. all rights belong to Tanis Harms -
. refer to www.church-skits.com
ANIMALS AT THE CHRISTMAS SCENE – written by Tanis Harms
TOPIC: the story and purpose of Jesus’ birth
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 1:18-2:18; Luke 2:1-20; Zech.9:9
Cast: COWS (3 or more) COW 1 can be a BULL; PIG;
. HEN (1 or more); DONKEY; CAT; DOG;
. SHEEP (3 or more); OWL; CAMEL; HORSE
. (you can disperse the lines differently
. to incorporate more actors, you could also
. add more camels and horses)
Set & Props: piece of straw;
. costumes can be as simple as a big label,
. or a headband with ears, etc. attached
. in order to tell the “animals” apart
SCRIPT:
PASTOR Let’s have fun and pretend for a while
. that animals can talk. Particularly
. the animals during the birth of Christ...
(COWS moo and shuffle in from stage right
while staying all bunched together.)
COW 2 It’s dark. It’s very dark out here.
COW 1 I think we can stop now.
(COWS stop in bunch and look around using mostly
their eyes)
COW 1 I think we can spread out, too.
COW 3 We’re cows. We tend to stay in herds.
COW 1 It’s just a tad bit crowded, is all.
COW 3 I think you’re just claustrophobic.
COW 1 Am not! I just don’t – like - to cramp
. my style.
COW 3 What style?
COW 1 Hey, I am styling, baby! 2
(COW 2 moves in closer.)
COW 1 WHAT is your problem?!
COW 2 I’m scared. I think I hear something
. out there.
(COWS all keep quiet in their bunch and look around
using just their eyes. From stage left, PIG pokes
his head out while oinking.)
COW 1 Where? What?... Okay - Who’s there?
COW 2 (panicking) See? Do you hear that?
(PIG now does an oinking kind of laugh then snorts.)
COW 1 (in a low voice to COWS) Sh! It’s a wild pig.
COW 3 (out into the “dark”) Get away from us
. you – you - unclean animal–you!
PIG (stepping out) Hey! You’re on
. my turf now, man. Maybe if you’re nice,
. I’ll let you stay.
COW 3 (to COWS) We really shouldn’t have
. anything to do with him.
COW 1 Just ignore him.
(COWS stand closer together, chewing, and looking around
nonchalantly with just their eyes. HEN/S comes squawking
and flapping in from stage right and almost “flies”
into PIG.)
HEN Oh! Oh-oh, pig-pig-pig,
. don’t touch the pig!
(HEN/S back away from the PIG, stopping between
PIG and COWS.)
COW 2 Did the innkeeper chase you out
. of the stable too?
HEN Yes! How rude is THAT?! 3
. Kicked out of our stable!
HEN Something about a BABY
. who’s going to be born soon.
. It’s still rude, if you ask me.
COW 3 I quite agree. When I had my babies,
. no one was kicked out so I could be alone.
COW 1 So what’s so special about THIS baby?
HEN Nothing! It’s just going to be
. a HUMAN baby.
COWS Ooooooo.
(DONKEY wanders in quietly from stage right and
stands cowering nervously between the COWS and the HEN/S.
HEN looks at the DONKEY and squawks in fear.
Backing up, HEN almost runs into PIG again and
squawks loudly from that. HEN/S huddle together
between the DONKEY and the PIG.)
COW 3 (to DONKEY) And just who are you?
COW 1 Hey, are you part of the reason
. we were kicked out of our nice warm stable?
DONKEY Ahhhh, hee-ahhhh, ahhh...
. I don’t know.
(COWS take an intimidating step toward DONKEY.
DONKEY cowers some more with arms held straight down
but scrunching them in timidly.)
DONKEY Ahhhhh, hee-ahhhh, hiiii.
HEN Yes, it’s his fault we were chased out
. of our nice warm stable!
DONKEY Wh-wh-why do you say that?
. A-a-and it’s not THAT warm in there.
(HEN suddenly becomes brave and takes a step
closer to DONKEY.)
HEN Warmer than out here. Anyway, 4
. don’t change the subject. I saw you.
. You were the one who brought those people here.
. Why would you DO that? Huh?
. And why would those people want to stay
. in our stable, anyway?
