Oliver Smith
Lyndale Advent Play 2000
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Lyndale United Church of Christ
Children's Christmas Program 2000
In Search Of The Magi
Script by Oliver Smith
Art by Kelly Waterman
A Christmas Drama For 35-40 Minutes
Lyndale Gone Mad Productions
Lyndale Gone Mad Productions consists of Oliver Smith, Kelly Waterman
and all those who participate in the annual children's Advent Pageant
at Lyndale United Church of Christ
(http://www.CyberPoet.com/LyndaleUCC.html).
This is an effort to provide an opportunity for the children to explore
and experience the ways in which the spirit of Jesus' birth can be
perceived and presented.
Recommended gender and age for each role are only suggestions. We would
like to get feedback from children and teachers for any and all aspects
of this presentation. We consider this a progressive and interactive
process.
If a particular youth is especially interested and motivated to play a
specific role we believe that this should be accommodated, if possible.
We understand that memorizing many lines in a short time is very
difficult, so we are not expecting anyone, necessarily, to memorize
their parts, but the more that is memorized the better the presentation
will be. We will leave this up to the teachers and youth to determine
who, how much and when memorization should be done. Youth 1 and Youth 2
should probably simply concentrate on speaking clearly and
communicating the script to the audience.
There is plenty of room for improvisation within this presentation and
we strongly encourage teachers and youth to be CREATIVE!
Cast
Youth 1 - Junior High/Middle School/High School Age
Youth 2 - Junior High/Middle School/High School Age
Youth 3 - Junior High/Middle School/High School Age
(Youth 1 and Youth 2 should be 1 male and one female if possible and
they should be willing and able to speak clearly for long periods of
time)
Percussion Orchestra (drums, sticks, tamborines, etc)
Rumi
Sufist Dancers
Camels
Elephants
Magi -
Melchior
Balthasar
Gaspar
Egyption Seekers
Buddhist Seekers
Babylonian Seekers
Ms/Mr Nowital
Stage Setting
There are two main settings for this play.
Setting 1 - is at the beginning of the play, when Youths 1, 2 and 3 are
at the play rehearsal.
Setting 2 - Lake Harriet, where Youths 1, 2 and 3 have several
encounters with people looking for the meaning of God.
When Youths 1, 2 and 3 start their journey around Lake of the Isles,
there are three groups of seekers wandering around, but never actually
coming together until the end of the play.
Group 1 - Egyptian seekers - playing tambourines
Group 2 - Babylonian seekers - playing drums
Group 3 - Buddhist seekers - playing cymbals and triangles
All of these groups will be playing a specific rhythm with their
instruments so that they have both a rhythmic and auditory signature
unique from the other groups.
They will be approaching people in the audience and asking if they have
seen the reincarnation of their respective gods or spiritual leaders.
Part I
The Question
(Just arriving at rehearsal for the Annual Children's Chistmas Pageant,
two of the youth start talking.)
Youth 1:
Hi. How are you?
Youth 2:
OK.
Youth 1:
What part are you playing this year?
Youth 2:
Melchior.
Youth 1:
Melchior? Who's that?
Youth 2:
It's supposed to be one of the Magi.
Youth 1:
Magi? What's a Magi?
Youth 2:
My mother says that the Magi were three kings from the east somewhere,
but she didn't know where.
Youth 1:
I've been to Philadelphia. Is it that far east?
Youth 2:
No, it's where Jesus lived, over there where Jerusalem and Iraq are.
Youth 1:
Oh, but why are they called Magi?
Youth 2:
I don't know, let's ask Ms/Mr Nowital.
(Youth 1 and Youth 2 approach Ms/Mr Nowital, the director of the
Christmas pageant, and church school teacher)
Youth 1:
Ms/Mr Nowital, can we ask you a question?
Ms/Mr Nowital
Yes, of course, what question do you have?
Youth 2:
Well, we were wondering what a Magi is.
Ms/Mr Nowital:
Oh, now that's an interesting question, I would love to have the answer
to that question myself.
Youth 1:
You don't know?
