Christmas
When Joseph Doubted



First Sunday before Christmas

(Adapted from the drama, WHEN JOSEPH DOUBTED, by Gurden Henley. It is from THREE WORSHIP DRAMAS FOR CHRISTMAS by Baker and is available from CSS Publishing of Lima, Ohio. Contact Deedee Norton at CSS by telephoning 1-800-537-1030 or emailing her at dnorton@csspub.com. The publishing rights are inexpensive.)

SETTING: A stable with straw and at least one manger. (If possible, consider using a live donkey or sheep or two.)

MARY 
(Laying baby on manger) He's asleep, Joseph! Baby Jesus is asleep, just like any normal baby.... and he has five toes on each little foot, and five fingers on each hand, and little finger nails, and.... well, he seems to be a normal child in every way. I had so wondered how the Son of God would look. (Notices that Joseph is preoccupied) Joseph, you aren't even listening!

JOSEPH 
Oh ... yes, yes I am.

MARY 
You've been quiet all evening. Aren't you excited?

JOSEPH 
(Not convincingly) Oh yes, yes, of course.

MARY 
You certainly could have fooled me! Joseph, it is not like you to be so.... so moody. What's the matter?

JOSEPH 
(Trying to change the subject) Now that the baby is asleep, don't you think we should try to get a little sleep too? It has been an awfully rough day... and night. Aren't you extremely tired?

MARY 
Joseph, you're trying to change the subject. (Tenderly) What's the matter sweetheart? And, don't tell me everything's all right, for I know better. You act as though you are 
disappointed that the awaited child is here.

JOSEPH 
No, that's not it at all.

MARY
Then tell me.... what is bothering you?

JOSEPH 
Well, to be honest.... I am disappointed!

MARY 
Disappointed? But he is a perfect child!

JOSEPH 
Not disappointed with the baby! I am disappointed with God.

MARY 
Really Joseph, you can't be serious!

JOSEPH 
Mary, you're the one who wanted to talk about it. You insisted. (He turns away from her 
and pauses) Yes, I am disappointed with God.

MARY 
How can you say that after what has happened here this evening?

JOSEPH 
It's because of what happened here, this evening. Why would the God of the Universe, with all of his wealth, might, power, and riches, allow his Son to be born in a smelly, stinky place like this? (Questioningly) If it is God's Son!

MARY 
(In great astonishment. Mary stands. Hands on hips.) Joseph! How can you say such a 
thing?

JOSEPH 
You deserve better than this, Mary! (Pointing to child) He deserves better than swaddling 
clothes... these old rages. Even if he isn't the Son of God!

MARY 
(In greater astonishment) Joseph!

JOSEPH
(Continues, without even pausing) I tried to do better for you! At least to get a room in the inn. (A bit angry) No decent father would allow this to happen. This certainly is not the kind of place I would pick for the birth of my son. ... (pause) Mary, really, can you still believe that this child is the Son of God?

MARY
Joseph -- you can't know what you are saying! If this is not the Son of God, then you are 
saying that I am immoral.... that I had a lover!

JOSEPH 
(Hesitatingly) I don't know.... but how can I know for sure who the father is?

MARY
Joseph!!

JOSEPH 
Well, Mary...

MARY
(Interrupting him) Joseph, how can you doubt? Have you forgotten that an angel came to 
you, not just to me, but to you, and told you to marry me... told you that the baby is the Son of God? The angel? Remember? (Looks away from him to baby)... 

DANCE 
(Organist begins, "Angels We Have Heard on High" right after the word, "remember," using bells and chimes and the refrain again. Light, airy, heavenly. Organist plays the refrainz ("Gloria"), one stanza and the refrain again. Meanwhile, the dancing angel begins on the first note and dances during the music. She dances around the manger and Mary and Joseph. Mary and Joseph freeze, looking intently at the baby, never moving a muscle while the angel dances. The angel exits as the music concludes. When the organ stops, Mary moves her body, so does Joseph (breaking the freeze) and Mary says her line.)

MARY
I believed the angel. I have never doubted. I haven't understood everything but I haven't 
doubted. I have kept all of these things in my heart, and pondered them. My faith grew 
with every movement of the child within me. 

JOSEPH 
But.... but

MARY
(Pleading) Joseph, I am not an immoral woman! Joseph!! this child is the Son of God!

JOSEPH 
Mary, I too once believed that with all my heart. But now ... I am not sure if it was an angel, a dream, my imagination, if I read too much into it. ... I was so confused ... because of your situation, with you being pregnant and all... because I loved you so much... because I didn't want to hurt you. ... Mary, I wanted to believe you, but I have so many doubts now. I feel that God has failed me... has failed us.

MARY
How can you say that Joseph? How can you feel that way?

JOSEPH 
For seven months, silence from God. The entire time we were bearing with the ridicule of 
our friends. Even our families were suspicious, and not a word from God.

MARY
O Joseph.

