Lambs through the Wilderness

 

This is a humorous, serial play about some dysfunctional dogs who are assigned the task of taking the Good Shepherd’s little lambs through the wilderness to His Mountain of Paradise. Their adventures along the way create situations in which the dogs become better individuals. The play was written to be used during a 5-day vacation Bible school.

Original Version - Copyright, 1995, Maureen McCahan Anderson

Revised Version – Copyright, 2004, Maureen McCahan Anderson 

 

Up to 20 copies of this play may be made without charge for noncommercial Christian ministry by church groups or families. Requests for permission to make additional copies or for other uses should  submitted to the author at: anderso6@cox.net.  All other usage or copying will be considered copyright infringement.

 

The Cast of Characters

 

Jesus -  the Good Shepherd

 

Solomon -  a wise, old border collie

 

Myrrh -  a prissy poodle

 

Drum -  a macho rottweiler who has a learning disability

 

Harp -  a sweet bloodhound who has an unusually large nose and a lame leg

 

Oil Can Harry -  the slickest evil mountain lion in the wilderness

 

A number of lambs

 

The Narrator

 

 

 

Day 1

Setting

A poodle and a rottweiler are resting and chatting in the desert sand at the edge of a vast, frightening wilderness. Within hearing distance, lies an old border collie.  A bloodhound is lying in the center of a nearby flock of lambs.

 

Narrator: In the desert foothills of Faraway Wilderness, a wise, old border collie, Solomon, waits with his three disciple dogs.  They belong to Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who has gone ahead of them to His beautiful mansion in the Mountain of Paradise. Jesus has told them to wait in the desert with His flock of little lambs until He sends for them.

 

Myrrh: (With a whiney attitude) It’s too hot here.  My naturally curly hair will be a mess!  Why didn’t the Good Shepherd ask me to be a movie star or work in an air conditioned office? A poodle with my great looks and bloodlines shouldn’t be wasted out here in the middle of all this disgusting sand surrounded by these (walks around with a wrinkled nose) stinky sheep.  Ooh!  Yuck!  I stepped in lamb doo-doo!

 

Drum: (With macho arrogance) Women!  Myrrh, all you care about is how you look!  What a bunch of wimps I’m stuck working with! (Flexing biceps) All that really matters is strength and bravery.  (Looking at Myrrh) When danger comes, you’ll just complicate things by being scared and running away. (With disdain) Just look at Harp there!  She hobbles around on that crippled leg of hers, looking ugly. What good is she? (In a braggy manner) It’s a good thing you lady dogs have me here to protect you and the lambs!

 

Harp: (Softly whining to herself)  Why doesn’t anyone like me?  It’s not my fault I have these long, droopy ears or this huge nose.  I want to have friends.  Why can’t they see that I have a giant heart to love them? Why do they see only an ugly hound with a crippled leg? Why can’t they see the real me?

 

Myrrh: (To Drum) Well, Harp may be useless and ugly, but at least she doesn’t smell bad like you do, Drum!!

 

Drum:  (With anger) You high falutin’ poodle!  Who do you think you are?  You never work hard enough to build up a good sweat!  The only part of you that ever gets a workout is your big, nasty, wagging tongue! (Drum rapidly and sarcastically moves his mouth as if talking.)

 

Solomon: (With exasperation) Dogs, dogs, dogs!  Settle down!  We have a long, dangerous journey ahead. I wonder how we’ll ever keep the lambs safe when you use up all your energy in dog fights! I can’t understand why the Good Shepherd chose the three of you to do such an important job.  I know He has His reasons, but I certainly can’t tell what they might be!!

 

Jesus: (Lights flash.  Voice speaks from off stage)  My special disciples, the mission I have chosen for you is long, dangerous, and difficult.  See these (Light sweeps across the flock of lambs)  ….  my precious little lambs? Each lamb is loved by Me.  Each was purchased at a great price, just as you were. The price was my blood, my very self. I now wait in my mansion on Mountain of Paradise for them and for you, where we will all live in love, peace, and joy, forever.

            You must bring every lamb across the desert, through the Faraway Wilderness, and up the foothills, to the Tree of Life.  This is the entrance to my Mountain of Paradise.  Do not lose one lamb.  Each one is unique and cannot be replaced.  Be always watchful for the enemy.  He will constantly lurk around the flock, trying to kill, steal, and destroy my lambs.

