Rotation.org Writing Team

JESUS HEALS TEN LEPERS

DRAMA WORKSHOP

PASSAGE

Story: Luke 17:11-19

Key/Memory Verse: Luke 17:15; Psalm 136:1

PURPOSE

See Bible Background.

Objectives for Rotation

See Bible Background.

Objectives for Drama workshop

Students will use drama to enact the story. They will discover that the lepers were all healed in doing what Jesus asked them to do. They will also see how one leper chose to personally thank Jesus, and thus grew closer to God.

PREPARATION

Read Bible Background.

Materials List

• Bandages
  
• Bibles
  
• Costumes [Optional]
  
• Fabric or white sheets
  
• Scene clapper
  
• Scissors
  

Advance Preparation Requirements

Cut white sheets or other fabric to make bandages. Make enough bandages to distribute to half of the students.

PRESENTATION

Open - Introduction

Greet your students warmly, welcoming them to the Drama Workshop. Introduce yourself and any other adults.

Ask for any prayer requests. Ask if anyone would like to lead the group in prayer. Be prepared to say a prayer yourself, working in prayer requests. A suggestion: “Loving God, we are thankful to be here today. We have come to enjoy time with our friends. We are so glad to also be welcomed into your circle of friendship, for in your presence we find joy and peace. Amen.”

Ask the following questions:

Where in the Bible would we read about Jesus?

What are the first four books of the New Testament?

What do we call those first four books? [The Gospels]

Say: The word Gospel means “good news.” Jesus teaches us the Good News. Part of that good news is that Jesus wants to be a part of our lives -- it’s like he wants us to be a part of his loving family. When we read the Gospels we learn about what sort of a relationship we can have with Jesus.

Dig - Main Content

Distribute Bibles. Have everyone find Luke 17:11-19.

Explain that our Bible story is about ten lepers; that Jesus healed all ten of these lepers. Ask someone to read verses 11-13.

Ask these questions:

What is a leper? [Someone who had a skin disease called leprosy.]

Why would the lepers stand at a distance? [The leprosy could spread to other people, so lepers were kept at a distance; they were forced to live apart from other people. Lepers tended to live together in groups.]

Distribute bandages to half of the group, asking them to tie the cloth strips on themselves. Ask the students to move into the drama portion of the room. Those with bandages will play the lepers in the story and those without bandages should bring their Bibles as they will be “narrators” for the story.

Explain that lepers had to stay away from “clean” people -- people without leprosy. Have the two groups practice: bandaged kids say “unclean” (as the lepers were required to do), while other kids shun them, staying at a distance. Have the un-bandaged kids get into “demeaning” the bandaged kids.

Have the students sit down where they are.

Ask:

How did the bandaged group feel? [They were “shunned”; are outcasts.]

How it would feel to live as an outcast?

Can you imagine having to shout “unclean” whenever you approached someone?

Do we ask people with AIDS to shout unclean?

Do we ask people with a disability to shout unclean?

What are reasons why we might consider someone in our society today as “unclean”?

What are groups you’d consider as unclean?

Offer another example from the Bible: a Samaritan. Ask: What is a Samaritan? [A religious group based in the town and region of Samaria. Jews considered Samaritans outcasts.] How do you suppose Jewish people treated Samaritans? [As outcasts, shunning them]

Say: There is a Samaritan leper in our Bible story. Let’s act out our story.

Assign someone in the bandaged group to be the Samaritan leper. Assign someone in the non-bandaged group to be Jesus. Have all of the students stand and participate in the action. The non-bandaged kids will do the Bible reading.

Use the scene clapper to announce “action.”

Have someone read verses 11-13, then ask the students to enact the verses. Then ask someone else to read verse 14. Have the students enact verse 14.

Use the scene clapper to announce “cut.”

Ask: Why would Jesus ask the lepers to go see the priests? [Visiting the priest was a requirement. Those with leprosy needed checking by priests so they could be considered “clean”.]

The Bible said, “As they went… they were made clean.” What does that mean?
So what happened when they went to see the priests? [They were cleansed; they were healed!]
Say: Wow, those lepers were obedient. Jesus didn’t say anything to them except go see the priests. They did what Jesus told them to do; they turned and went to see the priests. And as they were going, they were healed!

Ask: Isn’t that amazing?

Use the scene clapper to announce “action.”

Have the students re-enact verse 14 with feelings of amazement of being healed. Then have someone read verse 15 and 16 and have the students enact that scene.