DONKEY Th-th-they didn’t want to.
. Th-they wanted to stay in the inn.
. B-but - a lot of people are traveling.
. Th-th-there was no room at the inn.
COW 1 So the innkeeper offered them our stable?
DONKEY Yeeees.
PIG If I may ask, why are so many people
. traveling?
DONKEY Oh, s-something about going to their
. ancestor’s birthplace. To - to be counted.
COW 1 Oh! Been THERE!
COW 3 People love counting things, don’t they?
(CAT comes slinking in from stage right. HEN notices
her first. HEN becomes very catty and prissy-like.)
HEN Ooooo, if it isn’t the innkeeper’s cat.
CAT (arrogantly) Me-ow.
HEN Ooooo, so catty.
CAT (in HEN’S face) Sh!
(CAT walks in with her nose in the air and turns her head
as she passes PIG. CAT stops to the right of the PIG
to lick her paws then wipe her face – a few times until -
CAT suddenly spins around at the PIG and freezes,
then claws the air at the PIG with a little hiss.
CAT steps to the left of the PIG to be more in front,
then turns forward again to continue primping.)
CAT Sh!... Just YOU stay away from me.
(CAT looks around at all the animals with a yawn, 5
then stretches luxuriously. CAT talks with animals,
but continues to look at the congregation.)
CAT Ssssooo, what’s going on?
. Why are YOU all hanging out HERE –
. with a PIG?
COW 3 We were kicked out of the stable.
HEN A human baby is going to be born.
CAT Ooooh. Well, boo hoo, poor you.
. Isn’t it sad that you were all born
. as OTHER animals. Now, if you were a CAT,
. you’d have the opportunity
. to live inside a HOUSE.
COW 3 So what are you doing out here, then?
CAT I - just decided to come out for some fresh air.
(CAT tries to hide her shivers and teeth chattering.)
HEN That’s a first! I’ve never seen you
. outside at night. Except in the summer.
COW 3 Yeah.
CAT Sh!...
. (being “found out”, CAT quickly confesses)
. Oh all right then! There are so many
. people crammed into all those rooms.
. It’s simply overflowing with people.
. And some of them have horrible little children.
. I was just tired of them pulling my whiskers,
. and ears... and – my tail...
(CAT gently rubs each part mentioned. For the tail,
she coyly puts her arms behind her back and
looks down mournfully.)
HEN (sarcastically) Life must be soooo hard!
. Poor little kitty-cat.
(PIG snorts out a laugh. CAT hisses at PIG,
then prowls around while giving her speech.)
. 6
CAT Sh! Hey, I’m NOT poor. This PIG – is POOR!
. And is dirty and disgusting.
. But ME – I’m just ALL that!
. You know? I can’t help it
. that EVERYONE wants to love me,
. and feed me, and WORSHIP me.
COW 1 Whoa-whoa-whoa – WHO wants to worship YOU?
CAT The Egyptians, to name – a FEW.
. They believe – I - am - a god.
(HEN/S cackle loudly. COW 1 takes out a long straw
and waves it out in front of CAT.)
COW 1 Hey, cat! Lookie here, kitty-kitty-kitty.
. Lookie what I have... (etc.)
(CAT becomes super alert. With keen interest,
CAT’S eyes and head wave back and forth along with
the waving straw. Finally, CAT skips up to the straw
and playfully starts batting at it with her paws.
COW 1 drops the straw, and CAT pounces
and plays with the piece of straw on the ground.
CAT stops short when the animals all burst out laughing.)
CAT What?!
COW 3 Well, I don’t get it. I mean, look at you.
. You get distracted by a piece of straw!
. HOW could anyone think YOU were a god?
(CAT hisses, but is interrupted by a brief baby’s cry.
Suddenly, a bright light shines down from stage right.
The animals quietly look up at the light.)
COW 2 All right! It’s not dark anymore.
COW 3 Where did THAT come from?
CAT I could go look into that.
HEN They’re going to kick you out.
CAT (looks back while rolling her eyes)
. Please, I’m a cat. The Egyptians worship me.
. 7
HEN Whatever!
(As all the animals break out into laugher again,
SHEEP and a DOG come bounding in from stage left.
To get out of their way, PIG moves forward and
as far stage left as possible, then sits down.
