Jesus The Man of Prayer

By Michael English


Summary:             This was written as a meditation for the week before Easter.  It focuses on Jesus as a man of prayer.  We made extensive use of still images, but the script could easily be adapted for radio-style delivery.

Bible Reference:    Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12-16; Luke 11:3-8; John 17:1-5; John 17:6-19; Luke 22:39-46; John 17:20-26

Characters:           A narrator and up to eight readers A through G.

Props:                        Armchair for the Narrator.

Setting:                 We placed the narrator in an arm chair on one side of the stage, whilst the readers used a fixed microphone on the other.  Ambient lighting was set as low as possible.  We then projected various images onto a screen in the centre of the stage.  The script notes the images we used  mostly from slides / photographs taken on trips to Israel / Palestine / Egypt.  We gave each person in the congregation a short programme, which included a list of the images used.


(Start with Narrator and Reader A on the stage)

 

Narrator:        We are disciples of Jesus.  We try to follow in his footsteps; to live our lives in the way he did; to make his priorities our priorities.

 

Reader A:      So what was Jesus like?  What was important to him?

 

Narrator:        Come on a journey with me and we shall see!

 

(Slide 1:  The Synagogue in Capernaum)

 

Narrator:        We begin with Jesus teaching in the Synagogue in Capernaum.  There he healed a man.  Throughout that day he healed many others, working well into the evening.  He was tired; exhausted; glad of his bed in Simon Peter's house.

 

(Slide 2:  Sheep on the hillside)

 

Reader A:      Mark 1:35

 

(Reader A departs - Pause)

 


(Slide 3: Fishermen on Lake Galilee.  Reader B comes up)

 

Narrator:        Jesus knew that he could not continue his work alone, but who should he choose for his companions and how should he choose them?

 

Reader B:      Luke 6: 12-16

 

(Reader B departs - Pause)

 


(Slide 4:  Loaves and Fishes Mosaic. Reader C comes up)

 

Narrator:        So Jesus lived his life on earth, both praying himself and teaching others to pray.

 

Reader C:      Luke 11:3-8

 

(Reader C Departs - Pause)

 


(Slide 5: Golgotha.  Reader D comes up)

 

Narrator:        And then the time came near for Jesus to fulfil his mission, so he went to Jerusalem as he knew he must.  And in Jerusalem Jesus found that Golgotha, the Place of the Skull, cast a shadow over all that he did, but his prayers continued:

 

Reader D:      John 17:1-5

 

Narrator:        And the glory that was Golgotha is the shame of all mankind.

 

(Slide 6:  The Garden Tomb)

 

Narrator:        Now on its own Golgotha is a dark and barren glory.  But it is not alone.  There is a greater glory.  For the tomb is empty.  Death is defeated.  Jesus has risen!

 

(Reader D departs.  Pause)

 


 (Slide 7:  The Market at Beersheba.  Reader E comes up)

 

Narrator:        And from beneath Golgotha's lengthening shadow Jesus prayed for his disciples.

 

Reader E:       John 17: 6-19.

 

Narrator:        And though more at home in the fish market than palaces, the power of Jesus' prayer went with them.  The disciples would become Apostles and the power of Rome would crumble before them.

 

(Reader E departs. Pause)

 


 (Slide 8:  Olive Tree in Gethsemane.  Reader F comes up)

 

Narrator:        And at the last, Jesus threw himself down beneath the olive trees in the garden called Gethsemane and pleaded with His Father.  The last battle was the hardest of all.

 

Reader F:       Luke 22:39-46

 

(Reader F departs.  Pause)

 


 (Slide 9:  Easter Crowds On The Way Of The Cross.  Reader G comes up)

 

Narrator:        Have we fallen into temptation?  Do we walk the way of the cross in the Master's footsteps?  Or do we slip into less wholesome, but broader ways: the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, the unbelief of the Sadducees, the denial of Peter, or the treachery of Judas?  Let us take heart; two thousand years ago Jesus prayed for us!

 

Reader G:      John 17: 20-26.

 

(Reader G departs - short Pause)

 


 (Slide 10:  Sunrise from Mount Moses (Sinai). Reader G Departs)

 

Narrator:        Go in peace.  May the Son's glory rise in you this Easter.

 


This script is Copyright 2003 Michael English, All Saints Milton. Permission is given to use this drama in non-profit making church events provided the source is acknowledged. Some editing may be required to suit local conditions and the images you have available. Please let us know if you have any comments.


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