2019 AG National Women’s Ministries � eme

Jesus Saw Her Heart: � e Widow with Two Coins

SUGGESTED MONOLOGUEwhen she thought of the future. But not today. Today, her heart was full. Today, she wanted to give. Glancing down again at the only money she could call hers, she wondered if her pitiful o� ering would make a di� erence. And yet she knew God’s eyes were on her. Her choice was to simply obey. Standing erect, she made her way past the crowd to the o� ering box.

The widow was not the only person people-watching in the temple. Close by, Jesus noticed the esteemed people in the court. His disciples saw only people, but His eyes saw life histories. He saw leaders and followers, husbands and wives, fathers and sons. Outwardly, many of them appeared successful and respectable, but His eyes could see through their disguises and He knew what their lives were like.

As the sound of the two copper coins resonated, Jesus looked up and saw the widow. He saw much more than a meager sacrifi ce. He saw abandoned dreams and withered hopes, and as He watched her fall to her knees and whisper a prayer to Jehovah Jireh, her Provider, Jesus seized the moment. »

BASED ON MARK 12:41-44; LUKE 21:1-4

by Candy Tolbert

She made her way up the temple steps, staring at the coins in her

hand, her last two coins. Not much at all, she thought.

Fingering her meager o� ering, she found a spot in the corner of the temple, out of the way. For a few minutes, she stood and watched. She watched the rich, the young, the “important people” pass by. Many dropped large amounts of money in the box.

What must their lives be like? She wondered in silence.

The last few years of her life were a burdensome blur because of the fi nancial struggle she had su� ered since her husband’s death. With no family to support her, on some days she paused

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A settled peace surrounded the woman in the midst of her quiet celebration, and as she stood to leave the temple, she felt safe, secure, and free! She brought everything she had and left with everything she needed. God was in control and He was her source.

And whether she realized it or not—the mighty Son of God saw and was moved by her total dependence on Him.

1 Mark 12:40, Eugene Peterson. � e Message: � e Bible in Contemporary Language.

2 Mark 12:44, � e Message.

Earlier, with everybody listening, He had warned His disciples to watch out for religious scholars who took lavish pleasure in prominent positions and wanted to sit at the head of the table at church functions, all the while ignoring the weak and less fortunate. “The longer their prayers, the worse they get. But they’ll pay for it in the end,” Jesus said. 1

Now, with his eyes fi xed on the praying woman, Jesus continued to teach. “The plain truth is that this woman, this poor widow, has given by far the largest o� ering today. All these others gave o� erings that ‘they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t a� ord—she gave her all.’” 2

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CANDY TOLBERT is a former National Women’s Ministries leadership coordinator, and former National Girls Ministries Director. She is also a freelance writer. She lives with her husband, Michael, in California.

PRODUCTION NOTES

RUNNING TIME: About 5-7 minutes

CAST: (1 woman, 1 man)

NARRATOR: Male or female, to read the script o� -stage WIDOW: Female, possibly older woman, but could be any age JESUS: Male, thirty-ish; actor needs to be someone with good facial

expressions to convey compassion, and anger.

COSTUMING, SETTING and PROPS:

WIDOW: Traditional biblical costume for a woman, with sandals.

JESUS: Biblical costume with hair and beard as Jesus is traditionally portrayed, to make it clear to the audience who He is.

PROPS: Use columns, large fern plants, pottery similar to biblical times, and recreate a collection box for the widow to drop in her coins.

MUSIC: Play background worship music that won’t confl ict with the sound of the narrator’s voice, but will enhance the meaning of the monologue.

See our notes on “Tips for Presenting a Monologue,” by Glenda Mohr, on women.ag.org.

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