Dave Hop Jesus in the Wilderness – click this line to download a word document copy.
Cast – Narrator, Jesus, some angels, some wild animals, some people
This drama needs no rehearsals, just volunteers on the day who are guided by the narrative which also serves as the stage directions. Although this Bible passage is a very serious one, this telling of it is designed to be a fun experience rather than a polished drama. Best to have a narrator who can guide everyone through in a relaxed manner, if things go wrong, don’t panic! It can add to the drama.
Narrator: After Jesus had heard God say that he was God’s son, and that God completely loved him, and was really pleased with him, Jesus walked along and stood in the desert where he would face three temptations from the devil.
(Jesus walks on and stands centre stage)
While he was there it gave him lots of time to be with his heavenly father, and it made him very happy, he nodded… (pause) and smiled… (pause) and looked to the sky… (pause) and held out his arms… (pause) and turned around on the spot… (pause) several times. Jesus loved life.
(Jesus does all this, the pauses allow time for Jesus to follow the narrative)
There were also wild animals out there, roaring… (pause) and howling.
(Animals come on and stand nearby and roar, then howl)
After he had been in the desert for a while, he felt really hungry, and he rubbed his stomach. He was so hungry his stomach was growling like a wild animal.
(Jesus rubs his stomach. Animals make growling sound)
Then he picked up a stone and scratched his head as he thought about people eating warm fresh bread and then patting their full stomachs with pleasure.
(Jesus mimes picking up a stone and scratches his head. The people come on and mime eating bread rolls, and then patting their stomachs)
And he was tempted to turn the stone into some bread so he could eat it himself. He scratched his head again… and then he shook his head and dropped the stone. It wasn’t time to eat.
(Jesus scratches his head again, then shakes his head and mimes dropping the stone)
In heaven the angels started to run to him to help him. But it wasn’t time yet and they shook their heads and stepped back again.
(The angels start to run on, but then they stop, shake their heads and step back)
And the wild animals roared… (pause) and howled.
(The wild animals roar again… and then howl again)
Then Jesus found himself standing on tiptoe on a really high point, and he looked around.
(Jesus stands on tiptoe and looks around)
And a voice said, throw yourself off and the angels will come running with open arms to catch you.
(Angels run on with open arms to catch Jesus)
Jesus scratched his head and thought, and then he shook his head. He didn’t need to do that to prove anything. So the angels went away and didn’t need to catch him.
(Jesus scratches his head again, and then shakes his head, Angels leave again))
It was hard in the wilderness for Jesus, he was still hungry, and he rubbed his stomach which was still sometimes growling.
(Jesus rubs his stomach again. Animals make growling sound)
In heaven the angels started to run to him to help him once more. But it still wasn’t time yet and they shook their heads and stepped back again.
(The angels start to run on, but then they stop, shake their heads and step back)
Then he found himself looking down on lots of people making powerful poses, all looking cool, and showing off their muscles,
(People make powerful poses, look cool, then show off their muscles)
And a voice said, ‘Bow down to the devil and you can have control of all these powerful and cool people. And they will bow down to you.’
(The people bow down to Jesus)
But Jesus scratched his head again and then shook his head. He already had all the power he needed. Worshipping God was the important thing.
(Jesus scratches his head and then shakes his head)
And the wild animals roared again… (pause) and then they howled again…
(The wild animals roar again… and then howl again)
But now the three temptations were over, and the angels could run on and stand with Jesus, and they could pat him on the back and encourage him for making it through.
(The angels run on and stand with Jesus and pat him on the back)
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