Christmas Good News Story CHRISTMAS—A GOOD NEWS STORY TO ALL PEOPLE by John Humphries
Narrator:
Our play starts in the news bureau of CMM News in Jerusalem. News anchorperson, Deborah Beersheba, is reporting.
Deborah:
[on center stage] Welcome to CMM News. This is Deborah Beersheba in Jerusalem. We have a late-breaking news story in Bethlehem on this 24th day of December. We go to our reporter, Ben Manassah, who is covering the census that was decreed by Caesar Augustus in Rome. Come in Ben.
Ben:
[on stage right] Well, Deborah, it’s just before midnight here in Bethlehem. As you know, Bethlehem has been receiving hoards of people coming to this small town to register for the census that resulted from the order by Caesar Augustus that all people in this Roman province return to the place of their family’s origin to be registered. This registration is for the purpose of counting the population and so the Roman Internal Revenue Service can calculate the taxes due Rome.
Deborah:
So what’s the mood of the town? How are the people feeling about the registration?
Ben:
As you can imagine, the people here aren’t happy campers about this process as they had to disrupt their lives and in many cases, make long trips to be properly registered. Also, the influx of people has put a severe strain on the local hotels and it’s very difficult to get a room. The news people are having to double up in rather small accommodations but we are getting by.
Deborah:
Thanks Ben. Sorry to hear about the inconvenience but please keep us posted on any late developments. [turning to face the TV camera] And now we go to one of our field reporters, Sarah Shiloh, who is with a group of shepherds in a field outside of Bethlehem.
Sarah:
[on stage left] Hi, Deborah. Yes, I‘m standing in this field where a very unusual thing just happened moments ago. [going over to one of the shepherds] Excuse me sir, what is your name?
Ahab:
My name is Ahab. I work as a shepherd. I am responsible for a flock of 100 smelly sheep. It’s not glamorous work but it’s a job. Not exactly a sheer delight.
Sarah:
So, Ahab, tell me what happened here a few minutes ago.
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Ahab:
Well, my buddies and I were sitting here swapping stories when all of a sudden, this blinding white light appeared out of nowhere. The whole field was lit up. We were terrified and we ran for some rocks to hide behind. And our poor sheep were running everywhere. It was pandemonium, I tell you. Edom over there was so much in shock that he just stood there frozen while the rest of us ran for our lives.
Sarah:
So Edom, tell me what happened.
Edom:
Well, it was just after midnight. I was tending to one of my sheep that had hurt his foot in the rocks, when suddenly there was this humongous flash of white light. I had never seen anything like it in my life. The whole area was brighter than day. And then I saw this man-like creature with wings just hanging there in the air. He said, “Fear not.” Like there was any way that I was not going to be in fear. He went on, “I bring you good news of joy for all the people. Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born.”
Sarah:
That must have been a frightening experience. Go on Edom, tell me more.
Edom:
I was standing there in shock wandering what in the world is a “Savior” when this weird looking creature said that we would find a baby wrapped in some old cloths lying in a manger in Bethlehem. The creature said that this would be a sign to us.
Sarah:
Then what happened?
Edom:
Do you want to sit down? This creature was joined by hundreds of other winged creatures and they started singing “Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to men of goodwill.” Then the winged creatures all disappeared as fast as they had appeared. It was really weird. Like, I thought I was losing my mind or something.
Sarah:
What happened next?
Edom:
Well, Moab over there, suggested we go to Bethlehem and see this thing that was told to us. So we left Baran, our youngest shepherd, with the sheep while the rest of us went to Bethlehem to investigate this strange occurrence. When we got to Bethlehem, we saw this bright light over a barn in back of an inn, so we went inside. We found a man and a woman bending over a manger and then we heard a baby cry. We went over to the manger and saw this cute little boy baby lying there all wrapped up in some old cloths. What a strange sight: a baby lying in a feeding trough.
Sarah:
[turning back to face the camera] Well, Deborah, that’s the strange report from these shepherds. Allegedly, a savior has been born and has been
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placed in a barn crib for a bed, hardly a place you would expect to find a savior of the world. By the way, the parents named the little baby, Jesus. Deborah:
Yes, Sarah, that really is a strange place to find a baby, especially a savior, but I guess the whole evening has been very unusual. Thanks for your report. [facing back to the camera] Now we’re going to our reporter, Ruth Baruch, who is in a crowd of people in Bethlehem. Come in Ruth.
Ruth:
[on stage right] Good evening, Deborah. Yes, I am here with some of the good citizens of Bethlehem to get their reactions to this late-breaking story. Excuse me, madam, could you give me your name and tell me how you feel about what’s been going on in your town tonight.
