AN INTERVIEW WITH

JOHN THE BAPTIST;

SOFT VERSION

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AN INTERVIEW WITH JOHN THE BAPTIST; SOFT VERSION.

(RT == Readers' Theater: requires little or no memorization, little or no rehearsal. An indefinite number of reporters are salted throughout the audience.)

CHAPTER 1: AT THE RIVER JORDAN

JOHN -- (enters wearing fur tunic and sandals, crosses bypodium, stops, examines several faces in audience, returns topodium) If you were expecting to have a press conference withJesus of Nazareth, you're too late. He's gone. Sorry. (turns)

REPORTER -- Can you tell us where Jesus went?

JOHN -- (turns) Yes. He went back to Galilee to start hisministry. Now, if you'll excuse me... (turns)

REPORTER -- Can you tell us what that means?

JOHN -- (turns) What what means?

REPORTER -- You said that Jesus went away to start his ministry.Can you tell us what his ministry is?

JOHN -- Yes. For the next three years, Jesus will be travelingthrough out Israel, proclaiming the good news of God. (turns)

REPORTER -- May we have your name, please?

JOHN -- (turns) My name is John, son of Zechariah the priest.

REPORTER -- Aren't you the one they call John the Baptist?

JOHN -- Yes.

REPORTER -- Is it true that you baptized Jesus in the Jordanriver today?

JOHN -- Yes. That's true.

REPORTER -- Isn't that a little unusual?

JOHN -- Unusual? I've baptized hundreds of people in the Jordanriver the last few days. How is that unusual?

REPORTER -- Well, for one thing, if you're the son of a templepriest, shouldn't you be working in the temple in Jerusalembaptizing people in the bronze basin there?

JOHN -- Let me ask you a question.

REPORTER -- YOU want to ask the members of the press a question?

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JOHN -- Yes. Can you tell me why they refer to the temple inJerusalem as HEROD'S temple?

REPORTER -- Because the money to build it came mostly fromHerod.

JOHN -- And because it gave glory to Herod and not to God. Haveyou noticed that God is not present in the temple?

REPORTER -- How would we know if God is there or not?

JOHN -- The first temple built by King Solomon had a pillar ofsmoke by day and a pillar of fire by night. Have you ever seensuch a thing at Herod's temple?

REPORTER -- Are you saying that God is not present in the templeat Jerusalem?

JOHN -- That's what I'm saying. And do you know why?

REPORTER -- I thought WE were the ones who were supposed to beasking the questions.

JOHN -- I'll tell you why. Because the Pharisees and theSadducees no longer put their trust in God. They put their trustin their own good deeds. They don't think they need a savior.

REPORTER -- Is that why you referred to them as... (reads) "Abrood of vipers"?

JOHN -- That's right. And that's why I'm baptizing people in theJordan River.

REPORTER -- But the Jordan river is muddy and unclean.

JOHN -- Baptism is not intended to clean the body, but tosymbolize the immersion in the Holy Spirit.

REPORTER -- Are you saying that people who are immersed in theJordan River now will be immersed in the Holy Spirit later?

JOHN -- Yes. As a matter of fact, Jesus himself was alreadyimmersed in the Holy Spirit.

REPORTER -- When did this happen?

JOHN -- Immediately after he came up out of the water.

REPORTER -- There were several reports from bystanders that theyheard thunder when Jesus came up out of the water. Can youconfirm that?

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JOHN -- What the people heard was the voice of God himself, justas it was in the time of Moses. Only true believers could hearthe words of God. All the others could only hear what soundedlike thunder.

REPORTER -- Did YOU hear the words?

JOHN -- Yes.

REPORTER -- Can you tell us what God said when Jesus came up outof the water?

JOHN -- Yes. He said, "This is my son, in whom I am wellpleased."

REPORTER -- Can you tell us why?

JOHN -- Why what?

REPORTER -- You quoted God as saying (reads) "This is my son inwhom I am well pleased".

JOHN -- Yes.

REPORTER -- But you just told us that Jesus was about to starthis ministry. If Jesus hasn't done anything yet, what is therefor God to be pleased about?

JOHN -- After creating the entire universe, Jesus decided togive up his rights as king of the universe to take on the bodyof one of his creations in order to save them from their sins. Iwould say that just humbling himself is enough to be pleasedabout.

REPORTER -- But if Jesus is the creator of the universe, thatmakes him God.

JOHN -- That's right.

REPORTER -- But you said God spoke to Jesus from Heaven. Doesn'tthat mean there's two Gods?

JOHN -- I don't know how God can do it, but it appears that oneGod is actually THREE different persons.

REPORTER -- THREE persons?!

JOHN -- Don't forget, I saw the Holy Spirit descend from Heavenat the same time I heard God's voice from heaven. That makesTHREE persons in one God at one time.

REPORTER -- How is it possible that God can be three persons?

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JOHN -- I don't know. Perhaps outside of the universe that Godcreated for us, outside of our limitations of time and space,three persons can sit on one throne at one time.

REPORTER -- How can that be?

JOHN -- I don't know HOW he does it, but this is not a surprise.In the Book of Genesis, during the creation, the Hebrew word forGod is a plural noun that is always used with a singular verb.And this plural God said "Let US make man in OUR image." At thispoint in the creation, there is no one around but God himself. Ican't see any other explanation for God referring to himself asUS unless God is more than one person. I don't know how one Godcan be three persons. I'm no scholar. I'm just the voice of onecalling in the wilderness, "Make way for the coming of theLord." And I'm pleased to announce: The Lord is here.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have several hundred people waitingto be baptized. (exits)

CHAPTER 2: THE FINAL MOMENTS OF JOHN

GUARD -- (enters carrying a sword with John in tow chained handand foot, crosses to podium) Good Evening. The reason I calledthis press conference is to announce that this man, John son ofZechariah will be executed immediately at the command of KingHerod.

