“And
all who heard it marveled at those things told them by the shepherds”
Luke 2:18
I had the pleasure of writing a Christmas drama for our church this year. This was my first play…very different than books. It was a wonderful experience and a blessing from God and I thank Him for the opportunity.
The name of the drama was “The Story.” It
revolves around two families: an
American family, with a father reading the traditional story of Jesus’ birth
on Christmas morning…and a Biblical family sharing a personal observation of
the birth of Christ. The Biblical
grandparents took the last room in the inn on that fateful night, the room Mary
and Joseph would have had. From that
vantage point they shared what they saw the night God sent His Son to earth.
In
the end, the American parents share with their children how they accepted Christ
into their lives and the difference that makes in what Christmas is all about.
The Biblical family follows Christ throughout His life, all the way to
the cross, and they too accept Him as savior.
Both families share “The Story” with children and grandchildren in
hopes that they too will decide to follow Jesus.
As
in all plays, it was the cast who made the dream in my mind become a reality.
Our Mary and Joseph were unbelievable.
The shepherds and kings portrayed true life changing experiences at the
manger. I told our Jesus that he
looked more like Jesus than Jesus! The
songs the choir sang became messages of God’s truth.
And those playing the parts of the two families truly became their
characters. And God?
Well, God did what He always does. He
took a bunch of ordinary people and did something quite extraordinary.
On a misty December Sunday night, our little activity center became
In
our presentation, much was made of the shepherds going out and sharing what they
had witnessed at the manger. I
can’t imagine what changes must have occurred in their lives.
One moment they are watching their sheep, doing what they probably did
every night. The next minute, angels
are surrounding them, bringing to them “good news of great joy which shall be
to all people.” The next moment
they are standing in the presence of God’s only Son…sent to die for their
sins…sent to bring forgiveness and life to the world.
And at that instance, their lives were changed forever.
Listen to the words of Joshua, the Biblical grandfather, speaking to his
grandsons in “The Story.”