To Tell the Truth

Scripture Reference: John 6:68, John 13:37-38, John 18:1-27, Mark 16:6-7, John 21:1- 19, Acts 2:37-42

The story of Simon Peter told game-show style.

[Note: This one takes a bit of explaining. The story of Peter is told in the format of the To Tell the Truth game show. The format of the show will likely need to be explained to the kids before starting the skit. The way I have used this is to get three adults to play the Peters. Don't let them know in advance – that is part of the fun. I then give the kids the questions to ask them. This skit is good for Easter time or as a review.]

Cast:
HOST – the only one who really knows what is going on.
PETER 1, PETER 2, PETER 3 – "volunteers" to play the real Peter and two imposters.
PANELISTS – ask questions of the Peters.

Props:
Scripts for Peters
Cards or slips of paper with questions

HOST: Welcome to To Tell the Truth. Will our contestants please introduce themselves.

PETER 1: My name is Simon Peter.
PETER 2: My name is Simon Peter.
PETER 3: My name is Simon Peter.

HOST: Here is his story: My name is Simon son of Jonah, and I am a disciple of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus called me Peter, the rock, even though I didn’t always act that way. After Jesus was arrested, I denied him three times, just as he predicted, but he forgave one morning by the Sea of Tiberias. On the day of Pentecost, I was filled with the Holy Sprit and became a leader in the early church.
Panelists, it is your job to ask the questions provided and determine which is the real Simon Peter.

Question 1
Peter, when Jesus asked you if you wanted to stop following Him, you said no. In John 6:68, what reason did you give him?

PETER 1: I told Him, “I think you are a really great guy.”
PETER 2: I told Him, “You have the words of eternal life.”
PETER 3: I told Him, “I am really hungry.”

Question 2
In the same conversation, you also declared that you had come to believe and know something about Jesus. What was that?

PETER 1: That Jesus really is a great guy.
PETER 2: That Jesus is the One whom God promised to send and that He is God’s Son.
PETER 3: That it was Jesus’ turn to pick a restaurant for lunch.

Question 3
In John 13:37, you stated your commitment to Jesus. What did you tell Jesus you would do?

PETER 1: I said, “I will clean my room for you.”
PETER 2: I said, “I will lay down my life for you."
PETER 3: I said, “I will pick a restaurant for Him.”

Question 4
You said in John 13:38 that you were prepared to die for Jesus. What did Jesus say to you? How did you feel when Jesus responded as He did? Why did you think He said this?

PETER 1: He said, “Are you prepared to die for Me.” I felt scared. I mean die? Yikes! That’s awfully permanent.
PETER 2: He said, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!” I was really surprised and hurt by his statement, but He said it because he REALLY knows me.
PETER 3: He said, “Just don’t pick McDonalds for lunch.” I was glad He said that. I think He was tired of hamburgers, too.

Question 5
Not long after this, you were reported to be with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. In John 18:1-11, we read that you tried to protect Jesus when soldiers came to arrest Him. What did you do? How did Jesus feel about what you did?

PETER 1: I ran away and wrote a nasty editorial to the Jerusalem Times.
PETER 2: I had a sword, drew it, and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. Jesus commanded me, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"
PETER 3: We had gone to Taco Bell, and I held His taco from him. I think He appreciated it.

Question 6
We’re curious about what happened at the high priest’s house. We understand from John 18:15-17 that John went inside but you were stopped at the door. What happened?

PETER 1: John was smaller than I am, so he just slipped by.
PETER 2: John was known by high priest; I wasn’t. John got me in.
PETER 3: Food wasn’t allowed in the high priest’s house, so I had to finish my burrito before I went in.

Question 7
According to John 18:18 & 25, you had another chance to tell people that Jesus was your friend. What did you do?

PETER 1: I told them He is a really great guy.
PETER 2: I am sorry to say that I denied knowing Jesus.
PETER 3: I told them that I had just seen him at What-a-burger a couple of times.

Question 8
It’s reported in John 18:26-27 that yet another servant, a relative of the very man whose ear you had cut off, recognized you! He asked, “Didn’t I see you with Him?” What did you say? What happened then?

PETER 1: I said, “I think that was my evil twin. Yea, that’s the ticket.”
PETER 2: Again I denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow. I was so upset that I started to weep.
PETER 3: I said, “Yea that was me. Did you see what I did with Jesus’ taco?”

Question 9
When you first heard that Jesus was dead, how did you feel? In Mark 16:6-7 it says that when Jesus rose, the angel told the women to tell you specifically that He would meet you in Galilee. How did you feel then? What did you see in the empty tomb? How did it make you feel?

PETER 1: I was really bummed when I heard that Jesus was dead. The empty tomb was kind of creepy, but I was really happy to hear that He was alive again.
PETER 2: I was very upset and scared when I heard Jesus was dead. I wasn’t sure what to think when I heard when He was alive. I ran to the tomb and could see for myself that it was empty. I got so excited that I ran back to the other disciples to tell them what I saw.
PETER 3: I was so upset that I couldn’t even eat. When I found out He was okay, I went to IHOP for a Rutti-Tutti Fresh N' Fruity breakfast.

Question 10
We understand from reading John 21:1-19 that Jesus met you by the lake in Galilee. After your breakfast with Him, He asked you some specific questions. What did Jesus ask? What did you answer? What do you think Jesus meant for you to do? What would you say about Jesus’ forgiveness?

PETER 1: He asked if I had cleaned my room like I said I would. I changed the subject. I hope he forgives me that my room is still a mess.
PETER 2: He asked me three times if I loved Him. I told Him of course I do. It kind of hurt my feelings that He kept asking. Then I realized that I denied Him three times, so He was asking me three times. It felt good to know that Jesus was giving me a second chance.
PETER 3: He asked if I was going to finish my fish. I said no, because fish for breakfast is gross. I told Him to help Himself.

Question11
After God sent the Holy Spirit, we read in Acts 2:37-42 that there was quite a change in you! Tell us what happened that day.

PETER 1: I cleaned my room, and I have kept it clean ever since.
PETER 2: I preached a sermon that I could not have done on my own, and about three thousand people were saved that day.
PETER 3: I went to the pizza buffet at Pizza Hut and ate more than I ever had before. They could hardly make the pizzas fast enough.

HOST: Now it is time to vote on whom you think is the real Simon Peter.
(Have the PANELISTS vote on which is the real Simon Peter.)
Will the real Simon Peter please stand up.
(All will pretend to stand up, but PETER 2 will finally stand up.)