            I will be with you at all times to give you faith strength, and courage so that you can perform the task I have given you.  Pray to Me and I will hear and answer your prayers. You are my disciples.  Honor Me with your lives. (Lights flash)

 

(Dogs look at each other for a moment)

 

Solomon:  OK, dogs, let’s get organized for this journey.  We need to be ready to leave before the sun comes up.  (Dogs hustle about)

 

(Lambs stir restlessly)

 

Lamb 1:  (Worried) Ma-a-a-a-an, I think we’re in tro-o-ouble!

 

Lamb 2: (Tearfully)  How can we be safe with them to protect us?

 

Lamb 3:  It will be a ba-a-a-a-ad journey.

 

All lambs in unison:  Ba-a-a-ad journey, ba-a-a-ad journey!

 

Tiniest lamb: (With confidence) Jesus will help them keep us safe!  We can always trust Jesus!  He’s the Good Shepherd!  (The lambs all nod in agreement.)

 

All lambs: (Singing)

            Jesus has a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb

            Jesus has a little lamb

            And that lamb is me.

            Everywhere that Jesus leads, Jesus leads, Jesus leads,

            Everywhere that Jesus leads

            I’ll follow trustingly.

(The lambs contentedly lie down and go to sleep.)

 

Narrator:  Come back tomorrow to see the dogs and little lambs begin their dangerous journey through the desert and Faraway Wilderness.  Will they make it to Mountain of Paradise?

 

Day 2

 Narrator:  The sun is beginning to rise and the dogs are herding the little lambs toward some rocks at the edge of Faraway Wilderness.  The lambs become playful when they get close to the huge rocks and begin to run and jump in all directions, enjoying their new playground.

 

Solomon:  With concern) We must protect each little lamb!  Oil Can Harry, the meanest mountain lion in the world, lives in this wilderness.  He spreads his evil around just like an oil slick.  And he’s ever so clever …. As slick as oil and very tricky.  So be extra alert, and let’s get these lambs grouped together again.  (The dogs split up and go after the lambs.)

 

Oil Can Harry: (Hiding behind one of the rocks, licking his lips, quietly sings to himself.) I’m ever so clever, I’m ever so clever! (Proudly) Even those stupid dogs think so!!

 

Solomon:  (Seeing that the dogs were aimlessly chasing the lambs without success) I’ll stay with the main flock.  Drum, you go after the lambs racing up to the cliffs! Myrrh, go after the lambs that jumped into that gully! Harp, stay with the slower lambs at the bottom of that hill! (Dogs begin to work in a more organized fashion)

 

Drum: (Running toward the cliffs) You frisky, little guys can’t get away from me!  Solomon sent me because this job takes a strong (Stops to flex his muscles) and powerful dog! The other dogs are wimps!  (He slips and falls down a long, jagged hill.) Ki-yi-yi-yi-yi!  Ouch!  Ooh! (The lambs laugh.)

 

Harp: (Slowly hobbling toward the smallest, slowest lambs, complaining) Why do I always get the pokey little lambs?  I’ll never be able to do anything heroic for them.  They never get into trouble. (Smiling) But they are wonderful. (Lambs snuggle up to her)

 

Myrrh: Carefully picking her way over some rocks in the gully, spraying the area with a perfume atomizer) Why should I have to tend such smelly creatures? They are so stupid!  Why would anyone think it’s fun to run and jump around in a place like this? Oh, no!  I chipped two nails! I can’t let anyone see me like this! I must polish my nails right away!  (Mountain lion watches her begin to polish her nails.  He snarls and cackles.)

 

Oil Can Harry:  (With glee)  While that foolish dog is admiring herself, she won’t see me snatch a lamb! (He slinks toward the lambs in the gully.)

 

Lambs in the gully: (In terror) Ba-a-a-a-ad ca-a-a-at!  Ba-a-a-a-ad ca-a-a-at!!

 

(Myrrh looks up to see the mountain lion sneaking up on a tiny lamb caught in some brambles.  The lamb screams.)

 

Myrrh: (Horrified)  Oh, no!! What will I do? My nails are still wet!  (Yells to the other dogs) Help!  The mountain lion!  Come and help!!  (Whimpers to herself) They’re too far away; they’ll never get here in time! (Looks at her nails, then the mountain lion, then the lamb)  What will I do?

 

Tiny lamb:  (In terror)  He-e-e-e-e-lp!  Ple-e-ease he-e-elp!

