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Magi and Wife
Matthew 2
Lois Farra Watkins and James Watkins
Synopsis
What would have been the reaction of this stargazer's wife when this "wise man" returned after two years with an outrageous story about a star, dreams and a virgin giving birth to a king?
Stage setting
Anything from a bare stage to First Century house interior.
Uses
• To preface a Bible study of Matthew 2
• A sketch for Epiphany Sunday
• Just for fun.
Permission to print and perform this sketch
We're on the honor system! Simply send a donation to:
James Watkins
Wesleyan Publishing House
P.O. Box 50434
Indianapolis, IN 46250
Characters
• Wiseman: dressed in royal-looking robe, head dress
• Wife: (same)
Wife
Star light, star bright, the first star I see tonight.
I wish I may, I wish I might,
have the wish I wish tonight.
Stupid stars! It's all your fault. My friends warned me about marrying one of those star-gazers. But would I listen? No! I thought all those nights sitting under the constellations were romantic. I was so starry-eyed listening to all those stories of what the gods forecast through the stars. And I saw how the villagers respected him and sought out his latest prediction about their family or the world. Sometimes I doubt the stars even tell him anything. He and his friends probably just get bored here and make up a story that the gods are announcing some great happening. Off they go, dropping everything to find the meaning of the light!
But he's never been gone this long. It's been almost two years since he left. What is a wife to think?! He takes this expensive gift--almost our life's savings--and rides off "o'er field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star." [She moans out to the tune of "We Three Kings"] "Oh, oh, oh..."
[Wiseman sneaks in behind his wife]
Maybe the women at the well are right. They say, "Poor dear, her husband has stardust between his ears."
[Wiseman mouths "Stardust between my ears?!" in exaggerated disbelief. He mouths the following insults as well.]
His camel is missing a hump.
His oasis has dried up.
His mind is a mirage.
He's a few figs short of a full load.
I guess I should get used to the gossip about these "business trips." After two years, talk at the well is that he's run off with some desert princess or a slave trader's daughter.
[Wiseman mouths "slave trader's daughter" with shocked expression]
I don't know. I do know I hate sitting home staring up at the stars alone. I sit here night after night, wondering if the god's will bring back of my wandering, yet adorable husband. Oh, I miss him.
[Wiseman grins and puffs out chest]
First Star, my wish is that you lead him home safely.
[Wiseman quietly puts hands over her eyes]
Wiseman
Your wish is granted!
Wife
[Startled and struggling]: Stop! Let go of me!!
Wiseman
Whoa! Calm down. You kick harder than my camel. I don't have to worry about you being home alone.
Wife
Oh, you ARE home. Where have you been? You could have least sent a messenger? Don't I always tell you to take a drachma if you need to call home? And how did you get here? I've been watching for you this way.
Wiseman
We had to come home a different way. It took longer, but an angel told us in a dream to go home another way.
Wife
Oh, great, now you are adding angels and dreams to your star-gazing.
Wiseman
So you really think I AM crazy?
Wife
No, not really. But I wish you'd be honest and just admit that you and your buddies were having too good a time and just lost track of the years. I certainly didn't expect to hear a wild story about angels and dreams.
Wiseman
So now I'm a liar as well as a lunatic! That hurts.
Wife
I don't know what to think any more. Why did you have to go to only the gods know where, to face only the gods know what, for only the gods know why?
Wiseman
That's why!
Wife
That's what?!
Wiseman
No, WHO. That's why!
Wife
Who's why?
Wiseman
God! God knows.
Wife
You mean you're going to try to get off the hook by blaming this on the gods?
Wiseman
No, it wasn't our gods, it was the God of the Jews.
Wife
So, what's a good Gentile traipsing off to follow some Jewish God?
Wiseman
I really don't know. It seems that even though this baby was born King of the Jews, he is for the whole world, even us so-called "Gentiles."
Wife
Wait a minute! Are you telling me that you went all this way, for a BABY?
Wiseman
Well he was a small CHILD by the time we got there and left our gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Wife
You left nearly our whole life's savings at the feet of a child? Do you know how much that cost us? You not only gave up two years of our life here together-- and don't you dare make any wisecracks about that--but you gave up our life savings too?
Wiseman
I know it's hard to understand. It's hard to explain. But I have been changed by this trip. I have come to believe the God of the Jews is the God of the Universe and the creator of the stars. I look at the stars in a totally different way. I no longer worship them and see them as gods. The one and only true God uses them for His purpose.
Wife
And I suppose this Jewish God used you--a Gentile star- gazer--for His purpose?
Wiseman
Well, give me a few minutes and I'll try to explain.
Wife
You've got five and then I'm packing for my mothers!
