You Will Bear Jesus To The World

(A Modern Day Mary Story)

2006 Triton/NIU Christmas Drama

By : Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF

 

Scene l: The Angel’s Greeting To Mary (Luke 1:26-38)

 

Narrator:

Mary:

Elizabeth:

Angel Gabriel:

Friend on the cell phone.:

 

Scene ll: Mary’s Struggle

 

Mary:

Parents:

Joseph:

Two heckling friends:

 

Scene lll: Mary Visits Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-45)

 

Narrator:

Mary:

Elizabeth:

 

Scene lV: Mary’s Song

 

Mary:

Elizabeth:

Mary Yoo- flute player

Julie Jesmer- vocalist.

 

Scene V. On The Road To Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-9)

 

Roman soldier 1

Roman soldier 2

Poor Judean citizen

Mary

Joseph

 

Scene Vl: No Room In The Inn (Luke 2:6-7)

 

Narrator

TV Screen

Scene Vll: The Shepherds (Luke 2:8)

 

Sheep 1

Sheep 2

Shepherd 1

Shepherd 2

 

Scene Vlll: The Angels (Luke 2:9-15)

 

Angel Gabriel

Angel 1

Angel 2

Angel 3

shp 1 & 2

Sheep 1&2

 

Scene lX: The Shepherds Came, They Saw And They Preached. (Luke 2:15b-17)

 

Roman soldier 1 &2

Shep 1 & 2

Sheep 1 & 2

Mary & Joseph

Narrator

 

Scene X: Mary Makes A Life Decision (Luke 2:19)

 

Mary:

Elizabeth:

The entire cast:

 

Scene 1: The Angel’s Greeting To Mary (Luke 1:26-38)

 

Narrator:  God sent the angel Gabriel to River Grove, a town in the Chicagoland area, to a young lady who was in a serious relationship with a man named Joseph, an all American boy, studying mechanical engineering. Joseph was Mary’s fiancé but they have not yet set a date for their marriage. They had met in their freshman year of college and had dated for a couple years, but had not started living together.  She thought of herself as an “old fashioned” girl with some “old fashioned” morals. She had made a commitment to keep her self pure before marriage and even signed a pledge of purity in her senior year of high school. Joseph was alright with this. The virgin’s name was Mary. In her junior year of college the angel went to her in her dorm room, during the first week of classes…

 

Mary is in her dorm room, chatting on her cell phone and surfing the net.

 

Mary: (Talking on her cell phone). This is going to be the absolutely best year ever. All my classes start at 10 so I can sleep in late everyday.

 

Friend:  (Talking on cell phone on the opposite end of the stage) Great! Are you talking a full load?

 

Mary: Are you kidding! I have to think about my social life. This year should be a cake walk.

 

Friend: Fantastic! Is Joseph taking classes this year?

 

Mary: Yes he is. He is living in the frat house.

 

Friend: What fun! Sorry for changing the subject..but..what about that Christian ministry you went to last year? Are you going to that again this year?

 

Mary: I don’t think so. Half the people have left. Besides that I don’t have the time. I want to spend as much time with Joseph as I can. After all, we are thinking about getting married after I graduate?

 

Friend: Marriage! No way!

 

Mary: Way!   (She hears angelic music and lights flashing) I’ve got to go….something weird is happening!

 

(The angel enters after some angelic music plays. There is a bright light on him.)

 

 Angel Gabriel: “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Narrator: Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But despite of her fear and her confusion, the angel said to her,

Angel Gabriel: “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. Though you have accepted Jesus as your own personal Lord and Savior, while you were still in highschool, your faith will grow and you will begin to live as shepherd and Bible teacher to campus students and bear the son of God, Jesus to the students of your campus who are lost in the darkness of sin. You are to reveal the name Jesus to your classmates. They will respond to your Bible study because this Jesus is great and is known as the Son of the Most High. The Lord God has given him the throne of his father David, and he reigns over the house of Jacob forever. He wants to reign over your campus. His kingdom will never end.”

Mary:  “How will this be, since I am a innocent, “old fashioned” kinda girl and have never did anything riske in my life. I don’t have any experience teaching the Bible nor much Bible knowledge. I am only a babe in Christ. I am barely standing on my own two feet, spiritually. I am not qualified to do this. Anyway, that’s the pastor’s job. Why not ask one of the youth pastors from the neighborhood churches?”

