Scene 13: stage right Shepherd 1, Shepherd 2, Lazy Shepherd solo: “If He Was the Messiah” (All in beards [thirty-three years after first scene].)
Light up on center stage right, desert.

Shepherd 1 enters, using crook as cane, speaking to someone behind him offstage: Do you remember? (Pauses but keeps hobbling as Lazy and 2 enter, also in beards and moving slowly) It’s been more than thirty years now. Can you remember all that happened that night? I hope I never forget a single detail, even if I become much older. We were here, right here (indicates spot with crook) when the angels told us about the birth of the Christ, the One who would save His people from their sins.

Lazy glances at spot, then looks around ruefully: I remember that night all right. Everyone left me, hightailing it for Bethlehem.

Shepherd 2: You insisted on staying.

Lazy: And why not? What did you see, anyway?

Shepherd 1: I’ve told you many times. We saw a Baby, named Jesus, who I believe was God in the flesh. (Sighs) But I suppose you’re not really asking anymore, are you?

Lazy: No. I stayed. So what? (Puts hands on hips, looks down, then up again, around, nervously) I just wish I’d stayed . . . another time, too.

Shepherd 2, interested: What are you talking about?

Lazy draws on floor with his shepherd’s crook: I did see Him, you know. But not as a baby in a manger. As a man. On a cross.

Shepherd 2 amazed: You saw Messiah when the Romans killed Him?

Lazy laughs bitterly: It was us just as much as them who killed Him: our chief priests and scribes insisted that Jesus die. So did the crowd, full of our people. They shouted, screamed. So did I. (shrugs) So did everybody. It was a riot and I saw it all. I may not have seen His birth . . . but I saw His death.

Lazy sings “If He Was the Messiah” with Shepherd 1/2 doing harmony on bridge to end. Lazy solos tag

Shepherd 2 nodding: God’s love is hard to figure out.

Shepherd 1: I don’t understand it, either. I’m not sure anyone can understand His love. God let His only Son suffer, and die, for sinners. Love like that is greater than we can imagine. (Pats Lazy) I hope someday you accept Jesus’ sacrifice and rejoice in the fact that He died for you, too.

Shepherd 1 puts arm around Lazy, Shepherd 2 pats Lazy’s back as they walk offstage left and light fades, stopping on couch

Scene 14: center couch, segue into “What Is Christmas?:” stage left stable with Shepherds, Mary, Joseph, Sheep

Light full on center stage couch

Grandpa (nodding with finger in Bible): The true account of Christmas ends on a cross, children, not in a manger. The Bible says (finds place), “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”(Looks up at children. They pay close attention) Jesus was the only person in history born without sin. All the rest of us are sinners from birth. We prove that every day, with every mean thought we think and every bad thing we do. (closes Bible) They add up, those sins, like a debt we can’t pay for. And God loved us so much that He sent His own Son to pay for those sins, once for all. Jesus laid down His life so that we can be washed clean through His blood. Only He could do that, because He was God in the flesh, and the only thing we can do is receive Him as our Savior and God. Jesus did everything else, with His birth and His death.

Girl slowly: Baby Jesus was born . . . to die. I’ve never thought about it that way. We never talk about that at Christmas.

Boy: You get into trouble, or even killed in some places, if you talk about Jesus or the Bible now. (reflects) I guess our time isn’t as different from Herod’s as I thought. I mean, you talk about Jesus dying for our sins, Grandpa, but I’ve never heard much anywhere else. (Shrugs). Except maybe in church, at Easter.

Grandpa: Acts 4:12 says, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” That’s the good news, the best news, though some people never hear it or realize it. Don’t you think it should be a message for Christmas too, and not just for Easter?

Boy in awe: For Christmas and every day. For everyone!

Girl: Maybe so . . .

Light follows Girl, standing to sing “What Is Christmas?” as she walks near stable scene. Cast joins her on vs 2, with harmony. Solos first line of bridge. Others join on last line of bridge, singing until tag, where people drop out until Girl solos last line. Click on underlined original song title for a version arranged and performed by my favorite artist. Here are the original lyrics I wrote for the verses in the play. Verse 1: Fearsome forces try to conquer Christmas. The battle’s waged on earth but based in hell. Authorities attempt to censor Jesus, gutting faith by leaving just the shell. Verse 2: The biggest threat is not what’s all around us , though enemies and friends may play a part. Demands and lies can turn my eyes from Jesus, but I’m lost unless He ravishes my heart.

After song, light follows Girl, walking back to sink on couch

Girl: There’s a lot to think about, Grandpa. (reflects) But my favorite part is still what happened at the stable, with the star, the birth, the shepherds and animals and everything. The message of God’s love, sending His own Son down to earth for us: That’s what I want to focus on.

Grandpa: Of course. It’s why we celebrate Christmas. Just don’t forget the rest of it. Don’t get so caught up in story traditions and trappings that you forget the true account of Christmas.

Light dims, goes back to stage left, stable scene
Scene 15: stage right stable scene plus shepherds with soft light. “Silent Night”

Grandpa in dark to audience: Please join us as we sing “Silent Night vs 1 and 3.” (p. 147)
“Silent Night” with acoustic guitar, acapella on last verse, with entire cast and audience, power point words (some in harmony on last verse) Click on underlined song title for a link to my favorite artist.

Grandpa in dark narrates [memorize] Luke 2:17-20: “And when [the shepherds] had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds went back, glorifying God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.”

Light fades, following Shepherds who leave stage right on Grandpa’s cue. Spotlight follows them as they go behind center stage couch. Light stops on couch.
Scene 16: center couch with Boy, Grandpa, Girl; later with Mom, Dad
Light full on center stage couch

Grandpa closes Bible: There you have it, children: the true account of Christmas.

Girl in hushed whisper: Wow! So that’s what really happened.

Boy: Do Mom and Dad know all this?

Grandpa looks at Bible in lap, runs hand over cover: They used to. But they might have forgotten.

Mom, Dad enter noisily from stage right in dressy outerwear: boots, coats, etc. They stop just as they become visible to audience in light of center stage, look a moment at children and Grandpa

Dad turning to Mom in audible whisper: See, honey? I said your Pop’d keep them up. (Strides to center stage behind couch on far side of Grandpa) Hi, kids! Hi, Pop!

Mom comes behind couch on other side of Grandpa : Thanks for watching the kids, Dad. Mom said to tell you she’s off the phone now and ready to turn in. (Grandpa smiles, leaves stage left with Bible as Mom bends toward kids) Wait’ll you two see what we bought for you this Christmas! It’s something you’ve been wanting a long time.

Dad: I won’t give it away, but I’ll tell you one thing: it’s bigger than a breadbox and smaller than an elephant.

Girl smiles slightly with a look after Grandpa and the closed Bible in his hands as he goes offstage. Says without much enthusiasm: Sounds great, Dad.

Boy: Uh Dad . . . Mom?

Mom, Dad cock heads at him

Boy: We want to tell you the true account of Christmas.

Light off

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