Jesus And Simon The Pharisee
Children's Resources
Spotlight On Jesus
Readers' Theater For Children's Church
Characters
Narrator
Wife
Simon
Woman
Jesus
Questions
1.
Why did Jesus allow the woman to wash and kiss his feet?
2.
Why did Jesus ask Simon, "Do you see this woman?" when she was there in front of them?
3.
What did Jesus say to the woman?
4.
How did Jesus try to help Simon?
Narrator: In a town in Galilee, a member of the religious community, a Pharisee named Simon, is talking with his wife:
Wife: There's a traveling rabbi coming to town tomorrow.
Simon: (unhappily) I've heard. He has quite a following, mostly among the rabble and uneducated.
Wife: Do we have to entertain him?
Simon: (sighs) I suppose. As a leader in the synagogue, they'll expect me to, though I'm not very enthusiastic. He and his crowd aren't our kind of people. He's careless in how he observes the sabbath and who he eats with.
Wife: We don't have to go overboard in our welcome. We'll get the cheaper cuts of meat and go easy on the size of the portions.
Simon: I'll have the servants dispense with the usual foot-washing. Without the customary kiss of peace, Jesus will know that we'd prefer not feeding him. (chuckles)
Narrator: The following evening Simon is eating with Jesus and his disciples. The diners recline on their left arm, facing the table, with their feet extending away from the table. As they eat, a poorly dressed woman steals into the room.
Woman: Jesus may be displeased by my coming, but I must talk with him. There he is! I'll go and kneel at his feet.
Wife: (whispers) Simon, do you see that horrid woman stealing into our home?
Simon: (whispers angrily) That wretched sinner, that scum of society, that prostitute! She dares enter our home.
Wife: (continues whispering) She's kneeling at Jesus' feet. Why don't the servants toss her out?
Simon: And violate the law of hospitality? Look! She's weeping, letting her tears fall on Jesus' feet.
Woman: (weeps) Master, you spoke of God's love today, that God can forgive even one as bad as I?
Wife: How can Jesus allow it? Why doesn't he stop her?
Simon: (deeply distressed) Now she's touching his feet with her hair. He's actually allowing her to wipe away her tears by massaging his feet!
Woman: (quietly) Lord, when you spoke today, I felt God's love in your words. It seemed that God was washing away my sins. Oh, thank you, Lord.
Wife: As the host you simply must stop that woman's shameful display of lust.
Simon: Obviously, he's no man of God. If he were, he'd recognize how evil she is.
Jesus: (kindly) Simon, may I say something to you?
Simon: (coolly) I suppose so. Yes, what is it?
Jesus: Do you see this woman, kneeling here at my feet?
Simon: Do I see that woman? Of course I see her.
Jesus: Do you really see her? Do you see her feelings, her desires, the longings in her soul?
Simon: I can see her "desires" only too well.
Jesus: When I arrived at your home, no servant washed my feet, but this lady washed my feet with her tears. You gave me no welcoming kiss, but she has kissed my feet.
Simon: (under his breath) If that's the kind of affection that turns you on, then well and good.
Jesus: (kindly) Simon, suppose two men owed money to a moneylender, the one owes only ten dollars, the other owes ten thousand dollars. Suppose the moneylender forgives both their debts. Which one will love that moneylender the most?
Simon: Obviously the one forgiven the larger debt. But what's your point?
Jesus: This woman's many sins are forgiven. That's why she loves me. But those forgiven little, love only a little.
Wife: He's saying the reason you didn't welcome him is because you haven't been forgiven.
Jesus: Madam, dry your tears. Your faith has saved you. Your sins, all your sins, are forgiven. Go and live in God's peace.
Read the questions again, and prompt answers from the children.
Narrator
Wife
Simon
Woman
Jesus
Questions
1.
Why did Jesus allow the woman to wash and kiss his feet?
2.
Why did Jesus ask Simon, "Do you see this woman?" when she was there in front of them?
3.
What did Jesus say to the woman?
4.
How did Jesus try to help Simon?
Narrator: In a town in Galilee, a member of the religious community, a Pharisee named Simon, is talking with his wife:
Wife: There's a traveling rabbi coming to town tomorrow.
Simon: (unhappily) I've heard. He has quite a following, mostly among the rabble and uneducated.
Wife: Do we have to entertain him?
Simon: (sighs) I suppose. As a leader in the synagogue, they'll expect me to, though I'm not very enthusiastic. He and his crowd aren't our kind of people. He's careless in how he observes the sabbath and who he eats with.
Wife: We don't have to go overboard in our welcome. We'll get the cheaper cuts of meat and go easy on the size of the portions.
Simon: I'll have the servants dispense with the usual foot-washing. Without the customary kiss of peace, Jesus will know that we'd prefer not feeding him. (chuckles)
Narrator: The following evening Simon is eating with Jesus and his disciples. The diners recline on their left arm, facing the table, with their feet extending away from the table. As they eat, a poorly dressed woman steals into the room.
Woman: Jesus may be displeased by my coming, but I must talk with him. There he is! I'll go and kneel at his feet.
Wife: (whispers) Simon, do you see that horrid woman stealing into our home?
Simon: (whispers angrily) That wretched sinner, that scum of society, that prostitute! She dares enter our home.
Wife: (continues whispering) She's kneeling at Jesus' feet. Why don't the servants toss her out?
Simon: And violate the law of hospitality? Look! She's weeping, letting her tears fall on Jesus' feet.
Woman: (weeps) Master, you spoke of God's love today, that God can forgive even one as bad as I?
Wife: How can Jesus allow it? Why doesn't he stop her?
Simon: (deeply distressed) Now she's touching his feet with her hair. He's actually allowing her to wipe away her tears by massaging his feet!
Woman: (quietly) Lord, when you spoke today, I felt God's love in your words. It seemed that God was washing away my sins. Oh, thank you, Lord.
Wife: As the host you simply must stop that woman's shameful display of lust.
Simon: Obviously, he's no man of God. If he were, he'd recognize how evil she is.
Jesus: (kindly) Simon, may I say something to you?
Simon: (coolly) I suppose so. Yes, what is it?
Jesus: Do you see this woman, kneeling here at my feet?
Simon: Do I see that woman? Of course I see her.
Jesus: Do you really see her? Do you see her feelings, her desires, the longings in her soul?
Simon: I can see her "desires" only too well.
Jesus: When I arrived at your home, no servant washed my feet, but this lady washed my feet with her tears. You gave me no welcoming kiss, but she has kissed my feet.
Simon: (under his breath) If that's the kind of affection that turns you on, then well and good.
Jesus: (kindly) Simon, suppose two men owed money to a moneylender, the one owes only ten dollars, the other owes ten thousand dollars. Suppose the moneylender forgives both their debts. Which one will love that moneylender the most?
Simon: Obviously the one forgiven the larger debt. But what's your point?
Jesus: This woman's many sins are forgiven. That's why she loves me. But those forgiven little, love only a little.
Wife: He's saying the reason you didn't welcome him is because you haven't been forgiven.
Jesus: Madam, dry your tears. Your faith has saved you. Your sins, all your sins, are forgiven. Go and live in God's peace.
Read the questions again, and prompt answers from the children.
