Mark 2:1-12
POY! SKIT GUIDELINES:
- In a small group, participants might simply read their lines, or glance at their lines to get the idea so they can speak in their own words.
- Most POY! skits require no practice in advance.
- Have any small children play a brief part. Most scripts have an optional part for children, listed last under Participants.
- Most scripts have a Narrator who should read the script beforehand to see how to keep moving the story along.
- It is not necessary to employ costumes and objects, unless the skit recommends such.
- It is not required to have an audience watch the skit. All present may participate.
- Scripture and paraphrases, if any, usually appear in bold.
PARTICIPANTS:
Levi, who also serves as Narrator
Friend (If convenient, let three men join Friend and carry a “paralytic†by his hands and legs or on a mat.)
Voice (of Jesus) Stand to one side, read slowly and loudly.
ScholarPrompter (Optional). Prompter shouts a brief line and Companions repeat it.
Companions (Optional): children and all adults that want to take part. Make sure Companions know who the Prompter is, and that they are to repeat Prompter’s words.
SCRIPT:
| Levi | I am Levi. I no longer collect taxes for the Romans. I’m poorer now, but happier with Jesus.  We disciples have come with Him to the town of Capernaum by the Sea of Galilee. This is where Jesus stays most of the time now. He has healed many people here. They’ve heard He is back and are hurrying to the house. Oh, look! Four men are coming, carrying a paralytic on a mat. |
| Friend | Look, so many have crowded around the door, there’s no room to enter. We can’t reach Jesus. Let’s climb up on the roof and make a hole above where Jesus is teaching. |
| Levi |
They are climbing up on the roof! Now they are opening a hole in the roof. Look! They are lowering the mat with the paralytic lying on it. This act is an unspoken prayer of faith. It startles the people. |
| Prompter & Companions |
Hey! What’s going on here? |
| Scholar |
(Looking up, shielding your face from falling debris, shouting in anger) Why’s all that debris falling down on us? Hey you up there!  You’re disturbing our meeting! Pull that guy back up and leave us alone! |
| Levi |
Jesus is looking on the paralytic with compassion. |
| Voice |
Son, your sins are forgiven. |
| Levi |
This is infuriating our Jewish scribes who are sitting here watching with scholarly interest. |
|  Scholar |  Why’s this man talking that way? Blasphemy! No man can forgive sins, only God. |
| Voice | Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your mat and walk’? |
| Scholar |
Oh, any fool could simply say to a sinner that his sins are forgiven! |
| Voice |
I will prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.  You, sir, who are paralyzed, I say to you, get up, pick up your mat and go home. |
| Levi |
The paraplegic is getting up! He’s testing his legs! Now he’s picking up his mat and leaving. |
| Scholar |
Well! We’ve never seen anything like this. I was wrong. Jesus really can forgive sins. |
| Levi |
We all remain amazed and glorify God. |
DISCUSS:
In what way did this miracle of Jesus prove He could forgive sins?
Why was it important for Jesus to prove that He had the power to forgive sins on earth?
What was the difference between Jesus’ forgiveness, and our forgiving someone who has wronged us?
[…] Jesus healed and forgave a paralytic […]