Angel Gabriel: “Because I have chosen you, O you of little faith! When will you realize it not about you, it is all about God. Don’t worry about what to say or how to say it. God is with you. When you decide to accept this mission, to bear the Savior to the world, the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Then you can be used to help the holy one to be born in your Bible student’s hearts. Then they will know the Son of God personally. Even Elizabeth, on the fourth floor, has accepted the mission to teach the Bible even though she is well into her Phd studies. She who was said to be almost graduating from college has been teaching the Bible for six months. For nothing is impossible with God.”

Mary: “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.”

Then the angel left her.  (Angel walks off the Stage)

(End of scene)

Scene 2: Mary’s Struggle

Mary: (Perplexed at what just transpired. She lowly gets up and holds her head and then her heart.)

Mary: What did I just say? “I am the Lord’s servant…may it be to me as you have said.” What am I? Crazy? I can’t be a Bible teacher and shepherd for campus students! I can’t “bear Jesus to the students.”

What about school? I’ll be too busy. What about my social life? It will suffer.

What will the other students say? (Students at the side, saying… “Jesus freak”? “Right wing intolerant church goer.) I’ll loose all of my friends.

What about my parents? (Parents at the side wagging their fingers saying, “If you get distracted by anything we’ll cut you off!) Oh no!

What about Joseph? (Joseph at the side, “You’re spending too much time at that Christian fellowship. What about me? I suppose your not going to my frat parties now.) Will he still want to marry me?

I should just forget it about it and sum it all up as a bad dream. (She paces around the room, struggling on the inside.) But I can’t do that. (Tosses her arms down)

What should I do? Who can I talk to about this? My parents? No My friend? No! Joseph? No, he will never understand. Where can I go? Oh God …help me!

(A light shines from the side of the stage. the voice of he angel is heard.. “Even Elizabeth, on the fourth floor, has accepted the mission to teach the Bible even though she is well into her Phd studies. She who was said to be almost graduating from college has been teaching the Bible for six months. For nothing is impossible with God.”

Mary: That’s it! I need to talk to Elizabeth. She must know what I am going through. She will understand me. (Mary turns her eyes to heaven and prays..) Thank you Lord for showing me the way that I should go.

Scene 3: Mary Visits Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-45)

(Mary gets up and runs down the stairs to Elizabeth’s room. She goes down several flights. There could be some “danger music” or race music playing. She arrives at Elizabeth’s room and knocks excitedly on the door.)

Narrator: At that time Mary got ready and hurried down five flights of stairs to the fourth floor room, where Elizabeth was living.

 

(Mary frantically knocks. She entered the dorm room and greeted Elizabeth. Mary rushes and hugs Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, her cell phone began ringing uncontrollably. Elizabeth pushes Mary away to check her messages)

 

Mary: Thanks for letting me in. I know that you are a PHd student and I am only a junior. I really shouldn’t be here.

 

Elizabeth: Nonsense Mary. Our faith in Jesus has made us sisters in the Lord. You’re always welcome here. Come on in and make yourself comfortable.

 

Mary: Oh Elizabeth. I know what you are going through. An angel of the Lord told me all about it. God has called me to the same mission, to be a shepherd and a Bible teacher, bearing Jesus to the students of this campus.

 

Elizabeth: Praise the Lord! I received the same blessing about six months ago. At first I was reluctant but then I decided to live by faith and God has blessed the ministry ever since.

 

Mary: But I am having such a hard time accepting this blessing. It is going to be costly. My friends, my parents will never understand. It is going to cut into my social life and into my study time. And what about Joseph? He will never want to marry me if I become devoted to serving Jesus.

 

Elizabeth: (Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed) “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your calling and mission to bear Jesus to the students of this campus! But why am I so favored, that a newly called servant of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, my cell phone “rang off the hook” with several Bible students who wanted to begin 1:1 Bible study.

 

The sacrifices that you are called to make are a necessary part of bearing this great and glorious mission. Don’t think about what you might loose. Think about how much of blessing it is to be called a servant of our Lord Jesus Christ! Think about what God has in store for you. He wants to make you a fisher of men and women. He wants you to bear life giving and eternal fruit for his glory. He wants to reveal Jesus to the hearts of students, through you…. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”

 

(Mary is looking off into space, marveling at all that Elizabeth had told her and holding her heart.)

 

Scene lV: Mary’s Song

Mary:

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. Though I am just a junior,

undergrad with no clear life direction and buried by huge amounts of student loan debt, from     now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me— he forgave all my sins and restored my purity. He called me to a great mission, he has given me a hope and a future…holy is his name.

