
the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the
Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.
Act 1 - Scene 3 The Room where Jesus was staying
------------------------------------------------------------
Nicodemus steps out to the front edge of the stage--
Curtain: close curtain
------------------------------------------------------------
NICODEMUS
After watching Jesus that day in the temple, I wondered about Him. I had trouble sleeping.
I thought about Him all the time. By what authority was He acting that way that day?
Was he simply just a crazy man with a mad agenda? But, deep down, I felt it was
something else. I just had to know. I just HAD to know more about Him. But.
I couldn't approach Him during the day. My Jewish Leader friends would have me
jailed.or worse
------------------------------------------------------------
Scene change: Jesus' RoomJesus is sitting on the chair
Curtain: open curtain
------------------------------------------------------------
NICODEMUS
So on one of my sleepless nights, under the cover of darkness, I slipped away, and I found Him!
(turns and walks toward Jesus)
Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs
that You do unless God is with him.
JESUS
(stands up) Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again,
he cannot see the kingdom of God.
NICODEMUS
(incredulous) How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time
into his mother's womb and be born?
JESUS
Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit,
he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh,
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you,
'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the
sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone
who is born of the Spirit.
NICODEMUS
How can these things be?
JESUS
Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say
to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not
receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how
will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but
He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
------------------------------------------------------------
Nicodemus nods, intently listening
------------------------------------------------------------
JESUS
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man
be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send
His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might
be saved.
------------------------------------------------------------
Nicodemus moves to the front of the stage--
Curtain: close curtain
Set up Bethesda scene, using stairs in front of the stage for "the pool"
------------------------------------------------------------
Act 1- Scene 4 Bethesda
NICODEMUS
Jesus answered my questions, but to-be-honest, I didn't fully understand what he meant,
until many weeks later. After several days, Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the
Jewish holy days. Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda,
with five covered porches. Crowds of sick people--blind, lame, or paralyzed--
lay on the porches. One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years.
When Jesus saw him and knew how long he had been ill, he asked him,
JESUS
Would you like to get well?
LAME MAN
I can't, sir, for I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred up.
While I am trying to get there, someone else always gets in ahead of me.
JESUS
(strong, with authority) Stand up, pick up your sleeping mat, and walk!
------------------------------------------------------------
Exit Jesus, side stage
------------------------------------------------------------
NICODEMUS
Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up the mat and began walking!
But this miracle happened on the Sabbath day. So my Jewish leader friends
objected.
ANNAS
You can't work on the Sabbath! It's illegal to carry that sleeping mat!
LAME MAN
The man who healed me said to me, `Pick up your sleeping mat and walk.'
ANNAS
(demanding) Who said such a thing as that?
LAME MAN
I. (looking around) . I do not know.
NICODEMUS
The man didn't know, for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd. But afterward
Jesus found him in the Temple and told him,
JESUS
Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.
NICODEMUS
Then the man went to find the Jewish leaders and told them it was Jesus who
had healed him. So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the
Sabbath rules.
JESUS
My Father never stops working, so why should I?
NICODEMUS
So the Jewish leaders tried all the more to kill him. In addition to disobeying the
Sabbath rules, he had spoken of God as his Father, thereby making himself
equal with God.
JESUS
I assure you, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the
Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves
the Son and tells him everything he is doing, and the Son will do far greater things
than healing this man. You will be astonished at what he does. He will even raise
from the dead anyone he wants to, just as the Father does.
------------------------------------------------------------
Exit Jesus
------------------------------------------------------------
NICODEMUS
The more I watched Jesus speak with such confidence and powerthe more I
witnessed his compassion for others, the more I believed. He was the Messiah!
But, I had to keep my thoughts to myself, because of my Jewish leader friends.
But, those friends had evil plans for Jesus.
Act 2 - Scene 1 The Temple
WORSHIPPER
(pointing to Jesus) Is this not He whom they seek to kill? Butlook! He speaks
boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly
the Christ? However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ
comes, no one knows where He is from.
JESUS
(cries out) You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not
come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know.
But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.
NICODEMUS
Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour
had not yet come. The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning
Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him.
JESUS
If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the
Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.
NICODEMUS
But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive;
for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
WORSHIPPER
Truly this is the Prophet! This is the Christ, the Messiah!
WORSHIPPER 2
Will the Christ come out of Galilee? Doesn't the Scripture say that the Christ comes
from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
NICODEMUS
So there was a division among the people because of Him. Now some of them wanted
to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him. Then the officers came to the chief priests
and Pharisees
ANNAS
Why have you not brought Him?
ROMAN SOLDIERS
No man ever spoke like this Man!
ANNAS
Are you also deceived? Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him?
But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.
NICODEMUS
Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?
ANNAS
Are you also from Galilee? Search the scriptures and look, for no prophet has
arisen out of Galilee.
-----------------------------------------------------------
INTERMISSION
-----------------------------------------------------------
Act 2 - Scene 2 Jesus and Pilate
NICODEMUS
So the Pharisees chose NOT TO believe that which was right before their eyes.
Their unbelief led to hatred. I was there the day Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him.
The soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put a purple
robe on Him
CROWD
Hail, King of the Jews! (and they struck Him with their hands.)
PILATE
Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.
------------------------------------------------------------
Then Jesus comes out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe.
------------------------------------------------------------
PILATE
Behold the Man!
ANNAS
(yell out, saying) Crucify Him, crucify Him! Crucify Him, crucify Him!
PILATE
You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.
ANNAS
We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made
Himself the Son of God.
PILATE
Jesus, Where are You from?
(But Jesus gave him no answer.)
Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify
You, and power to release You?"
JESUS
You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from
above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.
PILATE
(speaking to the crowd) If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar's friend.
Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar. Behold your King!
CROWD
Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him! Crucify Him!
PILATE
Shall I crucify your King?"
ANNAS
We have no king but Caesar!
NICODEMUS
Pilate delivered Him to the Jews to be led away to be crucified. And He,
bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, where
they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus
in the center. I stayed in the temple, weeping for my friend.
The skies darkened.
The wind whipped.
The earth shook.
When Jesus died, the veil in the temple was ripped from the top to the bottom.
If I had any doubts about Him, they all died that day.
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly,
for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and
Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus.
Then I brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.
Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices,
as the custom of the Jews is to bury. Near the place where He was crucified there
was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
So there they laid Jesus.
Three days later, He arose.Jesus rose from the dead! Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
------------------------------------------------------------
Scene change: Upper Room
------------------------------------------------------------
Act 3 - Scene 1 Pentecost
NICODEMUS
I was in Jerusalem when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, the disciples of Jesus
were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven,
as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Then there appeared to them cloven tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues,
as the Spirit gave them utterance. Peter went on to preach to everyone:
PETER
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus,
whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.
CROWD
Men and brethren, what shall we do?
PETER
Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise
is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord
our God will call.
SARAH
(runs up on stage....to Nicodemus and hugs him) Daddy,
please, I want to be baptized! I want the Holy Ghost!
MARTHA
(chasing Sarah) I'm sorry, Nicodemus, she just did this on her own, and --
NICODEMUS
(to Martha) It's ok, it's ok. (comforts Sarah, hugging her) Baptized?
SARAH
Yes daddy! I see it. I want to be born again,
in the water....and in the Spirit of God! Just like Jesus and Peter said!
(looks at Nicodemus with a question) Daddy, don't you see it?
NICODEMUS
(pauses) I do. I do see it. Thank you Sarah.Thank You Jesus! This is a revelation!
(pauses, then to everyone on stage) We need to do this.
(then, to the audience, motioning with his hands)
We need to do this! All of us! Blessed be the name of the Lord, Jesus!
------------------------------------------------------------
Curtain: close curtain.
On screen: Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church--
about 3000 in all. Acts 2:41
------------------------------------------------------------
+ + +
Tim Pickl's Testimony:
http://www.pickl.com/timandmarsha/timtestimony.htm
FaithWriters Profile:
http://www.faithwriters.com/member-profile.php?id=22603
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com - CHRISTIAN WRITERS
Inspirational Issues Articles
Your Information Warehouse ...
Inspitational Messages and
Self-Help Articles
With God's Help,
You Can Do It!
Self-Help Articles
With God's Help,
You Can Do It!
Disclaimer: The articles here come from a variety of publishers. I chose them becasue they had content which I thought might be of interest to my readers. This does not maen that I endorse them or their content. Sincerely and God bless ... Wbisbill
Home: BestKnow.info Free Inspirational Messages and Self-Help Articles
Home: Health Issues
Diabetes Mellitus Info
Squidoo Lenses on Inspirational and Self-Help
Contact
Site Map
Home: Health Issues
Diabetes Mellitus Info
Squidoo Lenses on Inspirational and Self-Help
Contact
Site Map
Recent Blogs
Help For Living
Help For Living
NICODEMUS Secret Friend of Jesus
I am Nicodemus, one of the religious leaders in Israel. I am a very powerful and wealthy man, one of the mighty Pharisees. My name comes from 2 words: "Nike" and "Demos": it literally means...
I am Nicodemus, one of the religious leaders in Israel. I am a very powerful and wealthy man, one of the mighty Pharisees. My name comes from 2 words: "Nike" and "Demos": it literally means...
Friendships and Hair Issues Well-meaning friends offer advice to help us and have the solution to a part of our problem, but may not know the entire answer for us. And that's ok. Friendships are important, because while you may not know all the answers to help your friend through the entire problem, you can advise her on what you do know.
Apostle Paul In Bible
... This lens is a tribute to the greatest Christian witness of the New Testament, The Apostle Paul In The Bible. He is second only to Jesus Himself in importance for the Christian church. THANKS for visiting. More materials to come be su...
... This lens is a tribute to the greatest Christian witness of the New Testament, The Apostle Paul In The Bible. He is second only to Jesus Himself in importance for the Christian church. THANKS for visiting. More materials to come be su...
Peace Joy Love - Five Exercises For Achieving Inner Peace And Finding Inner Happiness
Inner peace and happiness are like muscles that all of us have. It is part of being human; we are all created with these muscles and it s born right to pursue them diligently! Like muscles they must be exercised. This lens introduce...
Inner peace and happiness are like muscles that all of us have. It is part of being human; we are all created with these muscles and it s born right to pursue them diligently! Like muscles they must be exercised. This lens introduce...
The Power Of Gratitude - The Power of Gratitude is an extremely important aspect of attracting to you the abundance and happiness that you desire and deserve in your life.
Love, A Must ... and (1 Cor 13) (from the Amplified Bible) One of the most challenging chapters in the Bible is 1 Corinthians 13. Check out the qualities of love: patient, kindhumble, always polite, unselfish, temperatebears all things, believes all things, hopes all thingsNEVER FAILS! Oops! That makes me want to squirm and scratch my head.
Grandpa's Prayers By Cathrine Huff. Prayer is powerful in God's eyes. It is a sweet smelling fragrance to Him, worth changing the course of history for those in danger.
Why Are Unhappy People Unhappy? Unhappy people are usually unhappy because they have not mastered the ability to be happy within themselves. Therefore, they may try and gain happiness/pleasure through others no matter what that entails. Don't get confused with my usage of unhappiness and then compare it to depression because they are two different things. This article is about unhappy people - not depressed people.