Use the scene clapper to announce “cut.”

Say: Sorry to interrupt the action again but I am just amazed. The ten lepers are all healed as they head to see the priests. And ONE of them comes back to Jesus and falls at his feet and thanks him for healing him! And it’s the Samaritan!

Use the scene clapper to announce “action.”

Have the students re-enact verses 15-16 with the Samaritan leper showing feelings of thanks. Read verse 17-19 and enact those scenes.

Use the scene clapper to announce “cut.”

Have everyone sit down.

Reflect - Closure

Ask:

Was Jesus surprised that only one leper came back to thank him? [Yes]

Is this a story about being healed? [No, because all 10 were healed.]

Say: So this is not a story about being healed. The ten lepers all had faith in God’s command. They did what God asked; they went on their way to see the priests - and they got healed.

Ask:

Do you suppose that this is a story about how we are to respond to being healed?

So why does just one leper thank Jesus?

Why do you suppose the one leper who thanked Jesus was a Samaritan? [Jesus wants us to know that those who are outcasts, who do the right thing, are worthy of praise.]

Do you find yourself always thanking Jesus for his gifts to you?

Why is it so easy to forget to thank God for his healings/blessings?

Does being thankful bring you closer to God?

Say: This story teaches us that when we respond enthusiastically to God’s love – by being thankful – we become closer to God.

Break the class into five groups. Assign each group a portion of the memory verse that they will be asked to “perform” or enact. The portions are: One of them/ when he saw he was healed/ came back/ praising God in a loud voice/ Luke 17:15. Have each group perform their portion of the verse.

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS

Adaptations - Younger Children

Do the reading for the students.

Adaptations – Older Children

Run through the drama without any stopping.

CONTRIBUTOR: Carol Hulbert

Wanted to add the version of this drama lesson that was done at our church, using this lesson as a backdrop...


Ten Lepers Puppet Lesson
A lesson written by Debbie Houghton from:
First United Methodist Church
120 S. State Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Teaching method: acting out the Bible story of the ten lepers using the puppet stage and kitchen utensils as the puppets.

Leader Preparation:
Read the scripture for this lesson.
Read and reflect on the overview material provided for this lesson.
Prepare an opening and/or closing prayer in case you need one.
Gather the following materials

Bibles

Slotted spoons – lepers, “unclean” people

Regular spoons – “clean” people

Ladle – Jesus

Forks – Priests

Scene clapper

Puppet stage

Printed scripts of Luke 17:11-19 (This may be easier to use than the Bible when narrating and acting out the story, see attached script.)

Opening:
Do the opening as described above.

Dig In:
Distribute Bibles. Have everyone find Luke 17: 11-19.
Explain that our Bible story is about ten lepers; that Jesus healed all ten of these lepers. Have the kids read verse 11-19 out loud.

Ask: What is a leper? (someone who had a skin disease called leprosy)
Why would the lepers stand at a distance? (leprosy could spread very easily to other people, so the lepers were kept at a distance; they were forced to live apart from other people. Lepers tended to live together in groups)

Distribute the utensils to the group so everyone has a part – someone can be narrator as well. Ask the kids to move behind the puppet screen. Those with the slotted spoons will play the lepers in the story and those with regular spoons will be the “clean” people of the story. The workshop leader should use his/her Bible for narration or the printed script of the story.

Explain that lepers had to stay away from the “clean” people in the community – people without leprosy. Have the two groups practice:
-slotted spoons say “Unclean!” (As lepers were required to do)
-Regular spoons shun the slotted ones – stay away off them, make demeaning comments to them.
**CAUTION: Don’t let the kids get carried away with this – make some suggested demeaning comments to them, such as “I don’t want you near me!” “Stay away” etc. Try not to let them become very nasty to each other, even in fun!

Stop the action for a minute – ask the students this:
How did the slotted spoons feel? (you are looking for reactions to being “shunned”)
How would it feel to live as an outcast?
Can you imagine having to shout “Unclean!” whenever you approached someone?
Do we ask people with AIDS to shout unclean? What about people with a disability?
Why might we consider someone in our society today “unclean”?
Who might be called “unclean” today?

Say: During Jesus’ time, Samaritans were considered to be unclean by the Jewish society. They were a religious group based in the town and region of Samaria. There is a very well known story about a Samaritan that Jesus told called the Good Samaritan.
Ask: How do you think the Jewish people treated the Samaritans, if they thought the Samaritans were unclean? (as outcasts – using shunning expressions and actions)
Say: There is a Samaritan in this story of the ten lepers. Let’s keep acting out the story.

