BACK BAPTIST2 6'1m*f RT: John Baptizes Jesus in the Jordan River (RT == Readers' Theater: requires little or no memorization, little or no rehearsal. An indefinite number of reporters are salted throughout the audience.) JOHN -- (enters wearing fur tunic and sandals, crosses by podium, stops, examines several faces in audience, returns to podium) If you were expecting to have a press conference with Jesus of Nazareth, you're too late. He's gone. Sorry. (turns) REPORTER -- Can you tell us where Jesus went? JOHN -- (turns) Yes. He went back to Galilee to start his ministry. Now, if you'll excuse me... (turns) REPORTER -- Can you tell us what that means? JOHN -- (turns) What what means? REPORTER -- You said that Jesus went away to start his ministry. Can you tell us what his ministry is? JOHN -- Yes. For the next three years, Jesus will be traveling through out Israel, proclaiming the good news of God. (turns) REPORTER -- May we have your name, please? JOHN -- (turns) My name is John, son of Zechariah the priest. REPORTER -- Aren't you the one they call John the Baptist? JOHN -- Yes. REPORTER -- Is it true that you baptized Jesus in the Jordan river today? JOHN -- Yes. That's true. REPORTER -- Isn't that a little unusual? JOHN -- Unusual? I've baptized hundreds of people in the Jordan river the last few days. How is that unusual? REPORTER -- Well, for one thing, if you're the son of a temple priest, shouldn't you be working in the temple in Jerusalem baptizing people in the bronze basin there? JOHN -- Let me ask you a question. REPORTER -- YOU want to ask the members of the press a question? JOHN -- Yes. Can you tell me why they refer to the temple in Jerusalem as HEROD'S temple? REPORTER -- Because the money to build it came mostly from Herod. JOHN -- And because it gave glory to Herod and not to God. Have you noticed that God is not present in the temple? REPORTER -- How would we know if God is there or not? JOHN -- The first temple built by King Solomon had a pillar of smoke by day and a pillar of fire by night. Have you ever seen such a thing at Herod's temple? REPORTER -- Are you saying that God is not present in the temple at Jerusalem? JOHN -- That's what I'm saying. And do you know why? REPORTER -- I thought WE were the ones who were supposed to be asking the questions. JOHN -- I'll tell you why. Because the Pharisees and the Sadducees no longer put their trust in God. They put their trust in their own good deeds. They don't think they need a savior. REPORTER -- Is that why you referred to them as... (reads) "A brood of vipers"? JOHN -- That's right. And that's why I'm baptizing people in the Jordan River. REPORTER -- But the Jordan river is muddy and unclean. JOHN -- Baptism is not intended to clean the body, but to symbolize the immersion in the Holy Spirit. REPORTER -- Are you saying that people who are immersed in the Jordan River now will be immersed in the Holy Spirit later? JOHN -- Yes. As a matter of fact, Jesus himself was already immersed in the Holy Spirit. REPORTER -- When did this happen? JOHN -- Immediately after he came up out of the water. REPORTER -- There were several reports from bystanders that they heard thunder when Jesus came up out of the water. Can you confirm that? JOHN -- What the people heard was the voice of God himself, just as it was in the time of Moses. Only true believers could hear the words of God. All the others could only hear what sounded like thunder. REPORTER -- Did YOU hear the words? JOHN -- Yes. REPORTER -- Can you tell us what God said when Jesus came up out of the water? JOHN -- Yes. He said, "This is my son, in whom I am well pleased." REPORTER -- Can you tell us why? JOHN -- Why what? REPORTER -- You quoted God as saying (reads) "This is my son in whom I am well pleased". JOHN -- Yes. REPORTER -- But you just told us that Jesus was about to start his ministry. If Jesus hasn't done anything yet, what is there for God to be pleased about? JOHN -- After creating the entire universe, Jesus decided to give up his rights as king of the universe to take on the body of one of his creations in order to save them from their sins. I would say that just humbling himself is enough to be pleased about. REPORTER -- But if Jesus is the creator of the universe, that makes him God. JOHN -- That's right. REPORTER -- But you said God spoke to Jesus from Heaven. Doesn't that mean there's two Gods? JOHN -- I don't know how God can do it, but it appears that one God is actually THREE different persons. REPORTER -- THREE persons?! JOHN -- Don't forget, I saw the Holy Spirit descend from Heaven at the same time I heard God's voice from heaven. That makes THREE persons in one God at one time. REPORTER -- How is it possible that God can be three persons? JOHN -- I don't know. Perhaps outside of the universe that God created for us, outside of our limitations of time and space, three persons can sit on one throne at one time. REPORTER -- How can that be? JOHN -- I don't know HOW he does it, but this is not a surprise. In the Book of Genesis, during the creation, the Hebrew word for God is a plural noun that is always used with a singular verb. And this plural God said "Let US make man in OUR image." At this point in the creation, there is noone around but God himself. I can't see any other explanation for God referring to himself as US unless God is more than one person. I don't know how one God can be three persons. I'm no scholar. I'm just the voice of one calling in the wilderness, "Make way for the coming of the Lord." And I'm pleased to announce: The Lord is here. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have several hundred people waiting to be baptized. (exits) ©2007 Bob Snook. Conditions for use: Do not sell any part of this script, even if you rewrite it. Pay no royalties, even if you make money from performances. You may reproduce and distribute this script freely, but all copies must contain this copyright statement. http://www.fea.net/bobsnook email: bobsnook@fea.net BACK |