A Short Play based on 1 Peter
May 29, 2008
FIRST PETER
Based on 1 Peter 2:4-10
By j. Snodgrass
12 April, 2008
The Characters
PETER
MAN (Can be played by a Man or Woman)
ISAIAH
PETER : (Standing on a soap-box, preaching to passers-by) Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Love God, and honor the Emperor! Slaves obey your masters, especially when they’re cruel! Remember, the more abuse you take on Earth, the greater your reward in Heaven!
MAN : (Walking by, very tired, hears PETER) …What is this, a comedy routine?
PETER : (Ignores him) Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, and grow up in your salvation. You are coming to Christ, the living cornerstone of God’s temple. Rejected by people, but chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple.
MAN : But I just spent the whole day breaking my back, hauling stones for a new Coliseum!
PETER : What’s more, you are his holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices that please God. As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” (Isaiah 28:16)
MAN : Where do the scriptures say that?
PETER : Isaiah, chapter twenty-eight.
MAN : Yeah, but you’ve gone and taken it completely out of context! Isaiah twenty-eight isn’t about making sacrifices! It’s about lying priests getting drunk! And the Lord destroys their city!
PETER : Well maybe the cup’s half empty for you, but—
MAN : I’ll tell you what the cup is filled with! In Isaiah 28:8 “All the tables are covered with vomit and there is not a spot without filth.”
PETER : That’s disgusting. Besides, you’ve got to read between the lines. Isaiah was confused, obviously, but one thing he was sure of was the coming of Jesus the Christ – that’s what he meant by the cornerstone!
MAN : What? You have no idea what you’re talking about!
PETER : I’m entitled to my interpretation.
MAN : But I actually happen to have Isaiah, right here.