Miracles Of Jesus

The amazing miracles of Jesus, including raising the daughter of Jairus from the dead, feeding the 5,000, turning water into wine at Cana, the woman healed by touching the hem of Jesus’ robe, raising Lazarus from his tomb and also the “miracles” of the crucifixion and resurrection.

The format of this drama is “a drama within a drama” as we get to see a group “performing the drama” as it unfolds. Some of the participants struggle accepting these happenings and whether they are miracles, coincidences, dreamer’s fantasies or outright lies.

It is an excellent 6 scene drama, useful at any time of year, including Easter, with segments that can be used for self-standing skits.

Cast: 30

•  30+ characters, many are small roles, many actors should play more than one part
• Families:
• Emery:
  • David (Dad), Beth (Mom) & Hope (daughter)
• Robbins:
  • Neil (Dad), Tasha (Mom), Jimmy (son), Emma (grandmother)
• Friends of Hope & Jimmy:
  • Stacy & Chris
• Drama Director: Paula
• Bible characters:
  • Jesus, Mary, Andrew, Nathanael, Philip, Peter, John, Judas, Mary Magdalene, Woman Luke 8,
  • Jairus & daughter, Lazarus and Mary and Martha, Caiaphas, Herod, Pilate, Centurion, Angel
• Others:
  • Young Priest, Servants, Assistants, Wailers, Persons in crowds,
• Offstage voice

Bible Reference: 

Set:

•  Except for tomb, could be bare or enhanced at the wish of the director except tomb needed
• Two distinct areas are needed, one for the families and the other for Biblical action.
  • These need to be separated either by lighting or (preferably) a scrim set.

Lighting:        spotlights

Sound:     wireless mics if available

Song: 

• Music (supplied by director as appropriate)

SFX:       none

Costumes:

• combination of traditional and contemporary as fits the character/time

Props:

•  6 large jars for water, dipper, scripts, bag lunch, bread, baskets, crown of thorns, royal robe, purse with coins

Special Instructions:   none

Time:     55 (plus music)

Sample of script:

Segment I – Turning Water Into Wine

Neil & Tasha are sitting at one side of the stage, David & Beth at the other, watching the action. Miss Paula, Hope, Jimmy, Stacy & Chris come on stage.

Paula: Guys, we’ll start off rehearsing the Wedding at Cana segment. In the scene, you play a difficult role. You are town children, watching, interested in what is going on. Having no speaking parts makes this more difficult.

Stacy: What do you mean, “difficult,” Miss Paula? If we don’t gotta memorize lines, this should be a piece ‘a cake.

Chris: Right on, Stacy. All I have to do is go on stage and look beautiful.

Jimmy: That will take some acting for you to look beautiful, Chris! Just kidding!

Hope: I know what Miss Paula’s saying. I was in the play last year, and it’s true, having no lines really is much harder.

Paula: Hope’s right. You need to show correct emotion at the right time. But you can’t overact, or the audience will be watching you and not what is going on in the drama. During the play, there are many very different emotions. There will be times of anger, other times great joy, and other times sadness. You will have to show all that, and at the right times.

Jimmy: I can do the angry part.

(Jimmy takes on an angry pose, fists up and clenched, says “grrrrrr” but with a smile on his face.)

Hope: Well, Jimmy, your body looked angry, but you had a big smile on your face. People watching won’t know if you are sad or happy.

Paula: Again, right, Hope. People would be confused, and seeing both anger and happiness, they likely will see it as humor. And remember, you have no spoken lines, so you won’t be saying “grrrrr” or anything else. You must speak with your face and body, nothing else.

Jimmy: This is gonna be more difficult than I figured!

Stacy: I guess, Jimmy, but I think it will be fun too.

Chris: And I can see that looking beautiful won’t be enough.

Paula: Just remember, no fidgeting. Always remember you should be looking toward the person who is speaking. This helps the audience stay focused on what is being said onstage. OK then, let’s bring on the actors for the “Wedding At Cana” segment.

(Cana segment actors come on stage, scripts in hand, wearing modern-day leisure clothing. Jesus and his disciples are sitting at a table downstage center, others are in upstage positions.)

