Focus on the Family's Radio Theatre

Guest (Male): Last time on Focus on the Family Radio Theatre's presentation of The Luke Reports: The Journey to Jerusalem.

Luke: Theophilus, this task you've given me is no small errand as I try to find witnesses to the life of Jesus of Nazareth.

Elias: Oh, this is astounding! I have never seen so many parchments, not even in Rome. On these shelves are my copies of the Scriptures. And here you will find the greatest treasure, my own collection about Jesus.

Jesus: You Pharisees are conscientious to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Didn't the one who made the outside make the inside also?

Guest (Male): I refuse to remain here and listen to your insults.

Jesus: You are set free from your ailment.

Guest (Female): I am healed! Look, everyone, I am healed! I am healed!

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Jesus: What is the kingdom of God like? To what shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in the garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches. It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.

Guest (Male): Master, I want to know this kingdom. I will follow you wherever you go.

Jesus: Oh? Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. How about you? Will you follow me?

Guest (Male): Lord, first I must go and bury my father.

Jesus: Let the dead bury their own dead. As for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.

Guest (Male): I will follow you, Lord.

Jesus: Will you? Then come now.

Guest (Male): Now? All right. But first, let me say goodbye to those at my house.

Jesus: No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.

Guest (Male): Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?

Jesus: Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not murder. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness. Honor your father and mother.

Guest (Male): I have kept all these since my youth.

Jesus: There is still one thing lacking. Sell all you own and give the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. Come, follow me.

Guest (Male): No. I'm sorry.

Jesus: How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God. Indeed, it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

Guest (Male): Then who can be saved?

Jesus: What is impossible for man is possible for God.

Simon: But Master?

Jesus: Yes, Simon.

Simon: We have left our homes and followed you.

Jesus: Truly, I tell you there is no one who has left his house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God who will not get back very much more in this age, and in the age to come, eternal life.

Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, "Come here at once and take your place at the table"? No, you would say, "Prepare supper for me. Put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink. Later, you may eat and drink." Do you thank the slave for doing what you commanded?

So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, "We are worthless slaves. We have done only what we ought to have done."

Luke: At that time, people were bringing infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they sternly rebuked them to keep away. But Jesus called for them.

Jesus: Wait. Let the little children come to me and don't stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly, I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.

Simon, John, listen to me, all of you. Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to anyone by whom they come. It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble.

Be on your guard. If another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender. And if there is repentance, you must forgive. And if the same person sins against you seven times a day and turns back to you seven times and says, "I repent," you must forgive.

Guest (Male): Lord, increase our faith.

Jesus: If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, "Be uprooted and planted in the sea," and it would obey you.

Elias: Good morning, Luke.

Luke: Is it morning?

Elias: Yes. Oh, dear. Have you been working all night?

Luke: I think I must have fallen asleep at some point. I don't know.

Elias: Well, there's no more time, I'm afraid. We have to pack.

Luke: Oh, give me a little while longer, Elias. There's so much more for me to copy.

Elias: I'm sorry, my friend. Terribly sorry. I have packed everything else. The caravan will be leaving soon. Come in! Come in! Sir, these are the parchments. Now, be very careful. Put them in the satchels and in those crates.

Yes, as you wish. These are the servants of your friend. He's gracious to loan them to me. Oh, I will be so happy to get everything safely away from here.

Luke: I don't blame you. It's an amazing collection.

Elias: Thank you. Levi, the one they call Matthew, and John Mark, who also impressed when they came. And now Luke, I have given it much thought and believe that since you are determined to go to Jerusalem, you should travel first to Jericho.

Luke: Why Jericho?

Elias: Because it is the family home of Zacchaeus.

Luke: And who is Zacchaeus?

Elias: You don't know who Zacchaeus is? Oh, dear. Well, it's right here in this—no, no, in this parchment. Perhaps you hadn't read that far. It happened when Jesus was passing through Jericho and the chief tax collector, Zacchaeus, was there. He was rich, oh, very rich.

And he wanted to meet Jesus. All the rich men did. But Zacchaeus was a small man, very short, and he couldn't see over the crowds. Not that anyone would make way for a tax collector anyway. So Zacchaeus climbed a nearby sycamore tree so he could see. Jesus was passing by and looked up.

Jesus: Zacchaeus!

Zacchaeus: Master, I am here!

Jesus: Come down from there, for I am going to stay at your house today.

Zacchaeus: You are? Then yes, Master. I will come down. Lord, yes, Jesus.

Judas: Do you know who he is?