DOG herds SHEEP in by running behind them
back and forth, barking. DOG then leaps forward
to stop the SHEEP from moving any further.)
DOG Stop!... No. Don’t move.
SHEEP 2 Are we there yet?
DOG The shepherds SAID this was Bethlehem,
. the city of David.
SHEEP 1 YES! Just like the angel talked about.
COW 1 Angel? What kind of animal is that?
SHEEP 3 Ooooo, there were more than one.
. And you should have seen them.
. Very pretty. And very bright.
SHEEP 2 And at first, very scary.
SHEEP 1 But the most awesome part was
. what they told us.
COW 3 And just what was that?
SHEEP 1 That a BABY was going to be born.
HEN Just so happens, a baby was just born,
. right over there in our stable.
. But – I mean – so what – it’s JUST a baby?
COW 3 Yeah, lots of babies are born.
SHEEP 2 THIS - is a very SPECIAL baby!
SHEEP 1 Yes, this angel appeared –
COW 1 So you’ve said.
SHEEP 2 And it was very scary – at first. 8
SHEEP 3 Yes – at first.
COW 3 So you’ve said.
SHEEP 1 And ahhh, the angel said... –
(SHEEP all pause to think and sigh.
DOG shakes his head and steps forward.)
DOG I remember what the angel said.
SHEEP 3 Well go on, then.
SHEEP 2 Tell them.
SHEEP 1 It’s really great. It really is.
DOG The angel said, “Do not be afraid;
. for behold, I bring you good news
. of a great joy which shall be
. for all the people,
. for today in the city of David
. there has been born for you a Savior,
. who is Christ the Lord. And this will be
. a sign for you, you will find a baby
. wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger.”
COW 3 (not getting it) Yeah, well, this baby here,
. was born in a STABLE.
COW 1 Duh! The manger is IN the stable!
. (suddenly alarmed) They’re going
. to put this baby in my manger?
. Where they put my food?
SHEEP 1 But don’t you get it? This baby is
. very special.
SHEEP 2 Yeah, because after, like, THAT –
. a whole bunch of angels appeared in the sky,
. and said something.
SHEEP 3 Yeah, they said something else. Like, ahhhh–
. (to DOG) Go ahead, tell them what they said.
DOG The whole sky of angels were praising God 9
. and saying, “Glory to God in the highest,
. and on earth peace among men with whom
. He is pleased.”
OWL (from offstage-right) Who!
DOG No, I’m pretty sure they said,
. “WHOM He is pleased.”
(OWL flaps his way out and pretends to land next to cows,
and does some owl-type-stepping to settle down.)
OWL No-no-no, I just said, “who” as in, what
. an owl says, and that’s what I typically say.
. But what I SHOULD have said is, “What?”
. As in, could you please repeat
. that last part again?
DOG Ah, sure. They said, “Glory to God
. in the highest, and on earth – PEACE
. among men with whom He is pleased.”
OWL Outstanding!
PIG I’d say! Peace on earth?! This little baby
. is going to bring PEACE on earth?
. That would be nice.
OWL Indeed. And it will happen. I am convinced
. of it, especially now. This baby being born –
. means the prophecies have begun.
. It’s all starting to make so much sense.
COW 3 What are you talking about?
SHEEP 3 Yeah, like scents, as in odors and aromas?
. Are you trying to tell us we smell bad?
HEN If anyone smells, it’s the pig over there.
PIG Hey!
OWL Sense, as in reason.
. The logic that formulates in one’s brain
. in order to glean knowledge and wisdom.
SHEEP 1 Yeah, that’s not going to help us. 10
SHEEP 3 At least we don’t smell bad.
(DOG whines a sigh of mild frustration.)
COW 1 Quiet and let the owl explain.
OWL Okay, so there are prophecies in the scriptures
. that have spoken of this very thing.
SHEEP 2 Prophecies? Scriptures? All these big words.
. You’re really blowing our minds here.
DOG Please, smaller words - for the smaller minds.
OWL (tilts head thinking, then starts again)
. The God of creation, who created all of us,
. has written words to the people, which they
. can read for themselves.
COW 1 How do you know all this?
COW 2 Owls are wise, haven’t you heard?
