ACT I
Setting
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. He created all things and they were good. God also created man in His image: male and female. He placed Adam and Eve in a garden to the East. They ate from the tree of life and lived in harmony with God and creation. Utopia was created. Shalom was enjoyed.
Now Satan was an angel who rebelled against God. He attempted to equate himself with God and waged war in heaven. Satan and his angels were defeated and cast out of heaven. Since he had failed in his mutiny against God Himself, he now sought to destroy that which God loved most: man.
Inciting Incident
On earth, Satan took the form of a serpent and befriended Adam and Eve. Contrary to the words of God, Satan told them that nothing bad would happen if they ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. In fact, good things would happen. They would become very wise, like God Himself. Adam and Eve ate from the tree and immediately life was drastically altered right before their very eyes.
Shortly thereafter, God came looking for Adam and Eve because they had hidden themselves from God for they were now afraid of Him. When their disobedience was brought to light they made excuses and passed the blame for their actions. Sin had now entered the human realm. No longer were they able to live in harmony with God and others. God had no choice but to expel Adam and Eve from His presence for He could not allow them to continue to eat from the tree of life in their sinful state. Otherwise, they would live forever separated from Him. Utopia was destroyed. Shalom was shattered. Man grieved. God was heartbroken. Satan rejoiced.
ACT II
For many years man continued to rebel against God. God desperately desired to be back in right relationship with them and for them to live in harmony with each other. Because of man’s wickedness, He brought judgment with a great flood and he brought confusion of their languages. Yet, when presented with living God’s way or his own way, man continued to live out the evil in his heart thus having no regard for God.
Character Flaw
In the battle between right and wrong, it would require great faith for man to disregard his natural self-centeredness and live a life devoted to the worship of God alone. In order to teach mankind about faith, God chose a man named Abraham. God continually placed Abraham in situations that required him to look beyond his present circumstances and trust in the promises of God. Sometimes Abraham trusted. Sometimes he did not. Yet, God put forth Abraham as the model of a man who learned to live by faith. It was Abraham’s faith in God that caused God to declare him to be righteous.
B Story
God told Abraham that He would make his descendents into a great nation. This nation would be called Israel. The people of the nation of Israel were chosen by God to be an example to the world of what it looked like to live in right relationship with God and in harmony with each other.
Sometime later the people of Israel found themselves in captivity in Egypt. God brought plagues upon Egypt in order to punish Egypt for its brutal treatment of Israel as slaves. Pharaoh agreed to the release of the people of Israel and God’s prophet Moses led the people out of Egypt and into freedom. God had promised Abraham that His descendents would inhabit the land of Canaan and so Israel began their journey from Egypt to the land God would give them.
Even though they had just witnessed God practically destroy Egypt, the Israelites failed to trust God and the promises he made to them. Knowing they were too spiritually immature to live a life of faith like Abraham, God gave the nation of Israel a set of laws that proscribed right living with Him and others. Additionally, Israel’s blessing of remaining in the land given to them by God was dependent upon their obedience to God’s laws.
Vice
For a period of time, Israel was lead by different judges who administered justice and lead them in battle when necessary. In order to be more like the other nations around them, Israel desired to be governed by a king. Some kings were good and lead the people in worshipping God but most were evil and turned the people away from God and worshipped the idols of their neighbors.
God continually sent prophets to the nation encouraging them to turn from their idol worship and worship the one and only true God. The prophets warned Israel that God would bring judgment upon the nation if they did not turn back to Him. Israel refused to listen to the words of God through His prophets. Israel, as one nation, had consisted of twelve tribes but divided into two nations. Ten tribes continued to be called Israel while the other two tribes were called Judah.
God first brought judgment upon Israel by having them overtaken by the Assyrian Empire. Judah was spared destruction at this point but was later enslaved by the Babylonian Empire. Israel and Judah spent many years in captivity. When the Medo-Persians overthrew the Babylonian Empire, the people of Israel were allowed to return to their land. Some returned but many stayed and assimilated into the nation that had captured them. It was during this time that the last of God’s prophets appeared to the people. These prophets spoke of another prophet from God yet to come. One who would be known as the Messiah, or Savior.
Years later, the Roman Empire took control of the land in which the people of Israel lived. The Israelites hated being under Roman rule and longed for the day when the promised Messiah would free them from captivity. For four hundred years, no prophet from God appeared among the people of Israel.
Midpoint
One day, in the small town of Bethlehem, a teenage girl who had never been with a man sexually gave birth to a baby boy. An angel told her fiancé to name him, Jesus, which means Savior. This Jesus was the promised Messiah to the people of Israel.