Esther:
My name is Esther. To tell you the truth, I’m a little confused about all of the excitement and strange events. I’m a 50 year-old housewife.and have lived here in Bethlehem all of my life. I’ll tell you, I’ve never witnessed anything like I have tonight. We had a bright shining light, like a star, illuminating an old barn in back of the Vacation Inn. I thought someone had dropped a candle in the straw and started a fire or something. Then we had a bunch of frightened and excited shepherds come in from the fields saying they were looking for a baby in a manger. I thought maybe they had had too much wine trying to stay warm. And then there were these three men from the orient….they were all dressed up in fine clothes and looked like kings. Boy, let me tell you, we don’t get many visitors like that in our small town. And they were carrying really expensive gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They too were looking for a baby. They left shortly after making a visit to the old barn in back of the Vacation Inn. It’s going to take a while for me to sort all of this out. Personally, I am convinced that this new baby is the Messiah God has promised us for many years. I think this baby Jesus is the one who will someday lead a rebellion to get rid of Roman rule and return us back to the good old days of King David. And it couldn’t happen any too soon.
Ruth:
[turning to another woman} And how about you? What is your name?
Lydia:
My name is Lydia. I work as a waitress at one of the local eating establishments. I don’t understand all of the commotion. What’s the big deal? We have babies born all of the time and just because the parents couldn’t get a room at the Vacation Inn, everyone is trying to make a big deal about it. There have been rumors of messiahs and saviors for hundreds of years and nothing has ever happened. I think the people are letting the registration mania get to them. Yeah, of course, it is a stressful time but people are getting a little too hyped up. However, it sure doesn’t show in the tips they leave. I for one will be glad when this census/ registration business is over and we can get back to normal life in our sleepy little town. Nothing personal, but I’ll be glad to see you media
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people leave our town. You people will do almost anything to try to get a story, and you don’t mind disrupting peoples lives to get it. Ruth:
Well, Deborah, there you have it. The reactions of the local populace seem to be split along ethnic lines. The Jews are generally excited thinking that this new baby could be the long awaited Messiah their prophets have foretold. The Gentiles, on the other hand, think the whole thing is media hype and they are somewhat resentful that their lives have been interrupted by what they perceive to be much ado about nothing. And then there are the Roman military men who think the whole business is a big headache. For them, the census has been a nightmare and this messiah story is one they have heard before and quite frankly, they are fed up with it. It is hard enough for them to keep the peace under normal circumstances but with all this other stuff going on, they are stretched about to the breaking point. The Governor is even talking about invoking a curfew and there are concerns about security. Well, back to you, Deborah.
Deborah:
Thanks for your good journalistic work, Ruth. [facing the camera] We now go to our roving reporter, Terza Bethsaida, who has an exclusive interview with the parents of this new baby born in a manger. The parents’ names are Joseph and Mary. They traveled down to Bethlehem from Nazareth to register for the census.
Terza:
[on stage left] Hi Deborah. I’m here with Joseph and Mary, the parents of Jesus. [turning to Joseph] Tell me Joseph, what has this evening been like for you?
Joseph:
It has truly been awesome. We made the long trip from Nazareth which was very uncomfortable for my wife Mary since she was very pregnant and had to ride on the bumpy dirt roads on the back of a donkey. I felt so sorry for her. We tried to get a room at the Bethlehem Vacation Inn but there just wasn’t any room. The innkeeper took pity on us and found some space in an old barn in back of the inn. We were very thankful just to be able to get in out of the cold night air.
Terza:
Joseph, I don’t want to put you on the spot but I understand that you and Mary were the victims of some malicious gossip in Nazareth a few months ago.
Joseph:
Yes, sadly that is true. It was really difficult since we were engaged and had both kept ourselves pure, and then Mary got pregnant. Try to explain that to your family and friends. But we were assured by God that it was by His hand that this came to pass, so we just had to put up with the rumors and gossip.
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Terza:
Boy, that must have been tough. I bet the tabloids had fun with that story.
Joseph:
Mary was the one who took the brunt of it. She was in disgrace in the eyes of the community. But she never complained nor got bitter. She accepted God’s will and continually praised His name.
Terza:
Mary, tell me what it felt like to go through this experience.
Mary:
Well, Terza, I was overwhelmed and honored to be chosen by God to bear His Son, the one who would become the Savior of the world, the long awaited Messiah. That thought helped me get through the community’s misunderstandings and gossip. And Joseph stood by me with absolute love and loyalty. And both of us were surrounded by the loving presence of God. There are no words to adequately express the whole experience.
Terza:
Thank you both for sharing your feelings and experiences. I’m sure you will remember this night for a long time to come. I wish you both all the best with your new son, Jesus. May you all have much happiness in the future.
Deborah:
[turning back to the camera] And now, Terza Bethsaida will conclude our broadcast by giving us her personal reflections after seeing the baby Jesus.
Terza:
Deborah, as you just said, I had a chance to look at the baby Jesus. [getting choked up with emotion] I…I looked into his eyes and I suddenly experienced a feeling of love and peace like never before. It was like I was …one with the universe. It was like… like I was looking at God Himself. Truly, this must be the Son of God. Truly, this must be the Messiah that was promised for so many years. [pause] I am sure now that the world will never be the same. This little boy will change the world. “And the government will be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” [pause] Back to you, Deborah.
Deborah:
Well folks, this has been quite a night and one I will never forget. I have been in the news business for a long time but this news story is really a good news story to all the people. With all of the bad news that we so often have to report, it is such a refreshing change to report some really good news. So for CMM News, this is Deborah Beersheba saying good night and have a good forever.
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