:.Puzz1ed P1ace.:

I wrote this back in 2000 and, of all the stories I’ve written, it is still my favourite. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve used it – not just with kids but adults too…. go on, I dare ya!

It’s a responsive story. The words in bold type are ‘trigger words’:
As you say them children respond with the relevant phrase or action.
Explain all the trigger words beforehand. You may prefer to have someone else with you to do the actions as you tell the story.

The responses are shown at the end of the story – that way I can be sure that the story will all fit on the page when you view the print-friendly version!

The Story

From the cool river and the noise of the crowd, Jesus went by himself into the wilderness. It was bare. It was rocky. It was dry. A few wild animals lived there, but nothing else. No trees. No streams. No people. Just heat, and rocks… and silence.

Six weeks he lived there. He saw no-one. He ate nothing. By day he sheltered in the shadow of a cave. At night he lay under the stars. Thinking. Praying. All alone. Just Jesus, the sun, the moon, the stars… and God, his Dad. Or was it? As the weeks went by strange pictures came to him. He began to think about doing things he shouldn’t do…

One night he saw the Devil standing in front of him. Jesus hadn’t eaten for days. He was hungry. Really hungry. “If you’re the Son of God,” the devil said, “you don’t need to be hungry. Tell these stones to turn to bread.” He could have done it: Jesus can do anything. He stopped. He thought. But then he shouted… (no!) “The scripture says, ‘man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’” Jesus walked away.

Jesus saw the devil again. High on the top of the temple he could see people walking about below, the size of ants. “If you’re the Son of God,” the devil said, “throw yourself down. Doesn’t the scripture say ‘God will command his angels to protect you’?” He could have done it: He can do anything. He stopped. He thought, He shouted… (no!) “The scripture says ‘Do not put God to the test’.” And then he walked away.

Jesus saw the devil for a third time. This time on top of a mountain. “I will give you all you see, if you’ll kneel and worship me” the devil said. Jesus thought, and shouted… (no!) “The scripture says ‘Worship God and God alone’.” Then Jesus walked away. The devil walked away, too. Three times he had try to tempt Jesus to do things he shouldn’t do. Three times Jesus remembered words from the scriptures and shouted… (no!)

Jesus was all alone in the wilderness. It was rocky, it was dry, and he was hungry. Just Jesus, the sun, the moon and the stars. And God. God was there, with all his angels. Watching him. Helping Him. Protecting Him. Just like he does with you and with me. Every day.

The responses/actions

• Hungry
  rub stomach, say ‘rumble, rumble’
• Thought
  scratch head, ‘Hmmm…’
• Shouted
  shout ‘NO!’
• Scripture
  exaggerated scroll-unrolling action
• Walked away
  turn around on the spot

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posted late at night in Ministry & Teaching by puzz1ed1 | 7,435 Views |
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