By John McNeil
A dramatisation of Luke 8:40-56
Two narrators (who have the only speaking parts. The following characters mime their parts to fit the narration.)Jairus
Wife/woman
Daughter
Medical profession
Jesus
Crowd/Rent-a-crowd
News reporters
Servants
Somewhere on the road to Jerusalem.
Narr. 1: There was once a man named Jairus.
Narr. 2: A kind man...
Narr. 1: An upright man...
Narr. 2: A pastor in his local church.
Narr. 1: A family man...
Narr. 2: Everyone loved him...
Narr. 1: Especially his wife...
Narr 2: and his daughter.
Narr. 1: We don't see them again for a while...
Narr 2: (To wife and daughter) So you can go now. (They exit)
Narr. 1: Normally., Jairus has a few problems...
Narr 2: But today he's a worried man.
Narr. 1: His daughter...
Narr 2: ...the light of his life...
Narr. 1: ...is sick.
Narr 2: Not just sick, very sick.
Narr. 1: At the point of death...
Narr 2: And Jairus is worried.
Narr. 1: Frantic. He's called in the doctor...
Narr 2: ...and he's called in the specialist...
Narr. 1: ...and he's called in the pediatrician...
Narr 2: ...and even the elders of the church, who prayed for her.
Narr. 1: But all to no avail.
Narr. 2: The doctors are just getting richer...
Narr 1: She's steadily getting worse.
Narr. 2: But then Jairus hears that Jesus is in town.
Narr 1: So Jairus goes to Jesus, who's surrounded by a great crowd. He can hardly get near for the press...
Narr. 2: ...and we know how the Press get in the way.
Narr 1: But Jairus pushes his way through...
Narr. 2: ...and he falls at Jesus' feet.
Narr 1: "Jesus",
Narr. 2: He says.
Narr 1: "My little girl is dying. Please help me. No-one else can do a thing. But if you come and lay hands on her, I know she'll get well again."
Narr. 2: That was a long speech.
Narr 1: But very necessary.
Narr. 2: This is an emergency.
Narr 1: A crisis.
Narr. 2: So obviously the last thing we need right now is another diversion.
Narr 1: But you know the old saying...
Narr. 2: Which he's just made up...
Narr 1: "In every crowd there is a crisis."
Narr. 2: And wouldn't you believe it, here it comes on cue.
Narr 1: There was a woman.
Narr. 2: A desparate woman.
Narr 1: At the end of her tether.
Narr. 2: About to let go, in fact.
Narr 1: She's been haemorrhaging...
Narr. 2: ...Haemo...whaterring?
Narr 1: Haemorrhaging. It means bleeding badly.
Narr. 2: Please don't use big words.
Narr 1: Big problem!
Narr 1: This bleeding has been going on for a long time.
Narr. 2: For 12 years in fact.
Narr 1: She's been to doctor after doctor...
Narr. 2: ...who did nothing but bleed her of her money.
Narr 1: She's been to the specialist...
Narr. 2: ...who wrote a scientific paper on her rare condition.
Narr 1: She's been to the psychiatrist...
Narr. 2: ...who told her it was due to her high stress levels.
Narr 1: She's suffered more from the doctors than from the disease.
Narr. 2: But one day she hears about Jesus, and she's off like a shot to see him.
Narr 1: She beats Jairus by a country mile, and pushes her way through the crowd.
Narr. 2: She has even less time for the Press.
Narr 1: She thinks, 'Even if I can just touch his clothes, I'll be healed.'
Narr. 2: She does.
Narr 1: And she is.
Narr. 2: And Jesus, in all that crowd, knows something special has happened.
Narr 1: "Who touched me? he asks.
Narr. 2: Good grief, it could have been anyone.
Narr 1: But the woman knows it was her.
Narr. 2: And she comes back....
Narr 1: ....and shaking with all that's happened, tells him her story.
Narr. 2: Jesus looks kindly at her.
Narr 1: "Woman," he says...
Narr. 2: "... because you had that much faith in me, you are completely healed."
Narr 1: Unfortunately, all this sub-plot has taken a long time - too long for Jairus...
Narr. 2: ...who's been hopping from one leg to the other in frustration.
Narr 1: Sick with worry about his daughter.
Narr. 2: Too late, I'm afraid.
Narr 1: Too late?
Narr. 2: Too late. Look, here come Jairus's servants....
Narr 1: ....and it doesn't look like good news.
Narr. 2: "The girl is dead," they say.
Narr. 1: "Died while we were waiting for you to fetch Jesus.
Narr. 2: "There's no point in bothering him any longer.
Narr. 1: "Come home. There's a funeral to arrange."
Narr. 2: Cheerful chappies.
Narr. 1: Only one thing they forget.
Narr. 2: The flowers?
Narr. 1: Jesus.
Narr. 2: He ignored them.
Narr. 1: He said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe."
Narr. 2: And this time, without any delays, he goes off.
Narr. 1: Stage left.
Narr. 2: What a scene when he gets to Jairus's home.
Narr. 1: Rent-a-crowd is there....
Narr. 2: ...weeping and wailing....
Narr. 1: ...a right carry-on.
Narr. 2: Jesus is not very impressed.
Narr. 1: "Why are you making all this racket?" he asks. "The girl's not dead - she's just having her afternoon nap."
Narr. 2: They all stare open-mouthed at him.
Narr. 1: And then they laugh, and jeer.
Narr. 2: "Who do you think you are? God or something?"
Narr. 1: Jesus starts getting a bit annoyed.
Narr. 2: He shoves them all outside....
Narr. 1: ....but gently takes mum and dad in to the girl's room.
Narr. 2: "Hey, Tabitha!" he calls.
Narr. 1: That's her name.
Narr. 2: "Time to get up. A girl your age should be out playing, instead of sleeping all afternoon."
Narr. 1: And Jesus takes her by the hand...
Narr. 2: ...and lifts her up.
Narr. 1: She blinks, and says...
Narr. 2: "What's for tea?"
Narr. 1: And Dad says...
Narr. 2: "All manna of things."
Narr. 1: Which goes to show...
Narr. 2: ...Bible puns are nothing new.
© John McNeil 1992
All rights reserved
This play may be performed free of charge, on the condition that
copies are not sold for profit in any medium, nor any entrance fee
charged.
In exchange for free performance, the author would appreciate being
notified of when and for what purpose the play is performed.
He may be contacted at: soul.communication@outlook.com
Or at: 36B Stourbridge St, Christchurch 8024, New Zealand.