OWL It says in Micah “’But as for you,
. Bethlehem, Ephrathah, too little
. to be among the clans of Judah,
. from you - One will go forth from Me
. to be ruler in Israel.
. His goings forth are from long ago,
. from the days of eternity.’ Therefore,
. He will give them up until the time
. when she who is in labor has borne a child...”
SHEEP 3 Okay, so that’s like, talking about
. the baby that’s just been born,
. and is in that stable right now?
OWL Yes, and it goes on to say that when He
. grows up, “...He will arise and shepherd
. His flock in the strength of the Lord,
. in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God.”
SHEEP 3 Whoa! Shepherd. He’s going to be
. our shepherd?
OWL Yes, He will be THE Shepherd – 11
. for all the people.
SHEEP 2 People need a shepherd too?
DOG (ironically) I believe that.
OWL And there’s more, “He will be great
. to the ends of the earth.
. And this One will be our peace...”
PIG There it is again – peace.
HEN Why are YOU so hung up about peace?
PIG You DO realize that everyone HATES me.
. But maybe one day, I will be loved too.
COW 1 (to OWL) Wait a minute! How can we trust you?
. I mean, really, YOU – can READ?
OWL Well, I don’t read –
HEN AH ha! He’s a fake.
OWL Who? Me? No-no-no. I grew up near
. Jerusalem. One night, as I was flying
. over the city looking for food,
. I saw candlelight from a window.
. (ALL become lulled by the story)
. Needing a rest, I found a tree branch nearby,
. and I could hear a man reading.
. He would always read the scriptures aloud,
. every night at the same time.
. The words were so amazing,
. they were like spiritual food.
. And I was always hungry to hear more,
. so I would go back, every night,
. to hear these words again and again.
HEN And just who was this man?
OWL His name was Simeon, a rabbi at the temple.
PIG So what else did it say? These, scriptures?
OWL WWHHhhOooo, let’s see... (thinking)
. 12
SHEEP 2 Yeah, I want to know why people would need
. a shepherd. (SHEEP giggle and agree.)
OWL Well, in the Psalms, God’s people
. are likened to being sheep of His pasture.
HEN So it’s a symbol?
OWL Yes, and Isaiah uses this symbol further.
. When people sin, they become like LOST sheep.
SHEEP 2 Oh, that’s not fun - not fun at all.
SHEEP 3 Ahhhh, so the sheep need to be found
. and saved from the wolves?
SHEEP 1 Oh, those poor lost people-sheep.
DOG Hey, I’m pretty faithful and there to help out.
SHEEP 3 Yes, to HELP, as best as you can.
. But you’re not a shepherd.
DOG (sadly) Noooo, you’re right, I’m not.
. I still need some help too, like food
. and attention from the shepherd.
SHEEP 1 Oh, those poor lost people-sheep.
(CAMEL walks in from stage left, and stands there
in the near background, looking aloof from the crowd.
Slowly all the animals begin to notice and wonder
about the CAMEL. They begin whispering amongst
each other.)
COW 2 Psst. Who IS that? WHAT is that?
COW 1 Excuse me, but, what are you?
(CAMEL looks down at COW 1 and looks long and hard
right into the COW 1’S face.)
CAMEL I - am - a camel.
COW 1 (lightly) Oh. Very well. Carry on then.
. (turns to others and makes a “whatever” face)
. 13
HEN (to COWS) Okay, but what is it doing here?
. This – camel. I hope the innkeepers
. didn’t buy that and expect it to share
. our stable. Can you imagine how crowded
. it’s going to be?
(CAT strolls in and almost walks into the CAMEL.
CAT looks up at it.)
CAT Excuse me, big guy.
(All the animals take note at CAT’S coolness.)
CAT There are more of those camels way over there.
HEN We won’t all fit! What are we going to do?!
CAT Relax, they’re just visiting. Good thing, too.
. They’re ornery, and they spit.
HEN Whew!
COW 3 Who are they visiting?
CAT The baby.
HEN They didn’t throw you out?
(CAT is more humble and speaks with a purr-like quality.)
CAT Noooo. Well Mrs. Innkeeper
. wanted to throw me out,
. but the nice lady said to leave me alone.
