Jesus And Lazarus
Drama
Robert Lakey
Readers’ Theater for Children’s Church
Object:
Characters
Narrator
Thomas
Jesus
Martha
Mary
Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus delayed going to help Lazarus?
2. Why did his disciple, Thomas, hesitate to go?
3. What did both Mary and Martha say when Jesus arrived?
4. When Jesus arrived at Lazarus' tomb, what did he do?
5. What did Thomas think would happen when people learned what happened?
Narrator: One day while Jesus was teaching and healing, he received an urgent message from his friends, Mary and Martha. They asked him to come quickly to their home in Bethany because their brother, Lazarus, was very ill. Yet for some reason Jesus delayed going.
Thomas: Lord, it's been over two days since we got Martha's message about her brother. It sounded like he was critically ill. Aren't you going to Bethany to help?
Jesus: I have delayed so that God's glory will be revealed and that your faith may be strengthened. But come, let's go now. Our friend, Lazarus, has fallen asleep.
Thomas: Asleep? You mean he's in a coma, or merely sleeping a lot? And don't forget, it's dangerous going there. Just a short time ago the people there tried to kill you.
Jesus: Lazarus is dead. Let's leave immediately.
Thomas: (unhappily) Well, I suppose we must, but we'll probably end up dead, like Lazarus.
Narrator: When Jesus and his disciples arrived in Bethany, they were met by the heart-broken Martha.
Martha: (slightly critical) This is the fourth day since Lazarus died. We had hoped that you would have come sooner. I'm certain that if you had been here, our brother wouldn't have died. But now ... (sighs sadly)
Jesus: Martha, you brother will rise again.
Martha: Well, yes. Of course he'll rise with the rest of us on judgment day. I do believe that.
Jesus: I bring resurrection and life to all who believe. Whoever truly believes in me will live, even after he dies. His spirit will never perish, but live on forever and ever. Do you believe that, Martha?
Martha: (not totally convinced) Well, I believe you're the Messiah, the Son of God, the one predicted to come to this earth. (changes subject) But for now, I'll go call my sister.
Narrator: When Mary heard that Jesus had arrived, she hurried out to meet him.
Mary: Oh, Jesus, we had hoped and prayed that you would arrive in time to save Lazarus. If you had only come sooner, he wouldn't have died. (begins crying softly)
Jesus: (so deeply moved he can scarcely speak) Your tears are so beautiful, so moving! How you must have loved your brother. My heart breaks to see you this sad. But come, show me where you have buried him.
Narrator: When they arrived at the burial site, Jesus made a startling request.
Jesus: Roll back the stone covering the entrance to the tomb.
Martha: But Jesus! Lazarus has been buried almost four days.
Mary: There'll be an awful smell, Jesus.
Jesus: I have told you -- you must believe, if you are to see the glory and power of God. Trust me, Martha! Trust me, Mary. (calls out) Father, I thank you that you always hear me. Show forth your glory, your life-giving power. Lazarus, come out!
Thomas: Does he actually expect that dead man to get up and walk out of his tomb? He must be beside himself with grief.
Martha: There's something moving inside the crypt, but I can't make it out!
Mary: It's a body wrapped in linen cloth. It ... It's Lazarus! He's alive!
Martha: Oh, Jesus, thank you. I didn't believe you could ... I wasn't sure that ... I doubted that ... Oh, thank you! (breaks down) Thank you.
Jesus: Untie the burial clothes from his body. Let the man go free!
Thomas: When the people of Jerusalem hear about this, there'll be a lot of new believers. But, when the high priest and his gang hear, they're really going to be upset. From then on Jesus' life won't be worth a penny.
__________
Read the questions again, and prompt answers from the children.
Narrator
Thomas
Jesus
Martha
Mary
Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus delayed going to help Lazarus?
2. Why did his disciple, Thomas, hesitate to go?
3. What did both Mary and Martha say when Jesus arrived?
4. When Jesus arrived at Lazarus' tomb, what did he do?
5. What did Thomas think would happen when people learned what happened?
Narrator: One day while Jesus was teaching and healing, he received an urgent message from his friends, Mary and Martha. They asked him to come quickly to their home in Bethany because their brother, Lazarus, was very ill. Yet for some reason Jesus delayed going.
Thomas: Lord, it's been over two days since we got Martha's message about her brother. It sounded like he was critically ill. Aren't you going to Bethany to help?
Jesus: I have delayed so that God's glory will be revealed and that your faith may be strengthened. But come, let's go now. Our friend, Lazarus, has fallen asleep.
Thomas: Asleep? You mean he's in a coma, or merely sleeping a lot? And don't forget, it's dangerous going there. Just a short time ago the people there tried to kill you.
Jesus: Lazarus is dead. Let's leave immediately.
Thomas: (unhappily) Well, I suppose we must, but we'll probably end up dead, like Lazarus.
Narrator: When Jesus and his disciples arrived in Bethany, they were met by the heart-broken Martha.
Martha: (slightly critical) This is the fourth day since Lazarus died. We had hoped that you would have come sooner. I'm certain that if you had been here, our brother wouldn't have died. But now ... (sighs sadly)
Jesus: Martha, you brother will rise again.
Martha: Well, yes. Of course he'll rise with the rest of us on judgment day. I do believe that.
Jesus: I bring resurrection and life to all who believe. Whoever truly believes in me will live, even after he dies. His spirit will never perish, but live on forever and ever. Do you believe that, Martha?
Martha: (not totally convinced) Well, I believe you're the Messiah, the Son of God, the one predicted to come to this earth. (changes subject) But for now, I'll go call my sister.
Narrator: When Mary heard that Jesus had arrived, she hurried out to meet him.
Mary: Oh, Jesus, we had hoped and prayed that you would arrive in time to save Lazarus. If you had only come sooner, he wouldn't have died. (begins crying softly)
Jesus: (so deeply moved he can scarcely speak) Your tears are so beautiful, so moving! How you must have loved your brother. My heart breaks to see you this sad. But come, show me where you have buried him.
Narrator: When they arrived at the burial site, Jesus made a startling request.
Jesus: Roll back the stone covering the entrance to the tomb.
Martha: But Jesus! Lazarus has been buried almost four days.
Mary: There'll be an awful smell, Jesus.
Jesus: I have told you -- you must believe, if you are to see the glory and power of God. Trust me, Martha! Trust me, Mary. (calls out) Father, I thank you that you always hear me. Show forth your glory, your life-giving power. Lazarus, come out!
Thomas: Does he actually expect that dead man to get up and walk out of his tomb? He must be beside himself with grief.
Martha: There's something moving inside the crypt, but I can't make it out!
Mary: It's a body wrapped in linen cloth. It ... It's Lazarus! He's alive!
Martha: Oh, Jesus, thank you. I didn't believe you could ... I wasn't sure that ... I doubted that ... Oh, thank you! (breaks down) Thank you.
Jesus: Untie the burial clothes from his body. Let the man go free!
Thomas: When the people of Jerusalem hear about this, there'll be a lot of new believers. But, when the high priest and his gang hear, they're really going to be upset. From then on Jesus' life won't be worth a penny.
__________
Read the questions again, and prompt answers from the children.