Jesus: Yes.

Judas: But don't you see? The local people are upset. You're going to be the guest of a tax collector!

Jesus: You're right, Judas. I am.

Judas: But he's renowned for his corruption.

Jesus: Perhaps he'll be known for something else soon.

Zacchaeus: Master!

Jesus: Yes, Zacchaeus.

Zacchaeus: Before you come to my house, there is something I must do. I have made a vow. Half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back—I will pay back four times as much.

Jesus: Well done, Zacchaeus. Today salvation has come to your house because you have behaved as a true son of Abraham.

Elias: What? Who could that be?

Guest (Male): Open up in the name of the Emperor!

Elias: Oh, no. No, it's not possible.

Luke: Stay calm, Elias. I'll talk to them.

Elias: No, wait. I must hide the room. You, servants, stay quiet! Don't breathe!

Guest (Male): I said to open up!

Luke: We're coming! We're coming! Ready? Yes. Good morning. What can I—

Guest (Male): Look around, Flavius. Take anything useful.

Elias: What is the meaning of this?

Guest (Male): Quiet. Sit down and stay out of the way.

Luke: I will not sit down. I am a Roman citizen.

Guest (Male): Is this your house, citizen?

Luke: Well, no. I am a guest here.

Guest (Male): Then we are within our rights to search and seize anything that will be of aid to the Emperor's army. We need food and provisions.

Luke: Take anything you need with my compliments. Please, just don't—

Guest (Male): Don't what?

Luke: Damage anything.

Guest (Male): I have no interest in damaging your hovel.

Luke: Thank you. Thank you so much.

Guest (Male): Sit down, Elias. You look ill. Oh, yes, he does. Elias, is it? You're a nervous fellow.

Luke: You startled us with your abrupt and rather rude arrival.

Flavius: Well, not much here. Some bread, wine, a few chickens in the back.

Guest (Male): Take it all.

Flavius: What about this tapestry?

Guest (Male): What about it?

Flavius: Fetch a good price at the market. You know how the commander feels about—

Guest (Male): Yes, all right. It would help to be in his favor again. Take the tapestry.

Elias: No! You can't!

Luke: Elias.

Guest (Male): Easy, old man. Take it, Flavius.

Elias: No, please. It was a gift from my wife's family. She's dead now and—

Guest (Male): If she's dead, then you have no use for it. Get on with it, Flavius.

Flavius: Yes, sir. Well, now look at this. Another room. What's in there?

Luke: Nothing of value to you.

Guest (Male): We'll be the judge of that. Open the door, Flavius.

Flavius: Yes, sir. All right, you two. Come out of there. And who are they?

Elias: Servants of a tradesman, Balthazar. He's a friend.

Guest (Male): Why were you hiding them?

Elias: I wasn't. I mean, they were inside packing. I'm leaving today for Pella.

Guest (Male): Is that so? What's in there, Flavius?

Flavius: Scrolls, parchments. It's like a library.

Luke: It is a library, which is why it is being kept in a secret room. As I said, there is nothing of value to you.

Guest (Male): What's it a library of, citizen?

Luke: This man is a scribe. It's his life's work to keep records, chronicles.

Guest (Male): Of what?

Luke: The law of his people, their history. It would be nothing to you or to anyone who isn't from this area.

Guest (Male): Come outside, all of you.

Elias: What? Why? What are you going to do with my treasures?

Guest (Male): Treasures? One minute they're worthless, the next they're treasures. Make up your mind. Outside, now!

Luke: Listen to me. What's your name?

Guest (Male): I didn't say.

Luke: I want to speak with your commander.

Guest (Male): You've a long ride to do that. You gain nothing by doing us any harm. Who wants to do you harm? Have I laid a finger on you, citizen?

Luke: No, but—

Guest (Male): Then be careful with your words. As it is, I'm very concerned that we found you in this traitor's den.

Luke: What? Me? This man is no traitor.

Guest (Male): A hidden room, suspicious documents—

Luke: They're not suspicious! Read them for yourself!

Guest (Male): As if we had the time. No, this time I think caution is what's required.

Luke: What does that mean?

Guest (Male): Flavius, torch it.

Elias: No!

Luke: No! Stay where you are, citizen!

Guest (Male): Flavius, start in the room. It'll burn more quickly there.

Luke: No! You can't! It's his life's work! You don't realize how important those parchments are!

Guest (Male): Important to who? The Emperor? Hardly. And the sooner these Jews realize that their history should be the same as our history, the better.

Elias: No! You can't! No!