(Mary and Elizabeth bow their heads and pray two by two. Julie Jesmer comes on the stage with Mary Yoo and Julie sings “Mary’s Song” accompanied on the flute.) After the song the scene ends.)

 

Elizabeth: I thank God that you can accept this calling from God. (Holds Mary’s hand) It is truly God’s grace to you. And you know that grace. But there is also one thing that you must know in order to keep your decision of faith. You need to know clearly who Jesus is.  Indeed he has performed mighty deeds with his arm. Surely he has scattered the proud and lift up the humble. I’ve seen it time and again as I engage in ministry. He has filled the hearts of spiritually hungry students and has sent away those who feel that they don’t need a Savior. Indeed our God is a God of history. He is working powerfully, now in our generation. But let’s go back, Mary, to 2000 years ago, when God performed his most powerful deed, that of bringing the Savior Jesus into the world.

 

(They sit at the side of the stage and watch the events unfold)

 

Scene V. On The Road To Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-9)

 

Narrator:  In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.

 

(Roman soldier music plays. Two Roman soldiers come on the stage showing off their armor and acting superior. There is sign saying, “Pay the Toll Way Tax”.

 

Roman soldier 1: Ha ha. These Jewish people never had it so good ever since Rome came here. Ain’t that right?

 

Roman soldier 2: Yeah! We have given them roads, beautiful cities, law and order. (Bangs his spear) We have educated them with all the knowledge of Rome.

 

Roman soldier 1: That’s right Brutus. They don’t know how lucky they are to have us. They would still be the darkness without the light of the glorious Roman Empire and PAX Romana, the Peace of Rome. (The hug each other and laugh)  … wait… here comes a one of them right. Brutus, go and collect the tax.

 

Roman soldier 2: Halt! Who goes there?

 

Poor citizen: (Scared and cowering) I am on my way to Bethlehem to register for the census.

 

Roman soldier 2: You have to pay the toll way tax.

 

Poor citizen: But I’m too poor. I have nothing. All I have are these dried crusts of bread to eat on the way.

 

(Roman soldier knock the bread to the ground. The other roman soldier comes to them)

 

Roman soldier 1: You either pay that Toll Way Tax or your off to jail.

 

Poor citizen: But I can’t.

 

Roman soldier 1: Then its off to jail. (Roman soldier 2 “Yeah” Punches him down and drags him off the stage. He is screaming. The Roman soldiers are laughing. Ha Ha Ha. Roman music plays as Mary and Joseph comes on the stage.

 

Narrator:  So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

 

Roman soldier 1: Halt who goes there?

 

Joseph:  It is I, Joseph and my wife Mary. We are on our way to Bethlehem in order to register for the census.

 

Roman Soldier 1: She looks like she is pregnant.

 

Joseph: Yes. She is bear her due date. But we had to obey Ceasar’s decree.

 

Roman soldier 1: Well, if she is about to give birth then I am going to charge you the toll way tx for three people.

 

Mary: Hey that’s not fair.

 

Roman soldier 1: Who said anything about being fair, honey. Common pay up.

 

Joseph; OK. (He pays up from his meager possessions and moves on as the Roman solder counts his money and he laughs)

 

Scene Vl: No Room In The Inn (Luke 2:6-7)

 

Narrator: “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

 

There is a short video of Mary and Joseph searching for a place and finally giving birth to Jesus. We will show this on my 27″ TV screen in the middle of the room with the sanctuary area darkened.

 

Scene Vll: The Shepherds (Luke 2:8)

 

Narrator:  And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

 

(The shepherds are real Bible teachers, with white shirts and ties. There are sheep, real students lying on the ground in blankets. They are sleeping. The shepherds are next to them tucking them in and praying for them.)

 

Sheep 1: (Wakes up crying. Shp 1 goes to him to find out what is wrong.)

 

Shp 1: What’s wrong, why are you crying?

 

Sheep 1: I’m lonely our here all by myself. I feel like I have no one? (He begins to cry aloud) I want my mommy!

 

Shp 1: Everything will be OK. God is with he. He will never leave you or foresake you. He will always comfort you. You must know this fact?

 

Sheep 1: Yeah your right. Can we pray?

 

Shp 1: Sure, let’s pray? (The sheep goes back to sleep.)

