The Pyschology of Love

Season of Lent .... The Psychology of Love .... Mark 14:66-72: Peter denies Jesus .... God loves us, even when we make mistakes

Puppets: Fodder and Olivia
People: Kids
Props: Scarf for Olivia, as Servant Girl; headpiece for Fodder, as Peter
Songs: Jesus Loves Me

[Tell the kids that they are going to be roosters, and that they need to be ready to crow, on cue]

[Fodder and Olivia are up front, with props in prop at their feet]

Fodder: [Imitating Barnabas] Buenos dias boys and girls. How is everybody today?

Olivia: What was that supposed to be?

Fodder: Just because Barnabas isn’t here this morning, doesn’t mean his greeting can’t be.

Olivia: But I miss your loud obnoxious one.

Fodder: Well, I can remedy that: Goooood morrrrning Methodists!! What’s happenin!?

Olivia: Now I feel much better. It’s funny how something that irritates you can still…seem just right, somehow.

Fodder: I think it has something to do with object relations theory.

Olivia: Huh?

Fodder: Well, Barnabas is your brother, right?

Olivia: Yah.

Fodder: And he’s irritating, right?

Olivia: Well, yah, sometimes.

Fodder: So, we both object to your irritating relations. Object relations theory!

Olivia: Umm, can we talk about something else? So what’s on the agenda, this morning?

Fodder: [Looking a bulletin] Hm. That’s weird.

Olivia: What?

Fodder: It object relations theory.

Olivia: I said, can we talk about something else?

Fodder: We can’t.

Olivia: What?

Fodder: Because today’s Bible story is about object relations theory, well, sort of.

Olivia: [Big sigh] Ok. Please explain.

Fodder: Well, God made us, right?

Olivia: Yah.

Fodder: We’re his children, right? His relations?!

Olivia: Right.

Fodder: Yet sometimes we do things that really irritate him, that really bug him, and then He objects! See? More object relations.

Olivia: But, but…that’s not the whole of it! It’s also about our loving relations with God…about…I don’t know…let’s just do the story.

Fodder: OK. I’ll be Peter. And you be one of the servant girls…of the high priest.

Olivia: Right.

Fodder: And you [gesturing to congregation], you are the crowds who have gathered to see what happens…when Jesus is arrested. And you [gesture to the kids], you are the rooster. Got that? [As Peter, putting on headpiece] So, when Jesus was arrested and taken to the high priest, I—I’m Peter—I followed along, to see what I could do to help. And I was standing outside, trying to stay warm. [Serious now] It was so cold. And I knew Jesus needed me. He was in trouble. There was no telling what that crowd would do. They were scared. They didn’t understand. They could even have him killed. But…what could I do? Me? There, by myself? I was afraid. And that’s when she saw me:

Olivia, as Servant Girl: [With scarf on, pointing to Fodder] Hey, I know you. You were with Jesus, you’re one of his followers.

Fodder, as Peter: I have no idea what you are talking about.

Olivia, as Servant Girl: But, I’m sure you were with him. You are one of them!

Fodder, as Peter: Shh! Be quiet. Can’t you go play in the street, or something. Leave me alone.

Olivia, as Servant Girl: No, I know it. You’re a Galilean, just like Jesus. You’re one of them.

Fodder, as Peter: Would you be quiet! I tell you, I don’t know him. [Cue roosters]

Olivia: [Take off scarf] Ah! I’m beginning to understand. Just when you’d think Peter would have stood by Jesus, he got scared, and didn’t. He denied his relationship with Jesus. Even though Jesus had just warned Peter just the day before, that he would do just that, before the cock crowed three times. [Cue roosters again].

Fodder: [Take off scarf] And how do you think Peter felt then, or even later, after they did crucify Jesus? He must have felt terrible; he must have felt terrible shame…and guilt.

Olivia: Ah. But Jesus…understood. Because Jesus understands human weaknesses. Because he was a person too, you know. He understood that Peter was afraid. He knows that we make mistakes. Jesus was no doubt disappointed in Peter, but Jesus didn’t blame him. He forgave him. So Peter could also forgive himself. Jesus may object to sin—to the things that hurt our relationship with him—but he never, ever, ever objects to us!

Fodder: Exactly. God made us. God loves us. And even though we’re sometimes weak, we know that he is strong. And thankfully, because God loves us, by His loving us, that’s how we know who we really are.

Olivia: That’s the whole point, the object of it all: being in relation to God.

Fodder: Object relations! [Grin]

[Sing Jesus Loves Me]