Paula: We are doing open book in this rehearsal, but remember, next rehearsal will be off book, so get your lines memorized. OK then, action! Andrew, be ready, you have the first line.

Andrew: This is an amazing feast!

Nathanael: It’s a great party, everyone is here, having a great time!

Phillip: The father of the bride must be rich to throw a party like this.

Peter: He must have huge vineyards to produce all the wine his guests are putting away.

(Mary approaches Jesus.)

Mary: Son, your talents are needed. The weather is hot, our relative has run out of wine. He will be embarrassed in front of the entire town. Come, help!

Jesus: Woman, it’s not time for me to use my talents.

Mary: You have no choice! The honor of the family is at risk!

Jesus: Mother!

(Mary points to assistants.)

Mary: These people will assist you. (To the assistants) Do as he asks.

Jesus: See those six water jars, fill them to the top with fresh water.

(Assistants bring pails of water to the jugs.)

Nathaniel: Those are huge jars, likely over 150 gallons.

Andrew: Surely, Master, you don’t mean to fill those jars with wine?

Jesus: Where is the master of the banquet?

Master: I am he.

Jesus: Draw from the jars.

(Master takes a sample from a jar, drinks.)

Master: I must compliment the bride’s father. Without question, the finest wine I’ve ever tasted.

Phillip: Teacher! How did you do it?

Jesus: My Father in heaven provides for the needs of his people, in abundance and quality.

Phillip: This was a miracle, and I saw it right before me, with my own eyes.

(Paula moves to downstage center.)

Paula: That was a good first run-through. Remember, rehearsals now will be off script, so get memorization down pat. That’s it for tonight, but I want to chat a minute with Hope, Jimmy, Stacy, and Chris.

(Other actors leave the stage, parents stay in place.)

Paula: You did very well, no fidgeting. You were watching what was happening on stage, again good. But there were changing emotions, and I didn’t see this from you. At the start, there was happiness. How would you mime happiness in your faces? Hope?

Hope: Well, Miss Paula, I guess there would be big smiles as we watched.

Paula: Very good. Then emotion changed to being unsure if there would be enough wine. How would you show that?

Jimmy: I guess the smiles would be gone, and there would be some worry.

Stacy: Like you mean some worry lines, like this?

(Stacy furrows the brow.)

Paula: Very good! Emotions change to curiosity as Jesus told the attendants what to do.

Chris: I bet the emotion would be shock when Jesus changed the water into wine.

Paula: Yes, Chris, I’m sure mouths would fall open in shock. So, you need to think about how you react to different moods. Be careful to not overdo it. So, good work, I’m looking forward to the next practice. Chris and Stacy, your parents are waiting outside. Hope and Jimmy’s parents have been here for the rehearsal.

(Chris and Stacy go offstage. Paula moves to the parents.)

Paula: Hi Beth and David, nice to see you here. Good to see you again, Tasha.

Tasha: Hi Paula, this is my husband, Neil Robbins.

(Paula offers her hand to Neil, who reluctantly accepts and mutters a low “hi.”)

Paula: It really makes a big difference when parents show their support.

David: It’s the least we can do with all the time you put into these productions, Paula.

Paula: My pleasure. Hope learned a lot last year, and I was very pleased to see how well Jimmy picked up on emotions.

Neil: I’m not sure this is worthwhile for the kids if they don’t have any lines.

Paula: There will be lines for all in the future segments. But this is very important training, especially for those new to acting.

David: Neil, I wondered about that last year when Hope started. But it really did help her learn.

Neil: Well, whatever, we should really be going.

Paula: Before you go, do you parents have any questions?

Neil: Well, I wonder if it’s healthy putting that weird stuff in kids' heads.

Tasha: Neil!

Paula: Weird stuff?

Neil: The miracle stuff.

Paula: This play is about miracles Jesus performed.

Neil: Yes, but no one really believes all that.

Tasha: My husband has issues with the concept of miracles.

Want to see how the story unfolds? DramaShare members get this complete script— and access to our entire library—free! Not a member? You can still grab this individual script and bring it to life.