Focus on the Family's Radio Theatre

Dave Arnold: Last time on Focus on the Family's Radio Theatre presentation of The Luke Reports: The Journey to Jerusalem.

Guest (Male): Son of David, have mercy on me!

Jesus: Bring him to me. Receive your sight.

Luke: I am now ashamed to write to anyone associated with Rome.

Zacchaeus: Master, I am here!

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

Luke: I have to go to Jerusalem.

Claudia: You didn't tell me that was your intention.

Guest (Male): Flavius, torch it!

Dave Arnold: Classic adventure.

Guest (Male): The main event is a seven-lap contest between chariot and horse.

Guest (Male): I am the only person alive who can tell you the true fate of your mother and sister. I dare not endanger his life.

Dave Arnold: Unforgettable drama. stories that will touch your heart.

Guest (Male): Epiphany. O gracious heaven, let her not have gone down to the stone pits. Epiphany!

Guest (Male): Here, quick. There's a child in here. A child? All alone in a place like this? Mercy on us. Who is she? I am Mary Lennox.

Dave Arnold: These audio dramas are available for you and your family to treasure for years to come. Produced by Focus on the Family's Radio Theatre, stories like Ben-Hur, Silas Marner, and The Secret Garden can be yours. For more information, the number is 1-800-A-FAMILY, or visit our website at radiotheatre.org. Focus on the Family Radio Theatre: Bring the adventure home.

Guest (Male): ChatGPT and AI can offer you ideas and attempt to give you answers, but it can't listen with compassion, pray with you, or offer biblical wisdom. Real connection is what brings true hope. Focus on the Family offers a free, confidential consultation with a Christian counselor to guide you and help you find hope with whatever you're facing. Go to focusonthefamily.com/gethelp or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. That's 1-800, the letter A, the word FAMILY.

Claudia: I hope you're not too terribly annoyed about my coming with you.

Luke: I'm annoyed because it's dangerous, not because of your company.

Claudia: You don't mind my company, then? Before, when we were traveling to Rome, I thought I annoyed you.

Luke: Oh, hardly. Then I enjoyed your youthful zeal and spirit. It was refreshing, though you occasionally got us into trouble.

Claudia: And now?

Luke: Now, well, you've become a beautiful and mature young woman. Still headstrong, I notice.

Claudia: But not annoying.

Luke: No, not annoying.

Claudia: I realize now that I was reckless about things, but since I became a believer and since my brother's death, I see things differently. I thought about you often, Luke. After I decided to follow Jesus, I wished I had all those days and nights on that ship, time to ask you all the questions I wanted to ask.

Luke: Well, I'm sure the believers in Jerusalem were a help to you.

Claudia: Oh, they were. But I yearned for your thoughtfulness, your understanding. I knew you could tell me about the way of Jesus.

Luke: No better than anyone else could.

Claudia: You underestimate yourself. You always have. You were always in Paul's shadow.

Luke: No better place for me to be. All right, then. Well, go on. Ask me anything.

Claudia: I'd like to know how you've survived this ordeal.

Luke: Ordeal?

Claudia: How have you coped with this journey?

Luke: It's so hard to say. I think praying has been a source of strength.

Claudia: How do you pray?

Luke: I try to follow the example that Jesus himself gave.

Guest (Male): Lord? Yes, John. The rest of us were talking about how you go off by yourself to pray. Yes. We were wondering, will you teach us to pray? John the Baptist taught his disciples, you see, and we thought you might teach us as well.

Jesus: All right. When you pray, say: Father, hallowed is your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who have sinned against us. And do not bring us to a time of temptation.

Let's suppose that one of you has a friend and you go to him at midnight and you say to him, "Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived and I have nothing to give him." And your friend calls out to you, "Don't bother me! The door is locked and my family and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything."

I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you anything because he is your friend, he will eventually get up and give you what you need if you persist in asking. So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks, receives. And everyone who searches, finds. And for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Or I'll put it another way. Is there anyone among you, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead? Or if that child asks for an egg, will you give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?

Therefore, I tell you, don't worry about your life, about what you will eat or about what you'll wear on your body. For life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens. They do not sow or reap. They don't even have storehouses or barns, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And can any of you by worrying add a single minute to your life? If then you're not able to do a small thing as that, why do you worry about the rest?

