Before time to start have a tape playing these songs that fit the theme, as people are coming in:
You've Got Them Feet (Karen Wheaton)
I will Tell the World (Ray Boltz)
God's Been Good to Me (Crystal Lewis)
Directions to Heaven (Kirk Talley)
Mission 3:16 (Carman)

Begin by playing CD of Carman singing Amen and drama team doing human video with it.

Narrator: War. Captivity. Slavery. Opression. God's people had lived through a hard time. Their sins were vast and so was the punishment. Out of necessity, God had to punish sin. Out of necessity, He had to judge the people for their sins. Out of love, He was creating a better way. Though it would cost Him dearly, He continued to promise a Savior..a Messiah...one who would stand in their place.....one who would pay for their sins, once and for all......One who would deliver them. The promise had been made, but still the people lived in opression. Constantly, they cried out to God for the promise to be fulfilled.

Song: O Come , O Come Emmanuel

Narrator: Though the people of God were expecting royalty...trumpet fanfare and yes, maybe even their equivalent of red carpet...God doesn't always work in the way we expect. In a small town....in what we would today call a back alley.....in a barn...full of animals....finally, the promise was fulfilled. No, there wasn't a royal band of trumpeteers to herald his arrival to the Kings of the world. His arrival was heralded with great joy...but to those who really wanted to know of His arrival, whether they be rich or poor, noble or common.

Song: Joy To The World (ensemble sing with kids coming in like a regular Christmas Pagent)

(man dressed in camel hair clothing, bursts through doors, coming down middle aisle toward stage, stopping to interact with the audience on the way, yelling,"Prepare the way of our Lord! The Messiah is come! Prepare the way of our Lord!")

John the Baptist: Repent! For the Kingdom of God is at hand! He is coming! You must be ready! I was sent to clear a path for Him! The Messiah .. . He is coming! You must prepare your hearts. . . your minds. . . your souls! Repent and receive His salvation!

Person in audience: (stands and approaches John) (loudly) Are you Him? Are you Christ? The Messiah?

John: I am not the Christ. I am John, the voice of one calling in the desert, "Make straight the way for the Lord." I baptize with water. But there is one who comes after me, whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He is the One who has come to bring light to the darkness... freedom to captives. And it is He, who will restore the broken hearted.

(John sings: Prepare the Way of our Redeemer to hear a clip, click here)

(as soon as song ends, soldiers rush in, grabbing John.)

John: (struggling) Stop! What is the meaning of this? Unhand me! There must be some mistake!

Soldier 1: Are you John? The John who baptizes?

John: Yes, that is me

Soldier 2: Then there's no mistake... (checking his scroll) You are to be arrested...by order of Herod, himself.

John: This is crazy! I've done nothing wrong!

Soldier 1: (chuckling) Sure you did. You tried to tell Herod who he could nad couldn't take for a wife. You should have known that a King makes his own laws and anything he does is right... (chuckles again)..but that's ok. You'll have plenty of time to reflect on that in prison.

John: prison?

Soldier 2: Sure, that's where you usually go when you get arrested.

John: No! This can't be right! I need to be ushering in the coming of the Messiah!

(soldiers drag him offstage)

(song)

John: (praying loudly) God, how can this happen to me??!! I'm stuck here in this prison while, I'm supposed to be out telling people about the Messiah. That's what you called me to do. It was your idea, not mine. So, how could you let this happen? Surely, I haven't been mistaken...surely it was your plan for me to usher in the Messiah........no, surely I couldn't have been mistaken....my Mother told me the story many many times of how you called me even before I was born, to proclaim the coming of the Messiah....of how I even seemed to know ..to recognize the Messiah, even before either of us were born....

(lights dim on John and rise on other side of the stage with Elizabeth in her home-doing regular household duties, but talking aloud)

Elizabeth: God, why me? Of all people, why did you choose me to carry this special baby. According to what the angel told my husband, Zechariah, he is to be pure before you and he will prepare the way for the Messiah..the Redeemer. Why, God? Why was I chosen to carry this baby, that is so important?

Mary: (comes in from offstage, entering the house, calling aloud) Hello? Elizabeth........Elizabeth are you home?

(at the sound of Mary's voice, Elizabeth looks suddenly startled)

Elizabeth: (rushes to Mary) Oh, Mary! Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!

