TAKE OFF THE GRAVECLOTHES!

Author : Brian Rensford
Copyright to Public Domain (feel free to adapt to your own cultural situation, only acknowledge source of skit)

Theme : New believers need help from other Christians to remove the "grave clothes" of their old life.

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Yet when Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up". His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better". Jesus had been speaking of his death but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. "Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odour, for he has been there four days". Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me ". When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go!"

God's word plainly states that everybody who is born starts in the grave of death, even while they are alive! Ephesians chapter 2 says, "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature, and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ, even when we were dead in transgressions -- it is by grace you have been saved."

Narrator continues Welcome to Church! What we have here is Terry! He's been a dead man. But Jesus loves Terry; He's got him out of that stinking grave, and He's going to get him out of those stinking grave clothes..... but let's see just how He does....

Sally [moves on stage, looking at Terry] Hi! Who are you? Haven't seen you around here before. What's your name? Where are you from? (Aside to audience) pee-eeww! What's that awful smell? Doesn't this guy know about de-oooo-dorant?!?

Terry I'm Terry. My friends call me Ceme-Terry . Wonder why?.... No, I haven't been around church too much. As a matter of fact, I've been dead! Well, really dead in myself, if you know what I mean. I was a goner! But all that changed a few weeks ago. I heard Jesus call me out of my rat hole of a grave - boy, was I a mess! Now I'm alive, I mean, I am alive!

Sally But if you're alive now, what's that dreadful pong?!? [holds handkerchief over nose]

Narrator [loudly] Take off the grave clothes!

Terry Did you hear something? Anyway, I can't stay - I'm off to the AC/DC reunion concert at the Entertainment Centre tonight. They've been my favourite band for 10 years. I've got all their records. Highway to Hell's always been my favourite [holds up cassette] - you into AC/DC, Sally? They knock me out!

Sally No I'm not. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty careful about what I'm into, now Christ is my Lord. When I got saved, I went through my record collection really carefully, and got rid of anything sus! I realized pretty quickly everything I take in affects my life so much. It's a lot different now. [pauses] Terry, are you sure you use deodorant? [coughs to one side]

Terry No one's ever told me that before. Come to think of it... since I got saved, every time I get into AC/DC I end up with a migraine! Maybe God's been trying to tell me something...

Narrator [loudly] Take off the graveclothes!

Terry [destroys cassette] OK - that's the last time I get into bad music. [pauses] Hey! I feel better already!

Sally Suddenly you don't smell so bad for some reason, Terry....

Terry You're a nice girl, Sally. I think we'd get on well. What star sign are you? No, no! Let me guess! I bet you're a Gemini. I'm a Taurus [pulls out star sign necklace and shows it to her]. They say I'm Love-a-bull - get it? Maybe we could get into orbit together?

Sally That was a Terry-bull pun! Yeah, you're not too bad. But for one, [pauses, looking at him] astrology has no place in a christian's life - it opens people up to the influence of the spirits behind the signs, and that has no place in my life! And for two, I'd need a gas mask to hang around with you for too long! Man, Terry, you're high!

Narrator [loudly] Take off the graveclothes!

Terry [looking hurt] I don't know why I smell like this. I've always smelt like this as long as I can remember - like I've been in a cemetery. But - if you say star signs don't belong to Jesus' people, I'm ready to give it away. I'll renounce it right now [pulls chain off neck, throws it away].

Billy [walks on stage] Hi Terry! Hi Sally! I didn't know you guys knew each other! Haven't seen you since you left Year 12, Terry. You look a bit different, mate. Smell a bit better than I remember, too! What's been happening? Found Rexona super sport, have you?!?

Terry No, Billy, I found Jesus a few weeks ago. Sally's been helping me get sorted out in my walk with God. I feel much better talking to her. [looks at watch] Anyway - got to fly - I've got a date to meet Suzy Con Carnie - I told her about the AC/DC reunion gig, and she's going to come with me. You know her, Billy. Every guy round here knows Suzy! They don't call her Con Carnie for nothing! She's hot stuff! She's not my girlfriend really, [looks a bit embarrassed] but we're pretty close.... [looks at Sally] and don't tell me.... Come to think of it, she pongs pretty badly too...

Narrator [loudly] Take off the grave clothes!

Billy Look, mate, it's like this. You can't have it both ways. If you're going to go God's way, don't kid yourself you can have it both ways. The Bible says fair dinkum Christians don't get caught up heart-to-heart with dead people. It's a killer, Terry! It's up to you, but if I had your personal [cough, cough] problem, I'd be saying bye-bye to Suzy Con Carnie!

Terry Well, to be honest, that's not really too hard for me to do. She's bled me a bit, and I'm tired of being used. OK - I'll do it! I'll tell her it's over between us! [Takes out photo, pauses, looks at it, shows them, and rips it up] New Year's Party this year - she cost me a fortune!

Mary [walks on stage] Hi gang! Hi Terry! I didn't know you knew Sally and Billy. Isn't it a great day! Say, what's that beautiful smell? [goes over to Terry, pauses, and sniffs his collar] Terry! I didn't know you were into wearing such beautiful aftershave.... you smell Terry-ific!