Christmas Play. HE knew you, before HE chose you; and He never makes a mistake

    

Christmas Nativity Play Script

IMMANUEL, GOD WITH US

 

HE knew you, before HE chose you; and He never makes a mistake

 

SCENE ONE

Christ’s Birth Announced to Mary (Luke 1: 26 – 38)

Scene is set in stable, with manger. 

Narrator (or, Old Prophet; lights candle/lantern)

If Old Prophet: he shuffles scrolls, until he finds the one, he’s looking for…

“The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and He shall be called Immanuel.”  Prophet pauses, leans back, thinking…utters, “Immanuel…God, with us” (Isaiah 7:14)

Mary filling manger with hay to feed animals…(humming away in a manger, or, piano playing softly)

Angel appears:

“Rejoice, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

Mary, backs up, afraid.

Angel: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David…and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

Mary: Me? Of all people? Why me? It’s not possible, I haven’t even…

Angel: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now, indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.”  He knew you, before He chose you. And He never makes a mistake.

Mary stares at the angel, and then into heaven for several seconds, so long in fact that the angel looks up, too. Finally, Mary rests her hand on her stomach and smiles and nods.

Mary: “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” (Okay, I’m the Lord’s, let it be, as you say).

Angel disappears and a light appears in her womb and star appears in the sky …heartbeat heard. Stage goes dark, except for star…and the heartbeat.

 

OR… Away in a manger, plays softly, Mary, smiling, imagines hay from manger is Baby…song fades, lights fade, Mary kneels beside manger to pray.

 

 

SCENE TWO

Joseph learns of Mary’s pregnancy (Matt. 1: 19-25)

 

Mary is walking slowly, from off stage, toward Joseph who is working in his shop. (She is starting to show.)

Narrator:  Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Joseph sees Mary, drops what he’s doing and rushes to her. They embrace…but then, Joseph pulls away and looks at her stomach.

Narrator: Joseph, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public disgrace, was minded to break off the engagement privately.

Joseph looks Mary in the eyes, shakes his head and steps back.

Mary looks at Joseph and then down and holds her belly. When, she looks back up at Joseph, she reaches for him, but he steps back a few steps, slowly, shaking his head, and turns away.

Stage right and left split into two scenes.

Joseph on left, in his shop, pacing, angry, until he finally sinks down into a tearful sleep.

Mary stage right, paces slowly, praying, until she kneels (beside manger) in tearful prayer.

Stage goes dark, briefly; then, an angel appears next to Joseph.

Angel: (Gabriel, or a different angel).

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

 

Angel disappears

Joseph scratches his head, nods his head, smiles, gets up and walks to Mary, who is still praying. He takes her by the hand. She stands, apprehensive at first, unsure of why he’s come...

He smiles, she smiles…they embrace.

Lights go down.

 

SCENE THREE

The Journey to Bethlehem. Luke 2:1-5

 

Narrator:

“And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.  So, all went to be taxed, everyone to his own city. Joseph went from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was great with child.”

Song: Oh Little Town of Bethlehem (softly plays on piano? TVs, or…?)

Mary and Joseph walk slowly toward Bethlehem from back of audience.

Inn Keeper Voices:

(Remember, it’s likely, folks thought Mary’s pregnancy scandalous, not miraculous). Intermittently, as they walk, loud, gruff, voices, over song, say “No room in the Inn, go away” … “No room for the likes of you, no way” (she’s the pregnant girl who says she never cheated. He’s the dumb one who believes her).

Joseph & Mary reach the front of Church.

Joseph:

I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. I should’ve known. Should’ve prepared; could’ve made plans. You deserve so much better. Why would God ever choose to use, a wretch like me?

Mary:

Joseph, He knew you, before He called you. And He never makes mistakes.  She gently touches Joseph’s face.

 

Joseph looks down, shakes his head at first, then, slowly nods, looks at Mary, smiles.

They take another step or two…

Last Inn Keeper: Front and center, just before Joseph and Mary reach the stage, an Inn Keeper stands up from front row, tells them, sarcastically, “I suppose, you can stay out back, in the stable—with the, animals.”

Joseph is angered by this and steps up to the Inn Keeper and draws back a strong carpenter’s arm, to teach this Inn Keeper some manners.

Mary, places a hand on Joseph’s arm.

Joseph, slowly turns, looks at Mary.

Mary, smiles at Joseph and whispers, “He never makes a mistake.”  Then, she looks at Inn Keeper, smiles and nods and says, “Thank you sir.” She looks toward the manger, “It’s perfect.”   

Away in a manger plays softly…

Mary & Joseph walk, hand in hand, onto the stage. Mary starts filling the manger, just like she did in first scene.

Lights go down.

Narrator: And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:6-7).

SCENE FOUR

Shepherds & Angels.

Luke 2:8-20.

 

Shepherds around campfire.

Narrator: ⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Angel appears before the shepherds

Narrator: ⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

Shepherds are scared, tremble.

Narrator:  ¹⁰ And the angel said unto them,

Angel:

 “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings

of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,

which is Christ the Lord.

¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the Babe

wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

Multitude of angels come out.

 Narrator:

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

All angels speak together:

¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Narrator:

¹⁵ And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, ‘Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.’

 

(Or… shepherds jump up and say, “Let’s go!..”

 

Shepherds scatter to back of Church and return to edge of manger scene and stop.

Song: Joy to the world.

 

 

SCENE FIVE

The shepherds and The Shepherd

Luke 2:8-20.

 

Stage set as manger scene.  

Joseph and Mary by manger, admiring Jesus.

Shepherds outside, inch closer.

Mary smiles at them. Joseph nods at them. They remove enter, slowly, humbly, and bow before the Babe… all but one, lone shepherd. He kneels outside, head bowed.

Joseph: Friend, it’s okay, you can come in.

Lone Shepherd: Oh no, not me. If you knew half the things I’ve done, you wouldn’t say that. I’m thinking those angels made a mistake, comin’ to us.

Joseph: Gently picks up Baby Jesus, takes a few steps toward the lone shepherd. Smiles. “He knew you, before He chose you. And He never makes a mistake.”

The lone shepherd comes in, bows before Jesus.

Mary stands beside Joseph.

The other shepherds gather round and bow before the Babe.

The Inn Keeper enters in and bows before the King

The angels appear and bow before the Lord

Joseph and Mary kneel and extend the Babe to the audience.

Narrator:

“The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.

For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

(Isaiah 9:2, 6-7)