Jesus grew up in the small town of Nazareth in Israel. At age 30, he began his public ministry as a Rabbi, which means Teacher. He traveled around preaching that the kingdom of God was at hand. He performed many miracles to substantiate that He was sent from God. In fact, He not only claimed to be sent by God, He claimed He was God.
Virtue
Jesus claimed that He alone could provide forgiveness for sins and that only through Him could one be in right relationship with God. He taught that faith in Him alone lead to eternal life with God. In Jesus, man would no longer be separated from God. Jesus did not limit his ministry to just the Jewish people. He welcomed Gentiles to be His followers. Many people accepted Jesus’ teachings and chose to follow Him.
Jesus also taught that where man lacked in his desire to love God and others, the Spirit of God Himself would indwell those who had accepted Him and would work to change their heart. This transformation would move someone from their natural focus on self to a life that genuinely cared for the well being of others and that their life would be characterized by a life of love. In short, the person who had accepted Jesus would become, over time, more and more like Jesus in word, thought, and deed. In other words, they would become a Christian, which means ‘little Christ’.
But not everyone welcomed Jesus and his teachings. Many of the religious leaders hated Jesus and felt threatened by Him. While their religious system was based on external obedience to rules and regulations, Jesus taught about a personal and intimate relationship with God. For Jesus, love was the fulfillment of the law. According to Jesus, if one loved God and loved His neighbor there would be no need for rules. God was more concerned about a relationship with man at the heart level rather than surface level compliance to man-made regulations.
Apparent Defeat
The hostility toward Jesus by the religious leaders continued to grow during the three years that Jesus traveled around preaching and teaching. To them, it was inconceivable that God could become a man and so they accused Jesus of blasphemy for claiming to be God when He wasn’t. Furthermore, Jesus’ teaching on love, peace, and self-sacrifice was not the message of overthrowing the Roman Empire they had expected from Israel’s Messiah. The religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus but could not impose the death penalty while under Roman rule. So they needed to somehow convince the Romans to execute Jesus. Ironically, they told the Roman governor that Jesus claimed to be the King of Israel, which meant he would attempt to overthrow Rome. Even though the governor, Pilate, believed Jesus to be innocent of these charges, he sentenced Jesus to death for being an insurrectionist. Jesus was beaten severely and then executed by means of crucifixion. His disciples were disheartened. Satan was delighted.
ACT III
After his death on Friday, Jesus’ body was buried in a tomb just before sundown. On Sunday morning, it was discovered that He has risen from the dead. He then appeared to His disciples and to many others. Over the next two months, there were reports by many of seeing Him. On one day, he met with His disciples and commissioned them go into all the world and preach the gospel to everyone. He then ascended from earth to heaven right before their very eyes. While the disciples were standing there perplexed, two angles appeared to the disciples and told them that Jesus would one day return to earth the same way he left.
Final Incident
Shortly after this, one of Jesus’ disciples, Peter, preached to the Jewish people that they had just executed their Messiah but that He had risen from the dead and was alive. Peter taught that God had declared Jesus to be both Lord and Christ. Many believed and the Church was born. Just as Israel was intended to be an example of right living with God and others and failed, now the Church, as the body of Christ, was given the charge to model to the world right living with God and others.
Climax
The gospel of Jesus quickly spread and churches began to form in city after city. Yet, there were still religious leaders who refused to believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah. One such leader, Paul, was determined to stop this movement by arresting and killing those who claimed to follow Jesus. However, one day, while on a mission to arrest Christians, Jesus appeared to Paul and the experience changed him forever. He went from being one of the biggest persecutors of the Church to arguably being its greatest advocate. Like Peter, Paul preached that salvation is by faith in Jesus and not on the basis of works.
Conclusion
Life was not easy for those who chose to follow Jesus. They soon found themselves shunned by those who held onto the Jewish faith. The Church had to deal with false teachers who came in attempting to teach that salvation was by works. They also experienced persecution from the Romans. While Judiasm was a legal religion in Rome, Christianity was not. Many believers were killed by the hands of the Romans.
One of Jesus’ closest friends on earth, John, was arrested later in his life and exiled to an island called Patmos. On this island Jesus appeared to Him in a vision and showed him events that would take place at a later date. John saw angels, trumpets, bowls, and many strange creatures which all had symbolic meanings. John also saw God Himself seated on the throne being worshipped and at the end of all things, those whose names were written in the book of life united with Him forever. Those who had rejected Jesus while on earth were sent away from the presence of God forever.
Final Image
John recorded the vision which was to serve as an encouragement to the churches that no matter what happens on earth, in the end, Jesus will return, Satan will be defeated and God will reign supreme. And once again, man will be united with God and live in harmony with each other. Utopia will be recreated and shalom will be restored.
