What Christmas Means
Narrator –
Mother – Sara
Johnny –
Mary –
Joseph –
Gabriel –
Innkeeper – Jason
Innkeeper’s Wife – Sara
Angels – Lorna, LeeAnn
Cast:
Shepherd #1 Shepherd #2 Shepherd #3 King Herod Guard Wise Man #1 Wise Man #2 Wise Man #3 Scribe –
Narrator: People all over the world celebrate holidays, some of them like ours, and others quite
different. But of all the special days, Christmas is the most widely celebrated. Christmas means many
things to different people, and the true meaning of Christmas is sometimes hard to find...
Johnny: Oh, Mom, I’m so excited! I can hardly wait for Christmas to come!
Mother: I’m excited, too, Johnny. I always look forward to Christmas.
Johnny: The stores are full of new toys and other stuff. Boy, I hope I get lots of presents! I know I
will!
Mother: How do you know you’re going to get a lot?
Johnny: ‘Cuz I’m going to write Santa Claus tonight!
Mother: Johnny, what do you think Christmas really means?
Johnny: One, Christmas trees. Two, lights. Three, shopping. Four, talking to Santa and telling him
what I want! Oh, I almost forgot...lots of candy and cookies.
Mother: Did you ever think that Christmas might mean something else?
Johnny: Yeah! No school!
Mother: but Christmas has one very special meaning. Would you like me to tell you the true meaning
of Christmas?
Johnny: I know, going to Grandma’s! I hope there’s lots of snow!
Mother: No, Son. Come, sit down and let me tell you what Christmas really means.
Johnny: OK Mom, but then I have to write my letter to Santa.
Curtains
Mary on stage sweeping. Joseph is hiding on stage.
Narrator: In the little town of Nazareth, in the country of Galilee, in the land of Palestine, Mary was
busy cleaning and thinking of her wedding to Joseph. Suddenly the Angel of the Lord appeared.
Gabriel enters and goes to Mary. Mary kneels.
Gabriel: God is pleased with you, Mary. God is going to send you a Baby Boy. You shall call Him Jesus.
He will be the Son of God.
Joseph comes out. Gabriel slowly walks to him.
Narrator: God sent the glad new to good carpenter Joseph, also.
Gabriel: God is going to send His own Son to be Mary’s Baby. Take Mary and care for her. And name
the Baby Jesus, for he shall save His people from their sins.
Gabriel exits.
Joseph and Mary meet as Narrator speaks.
Narrator: And so it was that Joseph took Mary for his wife.
Curtains
Manger on scene. Joseph and Mary walking.
Narrator: In those days Caesar Augustus was the king. One day he sent out a decree that everyone in
the country should be taxed. All the people went to the towns in which they had been born to register
and pay their taxes. Mary and Joseph traveled from the city of Nazareth to the little town of
Bethlehem, the city of David. Footsore and weary, they went from place to place, hoping to find a
room for the night.
Innkeeper: (angry) I`m coming! (enters) We`re all filled up! If you`re looking for a room, we have
none!
Joseph: But, sir, we are very tired and have traveled far. And my wife, her time is near...
Innkeeper: (nicely) I know that, but that doesn`t change the fact that I have no rooms available.
Joseph: This is the last place for us to try. Every other inn is packed.
Wife enters
Wife: What`s the matter?
Innkeeper: Another man looking for a room, but we can’t help him.
Wife: We have people everywhere. Some of them are even sleeping on the floor.
Mary: Please, any room will do.
Innkeeper: I can’t help you. Someone even has my bed.
Joseph: Thank you anyway. (Joseph and Mary turn to leave)
Innkeeper: Wait... there is the stable. It would be shelter if you can’t find anything else.
Mary: The stable would be fine. Thank you so much.
Innkeeper leads Joseph and Mary to stable.
Innkeeper returns to wife.
Wife: That poor young woman was really tired. I hope she’ll be alright in the stable.
Innkeeper and wife exit.
Shepherds enter.
Shepherd #1: It is a beautiful night, so calm and peaceful.
Enter Gabriel and Angels
Shepherds are afraid.
