THE STORYTELLER'S BIBLE
Act V - The Synoptic Gospels, Scene 3
Script by Bob Allen
For four voices

Scene 3

3          4          1          2

VOICE TWO:             All night in prayer!

VOICE FOUR:            Alone on the mountainside.

VOICE THREE:          All night in prayer to God!

VOICE ONE:              What great decision demanded such dedication to prayer?

VOICE TWO:             When it was day

VOICE FOUR:            He chose twelve.

VOICE THREE:          Peter

VOICE ONE:              Andrew

VOICE TWO:             James

VOICE FOUR:            John

VOICE THREE:          Philip

VOICE ONE:              Bartholomew

VOICE TWO:             Matthew

VOICE FOUR:            Thomas

VOICE THREE:          James the son of Alphaeus

VOICE ONE:              Simon the Zealot

VOICE TWO:             Thaddeus

VOICE FOUR:            Judas Iscariot

VOICE THREE:          Discipleship training.  Development for service in accordance with                                 their strengths and weaknesses.  Leaving all—to follow Him.

VOICE ONE:              There were no previous qualifications necessary for 

                                   discipleship.  Each disciple brought a unique personality and individual abilities                                     with him when he joined that little band.  Christ would provide                                     everything they needed for service.

VOICE TWO:             They would learn what they needed to learn by being with Him.

VOICE FOUR:            They would learn what they needed to do when He sent them forth.

VOICE THREE:          Peter,  Mr. Inconsistency, would learn from Christ stability and                                      firmness.  He would become consistent in faith, in forgiveness, in                                       daily cleansing, in doctrine, in devotion and in love.

VOICE ONE:              Andrew already had an innate concern for those around him.  By                                               following Christ, he would become one who developed that                                           concern for others into a desire to introduce his friends and                                                          acquaintances to the God he had learned to love.

VOICE FOUR:            James, a son of thunder, assumed that his special relationship with                                              Christ permitted intolerance.  He would learn from His Lord the                                                 danger of exclusion, self-promotion and jealousy.  He would allow                                        Christ to steal his thunder.

VOICE TWO:             John, the beloved, joined the band with the same intolerance that                                               characterized his brother James.  The fact that he became the                                        disciple of love, who could later write, “He that loveth not                                                   knoweth not God, for God is love,” was due entirely to His                                                             association with Christ.  He allowed the love of Christ to teach him                                how to love others.

VOICE THREE:          Philip lacked confidence.  When he couldn’t handle Nathaniel’s                                                 probing questions, he learned to point directly to Christ.  “Come                                                and see,” was his confidence builder.  From one who lacked                                            confidence, Christ developed a bold spirit and a faithful witness.

VOICE ONE:              The descriptive adjective “doubting” has become an integral part                                               of the name of the disciple called Thomas.  He was known for his                                      pessimistic spirit.  Christ’s goal with Thomas was to change his                                             pessimism into anticipation, realization and optimistic faith in                                           Jesus Christ Himself.

VOICE FOUR:            Matthew personified materialism among the twelve.  A wealthy                                      tax-collector appeared to be an unlikely disciple.  But he learned                                           sacrifice for the cause of Christ.  He left Mammon to follow His                                                 new Master, knowing that no man could serve both.

VOICE TWO:             Bartholomew, Thaddeus, James of Alpheus and Simon the Zealot                                              were also disciples, though the gospel record concerning them is                                                quite obscure.  Jesus chose them, and He changed them, just as he                                           chooses and changes many today who remain unknown to the                                      world at large.

VOICE THREE:          They were changed because they followed Him.

VOICE ONE:              Judas Iscariot, alone among the twelve, remained unchanged.

VOICE FOUR:            He was a model disciple.  Accepted fully by the others as their                                      equal.  Working miracles along with them in the name of Christ.                                                Trusted as their treasurer.  Not even at the last supper did he come                                       under suspicion as a traitor.

VOICE TWO:             Judas lacked sincerity!

VOICE THREE:          He refused to allow Christ to deal with the sin in his life.  And that                                              sin, harbored and nurtured, grew into the great betrayal.

VOICE TWO:             Yet Christ, having loved His own who were in the world, loved                                                 them unto the end.