Scene 5: stage right Magi Harry, Magi William
Light fades up on center stage right, with one Magi staring at audience with binoculars

Magi Harry: Wow! (Puts down binoculars and calls behind him) Guys! You have got to see this. (He goes back to looking, but no one comes) Hey! George, William!

Rumpled Magi William stumbles out: Harry, do you have to wake us up in the middle of the night? (Smooths suit, looking down)

Harry: Normally I’d say yes, since that’s the only time you can see stars. But look at this, William! I bet we’ll be able to see this star in broad daylight!

William faces audience, looking up through matching binoculars he takes from suit pocket. His jaw drops: Wow!

Harry: That’s what I said. (Looks through own binoculars)

William: We have got to wake up George! A star like that: it means a king has been born!

Harry nods: A star like that means the greatest King has been born!

William turns to Harry: The One George told us about? The One foretold in the ancient writings?

Harry: Who else would have that star? (Looks up, lowers binoculars) We’ve got to follow it, and see for ourselves. I’ll pack, you wake up George.

William grabs Harry: How about I’ll pack, you wake him up? Or how about we leave him?

Harry: Neither one of us would probably be watching the skies if not for him—or even know what the star meant once we saw it. We owe George, William. Besides, he’s been waiting for this his whole life!

William: Exactly. And he’s not getting any younger. He’s starting to become . . . forgetful . . . cranky. (Makes a face)

Harry: Which is why I’ll pack and you can wake him up.

William sighs: Okay. But do you think . . . it’ll be a hard journey, Harry? How long will it take us?How far will we have to travel?

Harry claps hand on William’s shoulder: Wouldn’t any distance, any sacrifice be worth it?

William smiles: You’re right, Harry! (Turns to go) But are you sure we have to take George?

Harry smiles and nods, leaving.

Lights fade as they exit stage right, humming “We Three Kings”

Scene 6: center couch with Boy, Grandpa, Girl
Lights up on upstage/center stage couch

Boy: That must’ve been really fun, following a star. What an adventure! I wish I could’ve lived then.

Girl: Me too, but I think I’d rather have been one of the shepherds, or Mary, snug in the stable with the newborn King, the animals, and the star shining down. (Sighs)

Grandpa: While it was truly wonderful, I’m not sure it was all that snug for anyone involved.

Boy: Me neither. Imagine some smelly stable, already crowded with animals, a baby born without any doctor or anything, and then a whole bunch of strangers rushing in. (laughs) I bet that set baby Jesus off!

Girl indignantly: Baby Jesus didn’t cry!

Boy: Of course the Baby cried sometimes, even if he was Jesus. Mom and Dad said you cried your head off right after you were born. And you still cry your head off!

Grandpa: We know for a fact that Jesus did cry when He was much older . . . a friend of His had died.

Girl: Really? I don’t know much about Jesus when he was grown up. What was He like?

Grandpa: The Bible says in Isaiah 53 (pages there, reads vss 2-3), “He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; “

Girl: Uh, Grandpa? What does “acquainted with grief” mean?

Grandpa: It means Jesus knew what it was like to be sad.

Girl disappointed: Oh.

Grandpa finds place and continues reading Isaiah 53:3-5 as Boy and Girl get more and more restless, confused: : Scratch/tilt heads, rest chin on palm, etc. “And like one from whom men hide their face, He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. (Boy and Girl exchange perplexed looks) But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.

Girl makes a face: That’s how Jesus was? People weren’t attracted to Him? They hid their faces and despised Him?

Grandpa: Yes, and though this passage was written many, many years before Jesus was born, it tells us how He would die: our transgressions and iniquities nailed Him to the cross. He was “pierced through,” taking our “chastening,” so that we could be” healed.” (Continues to read 53:6): All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.”

