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61043
TALE OF TWO FRIENDS
by
Steven James, Dan Earl and Joel Van Eaton
GENRE: Drama
TIME: 5 minutes
CAST BREAKDOWN: 2M
THEME:Betrayal; Good Friday; Fear; Friendship; Guilt; Sin
SCRIPTURE: Mark 14:66-72; John 11:45-53
CHURCH YEAR SEASON: Holy Week
SUGGESTED USE: : Good Friday Service; Maundy Thursday; Worship Service
PURPOSE: To examine how our sin leads to death
SYNOPSIS:Two of Jesus’ closest friends talk about the night of Jesus’ arrest.
By the end of the night, both men will realize that their acts of betrayal are the cause
of Jesus’ death.
CHARACTERS:
PETER - A friend of Jesus
JUDAS - A friend of Jesus
PROPS: None
COSTUMES: Contemporary, casual dress
SOUND: 2 wireless mikes
LIGHTING: Two individually lit areas
SETTING: General
DIRECTOR'S NOTES: Peter and Judas have almost become fictionalized characters like Paul Bunyan and Clark Kent. The key to directing this script is remembering that Peter and Judas were real people who felt compelled to make the real choices they made. In the case of Judas, he believed he was doing what was right. For Peter, the choice was a matter of life or death. Read the script and corresponding passages of Scripture, and ask God to give you a fresh perspective on these two men.
PETER and JUDAS ENTER simultaneously. JUDAS stands stage right. PETER stage left. Spotlight on each of them. The rest of the stage is black.
JUDAS
He was my friend. He had been for, oh, a couple years. He chose me.
PETER
He confused me. I never really understood what he was talking about. I didn't get it. It just didn't make any sense.
JUDAS
I was really honored that morning when he announced my name along with the other eleven. Not everyone was chosen. I was. And he trusted me. That's why he let me handle the money for our group. And I was gonna make him proud. It was my chance to be part of something big!
PETER
Everything's been so different since that day I left my nets to follow him... I was a part of something big! I was in on the ground floor! And then came the night in the garden.
(SFX: Gentle sound of crickets chirping in the background)
JUDAS
Things didn't go quite as planned. Jesus wasn't taking control like he should have. He kept talking about power and kingdoms and stuff, but all the time he didn't do anything... Just talk... He wouldn't let the people crown him king. He just withdrew by himself instead... I guess I got antsy and frustrated... I don't remember when the thought first occurred to me. But after it did, I couldn't get it out of my mind. Yeah, maybe I could help move things along.
PETER
It was cold that night. And it'd already been a long day. I was tired and confused. We couldn't believe he'd been arrested. I didn't know what to do. Nothing made sense anymore.
JUDAS
So I talked to Caiaphas. And the way he explained it, well, it started to make sense to me. I mean, Caiaphas was only interested in preventing bloodshed... Finally, I knew my time had come. I knew what I had to do.
PETER
A few men had started a campfire. Everyone was talking in whispers when all of a sudden this little girl says it, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Hey! Look at him! He was with them!"
JUDAS
I led them through the garden. A trail of lights behind me. I was their guide. I was the one they were following.
PETER
Everyone looked at me. I didn't know what to say. "Me? Huh. No. I don't know him." I slipped away from the fire into the cold where I hoped no one would bother me. But I stayed close enough to hear them talk.
JUDAS
I knew right where he'd be. I knew the plans. And there! I could see him, up ahead, in the shadows. He was with his favorites. The inner circle. I could tell. I knew them all. I pushed the branches aside and stepped toward them.
PETER
I hoped they'd forget about me, standing there in the shadows. But they didn't. They muttered under their breath and pointed their fingers at me. Finally, one of the men who'd started the fire called over to me, "Hey, you over there! You were with him. Come here." I didn't know what to do.
JUDAS
I knew exactly what to do. It'd all been arranged. I'd greet him with a kiss on the cheek, the way a friend greets a friend. "Rabbi" I smiled. I held him. I kissed him. And he whispered into my ear. "Judas, do you betray me with a kiss?" I stepped back.
PETER
I waited a moment and then stepped forward, "See. I recognize your face," he said. "You were there in the garden." But again I denied it. And as I said the words, they began to feel natural. I almost started to believe them
myself.
