Jesus’ Every Word and Deed
Readers' Theatre Version
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
At noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining.
OT NARRATOR: Prophecy Written About 760 Years Before Christ - from Amos 8:9-10p:
"In that day," declares the Sovereign LORD, "I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight. I will turn your religious festivals into mourning and all your singing into weeping. I will make that time like mourning for an only son and the end of it like a bitter day."
NARRATOR: At three in the afternoon, Jesus cried out in a loud voice,
JESUS: Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?
NARRATOR: Which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
OT NARRATOR: Prophecy Written About 1010 Years Before Christ - from Psalm 22:1:
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?
NARRATOR: When some of those standing near heard this, they said,
SOME CLOSE BY: Listen, he's calling Elijah.
NARRATOR: Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said,
JESUS: I am thirsty.
OT NARRATOR: Prophecy Written About 1044 Years Before Christ - from Psalm 22:14-17:
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. Dogs surround me; a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me.
NARRATOR: Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. A jar of wine vinegar was there, so he soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, lifted it to Jesus' lips and offered it to Jesus to drink.
OT NARRATOR: Prophecy Written About 1015 Years Before Christ - from Psalm 69:21p:
They gave me vinegar for my thirst.
NARRATOR: The rest said,
GROUP: Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down.
NARRATOR: When he had received the drink, Jesus cried out again in a loud voice,
JESUS: It is finished. Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.
OT NARRATOR: Prophecy Written About 1060 Years Before Christ - from Psalm 31:5:
Into your hands I commit my spirit: deliver me, LORD, my faithful God.
NARRATOR: When he had said this, he breathed his last, bowed his head and gave up his spirit. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he praised God and said,
CENTURION: Surely this was a righteous man. Surely this man was the Son of God!
NARRATOR: At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus' resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed,
CENTURION & ALL GUARDS: Surely he was the Son of God!
OT NARRATOR: Prophecy Written More Than 700 Years Before Christ - from Isaiah 52:14-15p:
Just as there were many who were appalled at him – his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness – so he will sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For they will see, and they will understand.
NARRATOR: When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away.
OT NARRATOR: Prophecy Written More Than 700 Years Before Christ - from Isaiah 53:4-5:
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities: the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
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About the Book
This "Readers Theater" version of Jesus' Every Word and Deed, separates the various roles for groups to interactively verbalize the complete life of Jesus using only the exact words from the Bible, which is woven to seamlessly read like a book.
This extraordinary work combines the four unique eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ life into a single, unified and harmonious narrative of Jesus' Every Word and Deed. Fifty-nine Old Testament prophecies are also included where fulfilled in Jesus' life.
Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council in Washington, DC states: "Finally there is a resource that combines the four Gospels into one continuous and compelling account that makes the story of Jesus even more accessible to those who seek Him. Additionally, Old Testament prophecies that foretell Christ’s words and deeds are inserted in a way that enriches the whole and everything is color coded for easy identification. I commend John Burkhalter for his labor intensive effort that promises much reward for those who engage it."
Casual readers, students and scholars alike will enjoy this easy to read but comprehensive work that offers insights for everyone. The entire teachings and actions of Jesus are recorded in Jesus' Every Word and Deed, Readers Theatre Version, which is a companion to the original book Jesus' Every Word and Deed, Woven From the Scriptures. A mirrored Scripture Reference Section is available in a the back of the original book and its’ eBook which shows where every word is found by book, chapter and verse. That eBook version also allows the reader to easily toggle back and forth between the book and referencesections.
No "artistic license" is taken and the entirety of the work stands alone in describing the acts, wisdom, and teachings of Jesus in a complete yet concise format.
About the Author
John Burkhalter describes himself simply as a forgiven sinner and a grateful lover of Jesus Christ and God's Word. He is a Ruling Elder in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, having served 5 times in 3 churches in that capacity while teaching Bible classes for most of the past 40 years. At age 55 John retired as President and CEO of THI Holding Company, a subsidiary of Nationwide Insurance Company, and worked briefly as a Christian Counselor evaluating Christian Ministries throughout the world on behalf of prospective donors before pursuing research for this book over the last 12 years.