Here’s an
alternate readers’ theatre setting of Mark 8:27-38, the suggested gospel
reading for Proper 19 B (Ordinary 24 B) – the sixteenth Sunday after
Pentecost. This version is taken from The Voice translation of scripture.
Readers’ Theatre: Mark
8: 27-38 (The Voice)
One: As He traveled with His disciples into the
villages of Caesarea Philippi,
He posed an important question to
them.
Two: Who do the people say that I am?
One: They told Him about the great speculation
concerning His identity.
Three: Some of them say You are John the Baptist,
others say Elijah,
while others say one of the prophets
of old.
Two: (pressing
the question) And who do you say that I am?
Three: You are God’s Annointed, the Liberating King.
Two: Don’t tell anyone. It is not yet time.
One: And He went on to teach them many things
about Himself:
how the Son of Man would suffer;
how He would be rejected by the
elders, chief priests, and scribes;
how He would be killed;
and how, after three days, God would
raise Him from the dead.
He said all these things in front of
them all,
but Peter took Jesus aside to rebuke
Him.
Two: Get behind Me, you tempter!
You’re thinking only of human
things,
not of the things God has planned.
One: He gathered the crowd and His disciples
alike.
Two: If any one of you wants to follow Me,
you will have to give yourself up to
God’s plan
take up your cross,
and do as I do.
For any one of you who wants to be
rescued will lose your life,
but any one of you who loses your
life for My sake
and for the sake of this good news
will be liberated.
Really, what profit is there for you
to gain the whole world
and lose yourself in the process?
What can you give in exchange for
your life?
If you are ashamed of Me and of what
I came to teach
to this adulterous and sinful
generation,
then the Son of Man will be ashamed
of you
when He comes in the glory of His
Father
along with the holy messengers at
the final judgment.
~ taken from The Voice™ http://www.hearthevoice.com/ Copyright © 2006, 2007, 2008 by
Ecclesia Bible Society.