Setting
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. He created all things and they were good. God also created man in His image: male and female. He placed Adam and Eve in a garden to the East. They ate from the tree of life and lived in harmony with God and creation. Utopia was created. Shalom was enjoyed.
Now Satan was an angel who rebelled against God. He attempted to equate himself with God and waged war in heaven. Satan and his angels were defeated and cast out of heaven. Since he had failed in his mutiny against God Himself, he now sought to destroy that which God loved most: man.
Inciting Incident
On earth, Satan took the form of a serpent and befriended Adam and Eve. Contrary to the words of God, Satan told them that nothing bad would happen if they ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. In fact, good things would happen. They would become very wise, like God Himself. Adam and Eve ate from the tree and immediately life was drastically altered right before their very eyes.
Shortly thereafter, God came looking for Adam and Eve because they had hidden themselves from God for they were now afraid of Him. When their disobedience was brought to light they made excuses and passed the blame for their actions. Sin had now entered the human realm. No longer were they able to live in harmony with God and others. God had no choice but to expel Adam and Eve from His presence for He could not allow them to continue to eat from the tree of life in their sinful state. Otherwise, they would live forever separated from Him. Utopia was destroyed. Shalom was shattered. Man grieved. God was heartbroken. Satan rejoiced.
ACT II
For many years man continued to rebel against God. God desperately desired to be back in right relationship with them and for them to live in harmony with each other. Because of man’s wickedness, He brought judgment with a great flood and he brought confusion of their languages. Yet, when presented with living God’s way or his own way, man continued to live out the evil in his heart thus having no regard for God.
Character Flaw
In the battle between right and wrong, it would require great faith for man to disregard his natural self-centeredness and live a life devoted to the worship of God alone. In order to teach mankind about faith, God chose a man named Abraham. God continually placed Abraham in situations that required him to look beyond his present circumstances and trust in the promises of God. Sometimes Abraham trusted. Sometimes he did not. Yet, God put forth Abraham as the model of a man who learned to live by faith. It was Abraham’s faith in God that caused God to declare him to be righteous.
B Story
God told Abraham that He would make his descendents into a great nation. This nation would be called Israel. The people of the nation of Israel were chosen by God to be an example to the world of what it looked like to live in right relationship with God and in harmony with each other.
Sometime later the people of Israel found themselves in captivity in Egypt. God brought plagues upon Egypt in order to punish Egypt for its brutal treatment of Israel as slaves. Pharaoh agreed to the release of the people of Israel and God’s prophet Moses led the people out of Egypt and into freedom. God had promised Abraham that His descendents would inhabit the land of Canaan and so Israel began their journey from Egypt to the land God would give them.
Even though they had just witnessed God practically destroy Egypt, the Israelites failed to trust God and the promises he made to them. Knowing they were too spiritually immature to live a life of faith like Abraham, God gave the nation of Israel a set of laws that proscribed right living with Him and others. Additionally, Israel’s blessing of remaining in the land given to them by God was dependent upon their obedience to God’s laws.
Vice
For a period of time, Israel was lead by different judges who administered justice and lead them in battle when necessary. In order to be more like the other nations around them, Israel desired to be governed by a king. Some kings were good and lead the people in worshipping God but most were evil and turned the people away from God and worshipped the idols of their neighbors.
God continually sent prophets to the nation encouraging them to turn from their idol worship and worship the one and only true God. The prophets warned Israel that God would bring judgment upon the nation if they did not turn back to Him. Israel refused to listen to the words of God through His prophets. Israel, as one nation, had consisted of twelve tribes but divided into two nations. Ten tribes continued to be called Israel while the other two tribes were called Judah.
God first brought judgment upon Israel by having them overtaken by the Assyrian Empire. Judah was spared destruction at this point but was later enslaved by the Babylonian Empire. Israel and Judah spent many years in captivity. When the Medo-Persians overthrew the Babylonian Empire, the people of Israel were allowed to return to their land. Some returned but many stayed and assimilated into the nation that had captured them. It was during this time that the last of God’s prophets appeared to the people. These prophets spoke of another prophet from God yet to come. One who would be known as the Messiah, or Savior.
Years later, the Roman Empire took control of the land in which the people of Israel lived. The Israelites hated being under Roman rule and longed for the day when the promised Messiah would free them from captivity. For four hundred years, no prophet from God appeared among the people of Israel.
Midpoint
One day, in the small town of Bethlehem, a teenage girl who had never been with a man sexually gave birth to a baby boy. An angel told her fiancé to name him, Jesus, which means Savior. This Jesus was the promised Messiah to the people of Israel.
