Master's Plan

From Heaven’s throne to Bethlehem’s stable, from Herod’s castle to the cross—this sweeping drama unfolds God’s master plan for humanity. The story begins with God’s heart breaking over sin and His determination to send a Savior. We witness the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary, Satan’s fierce opposition, the wonder of Simeon and Anna, the cruelty of Herod, and the political scheming of Pilate and Caiaphas.

At the center stands Jesus—the promised Messiah—whose birth, ministry, and crucifixion fulfill God’s plan of salvation. With powerful dialogue, memorable characters, and the unshakable hope of the resurrection, Master’s Plan© is ideal for Christmas, Easter, dinner theatre, or outreach performances.

Purpose:
This production reminds audiences that redemption was not an afterthought but God’s design from the beginning. It calls both cast and audience to reflect on the depth of God’s love and the cost of salvation.

Keywords: salvation, God’s plan, redemption, Messiah, Christmas, Easter

Cast: 14+

• 14 (plus non-speaking extras)
• Mary
• Joseph
• Gabriel - angel
• God
• Satan
• Simeon
• Anna
• King Herod the Great
• Caesar Augustus
• Joazar, high priest
• Herod Antipas
• Pilate – Roman Emperor
• Caiaphas – high priest
• Offstage voice of Jesus
  • there COULD be some doubling up with Herods, high priests, Caesar Augustus, Pilate, Antipas but ENSURE that they are not confused as the same persons)

Bible Reference: Matthew & Luke accounts of Jesus' birth and death

Set:

• Set:          (Set I is center stage, Set II is stage left, Set III is stage right)
  Scene I - Set Ia – Home of Heli (Joseph’s father)
  Scene II – Set IV – Heaven (on upper level if possible)
  Scene III – Set Ia – Home of Heli
  Scene IV – In the sanctuary
  Scene V - Set Ib – Home in Bethlehem
  Scene VI – Set II – Herod’s Castle
  Scene VII – Set II – Herod’s Castle
  Scene VIII – Set Ib – Home in Bethlehem
  Scene IX – Set II – Herod’s Castle
  Scene X – Set Ic Cross, Set II Herod’s Castle & Set IV HeavenSet III – Choir (wherever space is available)
  Set locations determined by actual sets or simply by isolating spotlights, (even scrim). If Set IV and/or Set III can't be accommodated on stage the action could be pre-recorded and projected.
  Sets can be as basic or as elaborate as desired

Sound: wireless mic
Song:

• Director’s choices as appropriate. Suggest Mary’s Song (The Magnificat).

Lighting: as available
SFX:

• Sounds of nails pounded, lightning, thunder, earthquake

Props: scroll
Costumes:  traditional
Special Instructions:
Time: 90

Sample Script:

Download Sample Script:  Master's Plan

Scene I – Set Ia – Home of Heli

(Mary and Joseph come on stage)

Mary: Joseph, you have done wonderful work here in our honeymoon room.

Joseph: Mary, perhaps you have forgotten . . . I am after all a carpenter.

Mary: I do love and respect your father, Heli.

Joseph: And he is taken with you, as you very well know.

Mary: My parents are fond of you as well. . . . But . . . about your ketubah . . .

Joseph: My marriage contract? . . . Did your father feel the Bride Price I offered was insufficient? . . . I worried about that, I could . . .

Mary: Noooooo! . . . See, that’s just it. . . . My father was shocked that the sum was so large. He said that amount is as large as the price expected when a betrothed woman is divorced.

Joseph: Well, divorce only happens if the bride is found to not be a virgin.

Mary: Well, you know I have never been with another man . . . and it will never happen! And . . . Joseph . . . I was so very proud when Father told me of the amount of your Bride Price! . . . My older sister always bragged about how much her husband had paid to my father for the right to wed her. . . . She is now so annoyed with her husband, calling him cheap!

Joseph: Mary, your father knows full well that the Bride Price paid by the groom is not only to reimburse the bride’s family for the cost of raising their daughter. The size of the Bride Price is a clear message sent as to the feelings of the groom toward his bride. . . . And in that regard I only wish I had been able to make the sum ten times greater! . . . And with my carpentry business now flourishing, I know that I shall soon have that amount and much more at my disposal.

Mary, proud: My father says . . . “That Joseph ben Heli is an up-and-comer in the community and will surely soon be a greatly respected leader in the temple!”

