What Must I Do?

5 speaking parts, all male, plus extras. About five mins.

Written By Warren Sager
CAST OF CHARACTERS
JESUS: Speaks 423 words.
PETER: Speaks 309 words.
JOHN: Speaks 266 words.
RICH YOUNG RULER: Speaks 69 words.
ANDREW: Speaks 28 words.
EXTRAS: Other disciples and possibly crowd people

Excerpt:

SCENE BEGINS:
As the scene begins, Jesus is teaching His disciples.
JESUS
You have heard that it was said to the men of old, You shall not kill, and whoever kills shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court. But I say to you that everyone who continues to be angry with his brother or harbors malice against him shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court; and whoever speaks contemptuously and insultingly to his brother shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, “You cursed fool!” shall be liable to and unable to escape the hell of fire. So if when you are offering your gift at the altar, you there remember that your brother has any grievance against you, leave your gift at the altar and go. First make peace with your brother, and then come back and present your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way traveling with him, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last fraction of a penny.
PETER
So, if I am angry with my brother, Andrew, I am guilty of murder?
JOHN
I think the point is not whether you carry out an act of violence, but that you do not even think those evil thoughts in your mind.
PETER
I would never have thoughts of murder toward Andrew, my brother!
JOHN
I’m glad to hear that… as I’m sure Andrew is as well!
The other men laugh at Peter.
ANDREW
That’s right.
JOHN
I believe the Lord is speaking of our hearts. Whether we have murderous thoughts in our hearts…
John looks at Jesus for His approval and He smiles at him.
PETER
I confess… I sometimes become so angry with the Roman soldiers that my thoughts can get very ugly.
JOHN
You see?
PETER
But the Romans are not my brothers!
JOHN
Perhaps not by blood.
PETER
Not even otherwise. You and James are brothers, as Andrew and I are… but I consider you both my brothers as well.
ANDREW
We’re all brothers…
PETER
But the Roman soldiers? That’s a different story!
JOHN
Teacher… did you not command us to love our enemies?
JESUS
And pray for those who would persecute you.
PETER
I find it very difficult to pray for Romans. And to be honest, sometimes I even get a little angry with the Pharisees. They act so high and mighty and they are always trying to accuse the Teacher.
JOHN
I remember one of them asked about the greatest commandment.
JESUS
And how did I respond?
JOHN
You said that we should “love the Lord our God, with all of our heart, all of our soul, all of our strength and all of our might.” And then You said that we “ should love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves.”
PETER
And that brings up the question again as to who is our neighbor?
JESUS
And what did I tell the man who asked that same question?
PETER
You told the story of the Samaritan who was the only one to stop and help the man in need. Interesting choice for your story, since the Jews and the Samaritans have no love between them. It certainly made me think.
JOHN
How so, Peter?
PETER
Well, for one thing… if I was lying on the road, beaten badly… what if the only person willing to help me was a Samaritan?
JOHN
Or, what if you happened along a Samaritan lying along the road, beaten badly. Would you behave as the scribe or the priest in the story? And walk past on the other side? Or, what if he were a Roman?
PETER
I’m not sure I am ready to live out this parable! Must you place the characters that way?