Saving Jesus Youth Play (2008)

Download the Word Document here.

WARNING: Contains teen texting language (explanations in parentheses)

Setting: futuristic

Prelude: play CD “The Real Jesus” by Downhere

Play “The Real Jesus” again, but only first verse and chorus (0:00 to 1:40)

Scene 1

(Chicks in a group flirtatiously walk across stage and stand on one side, animatedly talking to each other; dudes on the other side posturing and talking but watching the chicks when they walk by)

Texting tone

(Ashlee reads text, also shown on powerpoint): i <3 u (I love you.)

(chicks look over to dude group)

Ashlee: I think Josh sent me this text.

Josh (grinning excitedly in a conquest kind of way): Ashlee has the hots for me!

Josh: Alex, go ask Rachel if Ashlee likes me.

Alex: Ok.

(Alex walks over to the chicks’ side.)

Alex (to Rachel): Rachel, Josh wants to know if Ashlee likes him.

Rachel: Maybe. Does Josh like her?

Alex: Maybe.

(Alex returns to the dude side.)

Alex (to Josh): Dude. Ashlee likes you.

Josh: Are you sure?

Alex: Sure I’m sure.

Josh: Ok. Watch this.

(Josh struts over to the girl side, to Ashlee.)

Josh (to Ashlee): Hi.

Ashlee: Hi.

Josh: You wanna hang out after school today?

Ashlee: Sure.

Josh: I’ll meet you in front of the school.

Ashlee (smiling): Ok.

Sing “You’re the One That I Want” (from Grease)

Scene 2

(flows directly from scene 1 with no break)

(Josh stands at the base of the stage and the rest of the chicks and dudes stream past, as if leaving school. Ashlee comes last and stops when she reaches Josh. Josh leads Ashlee on a walk around the side of the stage and back up to the microphone.)

Josh: You look nice today.

Ashlee: Thanks. So do you.

Josh: I got your text.

Ashlee: What text? I didn’t send you one, but I got yours.

Josh: What? I didn’t send you one either.

Text tone

(Both Josh and Ashlee receive text messages and read them. Also on powerpoint.): I am Jesus and i <3 u.

Josh: Who is this Jesus? Someone is fooling with us.

Ashlee: I don’t know. Let’s ask the Informatron.

Josh (speaking aloud to the sky): Informatron, who is Jesus and where does he live?

Informatron: Jesus is the Son of God.

Ashlee: OMG! (Oh my God!)

Text tone

(Ashlee read her text message): Yes! That’s right. I am your God and Savior.

Josh (a little shaky and looking around in the sky): What do you want from us?

Informatron: I will send you a hologram of Simon the Zealot to tell you about Jesus.

Ashlee: Who is Simon and what is a Zealot?

Informatron: Simon was one of Jesus’ disciples.

Ashlee: And a Zealot?

Informatron: A Zealot, back in Jesus’ time, was a Jew who wanted to overthrow the Roman government and have a Jewish king.

Josh: How long ago was this?

Informatron: Over 2,000 years ago.

Josh: So why did this Simon dude want to be Jesus’ disciple?

Informatron: Maybe he thought that Jesus would be that Jewish king who would overthrow the Roman government.

Ashlee: Ok. Let’s see the hologram of this Simon dude.

(Cut the lights, have Simon pop out, then flip the lights back on.)

Simon: Greetings. I am Simon the Zealot. You can just call me Simon Z. Don’t confuse me with that other Simon, Simon Peter.

Josh: Cut to the chase, Simon. Tell us who Jesus was.

Simon: We called him Rabbi because he taught us how to live. He was perfect. He healed the sick and raised the dead.

Ashlee: This is kind of scary. Only God can do those kinds of things.

Simon: You’re getting ahead of me. People regarded Jesus as a leader. Someone who could become the king of Israel. As a zealot, I hoped that we would rebel against the Romans and that Jesus would indeed become king of the Jews. But that’s not what happened.

Josh: So what happened?

Simon: The people who had power in the church and the government were afraid of Jesus because the people admired and followed him. They ended up crucifying him to keep him from becoming king. One of his own disciples, Judas, actually betrayed Him to the authorities.

Ashlee: But you said he was a teacher, not a rebel. He sounds like a kind person who did a lot of good.

Simon: We disciples didn’t fully understand him at the time. We wanted to fight the Roman soldiers when they came for Him, but He wouldn’t let us.

(lights go out and Simon disappears, then lights turn back on)

Josh: He’s gone. I had a lot more questions to ask him.

Ashlee: Me too. But we’ve got to do something, Josh. What happened to Jesus wasn’t fair. He wasn’t trying to overthrow the Roman government. He was helping people.

Play CD “The Real Jesus” chorus (1:54 to 2:15)

Scene 3

(Dudes and chicks are all on stage listening to Josh and Ashlee telling them what they have learned.)

Josh: We’ve got to do something to change this story.

Ashlee: Yes, we have to save Jesus. Does anyone have any ideas?

Rachel (sighing and shaking her head sadly): If only we could change what happened.

Alex: I know what we could do!

Josh: What?

Alex: We could go back through the hyperlink and tell the officials and the disciples what happened and try to help them see that Jesus was the Son of God.

Everyone: Yeah! (general excited talking to each other about it)

Rachel: The hyperlink can only transport one person round trip. Who should we send?

Josh (in a macho overconfident way): I volunteer to go. Jesus texted me directly, so I think He might want me to handle it.

Ashlee (also confident): He spoke to me too, Josh. I’m going with you.

Alex: What if you can’t get back? The hyperlink has never sent a second person without bringing back the first person first.

Josh: Ashlee, don’t risk it. Let me go alone.

