I wrote this in 1993 and have used it in a second church. I enjoy doing
this kind of thing. I have a costume and the last time I did it I was able
to make a beard and put it on. Worked wonderfully. I have always (so far)
used a live baby and (so far) the babies have laid in my lap while I talked
to them.
If you use it, I don't expect you to tell them I wrote it, just don't tell
them that you wrote it.
Christmas Impersonation
Memories of Jonah Ben Joseph
(Mother calls out: Grandfather! Grandfather! Will you hold Jonah for me
while I cook dinner?
Jonah: Certainly granddaughter I would love to sit and talk to little
Jonah. Well Jonah, how are you doing?
You look like you are getting bigger and bigger each time I see you. And
such a handsome baby, just like your father when he was a baby.
What would you like to talk about? How about the story of Jonah and the
fish? No. You have probably heard that one a hundred times already
I'll tell you what I will tell you about what happened to your great Uncle
Nathaniel and me a long time ago. It is a strange story, but true!! I don't
care what people say, I have - well, had - witnesses. I suppose that it is
my own fault. We were so excited about what happened that we ran around
telling everyone. For a while that is all I would talk about. I guess
people got tired of hearing about this great announcement and then having
nothing happen. After all the Romans were not thrown out, Herod's son is
still on the throne, the priests still steal from us at Passover and the
Kingdom of David has yet to be re-established
So I guess I can't blame them. But still, it really happened! I remember
it as if it were yesterday! We were in the fields south west of Bethlehem.
It was a cold and very dark night and the other men and I were sitting
close to the fire trying to keep warm. Everything seemed normal enough.
Once you have been a shepherd for a while you get to know the condition of
the flock just by listening to them. You can tell when there are wolves
coming too close or when they are restless because one is sick. But this
night the sheep had settled down and we were trying to do the same.
But then the sky and field started to get light. It was like dawn only it
was still the middle of the night. It got brighter and brighter until you
could see the sheep. Then Ben turned around, and looking like he had seen a
demon he pointed up behind me. I looked and there in the sky was the most
frightening thing I had ever seen. I'm not ashamed to say we ran. There was
some serious rock hugging going on for a while there. By the way, how is
your diaper? You still dry? I'm glad. I don't know where your mother is and
I'm not going to change you!
Now, where was I? O yes, after a while I noticed several things. One, I
wasn't dead. Then also, the sheep were not reacting to this sudden light
and there was this beautiful music. I finally got up the courage to look up
again and saw this guy flying - did I tell you he had wings? - in the
middle of the sky. Well out of the middle of the light he said:
"Don't be afraid, I have something wonderful to tell you that you can share
with every one. Today in Bethlehem the Savior, your Christ is born. And you
can find him wrapped in baby clothes (just like you) sleeping in a manger."
Then the whole sky was filled with these guys with wings. They were singing
and praising God. It was beautiful and slowly we stood up and stared with
wonder at what was happening. And then they were gone! Just not there anymore
At first we were stunned but then slowly the message began to sink in. The
Christ that we had been told about all of our lives, the promised one of
God, had arrived. He was here. Nathaniel remembered the prophesy in the
book of Isaiah:
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be
upon his shoulders, and his name will be called "Wonderful counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
This is the one who would come and save his people Israel. Suddenly it all
made sense. Bethlehem, the city of David, the promise to David by God that
his Kingdom would have no end, that there would always be a King of Israel
of the house of David. Everyone who traveled to Bethlehem knew that they
let people know of the scripture that says,
"and you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among
the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my
people Israel."
We knew that we had to go, but we also knew that we couldn't just leave the
sheep in the field. We had an argument, over who would stay and who should
go. After what had just happened everyone wanted to go. We knew that
something very special had happened here and we all wanted to see what the
angels had told us about. So, we drew lots. Short straw stayed behind and
watched the sheep while the rest of us went to find this Christ. Nathaniel
got stuck with the sheep, but I told him that he could go tomorrow after we
returned.
And so the three of us set out to Bethlehem. We didn't know where to look,
but then Bethlehem isn't a large town. We asked around about babies being
born and it didn't take long to find him.
It wasn't hard to recognize that this was the baby the angels had told us
about. In the manger under a house was a beautiful baby (not as beautiful
as you are though, Jonah.) But he had something special about him. The
place was a cow barn, you could smell that, but at the same time it was a
palace, the birthplace of a King. There was a sense of peace and assurance
that I had never felt before or since. We were overwhelmed by the wonder
and beauty of what we saw.
We all tried to tell the man and his wife what we had seen, stumbling over
each other trying to share how frightened and amazed we were and how
beautiful it was. Finally as we were leaving we asked if the young couple
would allow us to give a few small gifts to this new King. They were not
anything great - shepherds don't have a lot. But this was a King and so we
gave him a sheepskin, a flute and a sling and then left.
As we headed back to the flock I looked up and saw the glory of the stars
and realized that my life would never be the same after this night. I knew
that the prophesy about the people who walk in darkness will see a great
light had at last come true. I knew that I had to share this news about the
Christ.
And I have! I told everyone. Of course that's when all the trouble
started. We began to tell people about what we saw that night and about the
baby. But no one wanted to listen. O they were interested at first, but
after a while they laughed at the story. My friends felt sorry for me and
strangers called me crazy. After all, who has ever heard of a King being
born in a barn? And angels filling the sky? How come no one else had seen
it? The priests were angry also. They couldn't believe that God would send
his messengers to some shepherds rather than to them in the temple. After
all, that was God's home. Some of my family were concerned for me, because
everyone knew what Herod would do to anyone who claimed to be a King! But I
haven't given up. For over thirty years now I have been telling people what
happened that night. I told your grandfather, your father and now I am
telling you. At least you listen to me - no one else does anymore.
I don't know what has to happen to get people to listen to me about the
Christ. But something is going to happen some day that will wake the people
up and they will know that I have been telling them the truth.
Just think Jonah, a savior, the Christ is here, living with us, sharing
our lives. He knows what it is like to be poor and to do without. He knows
what it is like to have to work hard and to be subject to the authority of
the Romans. He had come to set his people free. We will be free to worship
and live in peace. There is something to believe in!
You know, there is a new Rabbi up in Galilee that I have heard some talk
about. He and that man John the Baptizer have been talking about the
Kingdom of God. Maybe if I told him about that night he would believe me!
I'm going to go and see him.
Lisa! Lisa? Where are you granddaughter? Come and get Jonah. I think he's
wet, and I'm not going to change him!
Mark Whittaker
Pastor, First UMC
Homosassa Florida
Come and see the Manatees!