THE STORYTELLER'S BIBLE
Act V - The Synoptic Gospels, Scene 8
Script by Bob Allen
For four voices

                                                                      

                                                                                   Scene 8


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VOICE FOUR: Now, the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

VOICE THREE: The contrast could not have been greater. The Pharisees were supposedly the holiest of all the people in the land of Israel. The sinners were the unholiest. The scribes were members of the most revered occupation—studying and transcribing the very Words of God. In contrast, the tax collectors worked for Rome and were the most despised occupation in the land.

VOICE TWO: Jesus preferred the tax-collectors and sinners.

VOICE ONE: He wanted those who listened to see themselves in the story.

VOICE FOUR: Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?

VOICE THREE: The good shepherd’s immediate concern was not with those who were safe, but with those who were lost.

VOICE FOUR: He will go after the lost sheep until he finds it.

VOICE THREE: Armed only with a wooden staff and a slingshot, the shepherd was literally taking his life into his own hands when he left the fold and went out to search for the one lost sheep. It was work--hard work, dangerous work—and it was all expended on behalf of the one who had wandered away instead of following close to the shepherd.

VOICE FOUR: Rejoice with me, I have found my lost sheep.

VOICE THREE: Who were the lost sheep? They were the sinners, the ones who had gone astray. Jesus Himself says there would be rejoicing in heaven over sinners who repent. And who is the shepherd? Well, the obvious answer seems to be Christ Jesus Himself.

VOICE ONE: Christ’s immediate concern was for those who were lost.

VOICE TWO: Christ expended energy on rescuing those who had gone astray.

VOICE FOUR: Christ rejoiced over those who had been lost and were found.

VOICE THREE: But the parable was designed to make every listener see himself in the story. So where did the Pharisees and teachers of the law fit in?

VOICE ONE: Remember how Jesus began His story? Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them? One of you. Who were the Pharisees and the scribes in this story? They were the shepherds. He wanted to them to see themselves as those who should have been leading the people back to God. He wanted them to think about the criticism they had just leveled at him and ask themselves—what kind of a shepherd am I?

VOICE TWO: The first concern of the Pharisees was for their fellow Pharisees. What will they think of me if I am seen at dinner with a tax collector. It will ruin my reputation.

VOICE THREE: The first concern of Christ was for those who needed Him, and knew they needed Him.

VOICE FOUR: The effort of the Pharisees was expended on criticizing Jesus for behavior that didn’t fit into their narrow framework of what they thought permissible according to the law. Association with sinners will contaminate me.

VOICE ONE: Jesus built friendships with those everyone else avoided.

VOICE TWO: The Pharisees were devoid of joy. All they could do was murmur against the ones who were enjoying themselves. How can He eat with sinners? Doesn’t He know who they are?

VOICE THREE: It is possible to get so focused on keeping the ninety-and-nine comfortable and happy that we lose heaven’s focus.

VOICE FOUR: More rejoicing!

VOICES ONE/ TWO: More rejoicing!

VOICE THREE: What kind of shepherd am I?