The Christmas Child

I was re-reading back through stuff I wrote, and found this play that I wrote when I was 14. My brothers and I only "performed" it once for my parents (and no, of course I didn't bribe them to do it by making  cool-looking swords with whittled sticks with pointed cardboard taped on the ends and wrapping tin-foil around it to make a "blade" and telling them that they could only play with them if they were in the play.) But yes, all that aside, it is Christmas....and it is a Christmas play...so I figured, Why not? So here it tis. (Oh, and the songs interspersed throughout are there because we played them out for the "audience" while we got changed into other costumes or re-set the "stage".)

~The Christmas Child~

Setting: A shabby cabin. It is snowing outside. Inside there is a small fire, barely heating up the room. To right of stage there are three children decorating a small Christmas tree. The youngest boy looks to be around 5, the girl being around 13, and the other boy being around 11. Tall boy of about 14 enters in through door at right of stage. He is covered in snow, and his arms are full of the little twigs he went out to gather from the woods. 

David: Shut the door, Josiah! You're letting all the warm air out!

Josiah shuts the door with his foot and walks over to the fireplace and dumps the twigs on the hearth. He then stomps his feet and brushes off the snow. 

Josiah: It's gonna be a cold one tonight. The ice sickles are as long as my hand. 

Caleb: We saved something for you to hang up. It's the manger scene. 

Grace: The one Papa used to always hang. 

Grace had a bit of sadness in her voice as she said it. 

David: I wonder when Papa will come home. 

Josiah: When the war ends. 

Caleb: I remember Papa used to hang the manger scene ornament, and mama would tell us the story about the Christmas child. 

As Caleb talked, Josiah hung up the ornament. David, not liking where it was hung, took off the ornament and put it somewhere else, giving Josiah a wide grin. Josiah crossed his arms and said:

Josiah: You just had to move it, didn't you, David.

David: Well, it didn't look right where it was hung. I was helping you fix it. 

Grace: Well, anyways, it does look nice there. 

Caleb: i don't quite remember how the story goes. 

David: Huh?

Caleb: The story of the Christmas Child. 

Grace: We'll tell you how the story goes, won't we. 

David: Sure!

Josiah: You start, Grace. 

Grace: Well, it all started one day in heaven when a war broke out between the angels. Lucifer, the head angel, got into his mind that he was as great as God, and, of course, no one was. So, there was a great battle that started the whole thing. 

~Scene 2~ 

Setting: Heaven. Four angelic beings are fighting with swords. The two on the right are God and His Son, Jesus. The other two are Satan and Legron (a demon). All are watching to see who will win. The clinking of swords adds to the suspense. The two no the left look very tired from the fight, while the two on the left look tired also , but seem to pull great strength from within. Satan blunders, and God places his sword at Satan's neck. Jesus has pinned Legron to the ground. 

God: Drop you sword, Lucifer! Only I am King! I will give you a second chance if you will follow and obey me, and acknowledge that I am all-powerful, and king of ALL kings. 

Satan: I will not! 

A bit of sadness is seen in God's eyes, his most trusted angel is truly gone. 

Jesus: Let us rid of him and all the others, Father. They have openly rebelled and fought you. You gave him a second chance, now he deserves to be punished. 

Fear comes into Satan's eyes, and Legron shreaks and trembles. 

Satan: May I ask one request, that instead of killing us all that you would let us roam the earth instead. 

God: You will be banished to the earth, and never again will you be allowed in heaven. you will no longer be called Lucifer, but Satan. Now get out of my sight!

Satan and Legron jump off at left of stage (to earth). 

Everyone exits to backstage, and the narrator (Grace) says: 

And so they went down to earth. God had created Adam and Eve. Satan tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, and she did, bringing sin into the world. years went by, and Noah came, and the flood, and the earth was new, but sin was still there. God called Abraham, and he became the father of Isaac, the father of Jacob and Esau, and then Jacob was the Father of Joseph and the tribes of the nation of Israel, God's Chosen people. God blessed his chosen people, the Isrealites, but they continued to turn away from him, time and time again. Many years passed, and still there was no one good enough to get into heaven. God came up with a new battle plan. 

Setting: Heaven. God is sitting on His throne. Jesus enters, Gabriel (the angel) behind Him at a distance. 

Jesus: You wanted me, Father?

God: Yes, my Son. 

There are tears in God's eyes. 

Jesus: Father, what is the matter?

God: Oh, my Son. I have thought about it many a time, how to save the people. I have found there is only one way. 

God pauses, and looks lovingly at His Son, a tear rolling down His cheek. 

