Ten Men Came To Jesus

A Puppet Show

Puppets can easily be made from old socks or paper bags.

The chorus used in this play can be found on a tape named Praise Parade which is by Integrity Music "Just-For-Kids"

Characters

Scene I Thomas, Michael & Daniel are moving a large block across the puppet stage

Thomas Whew! This is a really heavy block

Michael Yes, these blocks will be the steps. They are all very heavy.

Daniel Thomas, what's wrong with your hand?

Thomas Oh, nothing. It's just a sore.

Michael That's no ordinary sore. You need to go see the priest.

Thomas Don't get all worked up over nothing.

Daniel Thomas, you need to go see the priest now.

Michael Don't come back to work until the priest says you can.

(Thomas leaves)

Daniel What do you think's wrong with Thomas?

Michael You know as well as I do. That's leprosy if I ever saw it.

Daniel Oh, man! What's going to happen to his family?

Michael Family? What's going to happen to us? We've been working with him everyday?

Daniel What do you mean?

Michael Leprosy is contagious. That's why they have to live away from the rest of us.

Daniel I know that! Do you think we'll get it?

Michael I sure hope not.

Scene 2 Thomas walks toward the priests.

Priest 1 Hi, Thomas. What can we do for you?

Thomas Some of the guys at work said I should show you this little sore on my hand.

Priest 2 Oh, this doesn't look good. (to the other priest) Look here, I need a second opinion?

Thomas Second opinion? Wait a minute! It's just a sore!

Priest 1 No, Thomas, that is not just a sore. I'm afraid that is leprosy.

Thomas No! It can't be that. What about my wife and kids?

Priest 2 Sorry, Thomas. You know the rules. We can't have that awful disease spreading to everyone.

Priest 1 That's right. You will go directly to the leper's area. We will arrange for your things to be sent to you.

Thomas Can't I say goodbye to my family? Can't I go home just one more time?

Priest 2 Thomas, you know how this works. You cannot get near to anyone else who is not a leper. You must call out "unclean, unclean" anytime you come near people and you must never touch anyone who is not a leper.

Priest 1 If your family wants to help care for you they can leave food and money near the trees at the edge of the leper area. They can come no closer.

Thomas No! This cannot be happening.

Priest 2 Don't make this harder than it already is, Thomas. You must go to the leper's area now.

Scene 3 In the lepers area all of the lepers are around as Thomas walks up.

Lepers Hello. What's this? Someone new? What is your name?

Thomas I don't belong here, there must be some mistake.

Leper 1 We all said that the first day.

Leper 2 That's right. No one wants to come here.

Leper 3 Horrors, do you mean we are outcasts?

Leper 4 I'm an outcast, you are a horror!

(all laugh)

Thomas I don't think that's very funny.

Leper 5 It's just a leper joke. You'll get used to them.

Leper 6 Right, we might as well laugh about things. We've already proved that crying won't help.

Leper 7 I'm with Thomas. I don't think any of you are funny.

(all laugh)

Thomas How can you laugh? This place is awful.

Leper 8 Yes, it's awful but we call it home

(all laugh)

Leper 9 OK, guys cut it out. Thomas is right. This place is awful. We all hate it.

Thomas Isn't there some way to get out of here?

Leper 1 Well ... you could die.

(all laugh)

Leper 2 That's a good one. Or how about this ... you could go find that Jesus fellow and ask him to heal you

(all laugh)

Leper 3 Count me in, that should be good for a laugh, I'm going too.

Leper 4 Let's all go.

Leper 5 I'm going, I need to practice my "Unclean" chant.

Leper 6 Sends them running everytime. Let's go.

Leper 7 (hands Thomas a cloth to cover his head) Thomas, you'll need to wrap this over your head and remember to yell "Unclean" anytime you see anyone.

(Thomas puts on the cloth and they leave the stage)

Scene 4 Jesus is standing to the side of the stage and the lepers are walking toward him calling "unclean". They stop a ways from him and begin to talk.

Leper 1 This is far enough. We can't go any closer.

Leper 2 That's Jesus? I thought He'd be bigger, taller or something.

Leper 3 Well, I thought He'd look richer.

Leper 4 I was expecting a priest this guy looks like He works on the boats or something.

Thomas What's all the excitement about Jesus, anyway?

Leper 5 Thomas, you Samaritans never know the latest news!

Leper 6 Jesus is the healer.

Leper 7 I heard He's even healed some people in Samaria.

Leper 8 Who'd want to do that?

(all laugh except Thomas)

Thomas Cut that out! There's nothing wrong with being a Samaritan. I just wish I could go home to Samaria. I miss my family.

Leper 9 We all miss our families, our old lives, our homes.

Leper 1 So did we come to feel sorry for ourselves or to test this new healer?

Lepers together Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

Jesus walks over to them and begins touching each one as they sing

Song

Jesus Go to the priests, now, and let them check you.
Scene 5

The priests walk on stage and the men walk over to them. Jesus stands quietly to the side away from what is happening.

(The priests begin to check the lepers for sores)

Priest 1 This is amazing.

Priest 2 I've never seen anything like it.

Priest 1 What happened to you?

(The priests continue checking and shaking their heads as the men sing)

Song Narrator You can find today's story in Luke 17:11-19