The Plot Unfolds
The bigger Christmas picture
by Brian Radcliffe
Suitable for Key Stage 2
Aims
To consider the place of the Christmas story in the big picture of Christian belief.
Preparation and materials
- You will need a copy of an adventure story.
- You will also need five readers, who will need time to prepare prior to the assembly.
Assembly
- Ask the children what sorts of books they prefer to read and why they like them.
Listen to a range of responses. - Hold up a copy of an adventure story.
Point out that you love a book full of suspense and intrigue, where the plot is revealed in stages, keeping the reader guessing every step of the way.
Describe how a writer twists and turns the plot, making it go in one direction and then another, with new possibilities arising all the time. It’s not until the end that we can be absolutely sure of the facts. Yet, looking back, we find that the evidence was there all the time. - Explain that we can look at the Christmas story in the same way.
We know what happens at the end of this story, so we’re cheating a bit, but it’s the way the story is revealed that’s interesting. It begins with a nation that was longing for a leader, someone who would lead them out of captivity. The clues about who this leader would be were revealed by several spokespeople, who were called prophets. - Invite the readers to come to the front to read their scripts.
Explain that these people are prophets from the Old Testament part of the Bible.
Reader 1: My name’s Jeremiah. I prophesy that the future leader will have royal blood. He will be a descendant of King David, the mightiest king of Israel.
Reader 2: I am Isaiah, the most significant prophet of Israel. I say that the future leader will be like a powerful light, attracting the other leaders of the world to him.
Reader 3: I’m Micah. I prophesy that the future leader will be born in the humble town of Bethlehem.
Reader 2: Isaiah again here. I prophesy that this leader will be a powerful ruler, but will also act like a tender and attentive shepherd.
Reader 4: My name’s Zephaniah and I prophesy that the future leader will head up a strong, defensive army. He will save the nation from enemy attacks.
Reader 5: Then there’s me, Zechariah (don’t go confusing me with Zephaniah). You might be surprised to learn that the future leader will be gentle, a peacemaker, a humble man who will be seen riding on the foal of a donkey.
Reader 2: Hi, it’s Isaiah again! Here are two verses from the Bible that I wrote many years before Jesus was born. The first one is: ‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’
And here’s the second: ‘Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.’ - Point out to the children that there are contradictions in what the prophets say about the future leader. Will he be powerful or humble? Will he be open to other nations or opposed to them? Will he display his military strength or be a peacemaker? Some people emphasized one prophecy, whereas others emphasized a different element.
So, when Jesus appeared as a tiny baby, born in a stable, and grew up to be a homeless teacher who was more interested in caring for the outcasts of society than defeating the occupying Roman forces, many people could have been confused.
It might explain a lot of the opposition that Jesus faced. He didn’t live up to everyone’s expectations. How could he? The prophecies appeared to be so confused and contradictory. - Yet the clues were there all the time. It’s just that it needed the whole of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection to make them plain.
The prophecies about humility and shepherding were clearly demonstrated in his life, particularly the three years that Jesus spent as a teacher and miracle-worker. Christians believe that the prophecies about power, glory and worldwide influence are more a picture of Jesus’ influence since his death and resurrection. However, they need to be taken together. It’s necessary to see the whole picture to understand what Christians believe about Jesus.
Time for reflection
As we approach Christmas, on which parts of the story might we focus?
It might be that we’re attracted to the baby and all that he represents in terms of innocence, fragility and the chance of a new beginning. Maybe we fancy a new start.
We might recognize the way in which Jesus was born among ordinary people like you and me, so it’s easy to identify with him.
It might be the three Magi and their symbolic gifts that strike us: gold, frankincense and myrrh signify that Jesus would grow to be a prophet, a priest and a king.
Perhaps we see similarities between Joseph and Mary and the refugee families we see on the news.
It might be that for us, Christmas is inseparable from Easter. This is when, Christians believe, Jesus was crucified, and then brought back to life by God, his father in heaven.
Alternatively, it might be that the story of Bethlehem, the birth of a baby and people’s reactions to it is merely a dim background to holidays, parties, eating, drinking and presents. Some people might suggest that’s rather like spending time watching only the adverts rather than the main programme.
As we approach this Christmas, during the season that Christians call Advent, let’s spend some time thinking about the first Christmas and what it all means to us.
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the anticipation of Christmas.
Please remind us of the full story of the baby born to be a king.
May we be able to see the big picture and discover who Jesus was and why his life matters so much.
Amen.
Song/music
‘Away in a manger’, available at: https://youtu.be/AnwO_0DrpCk (1.59 minutes long)
