Jesus Calms the Storm, Peter Walks on Water

Drama Script

This is a classic "interview show" you will videotape, but we're going to position the 'script' in such a way that the players can read the script from a TELEPROMPTER (fancy kind of cue cards) so it looks like they are making up their answers rather than reading them. (Think Saturday Night Live where the teleprompter is just off camera).

How to Fake a TelePrompter:

 

Copy this script and do one of two things:

 

Either, (A) Enlarge it on your church copier and tape it together in a large scrolling page.  You can tape the scroll to dowel rods and stick the dowel rods in a cardboard box with one side cut out to reveal the scroll.  Instant Teleprompter!

 

Or, (B) Copy the text to a Word document on a portable computer, and PLUG your laptop computer into your TV's "video in" port using a standard VGA cable (laptops have a "video out" plug, and MOST LCD televisions have a "video in" port). It's very easy to set up if you know how.  Instant TelePrompter!   Position the screen BEHIND the lead interviewer and off screen so that the characters can see it, but it doesn't get seen on your video of the show.

• Characters dress like disciples and come onto the stage when introduced. They should have some ridiculous beards made out of fun-fur.
• Have a crew member "sing" the theme song while others clap as the disciple walks on (like a real talk show).
• The Interviewer can have the script in front of them, like they do on real tv.  
• You'll need audience members to step forward on camera and ask questions.
• Set up the video camera to capture the whole interview.
• With older and extra kids, you can have them come up with a commercial break.

SCRIPT

Cue Music

Applause and Cheering

Announcer:  And now here's the star of our show, the Queen of Daytime Bible TV,

Oprah ___________ (last name of interviewer)

Oprah:  

Welcome to the ____________ Show!  O no, please sit down. No please. Alright. No please.

ALRIGHT STOP! (crowd stops clapping and cheering)

Today, we have some very special guests, several disciples of Jesus who almost drowned in a storm crossing the Sea of Galilee.

First, let's role the videotape to show you what happened:

Here the disciples and Jesus very quickly and wildly re-enact the story of Jesus walking on the water with Peter.  Pause the videocamera to set up this scene, and when it's over, re-position the camera onto Oprah.

Wow. That was amazing.  Now let's welcome to our show, the DISCIPLES!   

(wild clapping, play theme music)

Well welcome, please tell our audience who you are?

I'm John,

I'm James,

I'm Andrew

I'm Mary Magdalene
I'm Bob

(Oprah)  What? Wait a second, Bob?

(Bob)  Yeah, Bob the little known disciple. Why does nobody ever remember me?

(John) Sorry Bob, we had to cut your story out of the Gospel, it was getting too long.

(Bob)  Gee thanks.

(Peter) And I'm Peter! 

Oprah:  Well welcome to all of you. Our studio audience is chomping at the bit to ask you questions, so let's get started....

And now we have some questions from our studio audience....

One at a time someone appears on camera. Just behind them is the teleprompter so it looks like the disciples are looking right at the audience member.

1. I have a question for John:  How much did you get paid for following Jesus and helping him heal the sick and preach the word? 

I did not get paid for following Jesus in the way one does when they work a regular job. I was one of 12 selected disciples to follow Jesus to assist him with his work, to learn about the truth and to become skilled in preaching and continuing his work.

2. This question is for James: What was it like to listen to Jesus tell you about the kingdom of heaven and about God? 

Think about a time when you have felt so comfortable in the arms of your mother, grandmother, or another loved one. Remember how protected you felt? Jesus had a gentle voice and he would share stories about what faith was and was not. I could listen to him all day long. I never got bored. He was a wonderful, loving person who was teaching us the truth.

3. This question is for Mary:  How did you feel when you helped the sick to get better and/or when you prayed for people? 

At first it was scary. People looked at us like we were evil with some type of magic power. But after we had helped so many sick people, it became very special and it made us feel like we were doing exactly what God wanted us to do. 

4. I have a question for Peter:  Why did Jesus ask you to become a disciple? You're kind of a turd. We know you will deny him too!

Jesus asked me to come and be a fisher of people. I was confused at first because I was a tax collector. I think he saw I was an honest person and he needed me to help in his work to show others he loved all types of people. I did not fish for a living. I collected money from people for the Roman government so roads could be built and soldiers could be paid to defend us. I was glad he asked me to become a disciple because I became great friends with all the other disciples.

5. This question is for Andrew:  What were you doing out on the Sea of Galilee in storm?

We traveled across it many times taking Jesus to preach in the towns around its shores. During the afternoon, the hot air which rises off the lake cools over the hills and can cause storms. Some storms were so bad it seemed like we were on the ocean!

6. This question is for Peter:  What were you thinking trying to walk on water. Were you insane?

Yes. Definitely insane. I mean, I had a nice job and home, and now I'm following this guy from town to town. We realize he's the Messiah, the Christ, the Savoir, and we also realize we aren't very good disciples. We had so many doubts and fears about following him.   You'd think it would be easy following God's Messiah, but let me tell you, it's NOT!

OPRAH:   Well we have a very special guest, the man himself, the Messiah, the Savior of the world, let's give a warm welcome to Jesus Christ!

(Music and applause. Jesus comes onto the set high-fiving the disciples).

OPRAH:   So glad to have you here Jesus.

Jesus:   Good to be here. Good to see my disciples again. Hey guys!

Oprah: So tell our viewers, Jesus, what's it like to walk on water?

Jesus: Well it's pretty cool. Not gonna lie.

Peter:  He never lies.

Oprah:  So why did you do it?  Did you fall out of the boat?

Jesus: Haha...maybe. No seriously Oprah, from time to time, God likes to do some pretty amazing stuff to get people's attention. To teach them something really important. So I came up with this Calming the Storm and Rescuing Sinking Peter thing.

Oprah:  Amazing.

Jesus:  They'll never forget it.

Oprah:  "We'll never forget it either."

Jesus:  That's the point.  Not like I'm going to walk on water all the time, or ask you to, but I want people to know, I'm always there for them, even in the storms, and even when they're sinking in a sea of trouble.  Just call out my name. Trust me. And reach out your hand, I'll be there. (he says this singing it, a la the Michael Jackson song)

Disciples: (singing) Just call his name, and he'll be there....

Oprah:  Well that's all the time we have for today. Jesus, can you stay a little longer and talk to our studio audience.

Jesus:  Lo I am with you always, Oprah, even to the end of the show, I mean, age.

Oprah: Join us next week when our guests will be, Jonah and his friend Skippy the Whale. Goodnight everybody!

Cue music, applause. The cast stands and hugs. 

Jesus hugs audience members and crew.

Fade out.

A Drama Script originally posted by member JanS, adapted and restaged by Neil MacQueen 

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.