BACK LEPROSY 6'1m*f RT: Elisha cures Naaman's leprosy (RT == Readers' Theater: requires little or no memorization, little or no rehearsal. An indefinite number of reporters are salted throughout the audience.) GEHASI -- (enters wearing tunic and sandals, one hand hidden in folds of garment, crosses to podium) I'm sorry, but if you people are here for a press conference with Elisha the prophet, you may as well go home. Elisha is a very private person and won't speak to the press. REPORTER -- For the record, can you tell us your name? GEHASI -- My name is Gehasi. I am Elisha's housekeeper. REPORTER -- Can you confirm the report that the prophet Elisha did a supernatural healing recently? GEHASI -- I'm sure that if Elisha was here talking to you, he would not want to take credit for someone else's work. It was God who did the healing. REPORTER -- So, you confirm that there was a supernatural healing done here? GEHASI -- Not here. Elisha was here. But the supernatural healing was done in the Jordan river. REPORTER -- Are you saying that God did a supernatural healing through Elisha, but Elisha was nowhere near the healing? GEHASI -- That's what I'm saying. And I'm sure Elisha would confirm that. REPORTER -- That seems a little unusual, doesn't it? GEHASI -- Yes. I suppose it is, but this was an unusual case. REPORTER -- Can you be more specific? GEHASI -- Yes. In previous miracles performed by Elisha, he was physically present. But his miracles affected the citizens of Israel. REPORTER -- Are you saying that the supernatural healing was performed on a foreigner? GEHASI -- That's right. REPORTER -- This is a first, isn't it? GEHASI -- Excuse me? REPORTER -- Isn't this the first time Elisha has done a miracle for a foreigner? GEHASI -- Yes. And that's why Elisha was not present during the healing. REPORTER -- I don't understand. GEHASI -- Well, the foreigner traveled all the way to Israel seeking a supernatural healing. But he was not a believer in the God of Israel. If Elisha had been present during the miracle, the foreigner would have concluded that it was Elisha himself who had the supernatural power. But with Elisha out of the picture, the foreigner would have to give due credit to God. REPORTER -- Is that what happened? GEHASI -- Yes. The foreigner not only went home with a faith in the God of Israel, he went home with several sacks full of Israeli dirt in order to build an alter to the God of Israel in his home town. REPORTER -- Can you give us the identity of this foreigner? GEHASI -- Yes. His name was Naaman. REPORTER -- Naaman?! Naaman, the general of the Aramian army?! GEHASI -- That's right. REPORTER -- Why would the God of Israel perform a miracle for the general of one of Israel's enemies? GEHASI -- Well, our kings have turned their backs on the God of Israel. They have built shrines and alters to foreign Gods. REPORTER -- But isn't that a slap in the face of the king of Israel?! GEHASI -- Yes. I think that's what the Lord God of Israel intended. And, because Elisha is a prophet, this action is probably intended as a prediction of future events. Whenever the people of Israel reject their God, God will turn his back on Israel and reach out to the gentiles. I'm sure you'll see this happening to Israel in the future, if Israel rejects the Lord again. REPORTER -- Do you think it's likely that the King of Israel will seek revenge against Elisha for healing a foreign general? GEHASI -- The king won't be happy with Elisha, but that's nothing new. Elisha was never a favorite of the king. The king always treated God's warnings through Elisha as if they were personal attacks from Elisha himself. REPORTER -- Getting back to the supernatural healing of Naaman, can you tell us what he was healed from? GEHASI -- Yes. He had leprosy. REPORTER -- And he is now completely healed? GEHASI -- Completely. REPORTER -- What was the method of healing? GEHASI -- Elisha told Naaman to immerse himself seven times in the Jordan River. REPORTER -- That's it?! GEHASI -- That's it. REPORTER -- What possible healing could there be in the muddy old Jordan river? GEHASI -- I will remind you that it was a SUPERNATURAL healing. It was not the method that healed him. It was Naaman's obedience and God's mercy that healed him. REPORTER -- Did Elisha charge a fee for the healing? GEHASI -- Yes. No. REPORTER -- Well, which is it? GEHASI -- That's all I have time for now. (removes leprous hand from folds of garment, turns to exit) REPORTER -- Gehasi. One more question? GEHASI -- Alright. (turns) One more. REPORTER -- Is that leprosy I see on your hand there? GEHASI -- Yes. REPORTER -- Why didn't the Prophet Elisha heal YOUR leprosy? GEHASI -- Because HE's the one who GAVE me the leprosy! REPORTER -- What do you mean by that? GEHASI -- Alright. I'll tell you. Naaman offered Elisha a great deal of money and clothing in payment for the healing, but since it was God who did the healing and not Elisha, Elisha refused the payment. But I got a little greedy. I slipped out of the house to meet with Naaman secretly and told him that Elisha had changed his mind about the payment. When Elisha found out that I took payment for a miracle done by God, Elisha gave me leprosy and cursed me with it for life! REPORTER -- Aren't you making the same mistake as the king of Israel? GEHASI -- What mistake is that? REPORTER -- Aren't you blaming Elisha for punishment that comes from God himself? GEHASI -- (exiting) That's all I'm going to say. This press conference is over! ©2008 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: bob@bobsnook.org BACK |