Playing Jesus in a Play for 20 Years

Good morning,

I just got home from taking our youngest son, Jack, to college in Arizona. After spending a few days getting him settled and having some fun with him and his roommate, I left to spend an afternoon and evening with my friend Kathy, who I have been friends with since I was 4 years old and she was 5. While we were talking and hanging out with her husband and oldest son, the subject came up about her husband, John, playing Jesus for 20 years in a Christmas production their church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, would produce. Even though they had moved from Florida to Arizona, John would fly back each year to do the Christmas pageant!

It is a huge production with live horses and chariots, camels, lambs, and 700 people in the cast. They won an Emmy for it even! I told them I would love to watch it with them, because I wanted to hear them reminisce about what went on behind the scenes and such.

They must have given out all their more recent CDs! So funny, we found a VHS tape from 1999! We fast-forwarded through it, stopping at different parts and hearing their comments, laughing about this and that. When John comes on the stage, after half-time, he looks so much like what you would imagine Jesus, not only to look like, but to BE like! Long dark hair, warm eyes, but also his actions: big smile, touching everybody with his hands, bending down to reach children, etc… I asked him, “What are you feeling as you play Jesus, like, can you feel Him?” He said, “Oh yeah, it is unreal!”

The scene where they are in the upper room and the narrator is introducing and explaining a little about each of the 12 disciples, John, as Jesus, is talking away with each of them and I asked him what he is saying and he said, “I am actually quoting scripture. At rehearsal, I am joking and saying funny things like: Matthew, you are looking a little fat! But, when we are in front of the audience I just start quoting scripture, really amazing how I just start doing it.”

I said, “It really is quite an honor to play Jesus, isn’t it?” He said, “Oh yes, the little kids really think you are Jesus. One time this little Down syndrome boy saw me and came running up and just grabbed me and hugged me saying, ‘I love you, Jesus. I love you, Jesus!’” He said, “Hundreds of people get saved at each of these shows and we do probably 10-14 shows each Christmas–really something!”

I commented, “I suppose it is easy to play Jesus, but you are still John. How does that go, you know, you-are-not-perfect part?” Laughing, he said, “I know. After one show I went to a restaurant down the road and ordered dinner and a glass of wine. I heard some people saying, ‘That is Jesus, he is drinking wine!!’ Pretty funny, but you always remember you are representing Christ!”

Great statement! We are all representing Christ! He tells us to be like Him: love, touch people, be kind to children, tell everyone the good news… For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have ever-lasting life!! John 3:16. Love that John played Jesus, and representing love is the most important part and saving grace is a gift for everyone who believes!

Love you, Teri