Dear brothers and sisters
I have a suggestion for all Christian groups, churches, etc..
It is meant sincerely and not sarcastically, the purpose for
it is first and foremost to be educational, not insulting or
attacking.
It will be FUN and educational, it is to simply act out a
little part of a chapter in the Bible, it will contain excitement,
stirring emotions and joy.
Although for it to be educational, it must be with two groups,
that means two plays going on simultaneously.
Group I: act out Matthew 28 (scene at the cave)
Group II: John 20 (same scene at the cave)
It will be a very uplifting and educational performance to see
the two groups simultaneously play out the scene at the cave, one
group following John and the other group following Matthew.
I know personally that I would be on the edge of my seat to
watch such a performance.
This idea is free for any Christian or non-Christian
organization to take as you own.
The script will be as follows;
"Now late on the sabbath day, as it began to dawn toward the
first [day] of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to
see the sepulchre."Matthew 28:1
Here it is clear that when they got there, it was closed
because in the very next verse, as Mary was telling the disciples, a
Angel (singular) CAME down and ROLLED AWAY the stone.
Therefore when they got there, it was closed until the Angel
OPENED IT.
"And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the
Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and
sat upon it."Matthew 28:2
"His appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as
snow:"Matthew 28:3
The Angel's appearance was lightning, very exciting!
"and for fear of him the watchers did quake, and became as
dead men."Matthew 28:4
"And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye;
for I know that ye seek Jesus, who hath been crucified."Matthew 28:5
The Angel (singular) said to the WOMEN, only a group of WOMEN
(only), if there were any MEN then it would have been written "the
angel said to THEM" instead if CLEARLY says the angel said to the
WOMEN showing that no men were present.
(the casting directors have to pay attention to the required
actors)
"He is not here; for he is risen, even as he said. Come, see
the place where the Lord lay. "Matthew 28:6
The Angel in the cave said to the WOMEN that JESUS is NOT HERE
(the setting director has to pay close attention to where to place
the characters)
"And go quickly, and tell his disciples, He is risen from the
dead; and lo, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see
him: lo, I have told you."Matthew 28:7
"And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great
joy, and ran to bring his disciples word."Matthew 28:8
THEY quickly departed HAPPILY to TELL the DISCIPLES Jesus has
RISEN (this is one of the emotional parts full of Joy which the
audience can all cheer about)
"And behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came
and took hold of his feet, and worshipped him."Matthew 28:9
After THEY left the TOMB, Jesus met 'THEM' saying "All Hail"
Now at the same time, the other group of Actors can do the
same play according to the Gospel of John, this will give the entire
play a chorus effect (like a emotional echo on the side) which will
also be educational.
"Now on the first [day] of the week cometh Mary Magdalene
early, while it was yet dark, unto the tomb, and see the stone taken
away from the tomb."John 20:1
The Women saw the stone was taken away, this worried them and
the women thought they took Jesus.
"She runneth therefore, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the
other disciple whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have
taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they have
laid him."John 20:2
Mary went and got Peter, a Man and other MEN and said they did
not know where Jesus is. (Again the casting director has to pay
close attention) The Angel can sit out this part.
"Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple, and they
went toward the tomb."John 20:3
Now you have men in the Tomb (so the second group of actors
will require a bigger cave) when before it was ONLY WOMEN (the Angel
can still remain in the make-up room along with the actor portraying
Jesus [I wonder what color he would be?])
"And they ran both together: and the other disciple outran
Peter, and came first to the tomb;"John 20:4
The Performance director will have to inform the Angel to no
longer address the group as just women.
"and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths lying;
yet entered he not in."John 20:5
"Simon Peter therefore also cometh, following him, and entered
into the tomb; and he beholdeth the linen cloths lying,"John 20:6
He saw the Clothes but no Angel (Note for the setting
director)
"and the napkin, that was upon his head, not lying with the
linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself."John 20:7
"Then entered in therefore the other disciple also, who came
first to the tomb, and he saw, and believed."John 20:8
"For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise
from the dead."John 20:9
Mary left the cave, she did not see the Angel of the Lord and
did not see Jesus and when she went to the disciples, Mary did not
tell the disciple what the ANGEL TOLD HER TO TELL THE in Matthew 28:6-7
"He is not here; for he is risen, even as he said. Come, see
the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his
disciples, He is risen from the dead; and lo, he goeth before you
into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you."
Mary therefore according to John, did not do anything or even
believe the Angel of the Lord who plainly told THE WOMEN Jesus is
not here. (This is where it starts to become educational)
Mary got the disciples to look for Jesus in the cave when
according to Matt, she was told by a Angel that Jesus is Not here
and go and tell the others he is not here and has risen (Mary will
have to remember her lines according to John)
Because according to John 20:9 Mary already spoke to them but
did not yet tell the MEN like the Angel of the Lord commanded her to
tell them Jesus had already risen but 20:9 says that information was
not given to them. (something the script director has to pay
attention to so that it is not mixed up with Matt. 28:8)
"So the disciples went away again unto their own home."John 20:10
The disciples WENT HOME, THEY DID NOT see JESUS (this group of
actor can sit back in the audience and watch the other group of
actors saying "Hail" to Jesus and hold his feet. Matt. 28:9)
"But Mary was standing without at the tomb weeping: so, as she
wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb;"John 20:11
According to Mat, Mary and the Other WOMEN left the TOMB happy
and THEY FOUND JESUS.
This is the part of the Dual Play that is filled with emotion,
as the Group playing out this scene according to Matt. will be happy
and full of joy that they found Jesus, the group acting out John
will be full of pain and loss because MARY CAN NOT FIND JESUS IN THE
CAVE.
So here we have a stage full of Emotion, one Group Happy while
on the other side of the stage the other group is expressing
sadness. A mixture that will stir up the hearts and educate the
minds of any audience.
"and she beholdeth two angels in white sitting, one at the
head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain."John 20:12
Now it is TWO ANGELS (note for the casting director)
"And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith
unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not
where they have laid him."John 20:13
THE TWO Angels speaking to ONLY HER (note for the casting
director) and they do NOT KNOW why she is sad, the Angels (plural)
did not reply (note for the scripting director).
"When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and
beholdeth Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus."John 20:14
Immediately after she said that to the ANGELS, she Turned
around and Jesus was there but SHE DID NOT RECOGNIZE HIM. (adding
suspense to the play) the other group have joy and happiness while
this group will add suspense and sadness to the audiences viewing.
According to Matt. THEY ALL SAW HIM AND HELD HIS FEET out side
the cave and were happy.
"Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest
thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if
thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I
will take him away."John 20:15
"Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turneth herself, and saith
unto him in Hebrew, Rabboni; which is to say, Teacher."John 20:16
"Jesus saith to her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended
unto the Father: but go unto my brethren, and say to them, I ascend
unto my Father and your Father, and my God and your God."John 20:17
In Mat, Mary and the others left the cave Joyfully, and Found
Jesus and THEY HELD Jesus. In John, Jesus in the CAVE with TWO
Angels present, tells Mary ONLY, -don't- touch me.
The Mixture in drama and action in this dual play will and may
win world recognition, any one can play it out, I think it would be
very emotional for anyone involved. For the Muslims who want to
react this Play, I think a fitting verse to recite at the end is:
"That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ
Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah"- but they killed him
not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and
those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain)
knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they
killed him not:- {Qur'an 4:157}
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