Script for AIAM

Elladan Video 1

Hello, and welcome to Crossroad’s 4th annual Christmas Musicfest Celebration.

We are excited to have you join us for some fun, some singing and a little different take on the coming of our Lord Jesus. We will get started in a minute, but first, Pastor Neil, would you please open us up in prayer?

(Neil Prays)

Elladan Video 2

Thank you Neil. So let’s look at what the Christmas is all about.

Tonight, we are going to hear from several of the people that were part of the first Christmas. Some heard about it before it happened, some after.

But first let me introduce myself:

My name is Elladan. I have been around for quite a long time. Long enough that I can attest to the stories you are about to witness and I have my own as well that I will share with you a little later.

Before I get into our first visitor, let me explain that the videos are based on scripture and accurate but the words spoken are more from a personal perspective and not the actual verses of the Bible.

Now let’s head back about 2800 years.

During the reign of King Ahaz things in Israel were a mess in and it looked bleak for the Jewish people.

There was this man of God known as Isaiah who had become a prophet of God after having a vision early on in his life.

One of Isaiah’s prophecies was that Israel would receive a King, a saviour, the Messiah.

A great number of specifics were given in these prophecies about how this King would come. Things like that He would be from the line of David and in the city of David. That He would not be recognized for who he was and die a horrible death to cover the sin of the world to re-establish the relationship between God and man. We read in Isaiah 7:14.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

The really cool part of this, is all the prophecies that were told came true. Every last one of them

Now Isaiah was older by this time and he and God had a special relationship. Let’s listen to a conversation between Isaiah and God.

Isaiah

Song

Oh Come Oh Come, Emmanuel

Video 2 of Elladan

Now in real time, the Jewish people had to wait another 700 years for these events to begin to unfold. Where was the Messiah? Why was He taking so long.

We rejoin our story in Nazareth where we find a young girl named Mary.

Mary was of the age that she had been promised to a man called Joseph, a local carpenter. They were madly in love and looking forward to getting married.

Now, Mary was awesome, and found favor with God so He sends his angel, Gabriel, to explain the plan to Mary.

Gabriel tells her that her life is going to be turned upside down, but because she is so faithful, God is going to handle it all.

We join the story there in Luke 1:26

English Standard Version Chapter 1

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

So Mary picks up and heads over to see Elizabeth, and things go according to plan.

Then the big governor of Judah had this grand idea to see how many people were in the nation and called a census so everyone could be counted.

Back then you had to go back to the place you were born to be counted, so Joe and Mary, even tho she is 9 months pregnant, head to Bethlehem also known as the City of David. While there, God decided to bring Jesus into the world, but Joseph couldn’t find any motel rooms available but one of the Inn Keepers allowed them to bed down in the stable.

Mary and Joseph became parents, that night, to the most perfect little baby boy, the world would ever know.

Mary

Song O Come all ye Faithful.

Elladan Video 3

Mean while we have Joseph who has been having his own little crisis all along.

You see, having a fiancee who is pregnant is not looked on with favor in the Jewish culture.

See Joseph is a good Jewish man and does his best to keep the Law. He knows Mary’s child isn’t his and, according to Jewish custom, considers divorcing her.

But he is better than that so the internal battle continues one of Gabriel’s crew stops by for a little chat. Let’s pick up the story there. We are in Matthew 1 starting in starting in verse 18.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23  “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Joseph

Song Away in a Manger

Elledan Video 4

So we rejoin the family and Jesus is born. How awesome that?

But we still have to consider Mary’s question how will Jesus be introduced to the world?

Well, God doesn’t leave things to chance and sends yet another angel to start the ball rolling.

The angel descends in to the countryside just outside of Bethlehem and finds himself some shepherds hanging out the the sheep.

He approaches them and they freak out. I mean this angel was lit up like the morning sun.

The angel calms them down and explains to them the good news of Jesus’ birth. And explained how to find Him and how they would know it was Him.

The shepherds were pretty excited and the angel’s whole gang showed up and started this huge concert singing praises to God.

Once the concert was over, the shepherds decided to go and find out what all the hubub was about. Let’s pick up our story with the angel showing up in the fields…We will continue in Luke chapter 2 starting in verse 1...