Jesus grew up in the small town of Nazareth in Israel. At age 30, he began his public ministry as a Rabbi, which means Teacher. He traveled around preaching that the kingdom of God was at hand. He performed many miracles to substantiate that He was sent from God. In fact, He not only claimed to be sent by God, He claimed He was God.
Virtue
Jesus claimed that He alone could provide forgiveness for sins and that only through Him could one be in right relationship with God. He taught that faith in Him alone lead to eternal life with God. In Jesus, man would no longer be separated from God. Jesus did not limit his ministry to just the Jewish people. He welcomed Gentiles to be His followers. Many people accepted Jesus’ teachings and chose to follow Him.
Jesus also taught that where man lacked in his desire to love God and others, the Spirit of God Himself would indwell those who had accepted Him and would work to change their heart. This transformation would move someone from their natural focus on self to a life that genuinely cared for the well being of others and that their life would be characterized by a life of love. In short, the person who had accepted Jesus would become, over time, more and more like Jesus in word, thought, and deed. In other words, they would become a Christian, which means ‘little Christ’.
But not everyone welcomed Jesus and his teachings. Many of the religious leaders hated Jesus and felt threatened by Him. While their religious system was based on external obedience to rules and regulations, Jesus taught about a personal and intimate relationship with God. For Jesus, love was the fulfillment of the law. According to Jesus, if one loved God and loved His neighbor there would be no need for rules. God was more concerned about a relationship with man at the heart level rather than surface level compliance to man-made regulations.
Apparent Defeat
The hostility toward Jesus by the religious leaders continued to grow during the three years that Jesus traveled around preaching and teaching. To them, it was inconceivable that God could become a man and so they accused Jesus of blasphemy for claiming to be God when He wasn’t. Furthermore, Jesus’ teaching on love, peace, and self-sacrifice was not the message of overthrowing the Roman Empire they had expected from Israel’s Messiah. The religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus but could not impose the death penalty while under Roman rule. So they needed to somehow convince the Romans to execute Jesus. Ironically, they told the Roman governor that Jesus claimed to be the King of Israel, which meant he would attempt to overthrow Rome. Even though the governor, Pilate, believed Jesus to be innocent of these charges, he sentenced Jesus to death for being an insurrectionist. Jesus was beaten severely and then executed by means of crucifixion. His disciples were disheartened. Satan was delighted.
ACT III
After his death on Friday, Jesus’ body was buried in a tomb just before sundown. On Sunday morning, it was discovered that He has risen from the dead. He then appeared to His disciples and to many others. Over the next two months, there were reports by many of seeing Him. On one day, he met with His disciples and commissioned them go into all the world and preach the gospel to everyone. He then ascended from earth to heaven right before their very eyes. While the disciples were standing there perplexed, two angles appeared to the disciples and told them that Jesus would one day return to earth the same way he left.
Final Incident
Shortly after this, one of Jesus’ disciples, Peter, preached to the Jewish people that they had just executed their Messiah but that He had risen from the dead and was alive. Peter taught that God had declared Jesus to be both Lord and Christ. Many believed and the Church was born. Just as Israel was intended to be an example of right living with God and others and failed, now the Church, as the body of Christ, was given the charge to model to the world right living with God and others.
Climax
The gospel of Jesus quickly spread and churches began to form in city after city. Yet, there were still religious leaders who refused to believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah. One such leader, Paul, was determined to stop this movement by arresting and killing those who claimed to follow Jesus. However, one day, while on a mission to arrest Christians, Jesus appeared to Paul and the experience changed him forever. He went from being one of the biggest persecutors of the Church to arguably being its greatest advocate. Like Peter, Paul preached that salvation is by faith in Jesus and not on the basis of works.
Conclusion
Life was not easy for those who chose to follow Jesus. They soon found themselves shunned by those who held onto the Jewish faith. The Church had to deal with false teachers who came in attempting to teach that salvation was by works. They also experienced persecution from the Romans. While Judiasm was a legal religion in Rome, Christianity was not. Many believers were killed by the hands of the Romans.
One of Jesus’ closest friends on earth, John, was arrested later in his life and exiled to an island called Patmos. On this island Jesus appeared to Him in a vision and showed him events that would take place at a later date. John saw angels, trumpets, bowls, and many strange creatures which all had symbolic meanings. John also saw God Himself seated on the throne being worshipped and at the end of all things, those whose names were written in the book of life united with Him forever. Those who had rejected Jesus while on earth were sent away from the presence of God forever.
Final Image
John recorded the vision which was to serve as an encouragement to the churches that no matter what happens on earth, in the end, Jesus will return, Satan will be defeated and God will reign supreme. And once again, man will be united with God and live in harmony with each other. Utopia will be recreated and shalom will be restored.
Posts