Joseph, proud: Well, surely I do have aspirations, Mary.

Mary: Oh Joseph . . . I am so happy! . . . I worry, sometimes.

Joseph: Worry? . . . Worry because you are happy?

Mary: Well, it’s just . . . I mean . . . Nothing could go wrong, spoil our happiness . . . Could it?

Joseph, firm: Perhaps you forget, Mary . . . I am here, and I am not without the ability to protect you!

Mary: I know! . . . It is only a childish reaction of mine. . . . I do know all will be well. . . . And soon I will be a married woman!

(Lights off)

---

Scene II – Set IV – Heaven

(God is seated. Lights up. Gabriel enters, face to the floor.)

God: Messenger, your services are required.

Gabriel: I am forever at your service, Creator.

God: You are forever faithful, Messenger Gabriel. . . . But now, your most important assignment.

Gabriel: I await your instructions, Creator. Every task assigned to me brings me unspeakable pleasure.

God (points downward): On earth . . . over there. . . . You see a young girl and the young man to whom she is pledged to marry.

Gabriel (looks down, smiles): Yes, Creator. . . . I have seen her before, her name is Mary. She is a child, but she has intelligence beyond her years. . . . She is . . . I am not sure how to describe her . . . The only word that seems appropriate is . . . good.

God: You have spoken well, Messenger Gabriel! . . . Mary indeed is good, I have found in her great value, she is my favored one. . . . I have plans for her. . . . And for the humanity I have created in my image. . . . You, Gabriel, shall deliver those plans.

(A cackling noise—Satan slithers onto the stage, laughing.)

Satan (laughing): Plans, Creator? . . . You have plans for failed and failing humans? (laughs fiendishly) What could any broken human person, a mere woman-child at that, have to offer that would be of any value to you or your plans, Creator?

God: Fallen Angel, the world needs a saviour to restore them to full communion with me.

Satan (laughs): How rich, Creator. I had expected more from you. You are talking about a Saviour for the sick and degraded human race! . . . And the best you have to offer is a . . . (laughs fiendishly) . . . an uneducated and sin-able woman-child. . . . Perhaps you should visit the cesspool called Earth. The stench of depravity wafts from every door and window. . . . And it is an unbelievably wondrous sight to see!

(Satan laughs and dances around the stage.)

God: In addition to intelligence, oh Fallen Angel, you lack imagination. . . . No, the girl will not be the saviour. The girl will be the mother of my own son.

(Satan is in shock, screams in pain, falls to his knees.)

Satan: Nooooooooooooooo! . . . Noooooooooooooooo! . . . You would not! . . . You would not ever allow your own son to be forced to leave his rightful place on the throne of Heaven. . . . All this in a desperate effort to reach out to unworthy and deprived dregs of humanity. . . . Creator, we can discuss this and come up with a solution which will allow all of us to be happy with the outcome. (very worried) No need for rash and hasty decisions, Creator. . . . We are both sane and sensible creatures!

(God stands, angry, approaches Satan, who falls to the floor and crawls backward.)

God: I have allowed you to exist, Fallen Angel! . . . But do not push me even now! My son will destroy you! . . . He will . . . destroy you!

(Satan scrambles to his feet, slinks toward offstage.)

Satan: Very well, Creator, if it is a fight for survival you want, so it will be! A fight for the survival of the broken humanity of which you are so fond! The same humanity that have unanimously been attracted to the lifestyle which I offer! The humanity who cannot even raise one person from their numbers to save themselves. . . . No, you must send your son to earth in an impossible and unachievable effort to save humanity from their own sin!

God (very angry): You . . . will . . . leave . . . my . . . sight . . . immediately!

(Satan falls to the floor, starts to slink offstage. Gabriel pulls sword, blocks him.)

Gabriel: Creator, please! . . . Allow me to put an end to this miserable wretch!

God: Let him go, Gabriel. . . . Satan shall be defeated in my way and in my time. Now Satan! . . . Go before I change my mind!

(Satan stands, face twisted in hatred, screams.)

Satan: Do not assume you have won this battle! . . . I shall fight you at every . . .

God (screams): Go! . . . Now!

(Satan falls back in fear, crawls offstage. God turns to Gabriel.)

God: Now, Messenger . . . go quickly. . . . Explain to the girl what she needs to know!

(Gabriel falls to his knees, rises, and exits. Lights down.)

Download Sample Script:  Master's Plan

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