. They were all very nice, but the baby
. was the sweetest. I can tell. THAT baby –
. is going to grow up and NEVER pull my ears,
. or my whiskers... or - my tail.
. It’s the nicest baby I’ve ever seen.
. The baby’s name is Jesus, by the way. And,
. I would have stayed there a LOT longer.
HEN So why didn’t you?
CAT Well, all these visitors came.
. It got very crowded.
COW 3 (to COW 1) Hey, you have something 14
. in common with the cat...
. you both have claustrophobia.
COW 1 Sh!
COW 3 See! You’re even starting to SOUND
. like the cat.
COW 1 Sh!
COW 3 There you go again!
COW 1 (whispering with annoyance) Alright.
. (back to CAT) Please, go on cat.
CAT Well, these very important looking men,
. from some very strange country,
. came to give Jesus some very nice presents,
. and came to worship Jesus.
. They said - they came to worship –
. the KING.
COW 1 The KING? I thought the king
. was in Jerusalem?
OWL There IS a king in Jerusalem.
CAMEL Not THAT king.
DOG What? (to COW 1) Did he say something?
CAMEL I said, NOT - THAT - KING.
COW 1 Why do you suddenly talk now?
PIG Maybe he feels like an outsider –
. like me.
HEN Or he’s stuck up – like the cat.
CAT Heeey!
CAMEL I didn’t know if I could trust you.
HEN Why?
CAMEL When my masters saw this strange new star, 15
. that is now shining down on us so brightly,
. they knew it would lead to someone
. very important. So we traveled
. a great distance, from the Far East.
. On our way, we stopped in at Jerusalem
. and saw the king that is there.
OWL You mean, King Herod?
CAMEL Yes.
(ALL wait intently while CAMEL chews and spits.)
CAMEL My masters asked King Herod
. if he had heard about the birth
. of this very important King of kings.
. King Herod had NOT heard –
. and pretended to be very nice. He said
. he was very interested in finding this baby,
. in order to worship Him also.
. So he wants us to go BACK to Jerusalem and
. let him know where to find this King of kings.
(CAMEL suddenly looks off to stage right.)
CAMEL Oh! It looks like we’re getting ready to leave.
. (takes a step toward stage right)
COW 1 Are you going to go tell King Herod?
CAMEL (stopping short, almost spitting)
. No-of course not! King Herod
. wants to KILL Jesus, this King of kings.
DOG Kill the baby?
CAT They can’t kill the baby! They cannot
. kill Jesus!
CAMEL I am very happy I could trust you after all.
. (cryptically) Be careful. Beware.
. (slowly walks off to stage right)
COW 3 Wow! So this baby isn’t just any baby.
COW 1 This baby Jesus is the KING of kings.
. 16
OWL Yes, yes, I remember in Zechariah - it says,
. “Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem!
. Behold your KING is coming to you;
. He is just and endowed with salvation, humble,
. and mounted on a donkey.
HEN Hey – that’s YOU!
(Startled, DONKEY jumps to attention.)
DOG You’ve been awfully quiet.
DONKEY I-I never actually realized I was carrying
. such precious cargo. Now I don’t mind
. that the lady was a little extra heavy.
. A-and here I had been whining and complaining
. about how far we had to go.
SHEEP 2 Sounds like you did something extremely
. important.
CAT Who would have thought God would use a donkey!
DONKEY Oh, my master is calling me.
. I guess we’re leaving, also.
CAT You’re taking Jesus away? Why???
(DONKEY shrugs and leaves. CAT turns to everyone.)
CAT I’ll be back. I want to say goodbye.
SHEEP 1 Maybe we’ll be going soon, too.
. Our shepherds were so excited
. to visit with the baby King.
SHEEP 2 I think they’re still busy telling people
. about Jesus.
SHEEP 3 It just struck me, God sent angels to -
. the shepherds.
COW 3 Yeah, so?
SHEEP 2 Yeah, so? I LOVE our shepherds.
SHEEP 3 Yeah, well, but not everybody does. 17
. Shepherds are outcasts of society.
. People make fun of them.
. But God shared His great news with
. the shepherds. Just like God used a donkey,
. God is using the shepherds
. to spread the news about Jesus.
PIG Maybe God could use a pig.
