Where Is My Lord?

Three days after the crucifixion and disciples are scattered, disillusioned and heartbroken.

And now some of the women are trying to make the others believe that the body of Jesus has disappeared from the tomb.

Some of the disciples visit the tomb to find out what has happened and if the stories are true.

A group of children are playing near the tomb, talking with a stranger.

Cast:  15+

• Mary, the mother of Jesus
• Mary Magdalene (MaryMag)
• Joanna
• Peter
• John
• Thomas
• Angel
• Stranger, (Jesus)
• Children, as many as desired/available

Bible Reference:  John 20

Set:

• Could be a set with a tomb, however a blank set would work

Lighting:   standard

Sound:  wireless mics if available

Song:  none

SFX: none

Costumes:  likely traditional

Props: none

Special Instructions:  none

Time:  30

Sample of script:

(A group of children sit happily around a Stranger, some on his knee, others gathered nearby. The Stranger speaks animatedly, playing with the children.)

CHILD 1: I liked that story.

CHILD 2: Me too.

CHILD 3: Please tell us another story, please!

ALL CHILDREN (various): "Yes, tell us another story, please!" ... "You tell such great stories!" ... "Just one more story?" ... "You make stories so much fun!"

STRANGER: You want another story? ... Well, I could do that... But what story do you want to hear?

CHILD 4: I like the stories about God's kingdom.

CHILD 5: Yes, I loved those stories!

CHILD 6: Me too, but... I’m not sure I understand... What is God’s kingdom really like?

(The Stranger speaks very animatedly, miming some of the actions.)

STRANGER: God’s kingdom is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. That night, while his hired men were asleep, his enemy sowed thistles all through the wheat and slipped away before dawn. When the first green shoots appeared and the grain began to form, the weeds, the thistles, showed up too. The farmhands came to the farmer and said, ‘Master, that was clean seed you planted, wasn’t it? Where did these thistles come from?’

He answered, ‘An enemy did this.’

The farmhands asked, ‘Should we pull out the thistles?’

He said, ‘No, if you pull out the thistles, you’ll pull up the wheat too. Let them grow together until harvest time. Then I’ll instruct the harvesters to pull up the thistles and tie them in bundles for the fire, then gather the wheat and put it in the barn.’

CHILD 7: That was great! More about the kingdom of God, please.

(The Stranger laughs.)

STRANGER: God’s kingdom is like a pine nut that a farmer plants. It is quite small as seeds go, but in the course of years, it grows into a huge pine tree, and eagles build nests in it.

CHILD 8: That is so awesome! Tell us more, please.

STRANGER: God’s kingdom is like yeast that a woman works into the dough for dozens of loaves of barley bread—and waits while the dough rises.

CHILD 9: You like being with children and telling them stories, don’t you?

STRANGER: Yes, I do. Very much. I say to those who are with me, "Let the children alone, don’t stop them from coming to me. God’s kingdom is made up of people like you!"

CHILD 10: So we children are a part of God’s kingdom?

STRANGER: A very large part of God’s kingdom. And telling stories allows me to bring things out in the open, things hidden since the world’s first day.

CHILD 10: What is your name, sir?

STRANGER: Come here, let me whisper in your ear.

(The Stranger whispers in Child 10’s ear. The child smiles and sits down. A noise is heard at the back of the sanctuary. Other actors enter from the back, walking toward the stage. The Stranger and children silently watch the conversation.)

PETER: I have no idea why I let you talk me into this silly exercise! I tell you, it’s all a waste of time.

MARY MAGDALENE: Well, I tell you, Peter, the tomb is empty, the stone has been rolled away! Come, it’s just a little farther.

THOMAS: Well, I don’t believe any of this hysteria. Rocks that size don’t roll away by themselves.

MARY MAGDALENE: Thomas, I saw it with my own eyes! The rock is gone from the entrance to the tomb.

JOHN: If that is true, then it’s just as I expected! The soldiers have stolen the Teacher’s dead body and taken him away!

JOANNA: That is just silly talk, John! What would the Romans gain by taking his body?

JOHN: Mother, you know full well that the Romans will do anything to discredit Jesus of Nazareth, even in death!

MARY MAGDALENE: If the Romans wanted to discredit Jesus, they certainly wouldn’t want to have his body disappear. No! The fact is He has risen! You will see for yourself. Now just come with us! But if you have no interest, I am prepared to go on alone.

JOHN: You talk about going on alone... I have never in my life felt so alone as in these last three days.

JOANNA: The Teacher said he would not leave us lonely.

THOMAS: The Teacher couldn’t have known what would lie ahead for him here in Jerusalem.

PETER: How can you say that, Thomas? Was it not you who said, “Let us go to Jerusalem so that we may die with him”?

(Thomas, flustered.)

THOMAS: Well, I couldn’t know... None of us could have anticipated... Who could think it would be this awaiting us in Jerusalem?

MARY MAGDALENE: The Teacher knew what would happen in Jerusalem. I don’t know how he knew... I don’t know why he came here, knowing what he did... But he knew.

(The Stranger moves toward the other actors.)

STRANGER: I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation... What are you discussing as you walk along?

PETER: What are we discussing? What exactly would we be discussing?

STRANGER: Sorry, I don’t understand.

JOHN: It is all that everyone in all of Jerusalem is discussing.

STRANGER: Sorry, I guess I haven’t...

THOMAS: You aren’t from Jerusalem, are you?

PETER: If you were from anywhere in this area, you would surely know the things that have happened here.

STRANGER: Tell me then... What things? What is all this about?

(An Angel comes on stage, standing silently at the side, listening.)

MARY MAGDALENE: The tragic things that happened to Jesus, the Nazarene.

JOANNA: He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people.

PETER: Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him.

THOMAS: We had our hopes up that he was the One, the One expected to deliver Israel from the bondage of the Romans.

JOHN: And it is now the third day since... it... happened.

MARY MAGDALENE: Three of the loneliest, the most devastating days of my life.

STRANGER: Didn’t your Teacher tell you he would always be with you? Didn’t he say, "I will always be with you, even to the end of time?"

THOMAS (shouting): You do have trouble with your hearing, don’t you?! The Nazarene is dead! We are alone!

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.