The Demoniac

7 actors with lines or action. About 3-4 mins.

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Entire Script:

THE DEMONIAC
Written by Warren Sager

The scene opens near the temple and Jesus is walking along with his disciples when a man from the crowd comes forward and falls on his knees before Jesus.
Demoniac boy’s father
Lord! Have mercy on my son! I beg of You! Please look at him, for he is my only boy! He is very ill, like a lunatic. He is possessed with a spirit that makes him mute. Behold, the spirit seizes him and dashes him to the ground, and he suddenly screams, and it throws him into a convulsion with foaming at the mouth and grinding of teeth and then his body stiffens out, and as it mauls him, it almost never leaves him. Teacher, I brought him to Your disciples and I begged Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not. They could not cure him.
JESUS
O unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring your son here to me.
As the boy starts to come forward, he suddenly goes into a convulsion and falls to the ground, kicking and flailing about, screaming and slobbering as though he were having a very bad seizure.
JESUS
How long has this been happening to him?
DEMONIAC BOY’S FATHER
From childhood. He often falls into the fire and often into the water. I think it tries to destroy him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us!
JESUS
If you can! All things are possible to him who believes.
DEMONIAC BOY’S FATHER
I do believe! Help my unbelief!
Jesus sees that a crowd has gathered.
JESUS
You deaf and dumb spirit! I rebuke you! I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again!
Immediately, the boy cried out and has one last convulsion and then calmed down and lay perfectly still as if dead. The crowd reacts in wonder and amazement at what they had just seen. Then concern that he might be dead. Some of them even mumble ‘he is dead’. Jesus bends down and touches the boy and raises him up. He helps him to stand and presents him back to his father. The crowd continues to react and be amazed at what they have seen. There are some pharisees in the crowd and they have watched with amazement but now discuss among themselves what they should do about it.
PETER
Master, why is it that we could not cast it out?
JESUS
Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you. (Pause) This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.
JESUS
(To his disciples)
Let these words sink into your ears, for the Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.
The disciples look at each other wondering what he meant and not understanding. A man from the crowd speaks out.
BYSTANDER 1
This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?
A pharisee steps out of the crowd and speaks to the crowd as he points to Jesus.
PHARISEE 1
Do not be taken in by him! This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons!
PHARISEE 2
He is possessed by Beelzebul!
BYSTANDER 1
Possessed!?
PHARISEE 2
How else can you explain it? How else can He call on the demons and they obey Him?
PHARISEE 1
If He is from God, then He should show us a sign from heaven.
PHARISEE 2
Yes! We demand that You show us a sign!
PHARISEE 1
(Pause) He cannot. What I said was true…it was only by Beelzebul…
JESUS
How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished!
PHARISEE 2
You are mad!
JESUS
And if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Consequently they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
PHARISEE 1
That’s blasphemy!
JESUS
Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.
At this the pharisees are furious and storm off. Jesus gathers the others around him to teach them further.

THE END

Copyright 2007 Warren Sager