Cast: Narrator, Puppets for Nicodemus, Jesus, Jewish leader #1, Jewish Leader #2, Nicodemus' Mom

Narrator: “Once upon a time, there was a man named Nicodemus.”

Nicodemus: “Dum di dum, dum di doo … “ (Nicodemus appears at stage right, lower level.)

Narrator: “Nicodemus was an important Jewish teacher who held a position on the Sanhedrin, which was sort of like the Supreme Court of the nation of Israel.”

Nicodemus: “That’s right. There’s 70 of us on the Sanhedrin, and then only the High Priest above us. It is an important job, and I take it seriously.”

Narrator: “During that time, Jesus was teaching in the temple courtyard.”

Jesus: (Appears stage left, upper level. Walks across stage, with several disciples following.) “So, as I was telling you, the Kingdom of God is like a man who found a treasure, buried in a field … “

Narrator: “Nicodemus watched Jesus carefully, and listened to him teach, because part of his job as a leader of Israel was to guard the people from false teachers.”

Nicodemus: “Hmmm. Another one of these teachers. I wonder where he went to school? I hope he doesn’t stir up trouble with the Romans!”

Narrator: (Two other members of the Sanhedrin pop up next to Nicodemus.) “Some of the members of the Sanhedrin wanted to arrest and kill Jesus, because He wasn’t part of their group, and he kept pointing out that they were proud and loved themselves a lot more than they loved God. They were afraid of him and refused to believe in his many miracles.”

Leader 1: “I don’t like this Jesus guy. He keeps telling the people that we’re hypocrites. I think he’s a fake.”

Nicodemus: “But what about the miracles he does? You saw him heal that blind guy on Tuesday, and the guy with the twisted feet that he healed yesterday, is standing right over there! Yes, that one – he’s hopping up and down and grinning.”

(One of the puppets listening to Jesus hops up and down.)

Leader 2: “That must have been faked, too. This Jesus is going to make trouble with the Romans, and then they’ll make trouble for us. He’s got to go!”

Nicodemus: “Well, I don’t know. I need to listen to him a bit more.”

Leader 1: “Do what you like, but I’ve heard enough. If anyone is going to teach about the kingdom of God, we will do the teaching!” (The two Sanhedrin members leave.)

Jesus: “… so, he sold everything he had, and he bought the field so that he could have the buried treasure for himself. Well, that’s enough for today. Go home and get some sleep, and I’ll see you here tomorrow morning. ” (Crowd exits, Jesus comes down to lower level, opposite Nicodemus.)

Narrator: “Maybe Nicodemus was afraid of what the other members of the Jewish court would think, or perhaps he couldn’t get near Jesus because of the crowds. For whatever reason, he came to Jesus at night, to ask him some questions.”

(Move Nicodemus across stage, have him pretend to knock on door. Sound of knocking is heard.)

Nicodemus: “Um, hello, Jesus? I hope you’re not asleep yet – I’ve got a few questions.”

Jesus: “Come on in. What do you need to know?”

(Nicodemus enters Jesus’ house.)

Nicodemus: “Well, you keep talking about the Kingdom of God. How can I be sure that I will be part of that Kingdom?”

Jesus: “That’s a good question. In order to enter the Kingdom of God, you have to be born again.”

Nicodemus: “Born again?

Jesus: “Yep. Born again.”

Nicodemus: “Born again?”

Jesus: (Looks around.) “Is there an echo, in here?”

Nicodemus: “Hold on a second. (He walks across stage, and calls off-stage.) Hey, Ma!”

Nickodemus’ Mom: (Pops up on upper level.) “Whattya want? Can’t you see my lamp is out? Come back tomorrow!”

Nicodemus: “No, Mom, this’ll just take a second. This teacher says if I want to enter the kingdom of God, I’ll have to be born again. Can we DO that?”

Nicodemus’ Mom: “Not a chance, buster! It was no picnic giving birth to you 40 years ago, and I’m not going through THAT again! You must be at least 180 pounds, if you’re an ounce! Lay off the matzah balls, will ya?” (Exits.)

Nicodemus: (Walks back over to Jesus.) “Jesus, that’s not going to work. Mom says, ‘No way, Jose.’ I don’t even KNOW anyone named ‘Jose’. Got any other ideas?”

Jesus: “No, when I say you have to be ‘born again’, I mean you have to be born of the spirit, just as you were born of the flesh. It means you have to start over with a new kind of life in your spirit.”

Nicodemus: “Um, I’m not sure I’m completely following you … ?”

Jesus: “Aren’t you supposed to be one of the teachers of Israel? Where’d you go to school, anyway? No, don’t answer that, I don’t want to know. Look, it is simple. Can you see the wind?”

Nicodemus: “Not usually – not unless there’s a lot of dust … “

Jesus: “Right. Just like you can’t see the wind, or where it comes from, there are spiritual things that you can’t see but are still very real. In order to enter the Kingdom of God, you need to be ‘reborn’ in your spirit.”

Nicodemus: “So, how can I be reborn in the spirit?”

Jesus: “Do you remember the story in Numbers 21, when the people who rebelled against God were bitten by poisonous snakes, and God made a way for them to be healed?”

Nicodemus: “Yes … they had to look at a bronze snake that Moses put on a stick … and if they looked at it, they would be healed.”

Jesus: “Right. They had to have at least a little faith that God would do what He said – and He saw that faith and healed them! In the same way, God has sent His Son, who will also be lifted up for everyone to see, and those who believe on Him will be reborn in their spirit.”

Nicodemus: “Hmmm. I think I see. You’ve given me a lot to think about. Thanks for talking with me.”

Jesus: “It was my pleasure. Good night.”

(Nicodemus and Jesus exit.)

Narrator: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”