Ms/Mr Nowital:
I'm afraid not. Besides, we have to practice for the pageant now. What
parts are you two playing.
Youth 1:
Gaspar.
Youth 2:
And I'm playing Melchior.
Ms/Mr Nowital:
You are both playing magi, aren't you.
Youth 1:
I guess so, but we don't even know who they are. How can we play
something we don't know anything about.
Youth 2:
Yeh, it's a little hard to practice for a role you can't understand.
Ms/Mr Nowital:
Do either of you know who is playing Balthasar?
Youth 3:
I am. (moving closer to Youths 1 and 2)
Youth 1:
Balthasar? Is that another Magi?
Ms/Mr Nowital:
Yes, it is.
Youth 2:
How many of these Magi are there, anyway?
Ms/Mr Nowital:
Three.
Youth 3:
Three? What do they do?
Ms/Mr Nowital:
They bring presents to Jesus when Jesus was very young.
Youth 1:
What kind of presents?
Ms/Mr Nowital:
Gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Youth 2:
I know what Gold is, but what are Frankincense and myrrh?
Ms/Mr Nowital:
Frankincense and Myrrh are both a form of incense that comes from the
sap of trees and shrubs that grow only in eastern Africa and southern
Arabia.
Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh are very special, and represented things
that Jesus gave up in order to help us find the meaning of god.
Youth 3:
Really?
Ms/Mr Nowital:
Yes, Gold represents wealth which is associated with the planet
Jupiter. Frankincense represents spiritual wisdom, that is associated
with the planet Saturn, and myrrh represents longivity, which is
associated with the planet Mercury.
Youth 2:
How did Jesus give up all those things?
Ms/Mr Nowital:
Well, at the trial Jesus could have used great wisdom to avoid being
convicted, but Jesus said nothing. Jesus could also have used wealth to
buy freedom, but Jesus did not do that either. Finally, Jesus died,
giving up a long life.
Youth 3:
I've never heard that before.
Youth 1:
Me neither.
Youth 2:
Alright, so we know what they bring, but we still don't know who they
were? That's stupid.
Ms/Mr Nowital:
Maybe you should read more about this and ask some other people. Right
now let's rehearse.
(musical interlude)
Part II
Starting The Search
(That afternoon, after church and the rehearsal for the pageant, Youth
1, 2 and 3 meet)
Youth 2:
You know, I've been studying the gospels all afternoon and did you know
that there is only one place where the Magi are even mentioned?
Youth 1:
No, where's that?
Youth 2:
In Matthew, and all it says is that they followed a star to where Jesus
was.
Youth 3:
How do they know it wasn't a flying saucer?
Youth 2:
Flying saucer? Why would you say that?
Youth 3:
A flying saucer moves. You can follow that. Have you ever seen a star
move? I haven't, unless it's a falling star, but my parents say they
are just meteors and that you should make a wish when you see one.
Youth 2:
I don't think it was a falling star, or even a regular star. It must
have been something special. Matthew also says that the Magi asked
about Jesus when they got to Jerusalem and that Herod got real upset,
thinking that Jesus was going to take his throne away from him, or
something.
Youth 1:
What did they do?
Youth 2:
They went on to Bethlehem, saw Jesus and then left in a different
direction, hiding from Herod.
Youth 3:
You mean they tricked Herod?
Youth 2:
I guess so. Then an angel came and told Mary and Joseph to leave, so
they went to Egypt.
Youth 1:
You mean that Jesus lived by the pyramids?
Youth 2:
I guess so, at least according to Matthew.
Youth 3:
Wow! But we still don't know who these kings were.
Youth 2:
I know, and the Bible really doesn't tell us. Let's go for a walk
around the Lake Harriet. Maybe we can think of someone to ask.
(musical interlude)
Part III
The Seekers
(Youths 1, 2 and 3 begin their walk around Lake Harriet)
(An elephant could be walking around the sanctuary while Rumi is
talking with the two Seekers, then the elephant is covered with a
blanket.)
Youth 1:
It's kind of chilly today. It's a good thing we brought jackets.
Youth 2:
Yeh, you're right. There aren't all that many people here today,
everyone must be home watching the football game or getting ready for
work.