Girl makes a face: Are you sure Jesus wasn’t handsome? (Shakes head and doesn’t give Grandpa time to answer) That’s hard to imagine . . . (light fades) I bet Mary was pretty. (Knowingly) I’ve watched a lot of Christmas specials, Grandpa. I’ll bet being there was just perfect . . . (Dreamily) the starlight shining on everyone gathered around the Baby, Mary and Joseph so happy. The shepherds and even the animals amazed, maybe. . . . I wonder how Mary felt, seeing Jesus for the first time. . . .

Scene 7: Light comes up on upstage/ center stage left stable as Sheep choir/Animals sing “Away in a Manger” vs 1. Click on title for a link to my favorite artist singing the whole song. Mary, Joseph enter

Mary (looks at Baby in manger): Hey, where’d He come from? I was a size 0 yesterday! (Looks down at belly, puts hands on it) Whew! I still am. (Contemplates belly) Joseph?

Joseph: Yes, Mary?

Mary: I’m really thankful for this stable the Lord provided and everything, but you know, in all the rush we never did make it to (local restaurant). And look at all the babysitters we have now! (Smiles, then shepherds’ smiles fade. Mary notices and begins counting them silently, with her finger) I suppose we could just have something delivered here for everybody. . . .

Joseph and everyone else smile again

Mary: Joseph?

Joseph comes near: Yes, Mary?

Mary bends over manger and smiles, says softly: Look, he has my nose. (Sighs) It really is wonderful, isn’t it? I mean, I didn’t think it would happen at all like this: having to travel just when the Baby was due, then scrambling even to find somewhere to have Him, but it all worked out, didn’t it?

Joseph nods: God took care of us.

Mary: Yes, He did. (In awe) And now we and the whole world have this Little One the prophets foretold, born in Bethlehem: God with us. Emmanuel. Look, I think He’s smiling!

Music begins to play “What Child Is This,” everyone comes closer to see as lights dim as one sheep solos first verse. All scene players join chorus, sing v3 to end with harmony. Click on the song title for a link to the whole song from my favorite artist.

Light fades to dark

Grandpa begins to narrate (memorize) as light slowly comes up on center stage couch. Grandpa (Micah 5:2-5): “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity. Therefore, He will give them up until the time When she who is in labor has borne a child. Then the remainder of His brethren Will return to the sons of Israel. And He will arise and shepherd His flock In the strength of the LORD, In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God. And they will remain Because at that time He will be great To the ends of the earth. And this One will be our peace.”

Scene 8: center couch with Boy, Grandpa, Girl
Light full up on center stage couch as Grandpa closes Bible

Boy: That’s the end of the story, huh?

Grandpa: There’s more, but that’s where people usually leave off.

Boy: What happened after that?

Grandpa: I’m not sure it’s something you’d like to hear . . . especially just before bedtime.

Boy: Why? Is it scary? (Grins)

Grandpa nods: King Jesus was the greatest King ever born, but He wasn’t the only king. There was also . . . Herod.

Boy: That’s more like it! Read, Grandpa!

Grandpa puts finger in Bible and narrates [memorize] Matthew 2:1-2 as light dims: “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him’.”

Boy in darkness: Yesss! The Magi again. I knew it!

Scene 9: stage right Magi dance: “We Three Kings”

Light full on stage right, following Magi to center on accompanied fingersnapping dance “We Three Kings” center stage: vs1, ch . They exit stage left after song.
Light fades after song

Scene 10 left palace: Herod, Chief priests, Scribes, Guards, Three Magi

Grandpa narrates Matthew 2:3-4 in dark [memorize] as light comes up stage left to Herod’s palace: “And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he began to inquire of them where the Christ was to be born. And they said to him,

Chief priests and Scribes hold up books, iPods/Pads and read: ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet, “And you, Bethlehem, Land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall come forth a Ruler, who will shepherd My people Israel.”’
Grandpa narrates in darkness [memorize] Matthew 2:7-8a as Magi enter: “Then Herod secretly called the magi, and ascertained from them the time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said,

Herod intones in proud, regal, cunning voice Matthew 2:8b: “Go and make careful search for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, that I too may come and worship Him.”
Light fades, following Magi to desert as Grandpa narrates Matthew 2:9 [memorize]: “And having heard the king, they went their way; and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them, until it came and stood over where the Child was.”

