DramaShare® Monologue – The Raising Of Lazurus©
Monologue requires no props, special lighting, sound or sets. Actor should be in period dress. Script Actor comes on stage. I simply do not understand! I, Lazarus, I was dead! I had been in my tomb for four days! My body had been dressed, prepared as the law and custom dictated, with my body wrapped tightly in sheets. Although not normally the lot of poor men like myself, friends and relatives had seen fit to tuck spices in the folds of my burial cloths before sealing me in my grave. Surely, I was dead! Dead indeed! Dead! A strange sickness had overtaken me, a disease of the body and of the mind. I, robust, strong, a mountain of a man, struck down in the prime of my life. Hebrews believed disease to be sent by God as an expression of divine displeasure, perhaps a punishment for wrongdoing. Had I done wrong? Had I sinned against God and man? Was it God’s reprisal to me for sins committed? Certainly a sinner I was, as a sinner I am. Those who held with Persian and Greek thinking believed that sickness such as mine may well be the work of Satan, or other demonic spirits, perhaps human ill will. As for me, I am but a simple laborer from the village of Bethany. I know not things such as these, nor do I choose to spend my days in contemplation of such mysteries. Bethany, a non-descript town perched on the east slope of the Mount of Olives, two miles from Jerusalem was home to myself and my two sisters, Mary and Martha. Home it was as well to my good friend, Simon the leper. Both Simon and myself had been privileged many times to be visited in our homes by the prophet, the Nazarene, Jesus, the Christ. Jesus. I was proud to be one known to He, the Messiah. Much more than a friend, on many occasions had we enjoyed the company of each other, in our home. My sister Mary would always be found sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to His teachings, hanging on His every word. My other sister, Martha, so different, yet, in her own way equally devoted to the Master, would most often be found bustling about the house, cooking, tending to the physical needs of Jesus and all in the house. My dear sisters! Martha, the doer. Mary, the dreamer. Servants, both. When I had taken ill it was Martha, the practical one, who called for Simon the leper to come and to bring with him what small medical resources could be found in Bethany. Mary, she sent an emissary to find Jesus, to let Him know that I was ill and in need. Don’t misjudge, it The Raising Of Lazurus – Monologue Copyright DramaShare 1999
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DramaShare® Monologue – The Raising Of Lazurus©
was not that Martha had less faith, simply that her faith moved in realms more practical than her sister. So Mary sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick." “The one He loved!” Yes, truly I was the recipient of Christ’s love, the benefactor of His kindness and grace. Many times I had heard the bold words of the disciple Simon Peter when he declared with fervor how so proudly Peter would follow the Savior to the grave, if it be necessary. And more than once, I too had echoed that loud declaration of a statement that both Peter and I would, only a short time later, be unwilling or unable to back up in action. I am told that when Jesus heard of my illness He seemed strangely unmoved by the news. Jesus simply said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." It was well known that Jesus loved Martha and her sister and I. Yet when he heard that I was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. He stayed two more days! Even though He was told that my life was fast leaving my body, He stayed two more days. This act brought on so many painful questions. Did He see my death as an opportunity to teach about the relationship of faith in Himself to the coming resurrection? Was this planned all along as a faith producing act which Jesus would use to reveal His power, and to move people to faith in His divine origin? Even, did He delay His arrival back to Bethany in order to prove beyond all doubt, His ability, and His divinity? It was only after waiting the two more days that he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea." The disciples were afraid, for they knew that the leaders were plotting to seize and destroy the Master. "But Rabbi," said the cautious, calculating Phillip, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?" Jesus’ answer, as it did so often, caused incredulity in His listeners, as he said, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light." After Jesus had said this, he went on to tell the twelve and all those gathered about, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up." It was Nathanael who replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." Jesus had been speaking of my death, but Nathanael thought Jesus meant natural sleep. So then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." Glad He was not with me? How could that be? Was He willing to cause pain and anguish with my family and friends to prove a greater purpose? This harsh medicine for my family, has supplied the keys to the Kingdom for countless generations since. Friends reported to Martha the news that Jesus was approaching Bethany, and she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." Jesus simply said, "Your brother will rise again."
The Raising Of Lazurus – Monologue Copyright DramaShare 1999
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DramaShare® Monologue – The Raising Of Lazurus©
Martha’s love and faith brought great joy to Jesus, and He spent time with her, then with Mary. Mary’s comment to Jesus was the same as her sister, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw Mary and all of the mourners weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. And Jesus wept. Although many standing about thought, "See how He loved him", still some said, "Could not He who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?" It was then that Jesus came to my tomb and asked that the stone be removed from the entrance. Martha, ever the sensible one said, "But, Lord, by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." Sweet, gentle Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" So the stone was removed. I am told that Jesus looked up into the heavens and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." Jesus’ voice broke the silence as His strong command rang out, "Lazarus, come out!" It was then that I clearly heard, but more, felt, the presence of His voice, commanding me to action. Slowly I rose to my feet, the strips of linen loosening on my body, the cloth falling free from my face. Jesus stood before me, taking my hand and holding me to Himself. The crowd of people and the mourners who had come to visit Mary and Martha, had seen what Jesus did in giving me back my life, and many put their faith in Christ. But some, eager to garner favor, took this news to the Pharisees, telling them what Jesus had done. And it was then that Jesus’ fate was set. After we were alone, I tried to find the words to thank Him, to let Him know how I felt. But words do not come easily when one is face to face with the Lord of all creation. All I, the one He loved, could do, was to tell Him of my undying love. The one He loved! Undying love! And I, like all the rest, just a few days thereafter, deserted Him in His time of need! He, who gave me life!
The Raising Of Lazurus – Monologue Copyright DramaShare 1999
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