Jesus: Father, if there is a way, we must do it. I love them so much, but yet they cannot come and live with us because there is no way to redeem them. 

God: Yes there is, you can redeem them. If you die and take their sins upon yourself, and then rise again, you will break the bonds of sin, and then whoever asks and believes in you will be able to enter eternal life. That is, if you are willing. It will not be easy, it will be hard and painful, and...

God pauses. 

Jesus: Go on, Father. 

God: ...And when you take their sins upon yourself, I will have to turn my back on you, and release all the punishment on you for all the sins of the people in the past, present, and future. 

There is silence, and Jesus is in deep, sincere thought, knowing how much it will cost. 

God: And then you will be dead for three days, and then you will rise again, conquer sin and Satan, and come to live with me again, paving the way for those who believe in You to come and live with Us as My children. 

Jesus looks up, something akin to fire in his eyes, a courage never seen before. He says: 

Jesus: I will do it. 

God: Gabriel, come here. 

Gabriel comes and kneels before God and Jesus. God smiles at him and says:

God: Gabriel, I choose you to carry out my plan. 

Gabriel looks up, startled. 

God: Yes, Gabriel. I know you are thinking that you are unworthy, but you are just the one to carry it out. I know you are loyal, and loving, kind, and brave. You have a heart after my heart. Be brave, and take this with you. 

God pulls his sword out of his sheath, and hands it to Gabriel. Gabriel is wide-eyed with astonishment. 

God: You will need this. You will have many obstacles in your way. Satan will try every way he knows to stop my plan from happening. Be brave, and never give up. For I will be with you. Take care of my Son. 

Gabriel: Yes sir, I will do my best. I will guard your Son with my life. 

God: Good, now I want you to go down to earth and find a girl named Mary, and tell her this message. 

God whispers something to Gabriel, and Gabriel, sword in hand, sets out to earth. All exit backstage.

~Scene 3~

Setting: We are back at the little shabby cabin. Everyone is gathered around the fire, listening intently to the story. 

Caleb: Is that it? I thought there was more than that. 

Grace: No, that's not it, there's much more, but I thought maybe y'all would like a cup of hot chocolate. Then Josiah can start telling the story again. 

Grace walks over to the old, black stove, and puts a kettle on. David is looking out the window. 

David: It's really snowing hard out there. Hope the chickens will be alright. 

Narrator: The chickens were important to them, as they were sometimes the only source of food that they had. The children's father was a poor man, but they had lived fairly comfortably when he was home, and he had a pay check they could live off of. Then the war started, and he went off to fight. The mother took up a job as a seamstress, but the job didn't pay as well as papa's, and they had to move out of their "nice" house into the place they were in now. This was all three years ago. Last year and a half ago, their mother died of pneumonia, leaving the children penniless, and no idea where their father was. The neighbors had tried to send the children to an orphanage, but they wouldn't hear of it. What if their father came home and he couldn't find them, or even worse if they were sen to different places and couldn't see each other anymore. No, that wouldn't do. They would make it. Josiah worked hard, finding any work he could put his hands to and doing it. David worked hard also, sometimes helping Josiah with his job of helping the blacksmith, or helping a neighbor with their plowing or other work. Grace worked hard, too. She kept house and tended the garden. She also did Mrs. Bass's laundry and housework. She worked for the neighbors and did any odd jobs they had. Caleb also did his share. He helped Grace with the garden and housework, and took care of the chickens. All in all, they scraped enough money to get by. This Christmas they didn't have much. The older ones knew that there was now way to have store-bought presents like when mama was alive and papa was home. But they wanted Caleb to have something, as he hadn't had many Christmases. In fact, the day before, they had all scraped together some money and bought him a grand present. They had all been secretly working on things for each other. Josiah and David had mysteriously disappeared that morning, returning with big smiles and a wild turkey, which Grace cooked up. They got their few potatoes and mashed them for mashed potatoes, and Grace even scraped up enough flour to make a small batch of cookies, which would be a surprise in the stockings. All in all, this was a good Christmas. They still had each other, that's what was most important. 

Josiah: They'll be fine. We just did mend their coop, and they have their nice warm feathers, they'll be safe enough. 

Caleb: When can we start back up the story about the Christmas Child. I want to know what the message was that Gabriel was to send, and what was the big plan. 

Grace: The hot chocolate is done. Here y'all go. 

Grace handed each a glass. 

David: Mmmm! What a treat! I love hot chocolate!

Josiah: This is good. 

Caleb takes a sip and licks his lips. 

Caleb: That's the best drink I've ever had. Now, can we please get back to the story of the Christmas child? 

Josiah laughs. 