Consider the lilies, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin. Yet I can assure you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God can clothe the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith? So don't keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For the nations of the world strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

Instead, seek his kingdom first, and these things will be added to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give alms. Make treasures for yourselves that will not wear out, an everlasting treasure in heaven where no thief can break in or moth destroy. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Luke: These are the things that Jesus said, and I try to live by.

Claudia: I'm going to enjoy reading your chronicle when you finish.

Luke: If I finish.

Claudia: Oh, you'll finish. I have no doubt.

Luke: What makes you so sure?

Claudia: Because God is with you. What was that?

Luke: Probably nothing.

Claudia: Probably something. This is a notorious stretch of road.

Luke: Someone's coming. Brace yourself, Claudia, and stay calm.

Aryeh: Stop where you are! No tricks, and maybe you won't get hurt.

Luke: "Maybe"? Is that supposed to be a promise?

Aryeh: Shut up. Just hand over your valuables. All of them. And don't try to hide anything because we will find it, one way or the other.

Claudia: Oh, Luke! What do we do?

Luke: What they ask. Though I should say, gentlemen, that I'm a physician, and this satchel contains my herbs and remedies. They're of no value to you unless you know how to use them properly.

Aryeh: You're a physician? Then come with us.

Luke: To where?

Aryeh: To wherever we take you. Stop asking questions and do as we say.

Luke: Then I guess we'll come. Wait here. Is someone sick? Why have you brought us here?

Aryeh: Just wait here.

Claudia: What are they up to?

Luke: I have no idea. It's possible they have some wounded they want me to treat.

Claudia: Do you think there's another way out of this cave? Perhaps we can escape.

Luke: I wouldn't try. If there's a way out, it would take us ages to find it, and we'd never make it two feet beyond the entrance.

Claudia: Then what can we do?

Luke: Listen. Someone's coming.

Aryeh: Well, well. Luke the physician.

Luke: Aryeh? Aryeh! Hello, Aryeh. Oh, it's good to see you again! How is this possible? They told me you were dead. I was certain of it from the looks of you at the time.

Aryeh: My wounds were bloodier than they were serious. I'm still recovering, in fact. But Josiah lied about my death so you wouldn't look for me.

Luke: Why?

Aryeh: Because he thought I was a worthy candidate for the fight, the cause.

Luke: You're a member of the Sicarii. You're part of this misguided revolution.

Aryeh: We can debate about whether or not it is misguided. But yes, I'm part of the fight to redeem Israel, to throw out Rome and fulfill God's promises to our people.

Luke: But what of your faith in Jesus? You are, or were, a follower of his.

Aryeh: Well, and I still am. Josiah's shown me how Jesus was part of God's work in Israel, to restore us as a nation.

Luke: I'm not sure Jesus would agree with him.

Claudia: Is someone going to introduce us? I'd like to know who my captor is.

Aryeh: Captor? Not at all, dear lady. We're friends. I am Aryeh.

Luke: And this is Claudia.

Aryeh: A Roman name.

Claudia: Yes. And why, Luke, are you friends to bandits?

Aryeh: Bandits? Oh, that. Look, our men have to fund our revolution. It's no different than the Romans, though they call their robbery taxation.

Luke: Robbery is still robbery, Aryeh.

Aryeh: You feel that way now, but when we've driven out the Romans, things will be different. For better or worse, grab your things.

Luke: You mean we can keep them?

Aryeh: Of course. But hurry. I have to take you to Josiah. He wants to see you. In fact, he's been looking for you.

Luke: He's been looking for me? Should I be worried?

Aryeh: Of course not. You don't think I'd put you in danger, do you?

Luke: Not purposefully, no.

Aryeh: Then trust me.

Luke: Oh, I trust you. It's Josiah I have the problem with.

Aryeh: Give him a chance. You'll see.

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Josiah: So, it's our good friend Dr. Luke.

Aryeh: Josiah, I told you we would find him.

Josiah: So you did. Well done, Aryeh. And who is this?

Luke: Her name is Claudia. She is under my protection.

Josiah: Is she? Now she is under mine. Aryeh, escort Claudia to the other women.

Claudia: I'd rather stay with Luke, if that's all the same to you.

Josiah: Unfortunately, it isn't all the same to me. Take her, Aryeh.

Aryeh: Claudia, it would be easier for everyone if you do as he asks.

Claudia: I'll do it, but I won't like it.

