The Inkeeper
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Transcript
Cast:
Innkeeper: written for 1 male character
Scene: Looks like a stall in a barn
Empty manger with hay in it
If done outside, hay on the ground and hay bales for people to sit on
Time is the first “christmas” after Christ’s return to heaven
Premise: The Innkeeper looks back on the birth of Jesus and the events which followed. He is a believer now and is sharing the gospel.
If I had known who they were when they came to the door, I never would have put them here, in my barn.
But wait, I’m getting ahead of myself.
My name is Yaakov and this is my Inn… well this is the barn behind my Inn here in the city of Bethlehem.
But enough about me. You came here to hear about that night long ago didn’t you.
(pauses as if remembering)
I had just taken over the Inn from my Father. Then Ceasear Augustus had decreed that the world had to be registered. He commanded that each return to their ancestral home to do this. Here in Bethlehem, we are in Judah. Many Judeans had their children here. Perhaps it was due to the fact that King David was from Bethlehem, or due to the prophet Micah Mic 5:2
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”
Each mother and father had hopes that their son would turn out to be the Messiah!
(becoming animate/agitated)
Kings and politicians do love to count things! It turns out that this census became a good list to use to tax. us. Oy. do they love taxes. They tax what we own, they tax what we buy, they even tax our .....
Forgive me my friends, that’s a story for another time.
Due to the census, my Inn was full! Everyone had come back and filled all available beds in Bethlehem! People even were camping on the streets and in the country outside the town. I was pleased that every space available at the Inn was full.... OY what money!
Just when I thought I could finally rest, there was a frantic knocking at the door! When I opened it, I saw a young couple. He said his name was Joseph and his young bride was Mary. He was leading a donkey with her on it. I had already started telling them we were full, when my wife tugged on my sleeve and pointed at her. That was when I realized she was VERY pregnant! My wife demanded I find someplace for them.
She put her foot down and you know wives… when they put their foot down, only a fool would arg........ forgive me my friends, that too is a story for another time.
Then I had an idea! The barn! There was an empty stall so surely that would satisfy my wife and them and I could finally rest...
But it wasn’t to be
She went into labor to have that baby THEN. My wife did as all women do. She started giving orders for water, clean cloths for the baby… OY could she give me orders!
Finally, the child was born and they named him Yeshua. His name is better known today as Jesus. It means God saves! I thought it was a mighty BIG name for such a small boy born in a barn! His crib was an empty manger,.... like this one.
Finally! I thought I could go back to the Inn and rest!!
Then the strangest thing happened!
Shepherds began arriving at MY barn! I thought it had to be bad news! Had they been attacked? Were the sheep lost? But they entered quietly and began bowing reverently before the baby!
I stopped one as he entered and asked, “WHY are you here? Why would you come to MY barn and bow before this poor child?
He shared their story,
They were watching their sheep, like any other night. And then a bright light shown all around them! Suddenly, an angel appeared to them.
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
He said, “Who am I to argue with angels?
I agreed and really looked at the child for the first time.
I couldn’t explain it… but I knew in my heart something special was going on! There WAS something special about little Yeshua!
My wife and I knelt too.
I swore to myself that I would keep tabs on this child
I hadn’t heard much about Him until 3 years ago or so. This baby was now working wonders and preaching repentance to receive eternal life! He healed the sick! He raised the dead! I heard He also took a boys lunch and fed a huge crowd with just a few fish and loaves of bread.
He taught with such authority! He was kind and compassionate, yet His words burned within the hearts of many who heard Him.
Did you know, I was there once when He preached!
He had just made a lame man walk and as preached, He said,
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.
I Believed! I believed in Yeshua Ha Mashiach, in Jesus the Messiah! He had come to take away our sins and bring us back to His Father, God.
Earlier this year, they took our Savior and crucified Him. We were all stunned.
BUT on the 3rd day after that, HE AROSE! Yeshua is alive!
He explained the Prophets to us who had all foretold it.
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
and:
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.
He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities.
Many days later, we saw Him go back up into the clouds. But before He left, HE promised to return and take us home to bet with Him eternally!
Today we wait… but that is a story for another time.
My friends, thank you for joining me. My prayer for you is that you too believe in Jesus the Messiah. Let us celebrate His birth! Merry Christmas!
Please, take a candy cane as you leave.