Setting

A number of small tables are on stage, with a checkered table cloth. A bar sits in back where Miriam cleans her dishes. Ephrum can sit at the bar, while the Pharisee and his wife could be off at a table on the right side of the stage. Trapezius, the Roman guard, could enjoy his newspaper at a table on the left side of the stage. The new character each drama could sit at the table in the center.

Drama #1: “Palm Sunday at the Jerusalem Café”

Overview: Zadok, the Rich Young Ruler, is troubled by Jesus’ words.

Bible theme: “Good Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

…Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said.

“ Go, sell everything you have… then come follow me.” At this the man’s face fell.

He went away sad, because he had great wealth. –Matthew 10:17-22

Drama #2: “Monday of Holy Week at the Jerusalem Café”

Overview: Thaddeus, a disciple of Jesus is at the café after Jesus threw the moneychangers out of the temple.

Bible theme: Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “My house will be called a house of prayer. But you are making it a den of robbers.” The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. –Matthew 21: 12-14

Drama #3: “Tuesday of Holy Week at the Jerusalem Café”

Overview: Mary, the brother of Lazarus, joins the regulars in the café.

Bible theme: While [Jesus] was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume… she poured the perfume on [Jesus’] head… Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus. –Mark 14:3, 10

Drama #4: “Maundy Thursday at the Jerusalem Café”

Overview: Deborah, the owner of the house where Jesus had the Last Supper, eats at the café.

Bible theme: [Jesus] poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. –John 13:5

Drama #5: “Good Friday at the Jerusalem Café”

Overview: The Roman centurion who crucified Jesus tries to find some peace in the Jerusalem café.

Bible theme: With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, “surely this man was the Son of God!” –Mark 15:37-39

Drama #6: “The Night Before Easter Sunday at the Jerusalem Café”

Overview: A man on business in Jerusalem wants to help the regulars see who Jesus was.

Bible theme: “The time is coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant… It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers… This is the covenant I will make… I will be their God, and they will be my people… I will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more.” –Jeremiah 31:31-34

Drama #1 in the Series, Holy Week at the Jerusalem Café

“Good Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

...Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said.

“ Go, sell everything you have… then come follow me.” At this the man’s face fell.

He went away sad, because he had great wealth. –Mark 10:17-22

From the Series:

Holy Week at the Jerusalem Café. “When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, ‘Who is this?’” –Matthew 21:10

Setting:

A café in Jerusalem, on the evening of Palm Sunday

Characters:

Miriam, the hostess

Ephrum

Phyllis

Bob the Pharisee

Trapezius the Roman

Zadok, the Rich Young Man

INT. CAFÉ – EVENING

As the scene opens, a number of people are present in the café, speaking quietly. MIRIAM, the hostess, wipes down her luncheon counter. TRAPEZIUS, a Roman guard, sips his drink at a quiet table, reading a newspaper. The Pharisee and his wife, PHYLLIS and BOB, who are eternally pompous and standoffish, sit in a corner of the room. ZADOK, a rich young man, stares blankly into his cup.

Miriam picks up an dish from an empty table and approaches Zadok.

Miriam

Need something to drink, sir?

Zadok doesn’t reply.

Miriam

Excuse me!

Zadok is in his own world. Miriam strikes him briskly on the back of the head. He snaps out of his daze.

Miriam

Wanna a drink or what?

Zadok

Oh, sorry. Yes, please. I’d like a double decaf laté expresso with a hint of Arabian cinnamon and a tablespoon of your best imported Persian cream.

MIRIAM

We got coffee… And I got a goat out back, I could have him squirt a little milk in there.

A look of horror washes over Zadok’s face.

Zadok

Just some ice water, please.

Miriam goes back behind the bar to fix it. EPHRUM enters.

ephrum

Hello, everybody!

Everybody

Ephrum!

Miriam

What would you like, Ephrum?

Ephrum

The Romans out of Palestine?

Ephrum turns and waves to Trapezius.

Ephrum (continued)

No offense.

Trapezius waves back without looking up, unconcerned.

