----------------------------- A NOTE REGARDING THIS VERSION ----------------------------- This script is from the HIS COMPANY CATALOGUE of plays and musical resources. It is in ASCII (or plain text) format, and is intended only to be used for evaluation purposes. Visit our web site at http://hc.dlampel.com to download the FREE Adobe Acrobat (PDF) version for performance. ----------- DESCRIPTION ----------- A GREATER LOVE Type: Sketch (from The Twelve) Synopsis: Thaddaeus has just returned to Nazareth--five days after the crucifixion of Jesus. For the moment, he is confused and saddened by the death of his Master. His wife, Keren-Happuch, considers this a perfect opportunity to pry her husband loose from what she has seen as a most foolish occupation. Thaddaeus is a quiet, thoughtful man who chooses his words deliberately; Keren is a woman of abrasive opinion--and thoroughly opposed to the teachings of Christ. A Greater Love is replete with dramatic tension, exploring the dynamics of a household divided by one member's allegiance to Christ. Theme: Our love for the Lord must be greater than our love for any other (Matt. 10:37). Misc. Notes: This sketch will wake up the audience. Keren is a bitter, spiteful woman who detests everything Jesus represents. A Greater Love packs a lot of intense drama into a short sketch. Characters: Thaddaeus, Keren-Happuch Props: None are required; Keren could be given some domestic prop. Length: 5 min. ------------------------- SPOKEN SETUP WITH PACKAGE ------------------------- (Here is a suggested way that A GREATER LOVE could be incorporated into a worship service.) Congregational Hymn: Beneath the Cross of Jesus (recommend the first two verses only) Read setup for the sketch: Beneath the cross of Jesus there was great confusion in the minds of some of His disciples. What to do now? How to carry on, now that their Master had been killed? So they scattered--each to deal with the moment in his own way. (pause) The disciple, Thaddaeus, returns to his home greatly troubled. What is he to do with the teachings of Jesus, now that the teacher has died on the cross? Of no help is his wife, Keren-happuch. She has hated Jesus and His teachings from the beginning, and now has the perfect opportunity to pry her husband loose from what she has seen as a most foolish occupation. Sketch: "A Greater Love", Scene 1 Congregational Hymn: I Have Decided to Follow Jesus (recommend all four verses) Sketch "A Greater Love", Scene 2 Scripture Reading: And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it." -Luke 9:22-24 ------ SCRIPT ------ A GREATER LOVE Copyright (c) 2002 David S. Lampel His Company SCENE 1 The Time: 2 days after the Crucifixion of Jesus The Place: Home of Thaddaeus Thaddaeus, the apostle, and his wife, Keren-Happuch, are at home. Thaddaeus is a quiet, thoughtful man who chooses his words deliberately. He is saddened by the latest turn of events--almost dejected. He is trying to understand what Jesus and His teachings meant in light of His recent death on the cross. What will be his (Thaddaeus') role now? Keren-Happuch is a woman of abrasive opinion and thoroughly opposed to the teachings of Jesus. From the beginning she hated Jesus and the easy way His work seemed to preoccupy her husband. Now with the death of Jesus--and His work seemingly over--Keren sees a perfect opportunity to pry her husband loose from what she has seen as a most foolish occupation. [Thaddaeus and Keren-happuch enter, briskly, already in conversation.] THADDAEUS (patiently, but just beginning to have his patience tested) You don't know. You weren't there. KEREN-HAPPUCH (bristling with eagerness; can't wait to release what has been bottled up for such a long time) What's to know? The Romans finally caught up with your heretic teacher. I say we're better off. THADDAEUS It wasn't that simple. KEREN (almost happily) Look, it's over. You had your fun for awhile. Now back to the real world. THADDAEUS (wistfully) He spoke of love, compassion.....of a God who is a forgiving Father. (more direct; to Keren) For that He dies? KEREN (snapping) He didn't fit in. THADDAEUS (with gentle sarcasm that does not hide the fact that he means it) Neither do you, my dear. KEREN (patiently, as if explaining to an older child) Thaddaeus, it's time you came down off your cloud. Time to stop roaming about the countryside with a bunch of unwashed fishermen.....trailing after some modern-day prophet. THADDAEUS (not hearing her; back into his memories) He told us many things that last night. (working through it) Jesus said that He and God were the same. He said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father." KEREN (exploding; resting her case) There's proof! The man was living, breathing blasphemy! Oh, I wish I had been there. I wouldn't have been taken in. THADDAEUS (finally visibly angry at his wife's attitude and remarks) Keren! It's you who blasphemes! KEREN Everyone in all the Roman Empire knew this Jesus was only a troublemaker. Everyone, that is, but my husband. (with contempt) You were born stupid and simple. (gleefully) Everyone around you knows the truth, yet you persist. THADDAEUS (firmly) I loved Him, Keren. You won't change that. His death won't change that. KEREN (shaking her head) Stupid and simple! THADDAEUS (in his own world again) He spoke of His death. He knew it would happen. (the light bulb is beginning to glow) He spoke also of coming back to life--of finding a way out of the grave. KEREN (mockingly) Oh, sure. And did He? Did this . . . magician raise Himself out of His tomb? (pause; drilling into Thaddaeus) Well, did He? THADDAEUS (innocently) You know, we all scattered so fast, I really don't know. KEREN (sarcastically) What a coincidence! Oh, He was a smoothie, all right. (contemptuously) He had you all fooled. THADDAEUS (firmly; as much to himself as to Keren) I know He was the Son of God. I know it in my heart. (the light bulb is glowing brighter) Even before