THE BIRTH OF JESUS
Imagine the stars in the sky, the countless constellations, the sprawling
solar system and among it is a little planet called Earth. God made all of
those things, all of the people and inhabitants of our planet. Just over 2000
years ago, God came down to be with us to save us and to show us how
life should be lived. God chose to send his son to be born among the
forgotten, the overlooked and the poorest. This is the story of how God
came to be with us.
The story opens with a young woman in her home named Mary.
(Mary enters stage) She was from a town called Nazareth and she was a
virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of
David.
God sent an angel down from Heaven with a message for her. (Angel
enters)
Angel: Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. Do not
be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will give birth to a son,
and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of
the Most High.
Mary (troubled and confused look): How can this be? I’m not even married.
Angel: The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High
will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of
God.
Mary: I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.
Then the angel left her. (Angel exits the stage and enters the stage
from the other side)
(Meanwhile Joseph enters the stage and is sleeping)
An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
Angel: Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your
wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give
birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will
save his people from their sins.
(Angel exits)
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded
him and took Mary home as his wife.
(Here, Joseph will go to Mary and walk out of the stage together)
HEROD’S OFFICER: The Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar who ruled
over the land sent an order saying he wanted to count each and every
person in the country. So, Mary and Joseph had to leave their home to
register in a faraway town called Bethlehem.
(Enter Mary and Joseph and donkey)
When they arrived in Bethlehem, they were looking for a place to stay but
there was no room anywhere. The time came for the baby to be born.
Joseph: Please, please help my wife Mary. She is about to have a baby. Do
you have a room?
Innkeeper: I'm so sorry. All the rooms are filled with guests across the
country. If you want , we have this stable.
Joseph: Thank you so much. We will take it.
(Mary and Joseph goes to the stable and sits down with Mary holding
the baby and wrapping him with cloth)
She gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and
placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for
them.
(Shepherds enter through the other side of the stage)
There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over
their flocks at night.
(Angel enters)
An angel of the Lord appeared to them.
Angel: Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for
all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you.
This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in
a manger.
(Angel exits)
The Song plays : Angels we have heard on high (First verse and
chorus)
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel,
praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
(All the Angels enter stage)
(Reduce song volume)
Shepherd 1: What shall we do?
Shepherd 2: Let’s go to Bethlehem.
Shepherd 1: Yes, then we can see what has happened.
(Shepherd meets baby Jesus and bows down)
(Magi or wise men enter the stage)
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, during the time of King Herod, Magi
from the east came to Jerusalem. Having followed the star, they had come
to the house to worship Jesus. They bowed down and worshiped him
presenting him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Magi: Because You are the King of King, we bring you Gold.
Magi: Because You the son of God, we bring you Frankincense.
Magi: Because You are the Saviour, we bring you Myrrh.
(“Joy to the World” song plays) First verse and chorus.
(Everyone holds hands and bows)
THE END.