Josiah: Thank you. She has spirit. What do you want, Josiah? Why am I here? You could try to disguise how much you loathe me.

Luke: What difference will it make?

Josiah: Probably none. Aryeh has been an asset to us.

Luke: If I shared your convictions, I might be glad for you and for him. But I don't, Josiah. What you're doing to your own people in the name of freedom is abominable.

Josiah: This isn't only about freedom, Luke. It's about much more than that. It's about redemption. It's about the fulfillment of God's great prophetic promises. It's about our place in his restoration of our country. Hasn't your apostle Saul—Paul, rather—taught you? Has he drifted so far from his roots with us?

Luke: I know who you are and what you stand for. You don't have to preach the party line to me.

Josiah: If you understand, then how can you speak against us? Surely you would want God's will to be established in our land. You would want his chosen people to be in their chosen place.

Luke: The true believers of God are his chosen. This physical land that you want to kill for is of no importance to me.

Josiah: Exactly what I would expect a non-Jew to say.

Luke: Paul says the same.

Josiah: Brainwashed by his affiliation with the Greeks and Romans, no doubt.

Luke: Or perhaps cleansed by God through Jesus Christ.

Josiah: And so we go around and around with time proving one of us right and the other wrong. Meanwhile, we have jobs to do. Mine is to tell you to leave the country.

Luke: What? You're joking.

Josiah: I'm not. Your life is in danger here.

Luke: That's nothing new.

Josiah: No, but what is new is the level of danger. You see, there are those who want your mission, your chronicle of Jesus, stopped. They fear that a renewed interest in the teachings of Jesus might work against our revolution, so the word has gone out that you're to be assassinated.

Luke: Assassinated?

Josiah: On the spot. But you see what a friend I truly am to you. I'm giving you the warning that even now men are seeking you out to kill you.

Luke: Then I owe you my thanks, Josiah, for the warning. And if that is all you wanted to say, then I'll get Claudia and bid you goodbye.

Josiah: You'll leave the country?

Luke: Eventually, I suppose. But for now, I'm going to Bethany.

Josiah: Why Bethany?

Luke: I hope to meet a friend there.

Josiah: As it is, some of us are going that way. We'll escort you.

Luke: That won't be necessary.

Josiah: I insist. Besides, we may serve to protect you from the assassins I mentioned.

Luke: Again, it isn't—

Josiah: It would be rude for you to decline our offer, Luke. No doubt you would enjoy the companionship of Aryeh.

Luke: I would enjoy his companionship, yes.

Josiah: Good. Then it's settled. We'll eat, refresh ourselves, then set off for Bethany.

Aryeh: Oh! Are you all right, Claudia?

Claudia: Yes, I'm sorry. Josiah must walk at such a fast pace.

Aryeh: Yes. Night is coming. These roads are dangerous.

Luke: I thought you and your men were the only danger on these roads. Aryeh, please try to understand.

Aryeh: Understand what exactly? I don't think you can persuade me the way they've persuaded you. They haven't persuaded me. I've been persuaded by our Torah. How can you refute it? The story is there. We are living the story, and one day soon our God will bring that story to its rightful conclusion. The enemies of Israel will be driven out, and the true people of the one true God will be vindicated for all time. It's all there, and I'm playing my part.

Luke: It may be the wrong part in the wrong play, my friend. So tell me, Luke, why Bethany? Who do you know there?

Aryeh: I know. Do you? Luke wants to go to the home of Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus. In fact, Jesus brought Lazarus back from the dead.

Josiah: And you think he lives there now?

Aryeh: Possibly. Or his sisters, Martha and Mary. There's a story about Martha and Mary. My father told me.

Josiah: What story?

Aryeh: Well, Jesus went to visit them, and Mary, I think it was, would sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to him speak. Well, Martha didn't like that very much since she was running around trying to fix the meal and make sure the guests are taken care of.

Josiah: Martha was right.

Aryeh: She thought so too. So she went to Jesus and said, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me." But Jesus said, "Martha, you're worried and busy by so many things. There's only one thing that you need. Mary has chosen the right thing, and it will not be taken away from her."

Josiah: Interesting. And what do you suppose that one thing was?

Aryeh: It's been a matter of debate. Some think it was obvious. The one thing is simply to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to him. That should be our priority.

Josiah: Nonsense. And it's an indication of everything that's wrong with the followers of Jesus that they would think so.

