Request 229 Luke 5 Dedication

Luke 2:21-52

Characters: Luke, Mary, Simeon, Anna (optional as backgroumnd bvoice), Rhoda and Hanna (fictional caravan travelers)

knock affect)

Mary: Oh, its you Luke. I’m glad you could come back today.

Luke: Grace and peace Mary, you know I’d never miss a chance to visit you.

Mary: I knew you’ve been out interviewing others. I didn’t want to waste your time or burden you with talking to an old woman about times gone by.

Luke: Mary, you are never a burden. I can always jot down those other interviews later, but I’m eager to hear what you want to share with me today about Jesus.

Mary: Well, I was thinking that after our last discussion, when I told you about the sheperdss, and their amazing encounter with the angels, there was another thing that happened.

Luke: Did it involve more angels?

Mary: No, but as you remember, we were traveling because we wanted to be counted in our tribal hometown.

Luke: Right, Joseph’s parents and family were living there.

Mary: Well, we figured it would be a good place to raise our son, knowing what we did about him. And after waiting the week that law required, we set out to the temple on the eighth day for the cleansing ritual and worshipl.

(fade out).

(transition to Luke writing).

Luke: And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

Simeon: “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

Luke: And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,

Simeon: “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Luke: And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

(Option. Possibly have a voice of Anna for background affect saying:
give thanks to God speak of him to all who are waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.)

Luke: And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

(transition affect)

Luke: OK, I have a question. If you were planning on raising Jesus in Bethlehem, why did you return to Galilee?

Mary (showing signs of not feeling well, coughing, or breathing troubles): We did, I mean we had plans, life sometimes doesn’t turn out the way we think it should.

Luke: Are you alright Mary? I can come back when you’re feeling better.

Mary (still showing signs of exhaustion): That might not be a bad idea. Maybe you could talk to Mathew. He and Joseph aseemed to be close. He might be able to fill in some of those gaps.

Luke: Matthew? The publican?

Mary: Yes. He may know more details about the birth of Jesus, that he learned from Joseph.

Luke: I will, but I don’t think he’s in town right now, and I promised myself to only write a true account from witnesses who could confirm the many stories that are circulating.

Mary (still weak): Then at least let me tell you this.

Luke: Now Mary, you just get some rest. Thank you for all your help. I can come back another day, when you are feeling well again.

Mary: Grace and peace Luke.

Luke: Grace and peace.

(Door affect)

Rhoda: Are you the doctor? Is Mary OK?

Luke: Yes I am. And Mary is just resting at the moment. Who are you?

Hanna: Are you the one who is writing down people’s stories?

Luke: Yes.

Rhoda: Then I don’t know if we should say. The religious leaders have their way of finding things out, and people like us, of the Way, have a way of disappearing.

Luke: Did you have something to say about Jesus? I don’t have to write down your name. I just need to know that you’re a witness who can testify that you truly saw or experienced something with him. There are two of you, so I can trust your eye witness agrees, and is true.

Rhoda: Well, as long as you don’t write our names down. We were still young girls when it happened.

Hanna: We were in the caravan from Nazareth, and it was time for the annual feast in Jerusalem.

Rhoda: Mary was so worried. We were traveling back home when Mary realized that Jesus was missing….

(Fade out and into writing affect).

Luke: Now his parents went to Je-rusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him,

Mary: “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them,

Jesus (child voice): “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

Luke: And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

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