Based on Matthew 3
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:
John (the Baptist), who also serves as Narrator
Voice (of Jesus) Stand to one side, read slowly and loudly.
PhariseePrompter (Optional). Prompter shouts a brief line and Companions repeat it.
Companions (Optional): children and all adults who want to take part. Make sure Companions know who the Prompter is, and that they are to repeat Prompter’s words.
SCRIPT:
|
John |
I’m John the Baptist. The prophet Isaiah foretold that I would callfolk to repent out here in the Judean wilderness,“the voice crying in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord!’†Oh, look! Here comes a crowd from Jerusalem and Judea, to confess their sins and be baptized in the Jordan River. Oh, Oh! Those Pharisees and Sadducees are also coming to be baptized. This is not good. Listen, folks. You must repent, because the kingdom of heaven is at hand. |
|
Pharisee |
Just who are you to tell us Pharisees to repent? We came to be baptized, because we live holy lives. But what kind of a prophet are you? Not what we expected. Look at you! Dressed in camel’s skins, and living out here in the desert eating grasshoppers and wild honey! |
|
John |
You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? If  you want me to baptize you, start bearing fruit that shows your repentance. |
|
Pharisee |
We have no need to repent. We have Abraham for our father! Blessed father Abraham! |
|
Prompter & Companions |
Father Abraham! Father Abraham! |
|
John |
God is able to raise up children of Abraham from these stones! The axe is laid to the tree trunks; every tree that does not bear fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. |
|
Pharisee |
Are you threatening us? Just what do you mean? |
|
Prompter & Companions |
What do you mean? What do you mean? |
|
John |
I baptize you with water to show your repentance, but He who comes after me is greater than I.I’m not fit to untie His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. |
|
Pharisee |
What fire? |
|
Prompter & Companions |
What fire? What fire? |
|
John |
The Messiah’s winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will blow the worthless chaff from among the wheat on His threshing floor; then He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with fire that you cannot put out. |
|
Pharisee |
Who is this Messiah that will do all this? |
|
John |
Turn around and look for yourself. There he comes now. Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! |
|
Pharisee |
What? Why call him a lamb? |
|
Prompter & Companions |
Why call him a lamb? Why call him a lamb? |
|
Voice |
John, I have come for you to baptize me. |
|
John |
Lord! This is backwards! My baptism is for bad people, who confess their wrongs and repent. You are righteous. I need to be baptized by You. Why do You come to me? |
|
Voice |
Permit it for now; it is fitting for us, in order to fulfill all that is right. |
|
John |
While I was baptizing Jesus, something very unusual happened. Oh, look! When He came up out of the water, the heavens opened up! (Look up) Oh! The Spirit of God is descending on Jesus like a dove! |
|
Voice |
This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. |
|
John |
Just think! The very Son of God! The precious Son of God! |
|
Prompter & Companions |
Precious Son of God! Precious Son of God! |
DISCUSS:
What kind of folk did John command to be baptized?
(Good answer: bad people who repented.)
Jesus never sinned, so why did He have John baptize Him?
(Good answer: Jesus took the place of us sinners in every way, except that He did not sin. He was the only human who never sinned and had no need to repent. He even died on the cross in the sinner’s place our kinsman-redeemer. By being baptized, Jesus showed the way for those who have to repent: be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit.)
In what way did all three Persons of the Trinity take part in Jesus’ baptism?
(Good answer: God the Father spoke from heaven. God the son was baptized. God the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove.)
What was the difference between Jesus’ actions before and after His baptism?
(Good answer: Before His baptism, Jesus did no public ministry.God the Father publicly recognized Him as His Son at His baptism.After this, Jesus didHis work as the Messiah, God’s anointed one.)
[…] John baptized Jesus, and the Trinity took par […]