JOHN: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! You Pharisees! You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? RepentI say repent! Do you think by coming here and listening to me speak, that you have found the kingdom of heaven? By going down into these waters of baptism, does that mean you are truly repentant?
The Lincoln Theatre Guild production of “Cotton Patch Gospel,” which opened Friday, continues at 7 tonight, at 7 p.m. Friday and March 9 and at 3 p.m. March 10 at the Lincoln Cultural Center, 403 E. Main St., Lincolnton. The play, based on the life of Jesus, is set in 1960s Georgia and includes country and bluegrass music by Harry Chapin.
Therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’, for I say to you, that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. And the axe is already laid at the foot of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thereforebring forth good fruit in keeping with your repentance. Someone from the crowd: Who are you?
I am not the Christ. Are you Elijah? Are you the prophet? Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us?
What do you say about yourself? I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness; make straight the way of the Lord, as Isaiah the prophet said. Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet? Because the kingdom of heaven is at hand! Prepare for the way of the Lord! As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance but among you stands one whom you do not know and it is he who is coming after me who is mightier than I, for He existed before me and I am not fit to remove his sandals; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. I tell you the truthmy baptism is a baptism for repentance of sins, but he will baptize you with The Holy Spirit and fire.
And his winnowing fork is in his hand and he will thoroughly clear his threshing floor, and he will gather his wheat into the barn but he will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire! Will you be the wheator will you be the chaff? Will you be gathered into the barn or will you burn with unquenchable fire?!
A wealthy man: Then what shall we do? Let the man who has two tunics share with him who has none; and let him who has food do likewise. Don’t you see your brothers in need? Share with them from your abundance! Tax collector: Teacher, what shall we do? Collect no more than what you have been ordered to. Be fair and be honest!
Do not cheat your brothers! Roman Soldier: And what about us?
What shall we do? Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages. Some of you standing here today listening to my voice are hypocrites! You Pharisees and Sadduceesyou are a brood of vipers! Do you think that God does not see you the way you truly are?
You stand there with your pious looks and your costly garments, and you only pretend to be men of truth and godliness. You hypocrites! I say to you, repentfor the kingdom of heaven is at hand! Step into the Jordan and confess your sins and be baptized!
I don’t care how you are dressed! Look at my garments! I wear a garment of camel hair and my belt is leather. The Lord God has provided my every need! I live in the wilderness and I eat locusts and wild honey.
I am God’s servant! I am here to prepare the way of the Lord! I am here to prepare you for he who is coming after me! I have been sent before him.
You ask why I speak thus so boldly and with passion. I do not fear the Jewish leaders! I do not fear the Roman soldiers! I do not fear Herod! YesHerod who has committed a grievous sin! He has taken his brother’s wife! Herodias, the wife of Philip!
She does not belong in Herod’s house! Wow addons gladius 3.3 5a. He has taken her as his wife! And no one has the courage to speak out against this immoral act!
I condemn you Herod Antipas! And I also point at all of you who claim to be righteous and holy!
You have remained silent while this grievous sin is right in front of you! You will not flee the wrath to come! Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! You brood of vipers!
Summary: John the Baptist in a monologue tells the story of Jesus' baptism. Style: Dramatic.
Duration: 8min Actors: 1M Scripture: Matthew 3: 13-17 Characters: John the Baptist Script So, I’m standing up to my waist in the Jordan, I’ve just baptized a whole bunch of people that day. Sinners all of them. They knew more than I did what it was they needed to be cleansed of. And there isn’t enough water in this world to wash it all away. Only God can do it. They knew who they were in the eyes of God. They knew they needed repentance.