The Temptations of Jesus 2010 February
This assembly is a repeat of a drama called Drama for Lent, but there is an add-on exercise you may use afterwards, whereby three volunteers come out and apply this story of Jesus' temptations to modern times! (See below)
DRAMA/MIME
Visual aid: devil’s horns, and a stone
For fuller script, go to my free assembly book, But It’s Only Nine o’ Clock In The Morning
Ask for two volunteers, male and female, one very young and the other, one of the oldest in the school. The contrast in size can be very amusing. Give the younger one the choice of whether they want to be Jesus or the Devil, and dress the ‘devil’ up using horns and mask. They are then invited to act out in mime, the story I tell, mainly the underlined parts. Another child can act as the Spirit of God, and blow Jesus into the desert.
The Story:
Jesus was driven by the Spirit of God into the desert. (Spirit blows)
And there the devil tried to tempt him. He handed Jesus a stone, and said to him:-‘If you really ARE the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.’
Jesus turned his back on the devil, shook his head and said, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God!’
The devil said, ‘DRAT!’ (snaps fingers downwards)
So next he took Jesus up to a high place, (use a chair) and pointed and said, ‘All this land, all these towns, all these people I will give to you…if you fall down and worship me!’
Jesus turned his back on the devil and said, ‘It is written , “You shall worship God and God alone!” ’(points up to heaven)
The devil said ,’DRAT!’ (snaps fingers downwards)
So instead he took Jesus to the highest part of the temple, (use another chair or part of stage) and he said to him, ‘If you really ARE the Son of God, throw yourself down, and God’s angels will catch you! (points downwards to floor, and cradles arms)
Jesus turned his back on the devil and said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test!’
The devil said, ‘DRAT!’ (snaps fingers downwards) and he left him alone, and angels came to him and ministered to him.
These same temptations can come to us today, just like those directed at Jesus.
The first temptation…to use gifts in a wrong way, to show off and be proud. To use what God has given for ourselves alone, and not to make anyone else happy.
The second temptation…. to run after power, money, possessions, glory, fame.
The third temptation ….to be destructive, to be reckless, to be rash and impulsive, e.g. ‘Go on do it now!’ ‘Say what you think!’ ‘Do whoever you like!’ Don’t even think, just do it. It doesn’t matter who gets hurt!’
If this is the kind of world we build around ourselves, our world won’t be a very happy place to be.
Like Jesus we must pay attention to God’s word, and do what it says.
The three MODERN temptations to attempt with the devil and angel puppet are these-
1 You are tremendously gifted as a footballer, and you are tempted to aim at and break a window of a disused factory. Other windows have been broken, so why not this one? (Temptation 1: to use gifts in the wrong way
2 You find someone's wallet, full of money outside the local Post Office. 'Finder's keepers' you tell yourself, it's yours, so spend it all. (Temptation 2: to run after money and possessions)
3 Your parents have told you not to play on your bike beside the busy road, but to stay where it is safer in the street. They'vetold you to wear your helmet too, but you don't think that''s cool. You think you know better.(Temptation 3: to take silly risks)
Ad libbing is necessary so choose voluteers either beforehand or on the advice of teachers who know the children well.
One child sits on a chair, with a devil puppet and an angel puppet at either side, each worked of course by the other two volunteers.
Three temptations are set before the child, who does nothing but listen carefully; first to the devil's opinion, and then to the angel's opinion. You may find that the conversation may continue if the characters are carefully chosen and not shy.
It may be possible to practice beforehand.
What should the victim do? is a question that may be asked after each temptation. See below for the three temptations.