Youth 3:
And we have school tomorrow, so I guess we shouldn't stay too long.
(suddenly, looking down the path)
Youth 1:
Hey, what is that down there, by the path?
(looking down the path in the direction pointed to by Youth 2, they
both see several dancers twirling around the odd looking man)
Youth 2:
That is one funny looking man.
Youth 3:
Yeh, he's dress weird even for Uptown.
(as they start to pass the man on the path, the man speaks to them)
Rumi:
Hi. How are you three doing?
Youth 1:
Uh, fine.
Youth 2:
Yeh, we're fine.
Youth 3:
OK.
(as Youths 1, 2 and 3 start to leave, the man calls out to them)
Rumi:
Where are you three going? I've been waiting here all day for you.
Youth 1:
For us?
Rumi:
Yes, for you three.
Youth 2:
You don't even know us. How can you be waiting for us?
Rumi:
The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don't go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.
Don't go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the doorsill
where the two doors touch.
The door is round and open.
Don't go back to sleep.
Youth 3:
What are you talking about? This doesn't make any sense.
Youth 1:
Are you sure that you are waiting for us?
Rumi:
Oh yes. You are the three who have been asking about the Magi.
Youth 2:
You know about that?
Rumi:
Quite a bit actually.
Youth 3:
You do?
Rumi:
The mystery does not get clearer by repeating the question,
nor is it bought with going to amazing places.
Until you've kept your eyes
and your wanting still for fifty years,
you don't begin to cross over from confusion.
Youth 1:
What? This is crazy.
Youth 2:
Yeh, what kind of a nut are you anyway?
Youth 3:
Have you been drinking?
Rumi:
Today, like every other day, we wake up empty
and frightened. Don't open the door to the study
and begin reading. Take down a musical instrument.
Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.
Youth 1:
Are you going to answer our question, or not?
Rumi:
The question is, are you going to answer it yourself!
Youth 2:
What do you mean?
Rumi:
You seek knowledge of the Magi and the Magi sought knowledge of god.
Are you seeking the same thing?
Youth 3:
I don't know. We just want to know who the Magi were.
Rumi:
Does it really matter who they were?
Youth 1:
It does if you want to play the part.
Rumi:
Knowledge of god is like a strange animal in a dark room. Each one goes
in and touches a part and then they try to describe what they have
felt. Since they all feel a different part they all describe different
things. So who is right?
(At this point, Rumi takes a large box that has a strange animal (a toy
stuffed animal) in it and several holes in it on the sides. Each hole
is large enough for someone to stick a hand in and touch what is
inside. Several people are asked to reach in, make a single touch, and
then describe what they felt)
Youth 1:
Everyone is guessing something different, even though it is the same
animal.
Youth 2:
How can that be?
Youth 3:
It can't be that difficult?
Youth 1:
You really are confusing. You aren't answering our question. Do you
know of anyone who knows who the Magi were?
Rumi:
Look behind the next tree, you will find part of your answer:
Inside the Great Mystery that is,
we don't really own anything.
What is this competition we feel then,
before we go, one at a time, through the same gate?
Youth 2:
Come on. Let's find out. (pulling on Youths 1 and 3)
(musical interlude)
(they approach the next tree, behind which is someone who looks like an
Egyptian queen/pharaoh, with several people. This is one of the three
groups which have been wandering around the sanctuary).
Youth 2:
Who are you?
Queen/Pharaoh:
I am the Egyptian [pharaoh/queen]. Haven't you read about me in your
history books?
Youth 3:
Yes, but you are supposed be dead.
Queen/Pharaoh:
I am? Are you sure?
Youth 3:
I thought so.
Queen/Pharaoh:
How do you explain my being here?
Youth 1:
Oh no, not another weirdo like the last one.
Youth 2:
(looking at the Queen/Pharoah)
Do you know who the Magi were?
Youth 3:
Yeh, tell us, please!
Queen/Pharaoh:
Why yes, they were Egyptian astrologers, and they were constantly
looking for the next child of Isis and Osiris, the leader of the
Egyptians. The stars would always tell them when this would take place.