Guest (Male): Stay back, old man!

Elias: Then run me through! Kill me, it's all the same now if you burn my work!

Guest (Male): You see? I spare his life and he shows no gratitude.

Luke: You're a barbarian!

Guest (Male): And you, Roman citizen, should be very careful who you socialize with.

Elias: No! Stop them! Please! Somebody stop them! Please!

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Luke: Theophilus, I am now ashamed to be linked with Rome, having witnessed many scandalous things over the past few days in my travels. Not only are Roman soldiers behaving abominably in their quest for food and provisions, but their vandalism is unprecedented. I thought that Romans prided themselves on behaving as civilized human beings, but no more.

You, as a learned man, would react as I did to the pointless destruction of parchments, documents, and scrolls containing vast amounts of history and law—the life's work of one poor scribe. If I'd had a sword, I would have forgotten my role as physician and brought down the men responsible, or I would have died trying.

As it is, Elias, the one whose loss was so great, departed the region as a mere shell of the man I had met the day before. Only by God's mercy might he find comfort. As for me, I leave this area with a heavy heart and continue my journey to Jerusalem.

Zacchaeus? Hello? Is anyone here? Hello? Is someone here? Zacchaeus? Anyone? I heard a crash! Oh! I am not a thief, nor have I come to hurt anyone!

Guest (Female): Then what do you want?

Luke: You're a woman. What do you want? I'm looking for the master of the house. I mean you no harm. Please, take off your mask.

Claudia: There.

Luke: Claudia?

Claudia: How do you know my name?

Luke: Don't you remember me? I'm Luke, the physician who accompanied Paul on the journey from Palestine to Rome. Your brother was his guard, remember?

Claudia: Luke? Yes, of course I remember.

Luke: I didn't mean to alarm you. I heard a crash and came in because I thought someone was in trouble.

Claudia: I knocked over a jar trying to sneak out.

Luke: This is astounding. I was sure I'd never see you again, and I certainly didn't expect to see you here in Jericho, of all places.

Claudia: Who can predict the twists and turns of our journeys? Oh, you've grown since I last saw you and become stronger. That's quite a left hook you have. Were you wrestling in the arena at Rome during your stay?

Claudia: I had better training than that. I grew up with three brothers—three Roman brothers—who were determined to become soldiers. One learns to become strong.

Luke: I recall that you wanted to become a soldier as well, which is why you accompanied Julius everywhere he went.

Claudia: I saw no reason why he should have all the fun, guarding Paul on the trip to Rome while leaving me behind, bored in Caesarea.

Luke: But what are you doing here?

Claudia: Like you, I came to see Zacchaeus.

Luke: Why? How do you know him?

Claudia: I don't know him. I only know of him. And after my brother was murdered—

Luke: Julius is dead?

Claudia: Yes.

Luke: I'm so sorry. How did it happen?

Claudia: We were in Jerusalem. Julius was posted there after our trip with you to Rome. He rose through the ranks of the palace guards. He was murdered by the Zealots during a failed attack against the governor.

Luke: I may have been at the palace when that attack happened.

Claudia: There have been so many. After he was murdered, I was advised by Lydia, a wise and faithful woman I knew, to leave Jerusalem, to visit Zacchaeus in Jericho and make plans to leave the area. In my grief, I took her advice. But when I arrived here, Zacchaeus and his household had already gone. I'm sure they fled from the war to come.

Luke: Claudia, tell me, are you now a follower of Jesus?

Claudia: I am. How could I avoid it after spending all that time with you and Paul on our journey?

Luke: I didn't know.

Claudia: How could you know? As if you were paying any attention to me anyway. Now it's your turn. What are you doing back in this horrible land?

Luke: I'm here to write an account of the life of Jesus, to help with Paul's defense in Rome.

Claudia: He's still in prison?

Luke: Unfortunately, yes. My various contacts led me here and to your welcome. Have they been ransacking the houses here too?

Claudia: Yes. I've hardly slept for fear of someone slipping in.

Luke: You, afraid? I didn't think you were afraid of anything.

Claudia: I have to confess that in the time since Julius was murdered, I have found it harder to be brave. Time and experience have taught me to fear. So I've been hiding in this house, waiting for some sign or indication of where to go next. Perhaps you're the sign.

Luke: Well, if I am, then I'm an ignorant one. I came here in the hope that Zacchaeus might guide me.

Claudia: Then I'm afraid we're stuck here together.

Luke: You don't know of anyone else in the area who might be of help?

Claudia: Lydia also mentioned Bartimaeus, but I don't know anything about him except that he's very old now.