JUDAS
They grabbed him. And he didn't put up a fight. He just turned to us and said, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour–when darkness reigns." That's when all the other disciples turned and ran.
PETER
(Starting slow, building in energy) For nearly an hour I stood there. Until I thought they'd forgotten about me. Some people left the fire, others arrived with fresh news. But as the sun began to rise, they pointed at me again. This time they all did. They recognized me. "You were in the olive grove!" They knew. And that's when I lost it. I swore up and down I'd never heard of him. I cursed his name. I hadn't used words like those in years–in fact, not since that day when I first left my nets...
JUDAS
It didn't hit me right away.
PETER
And before I could close my mouth, a group of soldiers crowded into the courtyard. They were leading a prisoner.
JUDAS
I didn't realize what I'd done.
PETER
It was Jesus.
JUDAS
He was my friend.
PETER
(Pause for a beat) Our eyes met just as the rooster's cry cut through the dawn. And I remembered our conversation: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me..." No, Jesus, I will never disown you...
JUDAS
He chose me!
PETER
I will never disown you!
JUDAS
He loved me!
PETER
Oh! What have I done!
JUDAS
What have I done! He was an innocent man!
PETER
I've betrayed my friend.
JUDAS
(Overlapping lines, begin as PETER says "betrayed")
I've betrayed my friend.
PETER
And it's my fault...
JUDAS
(Dropping to his knees) It's all my fault...
PETER
...that he's dead...
JUDAS
...he's dead...
PETER
...he's dead.
PETER and JUDAS freeze. Lights fadeout. They EXIT in the dark. Empty stage.
Lights out.
Performance and photocopying rights:
Your purchase of this script grants your church unlimited use of these sketches within your programs and worship services. You may photocopy the script for each cast member in your church. Scripts and performance rights are not transferable between churches and cannot be resold. You may not use the sketches for any commercial or fundraising purpose, and usage rights do not extend to video, radio, television or film.Copyright © 2002 by Steven James, Dan Earl and Joel Van Eaton
“…Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.
But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away!
Crucify him!” John 19:14-15 NIV
THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR
Early in our Christian life we might read the stories of Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial and wag our heads wondering what they were thinking. However, as we mature in our faith and gain godly wisdom, we begin to see our own story reflected the stories of scripture. We read about Jesus’ reference to the Jewish leaders as “white-washed tombs”, and the truth of our own legalistic tendencies comes to light. One day in reading an account of Christ’s Passion, our mind’s eye spots our own face in the crowd shouting, “Crucify! Crucify!” From the Epistles we hear the phrases “all have sinned”, “there is no one righteous, not even one”, “you were dead in your transgressions and sins”, “if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves” and rather than looking without, we look within.Peter and Judas had the same problem: they were human and made choices outside of God’s will. From God’s perspective, their failings are no different from our own. Our selfish ambition leads us to try and force the hand of God. Our fear of rejection leads us to compromise. Praise God that Christ’s death is the remedy for our sin. Praise God that the Lord’s ways are superior to ours. Praise God that what starts with sorrow in the crucifixion can be turned to joy in the resurrection by the power of God.
STAGING
The script calls for a bare stage and two spotlights. However, your church may not be equipped with spotlights. In that case, consider having each character use a large box or stepstool that he can stand on, sit on, or walk around. For Peter, it could represent the fire.
For Judas, it could be where Jesus is standing when he enters the garden. If you do have spotlights, use the edges of the circle of light as well as the center. When Peter says he “slipped away from the fire” have him step upstage into the shadows of the spot. When Judas says he “stepped toward” the men in the garden, have him step downstage into the hot part of the spot.
DIRECTING " A TALE OF TWO FRIENDS"
Peter and Judas have almost become fictionalized characters like Paul Bunyan and Clark Kent. The key to directing this script is remembering that Peter and Judas were real people who felt compelled to make the real choices they made. In the case of Judas, he believed he was doing what was right. For Peter, the choice was a matter of life or death. Read the script and corresponding passages of Scripture, and ask God to give you a fresh perspective on these two men.