Youth 1:
You mean that the Magi were looking for the next Egyptian leader when
they came to see Jesus?
Youth 2:
I don't believe it. You aren't any better than the last one we talked
to.
Youth 3:
Come on, let's find someone else.
Queen/Pharoah:
But who else would you expect? It was natural for us Egyptians to
anticipate this.
Youth 1:
Let's find someone who really knows the answer. I'm getting tired of
looking.
Youth 2:
But where are we going to look?
Youth 3:
Hey, look over there. There's another strange person, maybe this one
will tell us who the Magi were.
(musical interlude)
(A Babylonian astrologer (girl/boy) walks towards them, with a group of
companions, all wearing Babylonian clothes from the first millenium
BCE).
Babylonian:
I see that you three are looking for the meaning of god.
Youth 1:
No we're not. We're trying to find out who the Magi were.
Youth 2:
How come everyone keeps saying that?
Youth 3:
None of these adults are listening to us.
Babylonian:
Well, what do you think the Magi were doing?
Youth 1:
We don't care what they were doing. We want to know who they were and
where they came from.
Youth 2:
Yeh, what does it matter what they were doing, anyway?
Babylonian:
Do you really think you can know someone if you can't tell what they
are doing and why they are doing it?
Youth 3:
I don't know. I guess I never thought about that before.
Youth 1:
Me neither.
Babylonian:
Let me ask you this. What are you three doing right now? Can I know
anything about you without knowing what you are doing right now?
Youth 2:
That's silly. Of course you can know something about us without knowing
what we are doing right now.
Babylonian:
Alright. Tell me something about yourself.
Youth 3:
I'm a kid. I go to school and church and I like movies.
Babylonian:
Great! So why aren't you at school or church right now? Or why aren't
you going to a movie?
Youth 1:
Because we are in a church play and we want to know who the Magi are.
Youth 2:
And no one is willing to tell us who they are!
Babylonian:
So, you want me to know what you are doing right now, but you don't
think I need to know this in order to know you.
Youth 3:
Well, I guess it does kind of help to know why people are doing what
they are doing.
Youth 1:
And I guess that knowing about why the Magi were looking for something
will help us to learn about who they were.
Babylonian:
Exactly.
Youth 2:
Who do you think the Magi were?
Babylonian:
It's obvious to me that the Magi were Babylonian astrologers looking
for the reincarnation of Zoroaster.
Youth 3:
Oh no, not another story that is different from the Egyptian. It's
starting to sound like that Rumy guy and his strange animal in the dark
room.
Youth 1:
How many different ways to look at the Magi are there?
Youth 2:
Come on, let's go find someone else to ask.
(musical interlude)
(They now encounter someone dressed in Buddhist clothes, also with a
group of people. The Buddhist walks over to Youth 1 and Youth 2.)
Buddhist:
You must be the three young people who are looking for the meaning of
god.
Youth 3:
We were trying to figure out who the Magi were, but now we are
beginning to wonder if that is any different than looking for the
meaning of god.
Youth 2:
Can you tell us who the Magi were?
Buddhist:
Can't you tell? You are the Magi. You are looking for the meaning of
God just like the Magi, and we believe that we are all looking for the
inner Buddha, the reincarnation of the spirit that is within all of us.
It's perfectly clear who the Magi were and what they were doing.
Youth 3:
I don't think this is very clear at all.
Youth 1:
Let's go home. I'm tired.
Youth 2:
No, wait, now I get it, WE are just like the Magi. WE are looking for
the meaning of god and WE are the ones with gifts to give.
Youth 3:
We are? What gifts?
Youth 1:
Yeh what gifts? We don't have anything.
Youth 2:
Do you remember what Ms/Mr Nowital said?
The Magi brought Gold, Frankincese and Myrrh.
Youth 3:
But we don't have any of those things.
Youth 1:
But, Ms/Mr Nowital said that Gold stood for wealth,
Frankincense represented spiritual wisdom and Myrrh was associated with
long life.
Youth 2:
Our parents consider us to be a part of their wealth.
