Stories From the Early Life of Jesus

Text: The Gospels

Suggestions: Set up three scenes across stage: Manger scene on right, Shepherd scene on left, King Herod in the center. Present these parts without light except for a spotlight on the appropriate scene, or the Reader. This will facilitate the setting up of the scenes without confusion after the story begins.

Part I

The Birth of Jesus

Characters: Two readers, several shepherds, several angels, Four wise men, soldier, King

Herod, priests and scribes, Mary and Joseph.

First Reader: A long time ago in the little town of Bethlehem, Jesus was born. We do not know what day nor in what month it was. Jesus was a descendant of Abraham and David, and his coming into the world was the fullfilling of the prophecy of the Old Testament. Many years before Jesus was born, Micah, an Old Testament prophet, told that he would be born in Bethlehem. Jesus lived with God before he was born into the world. He helped God create everything that was made. God sent Jesus into the world to show people how to live, and to save us from our sins. God showed his great love for us by sending his only Son to the earth to help us.

Second Reader:

The angel Gabriel made three announcements before Jesus was born. First he appeared to Zacharias, a priest, and told him that he and his wife would have a son to be named John who would prepare the way for the coming of Jesus.

Second, he appeared to Mary to tell her that she had been chosen to be the mother of Jesus, who would be the Savior of the world.

Third, Gabriel appeared to Joseph to tell him that the first child of his wife Mary would be Jesus the Christ.

First Reader: The Jews had been slaves to many other people and they were anxiously looking for the Messiah who would free them. At the time Jesus was born, they were under the Emperor of Rome, Caesar Augustus, who sent out a decree that all Jews should go to the town of their birth to be counted and taxed. Joseph and Mary went from Nazareth to far away Bethlehem. By the time they arrived there, all the places in the inn had been taken, so they persuaded the innkeeper to let them stay in the stable, and there was where Jesus, the King of the Jews, the Savior of the world, was born and they laid him in the manger.

(Turn spotlight on a Manger scene. Song: Little Baby Jesus, words and music by Mrs. Walter H. Adams.

Part II

Shepherd Scene

Reader: And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields keeping watch over their flocks by night. And lo, an angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them:

(Spotlight on shepherds on the floor. Angel appears.)

Angel: Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Reader: And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God and saying,

(Several angels join the first angel.)

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

(Angels leave.)

Reader: And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into Heaven, the shepherds said one to another:

One Shepherd:

Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing, which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known to us.

Second Shepherd:

Yes, Let’s do go now.

(All shepherds rise and go over to Manger Scene.)

Reader: And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger.

(Shepherds fall on knees before the manger.)

The shepherds returned to their fields, telling everybody what they had seen. All that heard wondered at these things, but Mary kept them and

Part III

Scene I: Wise Men Before Herod

Reader: Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem saying,

(Spotlight on throne of Herod, soldier at side. Wise men come from rear of room and bow before Herod.)

One Wise Man:

Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East and are come to worship him.

Herod: I have not heard of this great event. (Turning and speaking to soldier)

Call in the chief priests and scribes. (Soldier leaves returning with two scribes and two priest.) All bow before Herod.)

Herod: Tell me, where is the King of the Jews born?

A Priest: In Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, for thus it is written by the prophet, and ‘Thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah; for out of thee shall come a governor that shall rule my people Israel.

Herod: Now you may go.

(Exit priests and scribes.)

Herod to Wise Men:

What time does the strange star appear?

Second Wise Man:

We have been watching it for a long time.

Herod: Go and search diligently for the young child and when you have found him, bring me word again that I may come and worship him also.

(Exit Wise Men after bowing before Herod. They come before the Family Scene, over which has been placed a star.)

Note: The Manger Scene should be changed to simple house scene, as the family did not continue to live in the manger.)

Part III

Scene II: Wise Men at the Home of Joseph and Mary

Third Wise Man:

(Pointing to the star): There is the star. Oh, how wonderful!

(All fall to their knees with heads bowed. They open bags and each gives a gift, placing it on the floor.)

Fourth Wise Man:

Here are our gifts to the newborn King.

(Wise Men take few steps away from this scene, as the vision is discussed.)

First Wise Man:

God has warned us in our dreams to go home another way, not by King Herod’s house.

Second Wise Man:

Let us be going and do as the Lord has commanded.

(Exit Wise Men)

Part III

Scene III Herod with Soldier

Herod: It has been long enough now, and the Wise Men from the East have not returned to me. If I do not do something, this newborn King will grow up and take my throne. Take this order to all soldiers to kill all boy babies that are two years old or younger.

Soldier: As you command, Oh King.

(Exit Soldier)

Scene IV House of Joseph and Mary with baby Jesus

Reader: The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph to tell him to take Mary and Jesus and flee into Egypt to escape the anger of King Herod. Joseph did as God commanded at once.

(As the reader speaks, the angel appears with raised hand, and Joseph rises, helps Mary with the baby, and they all leave.)

Reader: After the death of Herod, Joseph and Mary with Jesus came back to their home, Nazareth, to live. We know very little about Jesus when he was a boy, but we read in Luke that he was obedient to his parents, he grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Part V

The Baptism of Jesus

Reader: One day when John the Baptist was preaching, a man came to him asking to be baptized. John recognized him as Jesus. At first John did not want to. He said he needed to be baptized of Jesus. But Jesus told him it must be done to be pleasing to his Father. So John baptized Jesus.

When Jesus came up out of the water, a voice from Heaven said,

Voice: Thou art my beloved son, in Thee I am well pleased.

Song: This is My Beloved Son

Words: This is My Beloved Son,

This is My Beloved Son,

In whom I am well pleased,

I am well pleased.

Part V

Temptation of Jesus (Following page)

To be used singly, or as a unit, presented to an audience