Luke: What do you mean?

Josiah: You people have spent years making a eunuch out of the man. You've stripped him of his fire and zeal. He was one of us. He was a zealot.

Luke: Oh, really? What makes you think so?

Josiah: His own words. My father heard Jesus speak, and to this day I remember what he said.

Jesus: I came to bring fire to this earth, and how I wish it were already ablaze. I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what a burden I am under until it is fulfilled. Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. They'll all be divided: father against son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.

Josiah: And on another occasion, he told a story about the coming kingdom. A nobleman went to a distant country to be crowned king and then return. He summoned ten of his slaves and gave them three months' wages, about ten coins, and said, "Do business with this money until I come back."

Meanwhile, the citizens of his country, who hated him, sent a delegation to try to stop him from being made king. They said, "We do not want this man to rule over us." Then the man returned, having been crowned king anyway, and he called together the slaves he'd given the money to in order to find out what they had gained in their business dealings.

The first came forward and said, "Lord, your coin has made ten more coins." And he said to him, "Well done, servant! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, I'm putting you in charge of ten cities." Then the second slave came, saying, "Lord, your coin has made five coins." And the man said to him, "Well done, you will rule over five cities."

Then the other came, saying, "Lord, here is your coin. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth, for I was afraid of you. You are a harsh man who takes what you didn't invest and harvests what you didn't plant." Then the man said to him, "I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! You knew that I was a harsh man, taking what I did not invest and harvesting what I did not plant. Why then didn't you put my money in the bank? Then when I returned, I could have collected it with interest."

So he said to those nearby, "Take the coin from this worthless servant and give it to the one who has ten coins." And those nearby said, "But Lord, he already has ten coins." The man said, "I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given, and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. And as for those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them, bring them here and slaughter them in my presence."

Jesus: Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit. Be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him without delay. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes. Truly, I tell you, he will put on his serving clothes and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes late at night or in the morning and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

But know this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.

Guest (Male): Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?

Jesus: Who then is the faithful and sensible manager whose master will put him in charge of his slaves to give them their share of the food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. Truly, I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions.

But if that slave says to himself, "My master is delayed in coming," and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and he will cut him to pieces and put him with the unfaithful.

That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required. And from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.

So you see, when the kingdom of God comes, it will come in violence to the unfaithful and the disobedient. Jesus understood this.

Luke: But that isn't all he said, Josiah. When asked when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied:

Jesus: The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed. No one can say, "Look, here it is," or "There it is," for in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.

Guest (Male): But Rabbi, show us a sign of this kingdom!

Jesus: This generation is an evil generation. It asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here. The people of Nineveh will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here.

When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, "It's going to rain," and so it does. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, "There will be scorching heat," and it happens. Oh, you hypocrites! You know how to interpret the signs of the earth and the sky, but you don't know how to interpret the signs of this present time.

Josiah: And this is why you're a dangerous man, Luke.

Luke: Because I won't twist the words of Jesus to suit your purpose.

Josiah: Something like that. Is this Bethany?

Aryeh: It is. And alas, this is where we must part company. Aryeh, you've been a good soldier to our cause, which is why I believe you'll do the right thing and follow orders.

Aryeh: The right thing?

Josiah: Yes. I want you to kill Luke.

Aryeh: What? You can't be serious!

Josiah: He's very serious. You've given us no choice, Luke. I warned you to leave and you won't. You're too dangerous to keep around. Aryeh, obey me.

Aryeh: But no, he's my friend.

Josiah: I suspected as much. Then I'll have to do it.

Dave Arnold: The Luke Reports: The Journey to Jerusalem was written and directed by Paul McCusker. Sound design was by Todd Busteed. Music was composed by John Campbell. Our cast included Richard O'Callaghan as Luke, Adam Godley as Jesus, David Kossoff as Elias, Emma Flett as Claudia, Richard Todd as Bartimaeus, Juri Sarossi as Aryeh, and Andrew Harrison as Josiah. Featuring Alister Danson, Tom Harper, Mark Peyton, Stewart Pendre, John Pearson, Blake Ritson, and Simon Treeves as the disciples. And also starring Justin Butcher, John Glover, Tim Meats, Christopher Naylor, Richard Sims, and Christine Way. And I'm Dave Arnold, your producer and host for Focus on the Family Radio Theatre. Thanks for listening.