The Greatest Love Christmas Play (4) First B Jackson 2015-12-13 Automatically transcribed. Where this and the recording disagree, the recording is the record. ---- Throughout the centuries, God had promised the Jews and the whole world a savior. Now during the reign of King Herod, the time has come for his arrival. First, Elizabeth, who is the wife of a priest, is promised a special son to pave the way. His name was John the Baptist. Then, Elizabeth's relative, Mary, receives her own heavenly visitor who promises that her miraculous son will be the savior. Now, when Jesus is born, the shepherds were the first one to hear the good news and the first ones to share it as well. Galatians chapter four tells us, but when the time had fully come, God sent his son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the the full rights of sons. While Herod was king of the Jews, an angel appeared to a young lady named Mary. Hello, Mary. Look. Hi. Why are you so shiny? I'm an angel. You are? I am. But don't be afraid. God is with you. You're blessed. I am. You are. And you're going to have a baby. I am? You are. Your son's name will be Jesus. He will be a king. You don't say. I do. His kingdom will last forever. But but I'm not married yet. God will give you this baby in a special way. Your son will be the son of God. Nothing's impossible with God. Cool. Then that means I'm God's servant. Yes. You are. Then the angel disappeared. Now Mary was engaged to a man named Joseph. That's me. And when he found out she was expecting a baby, he knew it wasn't his child. Uh-oh. So I thought about quietly calling off the wedding to protect Mary. If if Mary is pregnant before we get married, people will make fun of her. But that night, an angel appeared to Joseph. Hello, Joseph. Hi. Why are you so shiny? I'm an angel. You are? I am. Listen. Don't be scared to marry Mary. You want me to marry Mary? I do. Have a merry Christmas. Her child is from the Holy Spirit. You don't say. I do. You name the the child Jesus. He will bring joy to everyone. Okay. I will. Yes. You will. And then the angel went away. And Joseph woke up. Woah. Her baby is from God. My baby is from God. So he stuck with Mary after all. Thanks. You're welcome. The government wanted to start a new tax, so everyone had to go to their hometowns to be counted. This is very taxing. No kidding. And since Joseph was from Bethlehem, he and Mary traveled there. My great granddaddy was born in Bethlehem. I have a feeling someone else is gonna be born here too. You mean? Yep. The baby. Oh, boy. But when they arrived, the hotels were already full. It sure is crowded around here, Mary. I have a feeling it's gonna get even more crowded. You mean? Yep. The baby. Oh, The only place they could find was a stable. It sure is noisy in here, Mary. I have a feeling it's gonna get even more noisy. You mean, yep, He's cute. His name is Jesus. Nearby in the field, the shepherds are watching over their flocks. Moo. Moo. Moo. Moo. Move over. And suddenly, an angel appeared to them and God's glory shone on them. Hello, Shepherd. Hi. Why are you so shiny? Is that God's glory? Actually, this is a flashlight. You gotta use your imagination. I see. Yes, you do. The shepherds were scared. Mom, look scared. But the angel said. Don't be scared. It's only a flashlight. No. No. No. But the angel said. Oh, don't be scared. I have good news that will bring joy to everyone. You do? Yes, I do. Tonight, the savior, Christ the Lord, was born in Bethlehem. He was? Yes, he was. You'll find him laying on the in a manger wrapping blankets. I will? Yes. You will. Suddenly, a whole crowd of angels appeared in the sky praising God. And waving flashlights. No. Saying? Glory be to God on high, on earth to all of his people. Then the angels were gone. And the shepherds went and found Mary. I just had a baby. And Joseph. She just had a baby. And Jesus. And the animals. Moo. Mama. Moo. Mama. It is. And all who heard their story were impressed and amazed. After Jesus was betrayed by Judas, he was falsely accused of blasphemy, political dissension, and he was condemned to die. An earthquake and many other miraculous signs accompanied the death of Jesus. The veil of the temple was torn in two. Dead believers were raised to life. But the greatest miracle occurs for those who believe in him as their savior. For us, his death is simply our doorway to heaven. First Peter chapter three verse 18 says, for Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but was made alive in the spirit. During the Jewish Passover Festival, Jesus was led to the high priest's home. Very early in the morning, the high council met to discuss their next step. They tied up Jesus and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor. Meanwhile, the leading priests stirred up the mob. Crucify him. Crucify him. So Pilate, hoping to please the crowd, ordered that Jesus be whipped. Then turned him over to the Roman soldiers. Crucify him. You want me to release Jesus or Barabbas? Barabbas Barabbas is a murderer. Barabbas. What shall I do then with Jesus they call Christ? Crucify him. Why? What crime has he committed? Crucify him. When Pilate saw that a riot was starting, he washed his hands in front of the crowd. I'm innocent of this man's blood. His death is our fault, not yours. They led Jesus out of the city to a hill called the Place Of The Skull. And there they crucified him. They crucified two robbers with him. One at his right and the other at his left with Jesus in the middle. It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing. Above his head, they put a sign. This is Jesus, king of the Jews. Those who passed by made fun of him, shaking their heads and saying, if you're such a great savior, save yourself. Come down from the cross if you really ought to send a guy. One of the robbers who hung there insulted him as well. Hey, aren't you supposed to be the savior? Then save yourself and save us too. But the other guy scolded him. Aren't you afraid of God? He hasn't done anything wrong. Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom of heaven? I tell you the truth. Tonight, you'll be with me in heaven. From noon until 03:00, darkness came over the land because the light of the world was dying. It is finished. The light of the world, the savior of all, the king of the Jews, Jesus himself had died. A Roman soldier who was watching everything was so impressed. He praised God and said, surely, this man was the son of God. When the people saw what took place, they lowered their heads sadly and walked away. My soul, my life, my home. Beneath the cross of Jesus, but the story doesn't end at the cross. After Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared first to his friend Mary Magdalene, whose name is Mary from Magdala. That's the town she's from. It's a woman who out of whom she he had cast seven demons. At first, on that morning, she was sad. She couldn't find his body. She thought someone had taken it away. But she soon believed in his resurrection. She did the only logical thing. She spread the news and let others know that Jesus truly was alive again. John chapter 20 verse 18 tells us, Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news. I have seen the Lord. Mary Magdalene was a friend of Jesus. She'd been friends with Jesus ever since he made seven demons leave her alone. But now she was sad. She had seen him on the cross. She had watched him die. Have you heard? Have you heard? Have you heard the news about Jesus? Jesus was the one she had followed. Jesus was the one she had listened to. Jesus was the one she had loved. Jesus was the one she had told everyone about. She had always been excited about that. Have you heard? Have you heard? Have you heard the news about Jesus? But then the soldiers arrested him. They led him up the hill. They nailed him to the cross. And then Jesus died. Mary had hoped he would be the one rescue her people. Mary had hoped he would be her savior. But now, her hope was gone. Have you heard? Have you heard? Have you heard the news about Jesus? That was three days ago. She'd watched it where they buried him. She saw it all. She saw the tomb. She saw them put a stone in front of the opening. And now it was Sunday, Early in the morning. Just as the sun was coming up, she went with some other women to find his body. To put spices on his body. But she wondered how they could ever roll that big stone away. Have you heard? Have you heard? Have you heard the news about Jesus? And now there is the tomb. But where is the stone? And who are those men in white? Angels? Are they angels? Could they really be angels? Have you heard? Have you heard? Have you heard the news about Jesus? Then an angel said. Jesus isn't here. He's alive. He's alive. Alive? He's alive? Could it even be true? Mary ran down the road. She ran back to town. She ran up to Peter and John. Have you heard? Have you heard? Have you heard the news about Jesus? He's gone and he's missing. Oh, where could he be? So, they ran to the tomb to see for themselves and they found it all just like she said. Peter didn't know what to think, but John believed. Have you heard? Have you heard? Have you heard the news about Jesus? When Mary got back to the tomb, she saw the angel. Why are you sad? Why are you sad? They've taken my Lord, and I don't know where they put him. Mary, it's me. It's me. It's me. Teacher? Teacher? Tell all my friends, I'll see them soon. Tell them I've gone to see my father, Your father. My God. Your God. Go and tell him. Tell him all. So that's just what she did. Have you heard? Have you heard the news about Jesus? The news spread throughout the land. And through the years. And now it has reached us here today. Jesus isn't dead. He's alive. He's alive. And he wants everyone, everywhere to hear. And believe. And share the news with others. Have heard? Have you heard the news about Jesus? On his head. He knew that he would soon be dead. He said, did you forget me, father? Did you? He hung his head and prepared to die and lifted his face up to the sky, said, I am coming home now, father, to you. A reed which held his final sip was gently lifted to his lips he drank his last and gave his soul the glory the soldier who had used a sword to pierce the body of our lord said truly this is Jesus Christ our savior He looked with fear upon his sword then turned to face his Christ and lord fell to his knees crying crown and wrapped him in a linen gown and laid him down to rest inside the tomb. The holes in his hands, his feet, his side. Now in our hearts, we know he died to save us from ourselves. Oh, hallelujah. Hallelujah. I will come again to take my own. Will you come and follow me? Before we we part, first of all, can we let these guys know that they've done a wonderful job? But we would like to, just offer a special thanks to a few people here. Shauna Pearson, backstage director. Here she is. And for Nancy Cummins, our director. And for Bob Wales, our music director. Woah. Shower with flowers. And then just all the cast and crew for their hard work. And then I'd like to leave you with this, before we part. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our father, who loved us by his grace we just sang of, gave us eternal comfort and wonderful hope, comfort, you to comfort you and I and strengthen us in every good thing that we do and say. Amen. Amen. Amen.