BACK OILLAMP 4'2m0f The parable of the oil lamp ED -- And now, sit down, put your feet up, relax and listen to another edition of... Parables on Parade. Tonight's parable is from Luke chapter 8, beginning at verse 16. "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light"...what is that smell? Do I smell kerosene? FRED -- This is our object lesson for today. ED -- You again. You're not going to burn down the studio, are you? FRED -- Oh Contraire, my skeptical friend. This is an authentic 2000 year-old oil lamp, from Israel, which I will deftly use to extract the meaning from this parable. ED -- I can hardly wait. FRED -- First, we turn off the lights in the studio and light the lamp to demonstrate how this small lamp will light up the entire room. So, will you hit the light switch over there? ED -- Alright. (click) FRED -- Oh, ah. ED -- What's the matter? FRED -- Could you turn on the light? ED -- Sure. (click) Why? FRED -- I can't find my matches. ED -- (clicks tongue) FRED -- I know what you're going to say. You're going to say that I should have rehearsed this demonstration, so that this embarrassing delay would not have hap... oh, here they are! ED -- I see you're using the authentic first century safety matches, with the Greek inscription "Close cover before striking." FRED -- You can poke fun at me if you wish. But this demonstration will be invaluable to our listeners who hunger to know the the exact meaning of the "parable of the lamp". Hit the lights. ED -- We should have a drum roll? FRED -- Very funny. Hit the lights. ED -- Alright. (click, strike match) FRED -- Now, I am lighting the lamp. Tell our listeners what you see. ED -- The room is filled with the light from this crude first century oil lamp. You can't believe how this demonstration has increased my understanding of the meaning of this parable. FRED -- This is only the first part of the demonstration, silly! Now, I put the lamp on this table and cover the lamp with this jar, as the parable suggests. ED -- Our listeners should know that the jar is an authentic first century flower pot on which we can still see the Hebrew inscription, "Polypropylene plastic". FRED -- Your snide comments will not deter the impact of this demonstration, my cynical friend. As I now lower the inverted pot over the oil lamp and completely cover it, tell our listeners what happens. ED -- The room gets dark. FRED -- That is correct. ED -- That demonstration was absolutely breath taking. FRED -- But wait there's more. ED -- I don't know if my heart can take all this excitement. FRED -- I shall ignore your petulance and proceed to the final part of our demonstration. I now remove the jar from the oil lamp and then slide the lamp under this bed. (from afar) Tell our listeners what you see. ED -- Sparing no expense, we are using an authentic first century rental rollaway bed. FRED -- (from afar) Just tell our listeners what you see. ED -- The room gets dark. FRED -- (up close) The meaning of this parable is now clear. ED -- Well, I'm still in the dark. FRED -- Oh, hush and turn on the lights! ED -- Alright. (click) Now, tell us, oh great Lama, what is the meaning of the parable of the lamp? FRED -- The Lord has given us a terrific opportunity for eternal life, in his son, whom the Bible calls the light of the world. We should let everyone know about this opportunity. We shouldn't hide it under a jar or under a bed. ED -- Ah, what's that smell? Is something burning? BOTH -- The bed! FRED -- (from afar) I left the lamp burning under the bed. ED -- Tune in next time... FRED -- (from afar) You'd better unplug the smoke alarm! ED -- ...for another edition of Parables on Parade. (Beeeeeep) ©2013 Bob Snook. Conditions for use: Do not sell any part of this script, even if you rewrite it. Pay no royalties, even if you make money from performances. You may reproduce and distribute this script freely, but all copies must contain this copyright statement. http://www.bobsnook.org email: [email protected] BACK |