Jesus In The Garden Of Gethsemane
Drama
Robert Lakey
Readers’ Theater for Children’s Church
Object:
Characters
Narrator
Jesus
Peter
Judas
Soldier
High Priest's Servant
Questions
1. What did Jesus ask his Heavenly Father as he prayed in the garden?
2. Who was the disciple who betrayed Jesus?
3. How did he betray Jesus?
4. What did Peter do when they were about to arrest Jesus?
5. As Jesus was being led away, what did his disciples do?
Narrator: Jesus and his disciples left the upper room and went to the Garden of Gethsemane. As they entered the grove of olive trees, Jesus became very sad.
Jesus: I feel the powers of darkness closing in upon me. Peter, James, and John, please come with me. The rest of you wait here, stay awake, and watch.
Peter: Lord, there's something bothering you, I can tell. What can we do to help?
Jesus: I feel deeply distressed, sick to the point of death. I need your help. While I go off by myself to pray, you must support me with your prayers. Pray as you have never prayed before.
Peter: We will, Jesus. You can count on us.
Jesus: (deeply distressed) Holy Father, you have sent me into the world for this hour, this dread destiny, I have come to this time when your will must be done. But, Lord, it seems too much to bear. I don't know that I can endure it. I know your plan for me is to suffer and die. But isn't there possibly some other way? Some way your plan can be altered so that I need not suffer? Won't you take this cup of suffering and death from me? Please! (quieter) Please. Yet, if this must be the plan, not what I want, but what you want. I'm willing, Father, to fulfill your plan. I'm ready.
Judas: (calls from a distance) Jesus, Master. Where are you? It's so dark.
Jesus: (softly) Peter, James, John. Ah, you're asleep ... just at the hour when I needed you most. Well, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Wake up, men. Wake up! Judas, the traitor is here.
Peter: (yawns) I'm sorry, Lord. I just couldn't keep my eyes open.
Judas: Ah, there you are, Teacher. Peace be with you.
Jesus: Judas ... friend, what have you done?
Judas: (lightheartedly) Why, I've simply greeted you with the kiss of love and peace.
Jesus: You have betrayed me with a kiss, have you not?
Judas: (sadly) Why, I ... ah ... I ... (whimpers) Yes ... I ... I have.
Soldier: Enough of this chatter. Jesus of Nazareth, I arrest you in the name of the Jewish High Council, the Sanhedrin. You are to be tried for causing a riot in the temple, for heresy, for threats to destroy the holy temple, and for plotting revolution against the government.
Jesus: Why do you come to arrest me under the cloak of darkness? I was in the temple for the last four days. If I have committed some criminal offense, you could have taken me during the daylight.
Soldier: I'm not here to answer your questions. My orders are to bring you to the Sanhedrin. Now, come along.
Peter: (wildly) You are not going to take our teacher away. I have a sword here, and I know how to use it. Take that!
High Priest's Servant: (screams in pain) My ear! You've cut my ear!
Jesus: (sternly) Peter, stop! Enough of this! The Father blesses the peacemaker, not those who wildly lash out. Those who live by the violence of the sword, will perish that way. Here, young man, let me touch your ear.
Narrator: Why, the pain ... it's gone!
Soldier: All right, Jesus, come along and don't make any trouble. We're taking you and all your fellow conspirators to the high priest.
Jesus: Let these men go. They have no part in any revolution, no plans for causing trouble. I'm the only one you want.
Peter: (quickly) Come on, men. Let's get out of here. It's every man for himself.
Narrator: The disciples ran into the darkness, as the soldiers led Jesus away to a trial before the high priest.
__________
Read the questions again, and prompt answers from the children.
Narrator
Jesus
Peter
Judas
Soldier
High Priest's Servant
Questions
1. What did Jesus ask his Heavenly Father as he prayed in the garden?
2. Who was the disciple who betrayed Jesus?
3. How did he betray Jesus?
4. What did Peter do when they were about to arrest Jesus?
5. As Jesus was being led away, what did his disciples do?
Narrator: Jesus and his disciples left the upper room and went to the Garden of Gethsemane. As they entered the grove of olive trees, Jesus became very sad.
Jesus: I feel the powers of darkness closing in upon me. Peter, James, and John, please come with me. The rest of you wait here, stay awake, and watch.
Peter: Lord, there's something bothering you, I can tell. What can we do to help?
Jesus: I feel deeply distressed, sick to the point of death. I need your help. While I go off by myself to pray, you must support me with your prayers. Pray as you have never prayed before.
Peter: We will, Jesus. You can count on us.
Jesus: (deeply distressed) Holy Father, you have sent me into the world for this hour, this dread destiny, I have come to this time when your will must be done. But, Lord, it seems too much to bear. I don't know that I can endure it. I know your plan for me is to suffer and die. But isn't there possibly some other way? Some way your plan can be altered so that I need not suffer? Won't you take this cup of suffering and death from me? Please! (quieter) Please. Yet, if this must be the plan, not what I want, but what you want. I'm willing, Father, to fulfill your plan. I'm ready.
Judas: (calls from a distance) Jesus, Master. Where are you? It's so dark.
Jesus: (softly) Peter, James, John. Ah, you're asleep ... just at the hour when I needed you most. Well, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Wake up, men. Wake up! Judas, the traitor is here.
Peter: (yawns) I'm sorry, Lord. I just couldn't keep my eyes open.
Judas: Ah, there you are, Teacher. Peace be with you.
Jesus: Judas ... friend, what have you done?
Judas: (lightheartedly) Why, I've simply greeted you with the kiss of love and peace.
Jesus: You have betrayed me with a kiss, have you not?
Judas: (sadly) Why, I ... ah ... I ... (whimpers) Yes ... I ... I have.
Soldier: Enough of this chatter. Jesus of Nazareth, I arrest you in the name of the Jewish High Council, the Sanhedrin. You are to be tried for causing a riot in the temple, for heresy, for threats to destroy the holy temple, and for plotting revolution against the government.
Jesus: Why do you come to arrest me under the cloak of darkness? I was in the temple for the last four days. If I have committed some criminal offense, you could have taken me during the daylight.
Soldier: I'm not here to answer your questions. My orders are to bring you to the Sanhedrin. Now, come along.
Peter: (wildly) You are not going to take our teacher away. I have a sword here, and I know how to use it. Take that!
High Priest's Servant: (screams in pain) My ear! You've cut my ear!
Jesus: (sternly) Peter, stop! Enough of this! The Father blesses the peacemaker, not those who wildly lash out. Those who live by the violence of the sword, will perish that way. Here, young man, let me touch your ear.
Narrator: Why, the pain ... it's gone!
Soldier: All right, Jesus, come along and don't make any trouble. We're taking you and all your fellow conspirators to the high priest.
Jesus: Let these men go. They have no part in any revolution, no plans for causing trouble. I'm the only one you want.
Peter: (quickly) Come on, men. Let's get out of here. It's every man for himself.
Narrator: The disciples ran into the darkness, as the soldiers led Jesus away to a trial before the high priest.
__________
Read the questions again, and prompt answers from the children.