Josiah: Okay. Here goes. Now where we left off God had just given Gabriel his sword, and told him to go tell a girl named Mary a message. 

Caleb: We know that part already, tell us what happens. 

Josiah: Stop interrupting and I will. Now, Gabriel did have a difficult job. Satan tried every way he knew how to stop him. But God was with Gabriel. Although Gabriel was tired when he reached the earth from all the battles he had fought, God gave him the strength to carry on. And soon, he reached a little town called Nazareth, where Mary lived. 

All exit stage and curtain closes. 

~Scene 4~ 

Curtain reopens on a little village with children laughing and playing, and older people smiling and working. Inside a mud hut is a young girl scrubbing a floor, when all of a sudden, an angel, Gabriel appears. 

Gabriel: Peace be with you, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

Mary drops her rag and is wide-eyed with wonder and fear. 

Gabriel: Do not be afraid, Mary. God has chosen you to be the mother of the Messiah. you will become with child, and have a son. He will save the people from their sins. 

Mary: How can this be, since I am a virgin?

Gabriel: The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. The baby born will be called the Son of God. Even you r cousin Elizabeth is going to have a baby in her old age. For nothing is impossible with God. 

Mary: I am the Lord's servant. Let everything happen just as he has said. 

Narrator (Josiah): And that was the message of God's battle plan. Mary did become pregnant, and she and her husband, or what we would call fiance, traveled to Bethlehem for the census king Herod had ordered. King Herod was a very cruel man, and was trying to find out where the Messiah would be born to kill him. When the three wisemen came through Jerusalem following a star to find the Messiah, he took the opportunity to learn more about the coming of the Messiah. He told the wisemen that when they found the Messiah, to tell him where he was, so that he and his family could come and worship him. Of course, this was a lie. He really wanted to kill little Jesus and put an end to the threat to his reign. I'll let David take over from here. 

Narrator (David): Well, Joseph and Mary finally reached Bethlehem. They were both very tired from their months of journey, and looked for a place to spend the night. But the inns were full. Then Mary started having the baby. They were desperate. Finally, one innkeeper said: 

Innkeeper: All I have is a stable out back, but you are welcome to it. 

Joseph and Mary hurry out back to the stable. It is smelly, dark, dirty, and also full of sheep. Joseph shoos the sheep away, and throws new hay out for Mary to lay on. In the course of time, the baby is born. Mary holds him while Joseph hunts for something to clothe him in. 

Joseph: This is all I could find, Mary. It will keep him warm. 

He holds out some smelly, dirty rags used to wipe the animals down. Mary smiles, and wraps Jesus in the swaddling cloth. Joseph dumps out the old hay in the manger, and puts new hay in it. Mary lays the baby Jesus in the manger nestled against the fresh hay. 

Mary happens to look up, and has a look of wonder in her face. 

Mary: Look, Joseph. That star!

Joseph looks up, and there is the most beautiful thing he had ever seen his entire life. A beautiful, bright, glowing star was shining right on the stable, illuminating it with a heavenly light. They look in awe at the little baby, sleeping peacefully in the hay. 

Joseph: We have been given a great gift. 

Mary, smiling says: Yes. The greatest gift of all. 

Soon the shepherds start to gather outside and inside the stable, coming to see the baby which the angels had told them about. Wisemen appear and bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. All gather about the newborn King. 

Narrator (David): The angels in heaven sang and Gabriel, well, he stayed to protect Jesus until he would later die on a cross for the sins of the world. That was the greatest gift ever given, and that ever will be given. That was the first Christmas. And Jesus is the Christmas Child. 

The curtain closes, and reopens back on the little cabin. The clock has just struck twelve. 

Caleb: I love that story! And the best thing about it is that it's true. 

Grace: It's twelve o'clock. It's Christmas! 

David: Can we open our stockings?

Josiah: I don't see why not. 

Caleb un-hangs his stocking and pulls out an orange, gold and almost glowing in the fire light. 

Caleb: Wow! An orange! I thought we weren't getting anything for Christmas. 

He roots down farther, and pulls out a small bag of cookies, a pencil, and a whistle, which Josiah and David has made. Grace, Josiah, and David get a small bag of cookies, and a letter from everyone. But the best present they got was seeing the joy in Caleb's face. 

David: I feel so happy I feel like singing!

This was very unusual because David usually hated to sing, but something about that Christmas, and it being Jesus's birthday and all, he thought they should thank him. 

Grace: How about "Joy to the World"?

And so they sang "Joy to the World" with all their might, and then shouting with all their might say: 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! And a merry Christmas it was.

May the miracle of Christmas bring joy and hope to your heart!

Merry Christmas!!!

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and 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.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2: 1-20