Song: Mary was the First One to Carry the Gospel (ensemble)

(lights fade on Mary and Elizabeth as they sit down together, beginning to chatter, excitedly)

(light returns to John in prison)

John: God, I know that you spoke to my Mother, Elizabeth. And, God, I know you spoke to my Father, Zechariah. Why everyone knew you had spoken to him. Because he didn't believe the angel you sent to tell him that I would be preparing the way of the Messiah, you caused him to be unable to speak until I was born. He wasn't even able to speak until he wrote my name down for the people who had gathered...the name You gave to me. So, God, I know that you truely called me. (pauses) But....God,if you truely did call me, why am I stuck in here? Why am I not out doing what you called me to do? I know he is the Messiah. I felt it when he came for me to baptize him. I tried to tell him that it was he that should be baptizing me. But when he told me that it must be done, I baptized him. And when I did, I saw you acknowledge him as the Messiah...

(light fades on John and rises on other side of stage with Jesus being baptized - I think John isn't necessarily needed over here..just Jesus, alone)

Voice from microphone: This is my Son, whom I love; which him I am well pleased.

John's Voice: At that moment, I knew...I knew without a doubt that Emmanuel truely had come.

Song: Rejoice, Emmanuel is With Us

(light fades on Jesus and returns to John)

John: Surely he has to be the Messiah. Otherwise, why would I have known in my heart that he was? (pauses) But...if he IS the Messiah...why am I in here? The Messiah was supposed to fix everything for us.

(a few of John's disciples come into the jail - need at least two)

Disciple 1: John! Are you ok?

John: I guess I'm ok...but I should be out there, telling people about the Messiah.

Disciple 2: That's one thing we came to tell you about. You should see what he's doing!

Disciple 3: Yes! He's been casting demons out of people!

Disciple 1: (nodding in agreement) Yes, and there was a leper...He just touched the man and he was completely clean! Even the priest has declared him clean!

Disciple 2: A man couldn't walk and couldn't get to Jesus because of the crowd. So, his friends lowered him through the roof of the house where Jesus was and Jesus forgave his sins. The Pharisees complained that he couldn't do that, because only God could do that. So, he told the man to stand up and walk, to prove to the Pharisees that he had authority to save sins and to heal...

Disciple 3: (interrupting) And he got up, picked up his bed and ran out of the house, praising God!!!

Disciple 1: Yes, and what about the Centurion? He had a servant that was dying. He sent word to Jesus and told Jesus that he knew Jesus didn't even have to come where the servant was...that all he had to do was to say the word. Jesus sent the messenger back, telling him the servant was healed..and sure enough, he was!!

Disciple 2: And the widow's son! It was her only son...her only hope of being provided for..and he was dead...I'm talking COMPLETELY dead. They were carrying him out of the city. Jesus saw it, walked up and touched the coffin and told the boy to get up. The boy SAT UP AND STARTED TALKING, THEN WENT BACK HOME WITH HIS MOTHER!!

Disciple 3: Isn't it awesome?? He surely IS the Messiah!

John: (sighing and hanging his head) I don't know. I've been thinking about that. If he's the Messiah, why hasn't he come and gotten me out of this jail cell? If he's the Messiah, he could just walk in here and open the door. (shaking his head) I want you to go ask him something for me. I want you to go ask him if he really is the one..the Messiah..or should we be expecting someone else.

Disciple 1: (frowning) John? Are you sure you want us to go ask that?

John: Of course, I'm sure. We need to know if there is someone else we should be waiting for.

Disciple 2: But, John...he's done all these mighty wonders...

John: (interrupting) Just go...please...ask him.

(disciples shrug and reluctantly head toward Jesus...as they leave..the light goes down on John and comes on Jesus and a crowd, gathered)

(disciples walk up to Jesus)

Disciple 1: (nervously taps Jesus on the shoulder and waits until he turns around) ummm....John ...the one who baptizes, sent me. He wanted me to ask you if....ummmm....welll.......uhhhh....he wanted me to ask you if you really are the one who was to come, or should he be looking for another...

(Jesus doesn't say anything to the disciple, just looks at him for a long minute, then holds up one finger, as if to say "watch" before beginning to mingle through the gathered crowd.)

Song: I've Been Delivered (play CD of Carman singing....and drama team acts out....drama team is the crowd..they act out with Jesus)

Jesus: (turning to John's disciples) Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.

(disciples have been watching in awe and scramble quickly to leave at Jesus' words..they run to John)

Disciple 1: (running in) John! John! You should have seen it!