Ashlee: Not on your life, Josh. We’re both going.

Scene 4

(The dudes and chicks all watch as Ashlee and Josh step into the side room to be sent by hyperlink over 2000 years back in time. Alex pretends to be at the controls at the podium.)

Alex: Josh, I’m sending you first, on the count of 3. Prepare to link. 1, 2, 3, link. Ashlee, now it’s your turn. 1, 2, 3, link.

Rachel: Did they both go ok?

Alex: They were definitely both transported. The real question is whether or not they will be able to return.

Rachel: Let’s hope so!

Play CD “Back in Time” by Huey Lewis (1:32 to 1:56)

Scene 5

(Josh and Ashlee step out of the side room and witness Jesus talking to a bleeding woman.)

Bleeding Woman (coming up behind Jesus and reaching out to touch the edge of his cloak): If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.

Jesus (turning and looking at her with compassion): Take heart, daughter. Your faith has healed you.

Josh(rushing toward Jesus, but not getting all the way there): Jesus!

(Jesus does not react, as if he doesn’t know they are there.)

Ashlee: Josh, He didn’t hear you.

Josh (louder): Jesus!

Ashlee (woefully): It’s like we’re not really here. The hyperlink must not have worked properly since we both came! Now how will we save Jesus?

Josh (woefully): We have to keep trying.

(Jesus walks to the middle of the stage where other disciples are sitting for the last supper. Josh and Ashlee follow at a distance to watch. They stand below the stage, to the side so as not to block the audience’s view.

Jesus: I tell you the truth. One of you will betray me.

Disciples, one at a time, except Judas: Surely not I.

Judas: Surely not I, Rabbi?

Jesus: Yes, it is you.

(Judas runs out.)

Ashlee: We have to stop him!

(Josh runs over to block Judas, but Judas slides right past him.)

Josh: I couldn’t stop him! He just slid right past me!

Ashlee: There has to be something we can do.

Play CD “The Real Jesus” verse 2 and chorus (1:54 to 2:15)

Scene 6

(Jesus stands before Pilate, with the crowd looking on. Off to the side, Josh and Ashlee watch.)

Pilate: Are you the king of the Jews?

Jesus: Yes, it is as you say.

Pilate: It is my custom at the upcoming feast to release one prisoner. (addressing the crowd) Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, a notorious prisoner, or Jesus who is called Christ?

Crowd (yelling in unison): Barabbas

Pilate: What shall I do with Jesus?

Crowd: Crucify Him! Crucify Him! Crucify Him!

Pilate: I am innocent of this man’s blood. He is your responsibility.

(Jesus is handed over to the crowd to be crucified.)

(Two from the crowd escort Jesus to an imaginary cross. Jesus poses as if he is on the cross.)

Jesus: Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.

(Joseph of Arimathea takes Jesus from the cross and puts him in his tomb, which is the room on the side.)

(The women cry outside the tomb, then walk away.)

Play CD “The Real Jesus” bridge to song (2:15 to 2:35)

Scene 7

(3 days later, written on powerpoint)

(The women return to the tomb and find the door open. One goes in, then comes back out quickly. Again, Josh and Ashlee watch from nearby.)

Mary: He is gone! There was an angel inside who said to tell His disciples that He has risen!

(The women run to tell the disciples, who are in the back of the sanctuary. Then the disciples and women run back to the tomb.)

(Jesus appears outside of the tomb.)`

Jesus: Do not be afraid.

(Many other come to see Jesus. Thomas comes and feels his hands.)

Jesus: This is what I told you while I was still with you. Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Now, go out into the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

(Jesus lifts his hands and blesses them, and is taken up into heaven. All the people go out into the sanctuary to tell the good news. Josh and Ashlee approach Jesus, but this time He sees them.)

Jesus: Josh, Ashlee?

Josh and Ashlee (gleefully but sadly): You can see us?

Jesus: Yes, I could always see you.

Ashlee: Then why couldn’t anyone else see us?

Jesus: I see all things.

Josh: Why didn’t you let us help you?

Jesus: I couldn’t let you change the way it happened. Don’t you see? I had to be the sacrifice for your sins and the sins of everyone. It was meant to be this way from the very beginning.

Josh (getting onto his knees): Jesus, can you forgive MY sins?

Jesus (putting his hand on Josh’s head): Yes, my son.

Ashlee(also getting onto her knees): Can you forgive my sins too?

Jesus (putting his hand on Ashlee’s head): Yes, Ashlee.

(Josh and Ashlee get back up.)

Ashlee: What would you have us do now?

Jesus: Read the Bible to learn how to live your lives and spread the good news to the world.

Josh: Should we start in Galilee?

Jesus (laughing): No, start in St. Louis. I will send you back.

Ashlee: But the hyperlink is not working.

Jesus: I don’t need a hyperlink.

Josh: Before we go, can you give us your cell phone number so we can text you back?

Jesus: No need. Just pray. I will be with you always.

(Ashlee hugs Jesus and steps back. Josh briefly hesitates, then also hugs Jesus and steps back.)

Jesus: Peace be with you.

Everyone on stage for final song: “Jesus Freak” by DCTalk

Accompanied by Joyful Noise instrumentalists

Youth sing it. Youth audition for the rap part and the best one gets to do it as a solo.

Cast

Ashlee (lead chick)

Josh (lead dude)

Rachel (lead chick’s closest friend)

Alex (lead dude’s closest friend)

Chicks

Dudes

Informatron (disembodied computer voice)

Simon the Zealot

Bleeding Woman

Jesus

Disciples

Judas

Pilate

Crowd

Joseph of Arimathea

Women

Mary

Thomas