REPORTER -- Can you tell us why John is being executed?

GUARD -- Why?

REPORTER -- Yes. What are the charges against him?

GUARD -- King Herod doesn't need any charges. He is a king. Hehas the power of life and death over everyone in his kingdom. Hedoesn't need an excuse.

REPORTER -- What I mean is, John has been in jail for severalmonths. Do you have any insight as to what prompted the commandto execute him now?

GUARD -- No. I'm just following orders. If the king says "bringme the head of John the Baptizer on a platter", I do as I'mtold.

REPORTER -- Would you mind if we ask John a few questions?

GUARD -- A man who is about to die doesn't get a pressconference!

REPORTER -- Please. John has many disciples. They need closure.

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GUARD -- Very well. But make it brief. (pushes John towardpodium)

REPORTER -- John, can you tell us what prompted this execution?

JOHN -- Actually, I first heard about the execution at the sametime you all did. This is news to me.

REPORTER -- Can you tell us why you were put in jail in thefirst place?

JOHN -- Yes. I criticized King Herod for his adultery with hisbrother's wife.

REPORTER -- Have they charged you with any other offense?

JOHN -- Not to my face. But I think it's more than just acoincidence that King Herod is having a party tonight in whichhis new wife and her daughter are the guests of honor. I'm quitesure she had something to do with this decision.

REPORTER -- You don't seem terribly upset by the news thatyou're about to lose your life.

JOHN -- Oh, I have been ready to die since my cousin began hisministry.

REPORTER -- Your cousin?

JOHN -- Jesus of Nazareth. I knew from the start that my job wasto be the fulfillment of the Prophet Isaiah's prophecy. Hecalled me the voice of one calling in the wilderness preparingthe way of the Lord.

REPORTER -- Isn't it true that you recently doubted that youmight not actually be the fulfillment of that prophecy?

JOHN -- Yes. I did. But I don't anymore. I'm ready to dieknowing that I prepared the way of the Lord himself.

REPORTER -- So, you are quite sure that Jesus of Nazareth is Godhimself in human flesh?

JOHN -- I'm certain of it.

REPORTER -- What makes you so certain now?

JOHN -- I sent messengers to Jesus while I was here in jail.They asked Jesus if he was the annointed one or did I announcethe wrong man.

REPORTER -- And what was his answer?

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JOHN -- Actually, in typical fashion, he didn't answer myquestion at all. He merely quoted old testament scriptures.

REPORTER -- What scriptures were those?

JOHN -- Jesus quoted the scriptures that predicted that "Theblind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy arecured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news ispreached to the poor."

REPORTER -- I'm not sure I understand the significance of thesescriptures.

JOHN -- Jesus did all of these things. He healed the blind andthe lame and the leper and the deaf, and he raised the dead tolife again. And, of course, his primary mission was to preachthe good news to the poor. In other words, Jesus was remindingme that he had fulfilled the predictions about our messiah inthe scriptures to the letter. How could I doubt after hearingthat?

REPORTER -- What made you doubt Jesus in the first place?

JOHN -- Well, quite frankly, I bought into the teachings of theJewish elites. They said that the messiah would ascend thethrone and rule over Israel. But Jesus repeatedly told hispeople that "His time had not yet come". And now it's lookingvery much like Jesus will be executed himself before he takesthe throne.

REPORTER -- But the scriptures clearly state that the messiahwill definitely take the throne. Are you saying that thescriptures are wrong?

JOHN -- I'm saying that the Jewish elites are wrong when theyassume that the messiah will take the throne BEFORE he saves usfrom our sins.

REPORTER -- So, what you're saying is that the messiah will saveus from our sins BEFORE he becomes king?

JOHN -- Yes.

REPORTER -- And how will he save us from our sins?

JOHN -- He will die for our sins. That's why he came to earth asa man.

REPORTER -- Wait a minute. If Jesus dies for our sins he can'tpossibly take the throne!

JOHN -- Not this time.

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REPORTER -- This time? Are you saying God is coming to earthagain?

JOHN -- That's what I'm saying and that's what the Jewish elitesmissed. They assumed that the messiah would somehow do both inone visit.

REPORTER -- But how can Jesus ascend to the throne if he's dead?

JOHN -- If Jesus is God in human flesh as I have saidrepeatedly, he will rise from the grave.

REPORTER -- But that's impossible.

JOHN -- Exactly. No one but God could do such a miraculous thing,someone who has already shown us that he has the power to raisepeople from the dead.

REPORTER -- Let's assume for a second that Jesus actually raisesfrom the dead. Will he immediately ascend to the throne ofIsrael and rule Israel as king?

JOHN -- He could. But he won't.

REPORTER -- Why not?

JOHN -- God wants everybody all over the world to have a chanceto hear about the resurrection and submit to his will. WhenJesus comes again in the future, people will have theopportunity to hear about his death and resurrection and see itas proof that he is God in human flesh. They will have noexcuse. If they fail to submit to the authority of Jesus, theywill have to pay for their own sins.

REPORTER -- I assume that the reason you're so calm about yourimpending execution is because you have already submitted to theauthority of Jesus.

JOHN -- Absolutely.

GUARD -- (grabs John's arm) Speaking of impending execution,it's time. (exits with John)

BARISAN PELAKON:1. ST. JOHN

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2. WARTAWAN 13. WARTAWAN 24. WARTAWAN 35. PENGAWAL 16. PENGAWAL 27. PELAKON TAMBAHAN 18. PELAKON TAMBAHAN 29. PELAKON TAMBAHAN 310.PELAKON TAMBAHAN 411.PELAKON SIMPANAN 112.PELAKON SIMPANAN 2

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