(ALL stop to look at the pig and think.)
HEN Maaaybeeee.
PIG (shyly) I - I’m just saying.
HEN No-no – I’m just thinking –
. after hearing all of this,
. it seems like almost ANYTHING is possible.
COW 3 Well then, my question is,
. if shepherds are social outcasts,
. why would God call Himself a Shepherd?
SHEEP 2 Oh, if you knew our shepherds, you would KNOW.
. They take such good care of us.
DOG (agreeing) Ah-um. Ah-um.
OWL Yes! In one of the Psalms it says,
. “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.
. He makes me lie down in green pastures;
. He leads me beside quiet waters...”
SHEEP 1 That’s exactly what our shepherds do.
DOG Ah-um.
OWL “...He restores my soul,
. He guides me in the paths of righteousness.
. For His name’s sake. Even though
. I walk through the valley of the shadow
. of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me;
. Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me...”
SHEEP 3 Wow, He sounds like a very awesome Shepherd.
OWL “Thou dost prepare a table before me 18
. in the presence of my enemies;
. Thou has anointed my head with oil;
. My cup overflows. Surely –
. goodness and lovingkindness will follow me
. all the days of my life. And I will dwell
. in the house of the Lord forever.”
SHEEP 1 In a HOUSE? Forever living in God’s house?
SHEEP 3 Ohh, He’s not just ANY Shepherd.
CAT (comes from stage right) I’m back.
DOG Oh, ah – so what’s up?
CAT Well, an angel warned them to leave for a while.
COW 3 Really? Wow!
CAT Yes, the donkey is going to take care of th -
(HORSE steps out from stage left, big and
aggressive-like. CAT notices and stops.)
HORSE What are you peons talking about?
SHEEP 2 DONKEY IS –
CAT Sh!
(DOG quickly puts a paw over SHEEP 2’s mouth and barks.)
HORSE Be quiet, you mutt.
DOG Wh - ? Wh- I didn’t -
HORSE What about this donkey?
SHEEP 3 Ahhhhh –
(The SHEEP quickly look over to the COWS,
who stand still and look around using just their eyes.
All the animals are scared and suspicious.)
CAT Well, we just said goodbye to our friend,
. the donkey.
. 19
HORSE Phrprprpr (flapping his lips together)
. Donkeys! Donkeys are such a joke.
PIG Oh, and what? You’re some hotshot?
CAT Shh!
HORSE I am one of the king’s war horses.
HEN The king, eh?
CAT Shhhh!
HORSE Yes, King Herod. Kings like to use horses
. to show their power.
PIG What would they use for peace then?
HORSE Perhaps a donkey. (laughs suddenly then stops)
. But we are not LOOKING for any DONKEYS
. right now! We are looking for
. all baby boys under the age of two.
HEN Ooooh? Whatever for?
HORSE There’s one particular child –
. that we want to – worship.
SHEEP 2 Oh, so you’re here to see -
(PIG grunts and snorts in order to distract HORSE
and cover up whatever SHEEP 2 might say.)
SHEEP 2 So, you’re here –
(PIG grunts and snorts and shakes his head.)
HORSE And what is YOUR problem?
PIG Nothing. Just, something in the air.
COW 3 (now also coughs) Quite right.
. There’s nothing here –
. except something in the air. (cough, cough)
(All the animals join in coughing.)
. 20
HORSE All you animals are nuts.
. (charges up and stares deep into SHEEP 2’s eyes)
. Just exactly WHAT - are you all hiding?
SHEEP 2 (blurts out quickly) The King arrived
. on a donkey and was living in that stable
. over there.
(All the animals groan. HORSE stares at the SHEEP 2
for a moment then bursts out laughing.
Finally HORSE sobers up enough to talk.)
HORSE All righty, then. That was good for a laugh.
. Ha ha, that’s great. Well, if you animals
. can’t make any sense, then I’m out of here.
. I’ve got important work to do.
. We’ve got to kill this baby
. who will someday threaten to take
. the throne away from our REAL king.
. (laughs and shakes head as he walks off stage)
. Ahh, that was a good one.
. I needed a good laugh.
(CAT waits until HORSE is gone before running up
to the SHEEP and glaring at them.)