Assign one of the slotted spoons to be a Samaritan. Give someone in the regular spoon group the ladle and assign him/her the role of Jesus. Assign a narrator to read the story, verses 11-14 – verses are noted on the script.
Use the scene clapper to announce “Action!” – the narrator begins reading and the actors start acting.

After verse 14 is read, use the scene clapper to announce “Cut!”
Ask: Why would Jesus ask the lepers to see the priests? (visiting the priest was a requirement. Those with leprosy needed checking by priests so they could be considered clean)
The Bible said, “As they went…they were made clean.” What does that mean? (they were healed of the leprosy)
So happened when they went to see the priests? (they were completely healed and the priests could declare them clean)
Say: Wow, those lepers were obedient! Jesus didn’t say anything to them except go see the priests. They did what Jesus told them to do; they turned and went to see the priests. And as they were going, they were healed! Isn’t that amazing? Let’s start at verse 14 again and slotted spoons – act amazed and thankful at your healing! Then we’ll finish the story.

Make sure at verse 14 the slotted spoons are exchanged for regular spoons to show the healing. The narrator continues reading to the end of the story. Make sure the slotted spoons exhibit great joy at being healed! Have the all healed slotted spoons march off the stage except one; assign this one the role as the Samaritan who returns to thank Jesus. Have Jesus (the ladle) and the Samaritan finish the scene as the narrator reads.)

Reflection
Ask: Which leper came back to thank Jesus? (the Samaritan)
Was Jesus surprised that only one leper came back? (yes)
Is this a story about healing? (yes and no – the characters were healed but because they all had faith in God’s command. They ALL did what Jesus told them to and they were all healed. The story is really about how we are to respond to the healing)
Why do you think only one leper came back?
Does it matter that he is a Samaritan? (the point here is that the most “unclean” person – the Samaritan -- is the most thankful and the most faithful. Jesus says to him, “Your faith has healed and saved you.” Jesus wants us to know that those who are outcasts, who do the right thing, are worthy of praise.)
Do you find yourself always thanking Jesus for his gifts to you?
Why is it so easy to forget to thank God for his healings/blessings?
Does being thankful bring us closer to God?

Say: This story teaches us that when we respond enthusiastically to God’s love – by being thankful – we become closer to God.

If there is time, re-enact the story -- let the kids switch places and parts so they can all have a chance to be “clean” and “unclean”.

Before they go remind them of the memory verse:
Luke 17:15 “Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God in a loud voice.

Closing:
Closing prayer:
Dear God, Thank you for healing us when we need it. Help us to remember always to thank you for the healing and to praise your name each day. Keep us all safe and healthy until we meet again next week. Amen.

Script for the story of the ten lepers – Luke 17:11-19
(Taken from The Message)

Characters
Slotted spoon = the ten lepers (or however many you have!)
Regular spoons = “Clean” people
Soup ladle = Jesus
Forks = the priests

17:11 -- Narrator: It happened that as Jesus made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee.

Jesus – the ladle – begins walking across the stage

17:12 – Narrator: As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers met him.

Slotted spoons come across the stage, chanting “Unclean!” Regular spoons follow at a distance, making comments like “Keep away from us!” All stop as they reach Jesus.

17:13 – Narrator: They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out,

17:13 – Lepers (slotted spoons) : Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!

17:14 – Narrator: Taking a good look at them, he said,

17:14— Jesus (ladle): Go, show yourselves to the priests.

Jesus and the clean people go down behind the stage, the priests(forks) pop up on one side and the lepers (slotted spoons) continue to the priests.

17:14 – Narrator: They went, and while still on their way, became clean.

slotted spoons go down behind stage and pop back up as regular spoons. They begin celebrating and dancing – “Look, no slots! We are healed!”

17:15 – Narrator: One of them, when he realized he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God.

Priests and healed lepers except one down behind the stage, Jesus and one healed leper meet in the middle. This one leper kneels at Jesus’ feet.

17:16 – Narrator: He kneeled at Jesus’ feet, so grateful. He couldn’t thank Jesus enough --- and he was a Samaritan.

17:17-18 – Jesus(ladle): Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?

17:19 -- Narrator: Then Jesus said to the healed leper…

17:19 – Jesus(ladle): Get up. On your way. Your faith has healed and saved you.