 

Lambs in the gully:  (Frantically)  Ba-a-a-a-ad ca-a-a-a-at!  Ba-a-a-a-ad ca-a-a-at!!

 

Narrator:  Will someone rescue the poor little lamb; or will Oil Can Harry have lamb chops for dinner?  Come back tomorrow to find out what will happen to the Good Shepherd’s little lamb.

 

 

Day 3

 

Narrator:  On their way to Mountain of Paradise, the dogs and lambs have encountered a dangerous mountain lion, Oil Can Harry.  A precious lamb is caught in some brambles in a gully.  The evil mountain lion is creeping up on her.  Myrrh, the nearest dog, doesn’t want to get herself messed up and is waiting for the other dogs to come to the rescue; but they are too far away.

 

Oil Can Harry: I was right!!  That poodle cares more about her appearance than she cares about the lamb!  Now it’s mine!!! (Cackles with delight)

 

(Myrrh looks at her nails, the mountain lion, then the lamb. She hears the lamb scream in terror.)

 

Myrrh:  (With compassion) Oh, the poor little lamb.  ( With fervor) Jesus help me save your lamb! (She races toward the lamb. ) I’m coming!!  Don’t worry, I’ll save you, little lamb!! ( She gets snagged and torn on briars, is slightly distracted by this at first, then focuses entirely on saving the lamb.)

 

Oil Can Harry: (With an evil laugh)  You might be coming to help the lamb, but I’ll get to her first!!  (He reaches the lamb and opens his mouth wide to grab her.)

 

(Myrrh dashes to the lamb, grabs it from under the mountain lion’s jaws, and runs back toward the flock which has now regrouped.)

 

Oil Can Harry: (Puzzled as his jaws clench down on air) Hey!  What happened? Where’s my dinner?  (He looks around and sees Myrrh with the lamb.  He begins to chase her.)

 

( The other dogs see the mountain lion and chase him.)

 

Oil Can Harry: (Hiding behind a boulder, bewildered)  I thought I could grab a lamb from that pampered poodle.  Who is this Jesus I heard her talking to?  He must be one strong dude!  I didn’t even see him take the lamb away from me!  In fact, I didn’t see him at all!!  That poodle couldn’t have done it by herself!  Next time, I’ll try to get a lamb from one of the other dogs.  Maybe Jesus won’t be around to help another dog!

 

( The dogs gather around Myrrh and the lamb.)

 

Solomon: Myrrh, your carelessness endangered this poor little lamb.

 

Lambs:  Ba-a-a-a-ad dog!  Ba-a-a-a-ad dog!

 

Solomon:  Now do you see how important your job is?

 

Lambs:  Ba-a-a-a-ad dog!  Ba-a-a-ad dog!

 

Drum:  Good for nothing poodle!

 

Myrrh:  (Whimpering)  I’m so sorry.  It will never happen again.  I see how my pride hurt this little lamb.  I promise to do my best from now on.

 

Harp: (Picking twigs out of Myrrh’s hair, with amusement) Girl, you look so ugly! How can you let yourself go like this? (Dogs and lambs laugh)

 

Drum:  Well, never trust a woman to do a man’s job! You can bet that all of my lambs will be safe under my watchful eye! (Flexing muscles) No mountain lion or coyote or wolf would dare bother my lambs!

 

Solomon:  Well, Myrrh did come through at the end, so we can be happy about that. (To Drum)  OK, superdog, go count the lambs to make sure they are all here before we bed down for the night. (To the other dogs) Let us pray before we sleep.  (Dogs kneel and fold their paws)  Thank you Jesus for being with us and for saving the little lamb.  Please help us to lead and protect all the lambs during our journey, so that we can bring them safely to you. Amen.

 

Drum: (Strutting toward the lambs)  Don’t you worry about a thing, little lambs.  Drum is here to take care of you.  (Lambs are impressed as Drum flexes his muscles for them.)  Guess I’d better start counting you guys.  1,2,3,15,72,98….gee, I hope I’m doing this right.  I was never good at math….19,88 (Lambs lie down and go to sleep)

 

Oil Can Harry: (Hiding behind a bush) This mutt can’t count!!  (Laughs) I can disguise myself as a lamb and slip into the flock.  He’ll never notice there’s an extra animal!  (Sings as he puts on a sheep costume)  I’m ever so clever!  I’m ever so clever! (Looks at audience)  And very handsome, too! (He slips into the flock and strolls around trying to decide which sleeping lamb will taste best.) This one might be too lean.  This one looks a bit tough.  Ooh, this one looks sweet and juicy!