Wiseman
[Shocked, then regaining his composure]: Well, okay. Nearly two years ago there were unusual movements among the stars. We'd been trained in science, philosophy, and religion and had been taught that the stars were signs for great events. So when Jupiter, the King star; and Venus, the Virgin Mother star; joined Regulus, the other King star; in the constellation of Leo, the Lion King, we knew that some kind of... of... "KING of Kings" must have been born. Then Jupiter and Venus rose together as one brilliant morning star. As we were excitedly discussing it some Jews, whose descendants had been too old to travel back to Israel when the Exile was over, came up to us and asked us if we knew the meaning of the star. They started telling us about an Emmanuel--a God who dwells among His people--who was to come. He was to be called "The Lord of Lords and King of Kings," "The Lion of the Tribe of Judah." And to clinch it, this King of Kings was called "The Bright and Morning Star!" Don't you see, that's what the stars were proclaiming?
Wife
So, why didn't this god just come down to earth to tell us all this?
Wiseman
That's how!
Wife
That's what?!
Wiseman
No, HOW! That's why!
Wife
How's why?
Wiseman
That's how God told us! God came down to earth to tell us.
Wife
This is getting more unbelievable by the minute--and you've only got four left!
Wiseman
I'll hurry. The Jews recited the words of their prophet Isaiah. I wrote it down to keep with me.
"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. For unto 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, Counselor, Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end and he will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever."
So, as the star began to move toward the west, I knew I had to follow. It was a star shining in my own darkness, drawing me like a magnet to some new light.
Wife
Three and a half minutes.
Wiseman
The star continued in a westward direction leading toward Jerusalem--a logical place for a King of the Jews to be born. But we lost track of the star once we drew close to the Holy City.
Wife
You, a professional star-gazer "LOST" a STAR. Your story has more holes than a old wineskin.
Wiseman
That's why we stopped for directions.
Wife
Okay, that's it!
Wiseman
That's what?!
Wife
That's how!
Wiseman
How's how?
Wife
That's how I know you're lying! You and your male-kind never, ever stop for directions!
Wiseman
But you see, that proves that I have been changed! I asked for directions! We were so drawn to the star and it's King that we started asking people about the great event. But no one seemed to know anything about a new- born king. That's when we were commanded to appear before King Herod.
Wife
So you were hob-nobbing with royalty!
Wiseman
Only to ask directions. We figured that if anyone would know about this birth another King would. They're usually up on the latest happenings in the political world. But we could tell Herod hadn't heard anything about a king of the Jews being born. So, he summoned all the Jewish chief priests and teachers of the law together to ask them where this King of the Jews was to be born? They quoted one of their prophets called Micah. I wrote that down, too:
"But you Bethlehem, in the land of Judah; are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel."
King Herod called us into his private chamber to ask the exact time when we had first seen the star. Then he sent us off with fresh provision and with instructions "Go, and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
Wife
Right, a king wants to worship another king. You've got two more minutes!
Wiseman
After we left Jerusalem we had no trouble seeing the star. It was as bright as it had been here. Now we had both the written word of the prophet and the brilliant star to lead us. So, with great anticipation we walked up to the door of a very plain house where a young girl with a small child in her arms stood before us. Words cannot describe the awe and wonder of that moment. He didn't look different from any other child, but yet He was so different. Within our hearts there was a drawing to Him, as there had been to the star. Then we grown men bowed before him as we would have a grown king. Even with all our knowledge and wealth and religious training we felt so small and insignificant next to the child.
Wife
And they call you wise men?
Wiseman
I know it seems strange, but there was no embarrassment. It was as if our whole lives had been lived for this moment, to bow and worship this God in human flesh.
Wife
Okay, time out! You keep talking about this "god in human flesh." I thought you said he was a mere child.
Wiseman
Ah, but that's where it gets even more wonderful. The child's mother was this peasant girl, but his Father was God. Another Jewish prophet had foretold,
"The virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."
Wife
A virgin gave birth to God's Son?! [She shakes her head in disbelief, then in amazement, then pauses reflectively] Let me think this through. No husband whose been gone two years is going to tell his wife a story this incredible, unless he DOES have stardust between his ears or [she pauses again] he's telling the truth.
Wiseman
Believe it, it's true! We started out following a star and ended up following the King of Kings, the Son of God. I don't feel so wise any more and there's still much I don't understand. But I've come to believe that our gods are just wood and stone and stardust. This God, however, is like a person and actually has become a person in that child. And I believe that the same God who created the star, was the one who guided us, who sent his Son, who spoke through an angel and led us home. I believe that same God has a special plan for Jesus to follow, as well as a plan for ME to follow.
Wife
We've never thought of really knowing a god--of having a personal relationship with Him like you describe. How can it be?
Wiseman
I can't explain, but I believe it, because I have seen all of this. I'm sure it must be harder for you to believe just hearing about it.
Wife
It's all incredible, but somehow my heart tells me it is true. Deep inside I have this longing to worship and know a personal God--not to try to find them in the stars. And I see the change it has made in your life.
Wiseman
I'm glad. [Taking her hand] We can follow the Star-Maker together.
Wife
That sounds good. [They start to walk off] And you say you really did stop and ask directions?
Copyright © 1990 James N. Watkins. Brought to you by . . .
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