Summary: A monologue (based on Luke 10) of the teachings of Jesus about fear.
Style: Dramatic.       Duration: 10min
Actors: 1M

Script

I followed Jesus from the time He started His ministry.

I was one of His followers but never an actual disciple, not that that worried me. I was just happy to listen to Him and to follow and try to live by His teachings.

Jesus spoke about many things but the subject I remember most was His teachings on fear.

I’d been fearful all my life, due to my insecurity and lack of confidence in myself, but Jesus gave us, including me, confidence and faith in Him and in ourselves. I remember even one of our leaders, Nicodemus by name, visited Jesus at night because of his fear.

My healing from fear started when Jesus appointed seventy-two of His followers and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.

I was one of the seventy-two, although my courage was still low. Jesus knew this. He knew everything about us and boldly gave us all simple instructions. He said “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

• Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.

• Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.

• Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’

• If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not,

it will return to you.

• And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the labourer deserves his wages.

• Do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you.

• Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

• But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless, know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.

• The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.

Jesus said, “I tell you; it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.”

I for one, went out almost trembling with fear but returned with great joy.

We told Jesus, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”

Jesus replied: “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.

Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.

It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they malign those of his household.

Have No Fear, have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.

What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.

But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.

Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Jesus was always aware of our fears and always taught us how to overcome them. What I did not realise at the time was that He was teaching me to have simple faith.

Even on the occasion that Jesus rebuked the sea, his disciples were in fear.

At the birth of Jesus, an angel appeared to the shepherds and said: “Fear

not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. But fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!”

There were so many instances of the fear of the people during these times, including the occasion that Jesus delivered many demons from a mad man at the Gerasenes. Everyone had been afraid of him and were still afraid of him even after Jesus healed him. They wanted Jesus to leave their region.

I distinctly remember Jesus saying: “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

Even on the cross at His execution, Jesus encountered fear. One of the criminals who was hanged berated Him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?

And we indeed are guilty and we are receiving the due reward of our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.”

And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answered him. “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus was still reassuring folk not to worry.

………………………………………….

© Copyright Roger Bulpitt, all rights reserved. The script may not be reproduced, translated, or copied in any medium, including books, CDs, and on the Internet, without the written permission of the author.

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: rogerbulpitt@gmail.com