ACTING EXERCISE
Give your actors this dialogue:A: “Hi”
B: “Hi”
A: “How are you?”
B: “Fine.”
A: “What did you do last night?”
B: “Not much.”
A: “Oh.”
B: “Well, good-bye.”
A: “Good-bye.”
Have your actors memorize these lines by running them a few times. Then have them rehearse the scene with a motivation/objective known only to them but not to their partner.
Here are some possibilities:1. B is at a bus stop. A enters and wants B to follow him away from the seat because there is a bomb under it. B thinks A wants his seat and he will not give up his seat no matter what!
2. A is at a bus stop. B enters and recognizes A as an old friend. A thinks B is an escaped convict he’s seen on the post office wall.
3. B is a teenager. A is his mother greeting him at the breakfast table after he’s been out late the night before. A wants B’s approval and friendship. B is hung over and wants to be left alone.
Once the actors have run the scene again with their objectives/motivations in mind, see if they can guess what their partner is fighting for. Work with them on how their motivations/objectives affect the way they interact, both physically and verbally. The purpose of the exercise is to get your actors away from thinking that acting is about looking or sounding a certain way. Instead, as they focus on what they’re fighting to get (objective) and why (motivation), they may find themselves saying these very simple lines in a way they never would have predicted.
WORSHIP HELPS
Worship Theme:
The forgiveness bought for us by Christ
Worship Idea:
Try using images during transitions between songs or instrumental breaks, even during the transition into and out of this sketch. There are some wonderful images of Judas’ betraying kiss and Peter’s denial. Take a look at the art concordance at: www.textweek.com
STUDY/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. In evaluating your life, do you find yourself
identifying more with Judas or Peter? Why?
2. Can you relate to these characters in terms of confusion or frustration with God’s plan?
In what ways?
3. Have you seen God bring peace to that
confusion or frustration? How?
MUSICAL LINKS
Performance Songs:
“That’s Why We Don’t Love God” (hypocrisy; apathy)
Randy Stonehill (Stonehillian Music)
Musical Style: medium tempo
“Beyond The Cross” (Easter, hope, resurrection)
www.worshiptoday.com
Musical Style: SATB; slow tempo
“I Boast No More” (humility)
As performed by Caedmon’s Call from their recording In The Company Of Angels – A Call To Worship on Essential Records
Musical Style: medium tempo; bold, guitar driven
“The Love Of Christ” (forgiveness and love)
As performed by Wes King from his recording Common Creed on Reunion Records
Musical Style: easy ballad; acoustic guitar
Hymns:
“Jesus, What A Friend For Sinners” (forgiveness)
J. W. Chapman; R. H. Pritchard (for a contemporary arrangement contact www.northlandcc.net)
Musical Style: gentle 6/8
“I Will Sing Of My Redeemer” (redemption)
J. McGranahan
Musical Style: 12/8
“O The Deep, Deep Love Of Jesus” (love)
S. T. Francis; T. J. Williams
(for a “spanish guitar” version see christcommunity.org college ministries)
Musical Style: driving 6/8
“Go to Dark Gethsemene” (temptation, falling short)
J. Montgomery; R. Redhead
Musical Style: 4/4 ballad
“What Wondrous Love Is This?” (love given to imperfect beings)
A. Means; Traditional
Musical Style: 2/2, free modal
Choruses:
“Lamb Of God” (Jesus’ sacrifice)
T. Paris
Musical Style: medium tempo
“And Can It Be” (Jesus’ amazing love)
T. Campbell; R. Kauflin; C. Wesley
(alternate melody by the group “Glad”)
Musical Style: moderate
“At The Cross” (the cross)
R. and T. Butler (Mercy/Vineyard Publishing)
Musical Style: acoustic guitar, medium tempo
“I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever” (God’s love)
M. Smith (Curious? Music)
Musical Style: flowing, moderate tempo
Your purchase of this script grants your church unlimited use of these sketches within your programs and worship services. You may photocopy the script for each cast member in your church. Scripts and performance rights are not transferable between churches and cannot be resold. You may not use the sketches for any commercial or fundraising purpose, and usage rights do not extend to video, radio, television or film.Copyright © 2002 by Steven James, Dan Earl and Joel Van Eaton