Disciple 2: It was so great ! He healed the blind and the deaf and the lame and ..and..

John: wait a minute..slow down. What are you talking about?

Disciple 1: We're talking about Jesus! He is the one, John! He is doing such miraculous works.

Disciple 2: (looking at Disciple 1 and shaking his head) Was it just me, or did you feel totally stupid, too, asking Him if He was the one?

Disciple 1: (shudders slightly) it wasn't just you. I wanted to be anywhere but there, when He turned and looked at us like that. (turns back to John) You should have seen it. There's no WAY that He isn't the Messiah! He's the one, John.

John: (shaking his head in shame) How could I have forgotten in the darkness, what I knew in the light? I knew he was the one. Why did I even need to question it? I knew even when my mother and His mother met before we were born that He was the one. (looks up and begins to cry aloud) God, please forgive my unbelief...my doubting . I know that He is the one. He's the one who Isaiah spoke of. He was sent from your right hand, God and has been made flesh to dwell among us. Yes, his mother is Mary....his earthly mother. But, I know that he is not only Son of Man...but also Son of God. He is your son, God, and I know that. I know that he is the one Isaiah spoke of when he said, "He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance thart we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him sticken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds, we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned tohis own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressedand afflicted, yet he did not open his mout; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before h e r shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned agave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life, and be satisfied; by his knowledge, my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear thie iniquities. Therefore, I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, becasue he poured out his life unto death and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors."
Yes, I know that He is that One of which Isaiah spoke so long ago.

song: Crystal Lewis' Lion and the Lamb - (with solo sign language) Click here to listen to a clip from it.

(after song Soldiers rush in and grab John)

John: What's going on? Where are you taking me?

Soldier 1: Your..umm...presence has been requested. (mumbles) or at least a part of it.

John: A part of it? What do you mean?

Solider 2: The King's favorite has asked for your head...(pause) to be brought to her on a platter.

John: WHAT??

Disciple 1: No! This can't be right! There's a mistake!

Solider 1: (pushing the disciple out of the way and pushing John toward the door) There's no mistake. Today John will offer a great gift to the king.

(The Soldiers lead John away and the lights dim)

(Narrator's voice is heard)

Narrator: Yes, that day, John offered a great gift to a King....although the gift didn't go to the king that the soldier implied would receive that gift. John offered a gift to the King of all Kings. He gave up his life for the King, that he now knew without a doubt was truely the Messiah. All of this happened many years ago and John has not been on this earth for many years. It is not possible for us to speak with John, today. However, if it WERE possible for John to talk to us, maybe this is what he would say...

John: (stepping out into a light) Hello, my name is John. I had a very special job to do. My job was to announce the coming of the Messiah. I was to let the people know that God loved the world so much that He sent us His only Son so that any who believed in Him would receive everlasting life. I was to tell that this was a free gift...for anyone who wants to receive it. I was to make it known that God cares about us, more than we can imagine...that He cares, even when it seems like no one cares. I was to let the world know that all we have to do to receive this gift is to believe and call on Jesus...the Messiah. However, my time has come and gone. I can no longer take this message to a lost world. I know that many of you today look back at my life and think that I was somehow God-like, because of what I was chosen to do. But, I'm here to assure you, I was just as mortal as you. I made mistakes just like you. I mean...can you believe that I even sent people to ask Jesus if He was really the Messiah? (shakes his head in disbelief)...Ohhh, yeah..I made mistakes. But deep inside my heart, I knew the truth. And I knew it was my task to Go Tell the World about Him. (pauses then looks around the audience) You are chosen too, you know? God knew you before you were born and He choose you, just like He choose me. No, I can no longer Go Tell the world. But, you can. And, you must. God has chosen you to continue spreading this gospel message to the world. If you have not received this precious gift, then first you must receive. But, that is easy....simply believe. Once you have this gift, my job has become your job. (grins) But the great part is that once you've received this gift....once you've known Him...the job becomes easy...because you just can't keep it to yourself. Once you've seen that shining star..and once you've experienced His light...you want to spread the light of that star to the whole world. Yes, my time has come and gone. But now, I pass the task on to you. Just like me, your time will be limited. So, there's no time to waste. The world must be told. The message must be preached. Souls must be saved. And you must GO TELL..

Song: Go Tell (ensemble singing and pass out the "light" of the star)