Theater Night On Christmas Eve

Read on December 11

Story provided by Jonita

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them.” —Luke 2:8–9 KJV

Jonita’s family turned their home into a theater for Christmas Eve. Each of the four children played an important role in the Christmas play. 

Each child was draped in whatever fabric remnants could be scrounged. Halos were crafted from tinsel garland and anything that sparkled. A manger was fashioned out of whatever was handy, and the youngest child would be wrapped up and put inside. Someone usually chose to be Mary, dressed in blue and white.

After everyone had created their costume, the Christmas story would be read, and the characters came to life as the story was acted out. Sometimes, hymns were played and sung as part of the script.

Each year, the characters changed as the children grew. As a result, the Christmas story was presented in a new and unique way each year. 

Sometimes people think of the Christmas story as simply a story. To many people, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, etc. were just actors on a stage. The story of Jesus can be read like the story of Santa. 

How do we make sure the world understands that the biblical story of Christmas is the Christmas story?

Maybe the best thing all of us can do is realize that we are actors on a stage and we have an audience. We need to present the Christmas story to the world as an historical event. 

In fact, it was the event that most changed history. There are 2.3 billion of us who believe that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him will have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Most of us will hear the Christmas story from the book of Luke. The reason that the first two chapters of Luke are most often used to tell the Christmas story is that Luke was a historian and details mattered. Theologians believe Luke interviewed Mary while in Ephesus, and that is when he learned the information his gospel reveals.

Our Christmas story is historical truth. We can share it with confidence. Those words have changed people’s lives for thousands of years and will continue to do so until time is complete.

So let’s be sure to share the Christmas story every Christmas.