Scene 11: stage right Magi Harry, Magi William. Upstage: Camel and Magi George
Light up on center stage right desert with Magi William and Harry, wandering, looking for star

Both, near each other, stop: There it is! (They point suddenly, with crossed arms, look at each other, then uncross arms, point at each other’s star) No, that’s Jupiter!

Harry: Come on, William. Is your eyesight going too? That’s how we lost George. We told him he was trying to follow the International Space Station, but would he listen? Nooooooo!”

Camel prances upstage right to left, George hobbles behind

Harry calls to background: George! We found the star again! (Turns back to William) I don’t understand why we couldn’t see it before, but I’m sure glad it’s back. (Looks upstage)

George and camel cross upstage, going the other way (stage left to right)

Harry turns back to William and sighs: You want to round him up, or should I?

William shrugs: Your turn.

Harry: All right. (Looks up over audience) Wow, am I ever glad to see that star again! Our journey is almost over. Forget Herod. We’re about to see the King of Kings!

Light stays as they exit with Grandpa narrating Matthew 2:10-12: “And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshipped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their own country by another way.” Light fades

Scene 12: center couch with Boy, Girl, Grandpa
Light on center stage couch

Boy: So the magi got to see Jesus, but they never told Herod?

Grandpa: No, and for good reason. Listen (Pauses, reads Matthew 2:13): “Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, ‘Arise and take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him’.”

Boy: Wow! Herod was a bad king! But King Jesus got away, didn’t He?

Grandpa: Yes, Joseph started leading them all to Egypt that very night.

Boy laughs: I bet Herod was mad!

Grandpa: As a matter of fact, he was. (Pauses, solemnly narrates Matthew 2:16-18): “Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its environs, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the magi. Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she refused to be comforted, because they were no more.”

Silence. Grandpa closes Bible, Boy and Girl look down

Girl: Wow. Herod really did hate King Jesus.

Boy: Who’s Rachel?

Grandpa slowly, seriously: She was the wife of Jacob, and Jacob was also called Israel, the father of the twelve tribes, which make up the people known as Israel. So Rachel is figuratively the mother of the people—the mother of all the babies Herod slaughtered when he tried to murder Jesus.

Silence

Girl: I think maybe you should have stopped the story where everyone else does, Grandpa.

Grandpa: Why?

Girl: Well, I had such a nice feeling then. And now I don’t.

Grandpa: Sorry. But I told you this wouldn’t be some bedtime story. It’s the true account of Christmas.

Boy: I wonder. . . .

Grandpa: What?

Boy: I wonder if maybe there were other people who felt the same way. I mean, I want to know the truth. But maybe some people would rather . . . would rather just have “a nice feeling,” like she said. (Reflects) I mean, I know that’s how some people feel now, fussing over saying “Merry Christmas,” outlawing manger scenes and stuff, even hating Christmas, but what if that happened . . . when it happened, too?

Girl interested: What do you mean?

Boy: Well, imagine you were back then, like Grandpa told us. How would you feel? Who would you be?

Girl gushes: Mary!

Boy: Okay, if you weren’t Mary, who would you be? Probably just one of the everyday people who heard what happened, but maybe never even saw Jesus, like someone at the full inn, or one of the soldiers taking the census, or even one of the shepherds.

Girl: But the shepherds saw Jesus.

Boy: Some shepherds saw Jesus. But there were other shepherds that didn’t, right? Maybe there was even one of the group of shepherds the angels appeared to, who, for some reason, decided not to go to the stable. And maybe he always regretted it.

Girl: Or maybe he didn’t.

Boy shrugs: I’m only saying it could have happened. (Light fades) It might have happened. . . And I wonder if it did. . . .

---

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org