 

Drum:  5,11,64,99,100!  Yep, all here!

 

Narrator:  Will Drum realize his mistake?  Will he spot the mountain lion in sheep’s clothing, or will Oil Can Harry have lamb stew for dinner?  Come back tomorrow to find out!

 

 

Day 4

 

Narrator:  In our last episode, Drum did not admit to the others that he could not count.  He counted the lambs incorrectly and failed to notice the presence of a very large extra one.  It was the mountain lion disguised as a sheep.  Will Oil Can Harry snatch a lamb from right under Drum’s nose?

 

Drum:  Yes, sir, these lambs are blessed to have me watch over them!  That old mountain lion had better not show up.  I’ll tear off his tail and make a belt out of it!  I’ll pull his teeth with my bear paws!  He’ll have to eat mashed potatoes and baby food for the rest of his life!  (A bit confused)  Drum will show him a thing or three, or seven, or two.

 

Harp:  (Suddenly raises her head and sniffs the air)  Solomon, Myrrh, wake up!  The mountain lion is here!  I can smell him!  (Looks around, sniffing)  Oh, no!  There he is in the middle of the flock!  Jesus, please help us save the lambs! (Harp limps quickly while the other dogs rush toward the flock)

 

Lambs:  (Becoming aware of the mountain lion’s presence, they stand and mill around.)  Ba-a-a-ad ca-a-a-at!  Ba-a-a-ad ca-a-a-at!

 

Drum:  (Seeing only the dogs and lambs)  Hey, you guys!  What are you doing?  Quit chasing the lambs!  (Oil Can Harry bounds toward Drum.  Drum is terrified and begins to run away.) Ky-yi-yi-yi-yi!  Ky-yi-yi-yi-yi!

 

(Oil Can Harry is run off by the other dogs. Drum crawls back with great embarrassment.)

 

Solomon:  That was close! (To Drum)  Why didn’t you notice the extra animal in the flock?  Didn’t you count the lambs like I told you to?

 

Lambs:  Ba-a-a-a-ad dog!  Ba-a-a-a-ad dog!

 

Drum: (Whimpering)  I’m not good at math.  I can’t count.

 

Harp:  (Gently)  Why didn’t you tell us?  No one is good at everything.  We’re your friends.  We all need to help each other.

 

Myrrh:  (With understanding) You let your pride endanger the lambs just like I did.

 

Solomon:  It’s a good thing the Lord gave Harp that wonderful big nose!  If it hadn’t been for her special sense of smell, we would have lost one of the Good Shepherd’s precious lambs.

 

Drum:  Thank you, Harp.  I’m sorry for all the mean things I said about you.  And, Myrrh, you ran so fast that you got to the mountain lion first.  I’m sorry that I thought I was so much better than you.  I got scared, and you were brave.

 

Solomon:  Jesus must be very happy to see that the three of you are learning to treat each other as real friends and co-laborers.  All dogs are different; each has a special gift but can’t do the job alone.  Each dog has a part in the Good Shepherd’s plan.  It’s wonderful that the three of you now see that everyone’s job is important when you are doing work for the Good Shepherd.  You have learned to care about each other and to work together in His plan. (Dogs group hug)

 

Harp:  (With excitement)  Look, everyone! (Points to a distant place) Over there!  I can see the Tree of Life!  There’s Mountain of Paradise! We’re almost there! (The dogs cheer and howl.  The lambs jump with joy.)

 

Oil Can Harry: (Hiding behind a tree) I don’t like it one bit!  I must stop them from reaching Mountain of Paradise.

 

Solomon:  (Thoughtfully)  Here is a fork in the road.  One way is rough and narrow; the other way is smooth and wide.  Which should we take?  I don’t know which is the right one.

 

Myrrh:  Let’s pray to Jesus for guidance.

 

Solomon:  Lord Jesus, You have brought us so far already.  Now, we aren’t sure about the direction we need to take. Please show us the way to Mountain of Paradise.

 

Oil Can Harry: Here’s my chance!  I’ll pretend that I’m Jesus and tell them to take the smooth, wide road that leads to the bottomless pit!  I’ll have lamb dinners for years!!  (Laughs, then cups his paws around his mouth and shouts)  This is Jesus.  Since you have had a hard journey, take the smooth, wide road.  The trip will be easy for you.  (To audience)  Get it?  Trip?  (To dogs)  I’ll enjoy watching you travel down that wide, smooth road.  You deserve a nice, easy stroll to the mountain.

