The Temptation

The script is free. Just cut and paste it onto your own document. The entire script is there. Do not use the “add to cart” button unless you are also purchasing another script. Your credit card will not be accepted for a zero amount. This is taken from the play, “Scenes from the Life of Christ.”

2 male actors and about 6-8 minutes.

Entire Script:

THE TEMPTATION
Written by Warren Sager

CAST OF CHARACTERS: JESUS AND SATAN

(Jesus enters and walks about slowly, then sits on a rock and seems to be thinking or praying. Satan enters and begins to make his way around the stage looking at Jesus all the while. Jesus does not pay attention or acknowledge his presence. If you have other demons who are dancing around to the eerie music… just add that in where you want it. It might be good to have them between each temptation as Jesus is being transported to each new location.)

SATAN: (Lines should be spoken slowly, with much feeling and with a lot of pauses between lines as he waits for a reaction.) Jesus. (With sarcasm) Aren’t we the holy one? Fasting and praying here in this wilderness for all this time! My, my! Most impressive. I don’t know how you do it. What has it been now, 40 days? That’s a long time to go without any food. A very long time. (Pause) Hungry? (Pause) I think perhaps ‘starved’ might be the more appropriate word. What do you think? You have that feeling in the pit of your stomach…that emptiness…that longing for something nourishing…something tasty. You know what I’m talking about. You are feeling it right now. You are thinking about how nice it would be to have something to eat. (Stares at Jesus who has still not acknowledged him) Oh…you are the strong one, aren’t you? I know who you are, Jesus. Jesus Christ….son of Mary…..son of Joseph…born in Bethlehem…raised in Nazareth …. a carpenter by trade. You see? I know who you are. So….I guess the question is…do you know who I am? (Jesus is still not looking at him) Oh…of course you do. You claim to be the Son of God….so that must mean that you know everything! Well, if you are the Son of God…then you can take care of this little hunger problem, can’t you? I know you’re hungry. You have denied yourself for 40 days! That ought to be long enough! No one expects any more of you! It is time to eat now. So…if you ARE the Son of God… then command that these stones become bread. (Pause) Warm… fresh baked bread. (Picks up a rock about the size of a loaf of bread) Can’t you smell it? Can’t you taste it? BREAD! Just tell it to become bread! IF you are the Son of God… won’t it obey you? Then you can EAT!

JESUS: (Rising looks once at Satan and starts to walk away in the other direction.) It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’

SATAN: (Looking rather disturbed at the quoting of scripture. He crosses over to Jesus and grabs him by the shoulders from behind and begins to spin him around. Not sure how you want to stage this… if just using the imagination of the audience and through the lines… they are now pantomiming that they are standing on the pinnacle of the temple. –Perhaps the front edge of the stage. This might be a good place to have music and the dancing demons.) Here, Jesus! I don’t think you are taking me seriously!! See what I can do! I have transported you to the top of the temple! We are on the very pinnacle! It is rather frightening up here, isn’t it? Don’t be afraid…I have you. I am holding on tight, and I won’t let go. It is a long drop isn’t it? But you probably aren’t frightened, are you? I suppose nothing frightens you. After all, you’re the Son of God…aren’t you? You have nothing to fear. If you fall…THEY will catch you. Now THAT would be something to see! What a display of power! What a thrilling spectacle! You should do it! I would love to see that! Show me how important you are! IF you are the Son of God…IF YOU ARE!! Then…throw yourself down from here! (Mocking Him) For it is written…’He will give His angels charge concerning you to guard you’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’

JESUS: (Calmly and firmly) On the other hand…it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’

SATAN: (Mumbling) The Lord my…. Come with me! (He takes him by the arm and spins him around to a higher position and stops and waves his arm out over the lands far below. This could be another time of music and demons.) Look! From this mountain top you can see it all! All the kingdoms of the world! Look there!…and there! Isn’t it majestic? Look at the mountains! Look at the seas! The rivers and the valleys! The forests and the deserts! It is all so glorious! Those magnificent cities! All the lands and kingdoms in all their splendor! Isn’t it marvelous? Have you ever seen anything so glorious? Oh! It’s breathtaking! I’m speechless! You have to admit that this is the greatest of all beauty. And it’s all mine! It has been handed over to me! (Pause) Jesus…I will give you all this domain and its glory…because I can give it to whomever I wish. That’s right. I choose to give it all to you. I want you to have it. All of this, I will give you… (Pause) if you fall down and worship me! Yes! Therefore… (Over the top) if you worship before me, it shall all be yours!

JESUS: Be gone, Satan! (Satan is thrown back from Jesus by an invisible force) For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only!’

SATAN: I’ll go. But you have not seen the last of me!

THE END