Trapezius

None taken.

Ephrum sits down at luncheon counter, and Miriam gives him a drink.

Ephrum

So, anybody catch the excitement today?

bob the Pharisee

You mean the parade? The parade for that… “Jesus”?

Phyllis

It was just awful. All that fuss for him. It’s things like that that give people a big head, you know.

Miriam

You’d know about big heads.

Ephrum

I hear this Jesus has healed people who were sick, just by saying so.

Phyllis

Rubbish. I hope you don’t believe those rumors.

Miriam

My best friend’s aunt has a hairdresser who’s cousin’s roommate lives in Bethany. She said last week, Jesus raised a guy from the dead.

Phyllis

Oh, hear it comes.

Bob the Pharisee

Yeah, we heard that one too. The “dead man” went by the name of Lazarus. I have it on good authority that Lazarus was not entirely dead.

Phyllis

Yeah, and I heard that ever since then, Lazarus has had a sore back. Yeah, some miracle.

Ephrum

You know, if it was true… and Jesus did raise someone from the dead… that would be a sign that the Messiah had come. I guess that would put you guys out of a job, huh?

Trapezius

You Jews… you’re always looking for The Messiah… The Prophet… The Coming of the Son of God to save you. Did you ever stop to think that Rome has brought peace and safety, technology, roads---maybe the Romans are the Messiah?

There is long pause. Then Phyllis and Bob burst out in uproarious laughter.

Phyllis and Bob

Bwhahhahahhahahahhahahhahaha!!!

Trapezius, annoyed, turns his chair so his back is facing them and goes back to his newspaper.

BOB the Pharisee

Oh, that’s rich!!

Ephrum

Trapezius, I don’t think they agreed with you.

Bob the Pharisee

Well, this “Jesus” is certainly no messiah. A charlatan, yes. A snake oil salesman, yes. A messiah, no.

Phyllis

I mean, have you ever met any of his followers? They’re all poor and unwashed, the lowest class. They’re the dregs of society.

Zadok

They’re not all poor.

Phyllis

Who are you?

Zadok

My name is Zadok. I’ve been following Jesus for several months.

Bob gasps, Phyllis stands up, Trapezius drops his newspaper, Miriam drops a plate, and Ephrum spits out his drink.

Ephrum

You’re a follower of Jesus?

Zadok

Well, not a follower. I mean, I’ve followed Jesus. I don’t know that I believe what he says… or even understand it… but I’m intrigued enough to hear him out… from a distance.

Trapezius

Where’d you meet him?

Zadok

I met him on the road between here and Galilee. I’d been born into a rich family… educated in Rome… always had the best clothes, the best foods… My servants have servants… always in luxury. But I wanted something more. Something was missing.

So I heard about this Jesus. Didn’t know who he was. But some friends recommended him. I went to hear him talk about life… talk about eternal life. I ran up to him and said, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Ephrum

What did he say?

zadok

He said, “go keep the commandments.” And, I had been raised well, in good Jewish tradition, and I replied, “all these commandments I’ve kept since I was a boy.” I was elated! I thought, “jeez, is that all I have to do?” Piece of cake. I can obey the commandments with my eyes closed. I got eternal life in the bag!

Then he looked at me… he had this look of love… or something. Maybe he felt sorry for me. And he said, “Then go sell everything you have, and give it to the poor, and then follow me.”

The customers are held in rapt attention.

Miriam

No… way.

Ephrum

So did you do it?

Zadok

No, of course not. I didn’t. I couldn’t. I shouldn’t have to! Why would he say something like that?

Phyllis

See, that just goes to show you.

Bob the Pharisee

Jesus is like so out there.

Zadok

Why didn’t he tell others to sell everything? Why didn’t he tell you? Or you? Or you? Why would he tell that to me?

Trapezius

Maybe he’s trying to tell you something.

zadok

But what? It’s not like my money is my life. I don’t care about money. I can give up my money anytime I want to.

Ephrum

So do it.

zadok

I don’t want to.