 

Sheep 2: (This sheep is up playing video games all night long under his blanket. The shepherd 2 sees this and takes back the blanket.)

 

Shp2: What are you doing? You need to sleep. There are a lot of things to do tomorrow.

 

Sheep 2: I can’t sleep. The truth is that I can not sleep every night. Every night I play video games, watch TV or text my friends. I can’t sleep. I feel like a restless wanderer. I have no peace. I only sleep one hour and one hour there. If only I could have a little bit of peace.

 

Shp 2. Our God is the prince of Peace. When God is with us we can have his peace in our hearts and receive his peace. Can I pray for you? (He prays for the sheep 2)

 

Shp 2: Thanks a lot. I think I am getting tired. I can hardly keep my eyes open…(snore) (The Shp 2 tucks him in. The two shepherds high five each other because they have been taking care of the sheep so well.)

 

Scene Vlll: The Angels (Luke 2:9-15)

 

 

Narrator: An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them…

 

Angel Gabriel: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ^[a] the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 

Narrator:  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God.

 

(Three more adult angels come on the stage and the Jesmer kids come on. They all say in unison…)
All angels:  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

 

All the angels sing one verse of “Joy to the world”. Then the song, “JOY” comes on. The kids sing and dance and the adult, male angels dance. The shepherds and the sheep are watching from the side. They may even join in the dance. Then after the dance the shepherds are amazed. After the dance the angels had left them and gone into heaven.

 

Scene lX: They Came, They Saw And They Preached. (Luke 2:15b-17)

 

 

 The shepherds and the sheep: (say together in unison), “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

 

 Narrator: So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

 

(The Shepherds approach the manger with reverence in their hearts and pay homage to Jesus on the manger.)

 

Shp 1:  Praise God! He has come and redeemed his people. Through this tiny baby in a manger we can have the love of God in our hearts. We can the knowledge of salvation, the peace of God.

 

Shp 2. This is good news. God’s favor has come to sinners. All that I have been waiting for all of these years has come true! I can hardly contain my joy.

 

Joseph: And you must not. God has opened the eyes of your heart to behold the glory of God in this tiny baby in a manger.

 

Mary: You should not contain it. If I hadn’t just given birth, I would go and tell the whole world myself. (And she grabs Joseph by the collar) And Joseph can’t go. I need him right now.

 

Joseph: (Being held by Mary) Yeah. You shepherds need to go and spread the good news. Go..go now and don’t stop. Go!

 

Narrator: When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

 

Shp 1 and Shp two come to a the Roman soldiers and tell them about the tiny baby in manger.

 

Shp 1: God has come and redeemed his people!

 

Shp 2: Anyone who repents of their sins, believes in this Jesus, and lives by faith in Jesus can be forgiven and saved!

 

Roman soldier 1: Even me? A mean and cruel Roman soldier?

 

Shp 1 & 2: Yes! Even you cruel Roman soldiers!

 

Roman soldier 2: Mama Mia! That is great news. Yeah! Where can I meet this baby a manger?

 

Shp 1: In Bethlehem. We’ll take you there.

 

Narrator: The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

 

Shp 1 & 2. Praise God! What great news for the whole world. (They dance a little to “Joy Joy”

 

Scene X: Mary Makes A Life Decision (Luke 2:19)

 

Elizabeth:  Can you understand a little about the significance of the birth of Jesus?

 

Mary: Yeah, I used to used to take it all for granted. When I heard someone say, “Jesus loves you”, I just took it for granted. or when someone said, “Jesus was born in Bethlehem” I would say, “Oh well. That is nice. Where’s my gift? To me, dirty laundry or shopping were more important.”

 

Elizabeth: But what is your attitude now…after you have pondered these things in your heart?

 

Mary: I receiving the call, and meditating on that first Christmas, I have come to treasure these things in my heart. When I saw the joy in the shepherds’ faces and heard their testimony and saw the changes in the Roman soldiers, I knew that this baby in a manger was greater than anything in my life and that I need to commit to this Jesus.

 

Elizabeth: I went through the same struggle 6 months ago, Mary! You’re such and encouragement.

 

Mary: I don’t want to take my relationship with Jesus for granted anymore. I want to be like those first shepherds. I declare from the bottom of my heart, “I am the Lord’s Servant may it be to me as you have said.”

 

Elizabeth: Oh Mary! (They hug)   Music from “Joy Joy” comes on.

 

All cast members come on stage and declare verse 2:11, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.” and 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

 

The End