Description
Theme: Scene 4 of an 8 scene readers drama, (Stages of Messiah), about different times in the life of Jesus and his ministry, this portion has to do with the Temptation of Jesus in the desert.
The scenes, can be ordered and staged as self-standing dramas, Click on the individual item), are: birth, dedication at the temple, 12 year old at the temple, miracles of Jesus, Upper Room/Gethsemane, crucifixion and resurrection.
Bible Reference: Luke 4:1-13
Cast: 3, narrator and 2 readers, male or female
plus required/desired number of actors for Tableaus
Set: blank with 3 chairs
Sound, Costumes: standard
Lighting: Spotlights for narrator and readers and also for Tableau. Experiment with spot colours and locations to somewhat isolate the individual readers and the tableau but to leave the overall stage rather dark. Individual reading lights for readers.
Songs: We recommend a portion of a relevant song to be sung by congregation at the end of each scene. Use the suggested song or select a personal favorite. Our aim in the selection was to use older songs and hymns as a means of re-introduction.
Tableau: For each scene there is a suggested tableau where an image is created with silent and frozen actors at Upstage, highlighted by spotlight, or have the image on a wall in shadows or behind scrim. For more ideas contact DramaShare.
Time: 3 minutes (plus song)
Sample of script:
Scene IV – Temptation Luke 4:1-13
Tableau: Man standing, pointing at a person who has his back to him
R2: Temptation!
R1: Degradation!
R2: Humiliation!
Narrator: After being baptized by John the Baptist, but before beginning his earthly ministry, it was necessary that Jesus went go through a forty day and forty night ordeal of testing by Satan.
The scene of the testing was in the hot and dreary desert, far removed from other persons, with no opportunity for anyone to share in Jesus’ misery and grief.
The method of testing was to expose Jesus to the temptations of hunger, the lust for power and to abandon faithfulness to God.
R1: Having been fasting throughout the forty day period Jesus was very hungry. So Satan baited Jesus by enticing him to use God’s power by turning a stone into a loaf of bread.
Narrator: Satan’s purpose was to make Jesus turn his back on obedience to God, showing that satisfaction of bodily desires is more important than a steadfast and spiritual character.
Jesus resisted Satan by quoting the scriptural proof that real life satisfaction does not depend on alleviating physical matters such as hunger.
The complete script, plus all 2,000 other DramaShare scripts, are available at no charge to DramaShare members, non-members may purchase the individual script.