JOSEPH 
It wasn't right for you to have to make this trip to Bethlehem, when you were so pregnant. I was positive God would prevent your having to come, but not a word. Nothing.

MARY
Joseph!!!! I traveled fine.

JOSEPH 
Why, God could have miraculously provided us with two white camels, saddled with velvet. But nothing. God did nothing special for us... even after the angel told us that we were highly favored people. ( A bit sarcastic) Highly favored people, all right!

MARY
Joseph, you, too, are tired. It is easy for doubts to rise when the body is exhausted. You will feel better in the morning.

JOSEPH 
For days I have believed in - and prayed for - some miracle to give me assurance. I really 
wanted to believe my experience, Mary. All I needed was a sign from God. Even a small 
sign would have been sufficient.

MARY
God doesn't always give signs, Joseph, ... exactly where or when we want them. 

JOSEPH 
I was convinced that God was going to perform a miracle, and give us one of the better 
rooms for his Son to be born in. (Sarcastic) Would that have been too hard for the 
Almighty to give us a good room for birth? but I had to bring you here to this stinking 
stable, and still no word. ... If this is the greatest event to ever happen, why is God still 
silent. ... I'm disappointed. I have so many questions, Mary.

MARY 
I have questions too, Joseph. Why you? Why me? Why Bethlehem? It is not a sin to have questions. Maybe our answer is in the Scriptures. Remember all the other Bible passages that came to life for us during these past nine months? Remember all the other prophecies that have been fulfilled?

JOSEPH 
Well, I don't know.

MARY
Joseph, you are a good, honest, and devout man. God has chosen you to act as the father to God's child. God will not disappoint you. But he'll give you the sign you so desperately need. So, hold fast to your faith, Joseph, hold fast to your faith.

INNKEEPER 
(Interrupting) Is everything all right out here? (Looks around) Seems to be okay. Sorry to 
bother you, but I saw a strange glow coming into my bedroom window from this direction.... thought the hay was on fire again. Must have been a glow from that star, and not the hay, after all.

JOSEPH 
A star?

INNKEEPER 
Just last year we had a terrible fire here, when some drunken caravaners carelessly caught the hay on fire. It was a disastrous....

JOSEPH 
(Interrupting him) A star, you say?

INNKEEPER 
Oh yes, a mysterious star, there in the sky. There's also a strange glow over the shepherds' fields. Just some freaky light up there. Well.... sorry to bother you. Good night. Oh, by the way, come on over to the inn in the morning. I've got some folks checking out, and I may be able to get you a room. Good night, now.

JOSEPH 
(To innkeeper) Good night... see you in the morning. (To Mary, excitedly) A mysterious 
star? Mary, did you hear what he said? Could it be?... a sign from God?

(Shepherds enter)

SHEPHERD 
Excuse us, but we are looking for a baby. Do you know if there is one here?

JOSEPH 
Yes. He was born just a few hours ago. Jesus is his name. But how did you know?

SHEPHERD 
Is he wrapped in old swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger?

JOSEPH 
Yes. We didn't have anything better to wrap him in, and no other place to lay him.

SHEPHERD 
Then this is it! This is the place! It's true. That's what the angel told us! ...

JOSEPH 
... Angel, you say?

SHEPHERD 
... said this would be a sign... we would find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.

JOSEPH 
(with wonder).... An Angel...!

SHEPHERD 
(Choir starts to sing, very softly "Gloria in Excelsis) Oh, no, not just one, but two, 
three, seven, ten, all the heavens were filled with them. They were singing, "Glory 
to God in the highest, and on earth, peace.... for born this day in the City of David, is a 
Savior, Who is Christ the Lord." (Joseph is ecstatic) Listen.... you can still hear them 
singing in the distance (They listen) (Choir softly sings, then gets louder)

(Three angels may enter from different places, all dancing "the Gloria." Joseph and Mary 
don't see them; they are looking up, into the distant sky. The angels do not dance between Mary and Joseph and the congregation, but to the side or behind.) 

JOSEPH 
(Choir still singing Gloria) Those are angels, Mary! Listen! The angels are singing! It is a 
sign from God. THIS IS THE SON OF GOD! (With tears) Mary, the angels are heralding 
his birth! JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD!

(Go right into the hymn, "Angels We Have Heard on High" for congregation to sing. Then, as the congregation sings the three stanzas "Angels We Have Heard On High," the dancers may then dance, electrically and beautifully, front and center. Joseph and Mary look down at the baby, oblivious to the physical presence of the angels. The angels exit up the three aisles, so they are out of the sanctuary when the hymn is over.) 

(When the hymn is over, the lights go down and Mary and Joseph leave the stage.)

CAST 
Mary Heidi Kramer
Joseph Chris Kramer
Innkeeper Lloyd Meyer
Shepherd Buck Kittelson
Angel Kristen Smith
Dancers Reidun Zimmerman, Kathryn Passic
Organist Bob Hoem
Singers Dorothy Smith, Claudia Apker, Janna Robbins
Directors Ed Markquart, Darlene Malmo



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