Witnesses

Can be as few as 12 actors plus narrator (3 females)extras can be used. 20-25 minutes.

CAST OF CHARACTERS:

JESUS – PETER – JOHN – NATHANAEL (also known as Bartholomew) – ANDREW

MARY, JESUS’ MOTHER – JAMES – THOMAS – MARY MAGDALENE

CLEOPAS – CLEOPAS’ FRIEND – AND JOANNA

PLUS NARRATOR

Excerpt:

NATHANAEL: How long has it been now?

ANDREW: Eight days. No one has seen Him since He was last here in
this room.

JAMES: Well, as far as we know. I suppose we would have heard about
it.

NATHANAEL: I wonder if we will see Him again.

JOHN: (He is sitting at a table writing) He said that He was going
to ascend to the Father. Perhaps He has done that.

ANDREW: John, what are you writing?

JOHN: I’m just trying to recall things that Jesus said to us. He
told us so much and gave many instructions. We need to remember them.

ANDREW: Oh that is a very good idea. I would love to hear it all
again.

PETER: I don’t see any purpose in just sitting here and doing nothing.
We should be accomplishing something!

NATHANAEL: Is it safe for us to go back out into the world? We may
need to hide out a little bit longer.

PETER: There have been no signs that any one has been looking for us.
After eight days of silence, I don’t feel as afraid as I was. I’m
restless now, and I feel like going fishing.

ANDREW: If you want to go, Peter, I will go with you. I’m sure we
could persuade others to come along.

JAMES: I will go with you. I’m not afraid to go. How about it,
Brother John?

JOHN: (Deep in thought) What? Oh…fishing…sure, I’ll go. We need
the exercise.

JAMES: A little fish on the table wouldn’t hurt, either. We cannot
expect the women to supply us with all of our food all of the time.

JOHN: But it is certainly a blessing when they bring it!

JAMES: James’ mother is a good cook. (Meaning the other James.) It
is always a blessing when she comes!

JOHN: All of the women are a blessing. They have been a very good
and necessary support for us. I realize that they were doing it for
The Master, but they still come, even though He is gone.

ANDREW: If He is gone. I mean, we have seen Him. We know that He
is alive. Is He gone, or not? What do you think, John?

JOHN: It’s hard to say, Andrew. I feel that He would appear to us
again and give us instructions. There is assuredly something very
important that He would have us to do.

PETER: Yet perhaps He has already told us, and we just can’t
remember what it is. What if He is done making appearances?

JOHN: It seems that His purpose in appearing to us was to prove to
us that He has risen, to bring us hope and strength and turn our
sorrow to joy. He’s accomplished that. But I really do want Him to
appear again.

NATHANAEL: He appeared to Mary, the other women, our friends, Peter
and then to all of us. We have all seen him but Thomas.

THOMAS: That’s enough! I don’t want to hear anymore about it! That
is all you men talk about, and I told you that I don’t believe you!
(Jesus has appeared again behind everyone so the audience cannot
see)

JESUS: Peace be with you. (Everyone divides again and leaves him in
center stage) Thomas… (He crosses down to center and calls Thomas
over to him – they face each other) Reach here your finger, and see
My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be
not unbelieving, but believing.

THOMAS: (dropping to his knees) My Lord and my God!