 

Narrator:  Will the dogs fall for this sneaky deception?  Will the lambs fall into the bottomless pit?  Come back tomorrow for the exciting conclusion to our story.

 

 

Day 5

 

Narrator:  The dogs and the flock of precious lambs have arrived at a fork in the road.  When they prayed for Jesus to show them the right way, the mountain lion decided to pretend he was Jesus so he could trick them into going the wrong direction.  He wanted them to take the wide, smooth road which ends at the bottomless pit.  Will the dogs fall for this trick?

 

Oil Can Harry:  I can hardly believe how clever I am!  When the dogs asked this guy Jesus to show them the way, I pretended to be Jesus and told them to go toward the bottomless pit.  I’m going to have a lamb feast that will last for years!  (Cackles, then sings)  I’m ever so clever.  I’m ever so clever.

 

Drum:  Doesn’t the Bible say that the way to Paradise is narrow and rough?

 

Solomon:  Yes, it does.  So, why would the Good Shepherd tell us to take the smooth, wide road? 

 

Myrrh:  Maybe that wasn’t Jesus speaking to us!  Did it sound like Him to you?

 

Solomon:  I don’t think so.

 

Harp:  He usually speaks in a still, small voice in our hearts.  (With sudden understanding) I know a sure way to tell if it was Jesus speaking to us! In the Bible, Jesus said that His sheep know His voice!

 

Solomon:  (To the lambs)  Was that the voice of the Good Shepherd?

 

Lambs:  Ba-a-a-a-ad ca-a-a-at!  Ba-a-a-ad ca-a-a-at!

 

Solomon:  (With anger)  Who does that mountain lion think he is, trying to steal the Good Shepherd’s precious lambs?

 

Oil Can Harry: (Leaping out from behind a tree)  I give up!  I give up!  I can’t win no matter how clever I am.  You dogs learned to work together.  But I still should have been able to trick you.  (Stamping in anger)  I don’t understand!  I just don’t understand!

 

Solomon:  It’s easy for us to understand.  We serve Jesus.  He lives in our hearts and helps us.  Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.

 

Oil Can Harry:  Who is this Jesus?

 

Myrrh:  He’s Lord over all the earth!

 

Harp:  He’s the Son of God!

 

Drum:  He’s the Savior of the world!

 

Oil Can Harry:  I can’t live my life without Him.  I want to be good like you guys.  I’m tired of being the big, bad mountain lion.  What do I have to do?

 

Solomon:  You must repent of your sins, invite Jesus into your heart, and spend your life serving Him.  You should get baptized as your first act of obedience to Him.

 

Oil Can Harry:  Show me how!

 

Solomon:  Repeat after me (Oil Can Harry does.)  Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross to pay for me.  Please forgive me for all of my sins.  I want You to live in my heart and help me to serve You.  (They walk to a river where Solomon baptizes Oil Can Harry.)

 

Oil Can Harry:  (Joyfully)  I feel wonderful!  Jesus is real!  Now I know Him, too! (Starts to waltz and to sing “Amazing Grace”)

 

Myrrh:  Why don’t you travel the narrow, rough road with us to the Tree of Life at the edge of Mountain of Paradise?  We are going to live with Jesus forever!

 

(Dogs and mountain lion travel arm-in-arm, helping each other and the lambs over the worst spots.  They arrive at the Tree of Life, and see a beautiful, golden door in its trunk.)

 

Harp:  We’re here!  We made it!  The lambs are safe, at last!

 

Lambs:  Aa-a-a-a-a-lleluia-a-a-a!

 

(They all watch as the door swings open.  They gasp in awe when they see Jesus at the door to welcome them.  They kneel before Him.)

 

Jesus:  Well done, my good and faithful servants.  Now enter into My Father’s kingdom. (To Oil Can Harry)  Because of you, there was much rejoicing here today.  You were a lost child, and now you are found.  (To the dogs)  Can you see why I chose the four of you to bring My lambs to Mountain of paradise?  Your weakness helped you to become better servants.  You had to depend on Me and to learn from each other.  My ways are not always the easiest, but they are the best.  Now, let us all go to the great feast I have prepared for you.  (Joyfully) they all walk through the door and up the mountain with Jesus.)

 

And they all lived in love, peace, and joy forever and ever!!