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8 The Gifts Of The Magi
Mary: The wisemen came quickly to Bethlehem. Jesus was older now. He was walking and beginning to talk. (pausing to reflect) I remember the visit from the Magi so well.... They brought wonderful, beautiful gifts.
Esther: (holding up the ornate box Mary gave her) Were these the gifts, Grandmother?
Mary: (smiling) Yes, Esther - those are the very ones! And each one of them represents a special meaning.
Esther: (puzzled) What do you mean, Grandmother ... a special meaning?
Staging: (The Lights begin to fade on Mary & James and the grandchildren and rise on Joseph, Mary and 2 year old Jesus. Joseph is working on a cabinet and Mary is preparing a meal.)
Both Marys: (Both speak as the scene shifts) The wiseman said, "Greetings to you all! We have come to worship the new king, the Messiah!"
Wiseman 1: Greetings to you all! We have come to worship the new king, the Messiah!
Wiseman 2: We encountered some shepherds as we came into town. They directed us to your home.
Wiseman 3: Is this the child?
Mary: Yes, this is our son, Jesus. Won’t you please come in?
Joseph: (rising from his carpentry work, he shakes hands with the men) Welcome to our home. We are honored to receive such distinguished visitors.
Wiseman 1: It is we who are honored. (All 3 men fall to their knees and bow ceremoniously before Jesus)
Wiseman 2: (rising and addressing Jesus directly) We bring gifts fitting your royalty, young king.
Staging: All 3 wisemen open their boxes at the same time, so that the opened lids face Mary, Joseph and Jesus. As Mary looks into each box, she lightly exclaims in surprise: Gold! ... Frankincense! ... [Joseph finishes:] Myrrh!
Wiseman 1: Gold... to pay tribute and honor him as a most precious King!
Wiseman 2: Frankincense... used by Priests of the highest order to honor Him as the King of all men's lives!
Wiseman 3: Myrrh... a gift proclaiming His eternal life and immortality! May you reign long and wisely.
Mary: (excitedly) Oh, these are wonderful gifts! I don't know what to say!
Joseph: Won’t you join us as our guests for dinner? Everything is prepared.
Wiseman 1: We would be delighted! (They all sit on the floor as Mary serves them. After a few moments the 3 wisemen rise to sing.)
Staging: The lights come up on the angel choir. The wisemen and the choir sing "Wisemen Still Seek Him".
Wiseman 2: (all 3 wisemen prepare to leave) We have truly enjoyed your hospitality. We will spend the night here in your village and depart in the morning. It is a very long journey back to our country.
Wiseman 3: A new and longer route for us. We have been told to avoid King Herod.
Wiseman 1: For a wondrous celestial being appeared in our dreams, warning us not to return to Herod.
(they bow again as they leave)
Joseph: Thank you, goodbye.
Old and young Mary together: Goodbye, gentle wisemen.
Staging: The lights rise on Mary & James and the grandchildren, and fade on Joseph, Mary and 2 year old Jesus.
Mary: We never saw them again after that. During the night, Joseph woke up in a panic. Just as God had warned the Magi about Herod, God had given my husband a terrifying dream… of Herod’s soldiers riding into town with swords to kill my baby, my Jesus. We packed our things that night and left for Egypt.
James: ...and just in time, too. For Herod’s soldiers did come into town that very day and killed all the little boys they could find. Mary, Joseph and Jesus lived in Egypt until Herod died, then they moved to Nazareth.
Mary: But God gave us protection from Herod's schemes. God's own son, Jesus, our Lord was ordained for a greater purpose. God was watching over us every step of the way.
Esther: (looking into the box, holding up the Gold) Yes, Jesus - A KING (holding up the frankincense) A PRIEST, (holding up the Myrrh) ETERNAL!
(end of scene)
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