By Chris Clement
A monologue in which Nicodemus talks of his discussion with Christ about being born again. He realizes Jesus is the Son of God and that the world will change forever.
"…The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit." John 3:5
Nicodemus
Nicodemus:
The winds of change are blowing. And behind it a tempest brews that will change the world. At its core….a man. A simple man. The son of a carpenter. It is said he was born among livestock in a manger. Strange venue for one sent by God. (laughing) And that I, Nicodemus, would live in times hailing his arrival. I must admit, I expected something different. I envisioned one who would free his people from the bondages of a conqueror, but his deliverance is much more…..subtle….and, at the same time, more extraordinary than any liberation ever conceived.
His teachings and his miracles have troubled me. He is shaking the foundation of our way and life. I am of the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee, a leader of our people. And my pride in this has become such an indulgence that the sin of it was lost to me. But the more I see and hear from this man, the more I question myself and my beliefs. Why does this man affect me so?
I went to him, my mind flooding with questions. He told me that "unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of Heaven." Astounded, I asked him if it were possible for a man to enter his mother's womb a second time. He said a man must be "born of water and the Spirit." I did not understand this man. I continued to plague him with my questions. He chastised my disbelief, but I would not relent. I persisted for answers. And then what he said broke down the very walls of disbelief and doubt in my mind and his purpose in this world was made clear. He said, "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." I was speechless, but I knew what he said was true. Like a fool I stood gaping at him in dumbfounded wonder. My pride was laid in waste. Here, I stood with this man, I, in the glory of my precious Sanhedrin robes. And he, wrapped in the glory of God.
With his words, he unveiled the storm to come. And the world will be forever changed in its wake. In the place of a mighty warrior coming to remove our yokes, God sent his Son as this simple fragile man, not to liberate us from our masters, but to bring salvation from our sins for his Son's blood and death. It is a simple price, his Son for our salvation, but immeasurable in its inequity. And our part is so simple. All we must do is ask. Ask and be born again, breathing new life.
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Copyright Chris Clement, all rights reserved.
This script may be used without royalty payment, provided no charge is made
for admission to the performance. In return, the author would like to be told
of any performance. He may be contacted at chrisclement@cand3js.com