Gabriel: Fear not! I have good news for you and for all mankind. Unto you is born this night in the
city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord! Go to Bethlehem and you will find the Baby wrapped in
swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Angels: Glory to God in the highest. Glory to God in the highest.
Angels move to back of manger
Shepherd #2: Come! Let’s go to Bethlehem and see that which has come to pass.
Shepherd #3: Wouldn’t it be something if He is the real Messiah! Come on! Let’s go find out!
Shepherds walk around, noisily come near the door.
Shepherd #1: Well, this is the last place to try. If we don’t find Him, then surely we must have been
dreaming.
Innkeeper: (enters) What is all the racket about? Don’t you know people are sleeping?!?
Shepherd #2: We’re looking for a baby. The angel told us he is the promised Messiah!
Innkeeper: You must’ve been dreaming!
Shepherd #3: Angels appeared to us on the hillside and told us that we would find the Messiah here
in Bethlehem in a stable, lying in a manger.
Innkeeper: Angel? Manger, you say? In a stable? There is a young couple sleeping in my stable
tonight!
Shepherd #1: He must be there! Let’s go!
Shepherds go to manger and kneel.
Curtains
King Herod on his throne.
Narrator: Shortly after Jesus was born in Bethlehem, wise men from the East traveled to Palestine,
seeking the new King. They appeared before Herod to ask him where the King might be found.
Guard: (enters, bows) Excuse me, King Herod, I am sorry to disturb you, but...
Herod: I did not sleep well last night and all day I have had a feeling that something is going to
happen. Speak!
Guard: Your Majesty, there are 3 foreigners who wish to speak with you.
Herod: Foreigners? Un-announced? Who are they?
Guard: They seem to be wise men from an eastern country.
Herod: Bring them in.
Guard: As you wish, Your Majesty.
Guard exits then returns with the wise men.
Herod: Welcome! What brings you so far from your homeland?
Wiseman #1: We come bearing gifts for the newborn King.
Herod: A king?!? You must be mistaken.
Wiseman #2: We saw a strange star in the east, and as we are astrologers, our study told us a King
was born. We thought you could tell us where to find Him.
Herod: Nonsense! No king has been born!
Wiseman #3: We followed the star to your city, Jerusalem.
Herod: (stands and paces) This I can‘t believe.
Wiseman #1: You seem worried, Your Majesty.
Herod: I am! Another king to take my kingdom. Oh no!
Wiseman #2: Maybe your prophet can enlighten you.
Herod: That’s the answer! Guard, go immediately and call my chief scribe. Tell him to bring any
scrolls that mention a King expected to be born.
Guard: Right away, O King! (exits. Returns with scribe)
Herod: Do you know if there is anything written in the books of the law and the prophets about a King
which is to be born?
Scribe: Yes, O king. Not only does the scripture say a King is to be born, it also says where!
Herod: Where?!? Tell me quickly!
Scribe: Bethlehem, Your Majesty.
Herod: Bethlehem! Then this might be the promised Messiah King?
Scribe: It would seem so, Your Majesty.
Herod: Thank you. You may leave now.
Scribe and Guard exit.
Herod: I would like you to search for the child King, and when you find Him, come and let me know. I
would like to worship Him, too.
Wiseman #3: We will let you know when we find him. May peace be with you.
Wisemen bow and walk around.
Herod: I hope they find that Baby, and when they do...I’m going to kill Him!
Narrator: As the wise men departed from Herod’s palace, they saw the star again. With gladness in
their hearts, they followed it until it led them to the place where the young child lay.
Wisemen kneel at manger.
Wiseman #1: Gold to offer have I. May Your kingdom and kingship be forever!
Wiseman #2: Frankincense I give to You. This signifies that all men will worship You.
Wiseman #3: I give You myrrh. Its bitterness indicates that you will suffer much. But I foresee that
you enemies will never triumph over You!
All enter
Narrator: This is how it happened over 2000 years ago. This what Christmas truly means. It is a time
of remembering that God gave us the greatest gift the world has ever received.
All sing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”