The Lexham English Bible (Chapter 2)

And there were shepherds in the same region, living out of doors and keeping watch, guarding over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and ⌊they were terribly frightened⌋. 10 And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring good news to you of great joy which will be for all the people: 11 that today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. 12 And this will be the sign for you: you will find the baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying,14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people ⌊with whom he is pleased⌋!”15 And it happened that when the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began to say* to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has revealed to us!” 16 And they went hurrying and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. 17 And when they* saw it,* they made known the statement that had been told to them about this child. 18 And all who heard it* were astonished concerning what had been said to them by the shepherds

Shepherds

Song O Holy Night

Elladan Video 5

So the shepherds were the media of old and spread the word of Jesus’ birth to everyone they met.

Eventually, the news of Jesus being born reached the east and 3 wise men, or kings, started on a long trip to see the King of the Jews.

The stopped by Jerusalem and asked where Jesus was and that they had been following His star.

Now, King Herod heard of this “King” he got all bent out of shape and started asking a bunch of questions about who this King was. You see, Herod was going to kill the baby boy to secure his throne.

He spoke with the wise men and asked them to find Jesus and then let Herod know where He was.

Well, the wise men saw right thru ol’ Herod’s ruse, they are wise after all. And after they left Herod, the star they had been following rose and led them to the place where Jesus lay.

They found Him and Mary and delivered the gifts they had brought with them.

Let’s rejoin the story with the Wise Men. We will continue in Matthew Chapter 2 starting in verse 1

English Standard Version Chapter 2

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

6  “ ‘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 shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Can you imagine what the wise men thought when they found the baby Jesus lying in a manger among the animals?

What an amazing experience that must have been...

Wise Man

Song Silent Night

Elladan Video 6

I have one more story to share with you if you don’t mind. It is a story of an moment I experienced that changed my attitude many years ago…It happened like this...

T’was the night before Christmas and all through the city, not a creature was stirring and, oh, what a pity…for they could have seen what I saw that night, while walking my dog on main street so bright.

The stores were all closed and the lights were shut out, all trying to save electricity, no doubt. When out of the sky a sleigh did appear, it was filled with toys and pulled by some deer.

It landed before me in our old town square. Our City fathers had placed a manger scene there. And out of the sleigh jumped an man dressed in red, with black boots and a beard and a hat on his head.

He looked quite familiar and I knew just that quick, that with all of his trappings, this must be St. Nick. He looked all around and I stepped out of site, he wanted to be all alone in the dark of the night.

Next he moved toward the manger and I’m just like you, I thought he’d been hired by the ACLU. But to my amazement he knelt by the scene; he did nothing harsh; he did nothing mean.

He simply knelt down as we do to pray, and spoke to the manger in a meek sort of way. He said, “I was a wise man, the fourth of a group, who searched for a manger, but I caught the croup.

So I stayed behind and my friends traveled on…and they brought You their gifts…Well, you heard the song. But my gift to you was never delivered. To think that I missed You, it still makes me quiver.

But never the less, I did miss You that night, and now I bring gifts every Christmas, that’s right!...to all the children, that You love so dear. It’s my way of giving You honor each year.

But, Oh, my dear Jesus, the things that they’ve done. The put the glory on me and forgotten the Son. It hurts me to so deeply to see every year, how the emphasis changed”…In his eyes shown a tear.

“I’m sorry, dear Jesus, that I’ve hurt You so. It’s you that I honor, and I want them to know. But what can I do now to show them my shame, to let them know Santa Claus praises Your name?

I wanted to praise You in person you see, but now I must do it on each Christmas Eve. Forgive me, dear Jesus, and please let them know that Santa Claus love You.” His face was aglow.

T’was as if he had all of this bottled inside him…and now it exploded, and no one could chide him. For all of his giving had been done in praise, and it would continue the rest of his days.

He climbed in his sleigh and let out a whistle, and the deer all sprung up like they’d sat on a thistle. And I heard him exclaim as he rode our of sight, “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!”

As I walked my dog home on that bright Christmas night, my thoughts of ol’ Santa had changed in this sight. He’d bowed before Jesus and praised him, you see! Yes Santa loves Jesus like you and me!

Let me end with this from Philippines 2:10-11

“…that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil 2:10-11

Song Joy To The World

Elladan Video 7

Thank you all for joining me tonight. I hope your journey with me has moved you or at least warmed your heart as much as it did mine to share it with you. God Bless each of you and...

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.....

Pastor Neil Closes.