I admitted the truth to myself, I knew it in my heart. (pause; turning to go) I have to go back. KEREN (stopping him by grabbing his arms; frantically; for the first time Keren sees that she may have lost the argument) Give it up! It was a strange faith. (heavily) And now it's dead. THADDAEUS (tenderly) The faith will live on. (sadly) It's you who are dead. (pause) No one but the Son of God could have given health to the sick, sight to the blind.....raised the dead. (still in the process of convincing himself) He did it for others why not for Himself. KEREN (pleading, with tears in her eyes; almost a whisper) No. THADDAEUS (more solid now; he has resolved any lingering questions in his mind) For three years I stood by Him. I won't let Him down now. What good was my time with Him if I fail to believe now? What good was His teaching if there's no resurrection? KEREN (trying a more conciliatory tack) All right. He was a good teacher.....and you served Him well. But you have a family. You must serve them now. THADDAEUS (in his mind he has already left) We were only the first. There are many more to become disciples of Jesus. And He's given us the task of reaching them. (moving toward exit) The rest will be expecting me. KEREN (spitting her desperate anger; stopping him with this remark; darkly) You mean he taught you to abandon your families? THADDAEUS (turning back; with quiet confidence in marked contrast to his wife's desperation) He said our love for Him must be greater than the love we have for our family. (pause; with just a glimmer of suppressed resentment) He also said a man's enemies will be those who live in his own house. KEREN (with final, venomous desperation; darkly) But He's dead. THADDAEUS (smiling) No, He's alive. I expect to see Him when I get back to Jerusalem. And when I do, Keren, I'll fall on my knees and beg His forgiveness for doubting--doubting even for a moment. [Thaddaeus exits with joyful determination. Keren watches him leave, then dejectedly turns and exits opposite.] SCENE 2 The Time: Later that same day The Place: On the road toward Jerusalem [Thaddaeus enters briskly. He is traveling the road back to Jerusalem. Keren enters with agitation, searching for him. She sees Thaddaeus and calls out to him.] KEREN (desperately) Thaddaeus! Wait! [Thaddaeus turns slowly. His reaction is bland: not angry, but not encouraging, waiting for Keren to make her own decision. He faces her.] KEREN (rushing up to him; with trying to soften her uncharacteristic humility with a little humor) I didn't think you'd actually leave. [THADDAEUS remains passive, trying to be good-natured without dissuading Keren from any decision she has made or needs to make.] KEREN (more seriously; haltingly) The moment you left . . . . (into his eyes) I can't take the emptiness. THADDAEUS (simply, but not dispassionate) My leaving didn't cause that. KEREN (turning away; confused--and a little ashamed) It's all so confusing. All this time I've lived off of my hatred for the things of your Jesus. It's consumed me--sustained me when you'd be gone for so long. (turning back to Thad) Now it's gone--the hatred is gone--but nothing has come to replace the void. It's bad enough, but if you leave, I won't be able to live this way. THADDAEUS (going to her; wanting her to believe) Your living--or dying--doesn't depend on me. It depends on you. [Keren looks up at him with increasing respect.] THADDAEUS (continuing; with reasoned compassion) You're right. You won't be able to live--in fact, you're already dying--unless you see Jesus as I have. (making his point firmly) He's not a fraud; He's not a magician. He's not just a good teacher. Jesus is the Son of God--and without Him you'll not be able to live. You can die for eternity, or you can live for eternity. It's your choice. KEREN (ashamed) The things I said-- THADDAEUS (reassuringly) --are in most peoples' hearts. KEREN He won't be able to forgive me. THADDAEUS (smiling) He already has. (pause) Come with me, and see for yourself. [They exit together.] ---------------- COPYRIGHT NOTICE ---------------- This script is Copyright (C) 2012 David S. Lampel. This data file is the sole property of David S. Lampel. The data file may not be altered or edited in any way. It may be reproduced only in its entirety for circulation as "freeware," without charge. All reproductions of this data file must contain the copyright notice (i.e., "Copyright (C) 2012 David S. Lampel"). This data file may not be used without the permission of David S. Lampel for resale or the enhancement of any other product sold. This includes all of its content. Brief quotations not to exceed more than 500 words may be used, with the appropriate copyright notice, to enhance or supplement personal or church devotions, newsletters, journals, promotions, or spoken messages. Permission is hereby extended for this script to be printed for rehearsal and performance use. Copies may be reproduced in sufficient number for the director, actors, and technical personnel, as long as each copy contains the copyright notice (i.e., "Copyright (C) 2012 David S. Lampel") ----------------- USING THIS SCRIPT ----------------- For electronic distribution, the Internet version of this script uses the following conventions: * character names are in ALL CAPS. * stage directions within a character's line are enclosed in parentheses (e.g., "(with anger)"). * stage directions without are enclosed in brackets (e.g., "[They exit.]"). * the plus sign (+) indicates when to cue trax or begin intro for next song ---------------------------------------------------------------------- These plays and musical resources are made available free-of-charge, without obligation, in service to our Lord and to His glory. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- David S. Lampel Winterset, IA 50273 USA Complete resources at http://hc.dlampel.com/ "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen." (Rom 11:36) 20120305