Luke: Bartimaeus? I wonder if it's the same one.

Claudia: The same one as?

Luke: Blind Bartimaeus.

Claudia: Oh, I don't think he's blind.

Luke: No, he wouldn't be now. But he was at one time.

Simon: Master, it's not far to Jericho now. Some of us will run ahead to secure food and lodging.

Jesus: Thank you, Simon.

Bartimaeus: Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!

Simon: Be quiet! Come to Jericho and we'll arrange a time for you to meet with the master.

Bartimaeus: Son of David, have mercy on me!

Simon: Look, you, the master has had a long journey.

Jesus: Simon, wait. Bring him to me.

Simon: Yes, Lord. Come on, you may be blind, you're not lame. Over here.

Bartimaeus: Son of David.

Jesus: What would you like me to do for you?

Bartimaeus: Lord, let me see again.

Jesus: And so you shall. Receive your sight. Your faith has saved you.

Bartimaeus: Yes, yes, I am Bartimaeus. I am the one whose sight was restored by our Messiah. Come in. It's a pleasure to have such esteemed visitors.

Luke: Esteemed?

Bartimaeus: You are Luke, the physician, a traveler and supporter of the great Apostle Paul. And you are Claudia, the Roman girl who embraced our faith. I know of you through Lydia and the other believers left in Jerusalem. Your handiwork has aided many in need.

Luke: Handiwork, Claudia?

Bartimaeus: Is she not a—is she not a very competent weaver? She sells what she makes and gives the money to our brothers and sisters in need.

Luke: She didn't say.

Claudia: It's nothing. A hobby.

Bartimaeus: Quite a hobby. Oh, well, please, sit down. Thank you. It's so refreshing to have guests, especially when all my dearest friends have headed for the hills, so to speak.

Luke: Why haven't you joined them?

Bartimaeus: Oh, I'm—I'm too old to make a long journey now. My safety or demise is in God's hands. Now, Luke, I have heard rumors about your mission and am all too willing to help. I have stories and information.

Luke: I look forward to getting both from you. We'll talk later. First, I'd like to make arrangements to get Claudia away from here.

Claudia: What do you mean? Claudia? I think we should all leave together.

Luke: Well, Claudia, I've been thinking—

Claudia: What are you up to, Luke? What aren't you telling me?

Luke: I have to go to Jerusalem.

Claudia: You didn't tell me that was your intention! I know the Christians there! I can take you back to them!

Luke: Which is exactly what I don't want. You must get away from this area. You said yourself that it isn't safe. A war is coming.

Claudia: You think I'm afraid, but I'm not. I mean, I'm not now that you're here. We could go together.

Luke: I can't be responsible for—

Claudia: For what? When were you ever responsible for me? On that ship? In Rome? On the journey back when my brother was murdered? I haven't asked you to be responsible for anything!

Bartimaeus: Oh, you're a feisty one! You've got your hands full with this one, Luke. But why, pray tell me, are you determined to go to Jerusalem?

Luke: I believe Mary is in the area somewhere, perhaps in Jerusalem itself, and I must speak with her again if I'm to complete my chronicle. And I want to make certain she's safe.

Bartimaeus: I understand. Everything's centered on Jerusalem, isn't it? The powers and principalities wage their battles on land and in the spiritual world. Well, then, if it's Jerusalem you want, I suggest you make your way there and stop in Bethany.

Luke: Who is in Bethany?

Bartimaeus: Go to the house of Lazarus. If Mary is in the area, then she'll likely be there.

Luke: Then I'll go to Bethany.

Claudia: We'll go to Bethany.

Luke: Claudia.

Claudia: Luke.

Luke: Claudia.

Claudia: Luke.

Guest (Male): Next time on Focus on the Family Radio Theatre, the conclusion of The Luke Reports: The Journey to Jerusalem.

Luke: This is a notorious stretch of road. Someone's coming.

Guest (Male): So tell me, Luke, why Bethany? Who do you know there? Luke wants to go to the home of Lazarus.

Guest (Female): What? You can't be serious!

Guest (Male): He's very serious. You've given us no choice, Luke. I warned you to leave and you won't.

The Luke Reports: The Journey to Jerusalem is a production of Focus on the Family. Our cast starred Richard O'Callaghan as Luke, Adam Godley as Jesus, David Cossoff as Elias, Richard Todd as Bartimaeus, and Emma Flett as Claudia. For Focus on the Family Radio Theatre, I'm Dave Arnold. Thanks for listening.