Fishers of Sheep

Peter and Andrew are having trouble with Jesus' Good Shepherd concept.

Jesus is claiming to be the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) and the Gate of the Sheep (John 10:7) But Peter and Andrew, being fisherman, could take offence at Jesus’ talk about sheep, shepherds, and sheep pens.

Cast: 2

• Pete
• Andy

Bible Reference:

• John 10:11
• John 10:7

Set: bare

Sound: wireless mics if available

Song: none

Lighting: standard

SFX: none

Props: none

Costumes: standard

Special Instructions: none

Time: 8

Sample of script:

Pete and Andy enter from different sides of stage

Pete: Hey, Andy, how’s things?

Andy: Hi Pete. Been better, you wanna know the truth.

Pete: Really? Care to share?

Andy: I’m confused, seems like.

Pete: How so?

Andy: Well, it’s just that Jesus sometimes is confusing when he talks with us, as though he’s talking in riddles.

Pete: He calls them parables. Might sometimes be confusing, but ya gotta admit, makes you wake up and listen, for sure! What was the parable today?

Andy: Jesus was back on the subject of sheep at the meeting today.

Pete: Not again! Andy, I wish Jesus would stop talking about sheep so much. I don’t even like sheep. Besides, they stink!

Andy, wipes his feet: Try following them around in the pen why don’t you?

Pete: It’s the same with you, I pass! Yuck! Those smelly things!

Andy, smelling something: You came here straight from the boat, didn’t you?

Pete: Yep, rushed right over!

Andy: I can tell. You know, we really have to talk to Zebedee about that new experimental fish variety he is trying out in the lake this year.

Pete: You mean, “Palmetrious Unconvarnelis”? Zebedee is some excited about the potential for those fish! He calls them, (emphasize), “PU” fish.

Andy, holding nose: I can see why he would!

Andy: But back to those sheep, they are so dumb! I can even prove how dumb they are!

Pete: How’s that?

Andy: Well, you know when those travelling shows come through our villages? Sometimes they have trick dogs, trick monkeys – I even saw a trick cat once. But, tell me, ever seen a trick sheep?

Pete: You’ve got me there, Andy. Anyhow, why do you suppose Jesus would call Himself the Good Shepherd? Why you suppose He wants us to be furball chasers? Why not call Himself, (puffs up his chest), the “Good Fisherman”?

Andy: Yeah, and instead of saying “I’m the sheep gate”, He could say “I’m the opening in the good net.” And He could even say, “I will make you fishers of sheep.”

Pete: I’m having trouble figuring out this whole . . .  (pauses, shakes his head, looks at Andy, incredulous)  “Fishers of sheep?”  Anyhow, Andy – why do you suppose Jesus said the shepherd has to enter through the gate, and not climb in some other way?

Andy: Beats me, Pete, sure would make for cleaner sandals if we were to avoid the sheep gate, gonna tell you that!

Pete: Andy, what do you think Jesus meant when He talked about leaving the 99 sheep and go chasing off after the one sheep that had gone and got lost?

Andy: Won’t catch no self-respecting fisherman letting go of a net full of fish to go after the fish that got away.

Pete: Not too likely.  Besides, ask any fisherman, the fish that got away is usually way bad overstated in size anyhow.

Andy, scratching head: This is getting tougher by the minute.  How do you suppose we will ever get this straight?

Pete: Suppose maybe we listen to what Jesus has to say?