Youth 3:
And we have learned a lot today. We have become wiser and know that the
Magi were looking for the meaning of god.
Youth 1:
And we are young, with our whole lives ahead of us.
(All three groups now come together and the three leaders approach
Youths 1, 2 and 3).
Buddhist:
It seems that we are all looking for the same thing, the meaning of
god, whether it is in the universe, out there in the stars, or within
us. The stars are special tonight, we think there is someone being born
who can bring us to enlightenment. Would you come with us.
(Youths 1, 2 and 3 begin walking with the other three groups towards a
star that is suspended over the stage. A road sign stands up on one
side of the stage and it says "Bethlehem").
Youth 2:
As a child, and part of my parent's wealth, I'll bring Gold.
Youth 3:
I finally understand what Rumi was saying about the knowledge of god,
so I'll bring Frankincense for the wisdom we have gained.
Youth 1:
I want to spend the rest of my life to come searching for the meaning
of god, so I'll bring myrrh.
The End
The version of Christmas In Matthew
Matthew 1
17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen
generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are
fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto
Christ are fourteen generations.
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother
Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found
with child of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make
her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord
appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear
not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her
is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS:
for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken
of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son,
and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God
with us.
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had
bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and
he called his name Jesus.
Matthew 2
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod
the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, 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.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all
Jerusalem with him.
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the
people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is
written by the prophet,
6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the
princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule
my people Israel.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them
diligently what time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for
the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that
I may come and worship him also.
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which
they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over
where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child
with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they
had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and
frankincense, and myrrh.
12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to
Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth
to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his
mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word:
for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and
departed into Egypt:
15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled
which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have
I called my son.
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was
exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in
Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under,
according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet,
saying,
18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great
mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted,
because they are not.
19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a
dream to Joseph in Egypt,
20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into
the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's
life.
21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into
the land of Israel.
22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of
his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being
warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a
Nazarene.
The version of Christmas found in Luke
Luke 1
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest
named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the
daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the
commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they
both were now well stricken in years.
8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office
before God in the order of his course,
9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn
incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the
time of incense.
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the
right side of the altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is
heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt
call his name John.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his
birth.
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink
neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy
Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their
God.
17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn
the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the
wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I
am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in
the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee
these glad tidings.
20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the
day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my
words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried
so long in the temple.
22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they
perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto
them, and remained speechless.
23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration
were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself
five months, saying,
25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on
me, to take away my reproach among men.
26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a
city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of
David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly
favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in
her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found
favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son,
and shalt call his name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and
the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his
kingdom there shall be no end.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not
a man?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come
upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:
therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be
called the Son of God.
36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in
her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called
barren.
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me
according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with
haste, into a city of Juda;
40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of
Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the
Holy Ghost:
42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou
among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to
me?
44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine
ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance
of those things which were told her from the Lord.
46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold,
from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his
name.
50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to
generation.
51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in
the imagination of their hearts.
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of
low degree.
53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath
sent empty away.
54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own
house.
57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she
brought forth a son.
58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed
great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise
the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called
John.
61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called
by this name.
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is
John. And they marvelled all.
64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he
spake, and praised God.
65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these
sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.
66 And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying,
What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with
him.
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and
prophesied, saying,
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed
his people,
69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his
servant David;
70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since
the world began:
71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all
that hate us;
72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his
holy covenant;
73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand
of our enemies might serve him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for
thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of
their sins,
78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on
high hath visited us,
79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of
death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the
deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
Luke 2
1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from
Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth,
into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem;
(because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were
accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling
clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them
in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,
keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the
Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you
good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which
is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward
men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into
heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto
Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord
hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe
lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which
was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told
them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the
things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the
child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel
before he was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses
were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the
Lord;
23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth
the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law
of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon;
and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of
Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not
see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents
brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy
word:
30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were
spoken of him.
34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this
child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a
sign which shall be spoken against;
35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the
thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of
the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an
husband seven years from her virginity;
37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which
departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers
night and day.
38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord,
and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the
Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom:
and the grace of God was upon him.
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