CAT Well THAT was close. TOO close. We can’t
. do anything that will get Jesus killed.
OWL I’m afraid no one can stop that
. from happening.
(CAT stops in her tracks, then swings around
to stare at OWL.)
CAT What?
OWL Jesus HAS to die.
(CAT paces as it frets.)
CAT No! No! No! Jesus is the rightful King.
. I realize, I am nothing CLOSE to being a god
. that anyone can worship. I AM NOTHING.
. JESUS is GOD.
OWL And Jesus has come for a purpose. 21
. To die.
CAT NOOO!
(DOG moans in a howl-like voice to echo the CAT.)
OWL It’s been written. There are prophecies.
CAT We can ban together and CHANGE THAT.
OWL Listen, cat, I know you want Jesus to live.
. We all do. But He first has to die.
CAT I don’t get it.
COW 3 Yeah, what are you trying to say?
COW 1 What ARE you trying to tell us?
OWL Whoooo, I always seem to communicate best
. when I quote scripture.
DOG Yes, we want to know what the Scriptures say.
OWL Okay, you know how animals, for example,
. sheep, are used for sacrifices.
(The SHEEP all cringe and huddle, shaking with fear.)
SHEEP 2 Yes.
SHEEP 3 Scary!
PIG What are you talking about?
SHEEP 1 Oh, yeah, the pig here wouldn’t have
. any idea about this.
OWL BECAUSE there is sin, there has to be DEATH.
. Blood must be used to cover sin.
. So God put in place the sacrificial system
. as a SYMBOL... so people
. would understand this law.
PIG I – have a new respect for you sheep.
SHEEP 1 (turning to OWL) 22
. Are WE going to be sacrificed?
. What are you saying?
. What do you know?
OWL Not you. Him. Jesus Christ.
. Isaiah talks about the Christ
. being the Lamb of God.
SHEEP 1 I thought He was the Shepherd?
. And the people were like sheep?
OWL Yes – to both. You see, God likes to use
. lots of examples that we can relate to,
. so we can better understand what He’s
. trying to tell us.
SHEEP 3 What is He trying to tell us?
OWL In Isaiah it says, “All of us like sheep
. have gone astray...”
SHEEP 2 We do-we do - We do that a lot.
SHEEP 1 Yeah, what is our problem anyway?
OWL Anyway, “each of us has turned to his own way,
. but the Lord has caused the sins of us ALL
. to fall on Him.”
DOG Let me get this straight, everyone has sinned.
. And this Jesus – is – going to die –
. for all sins?
(ALL fall silent. CAT sniffs her tears away.)
PIG So Jesus, the Shepherd, has become a sheep,
. and is going to die in the place of all sheep?
OWL Yes. Isaiah goes on to say,
. “Surely our griefs - He Himself bore,
. and our sorrows He carried;
. yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
. smitten of God and afflicted.
COW 1 We don’t think that.
OWL We will. Because this is what WILL happen. 23
. Isaiah continues with “But He was
. PIERCED THROUGH for our transgressions,
. He was CRUSHED for our iniquities;
. the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him.
. And by His scourging we are healed.”
SHEEP 2 That’s horrible.
SHEEP 1 Yeah.
SHEEP 3 Just so people don’t have to continue
. sacrificing animals, like us sheep...
. Jesus is going to be the perfect sacrifice?
OWL Yes, once and for all. One final and
. perfect sacrifice. Then people
. just have to believe in their hearts.
. They just have to accept Jesus -
. dying for THEM, in their place, so their sins
. can be forgiven once - and for all.
CAT But – Jesus will be no more.
OWL Ah! There is even better news.
. In Psalms it says,
. “For Thou wilt not abandon my soul to Sheol;
. neither wilt Thou allow Thy Holy One
. to undergo decay.”
. And Micah tells us,
. “the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion”.
. This will happen AFTER His death,
. and there will be peace.
SHEEP 2 Whew! That sounds awesome.
PIG Okay, I want to know –
. what do you mean by – peace?
OWL Oh, there are many scriptures on that.
. Like in Malachi, “But for you who fear My name,
. the sun of righteousness will rise
. with healing in its wings;
. and you will go forth and skip about
. like calves from the stall.”
COW 1 Oh, I remember those days.
. 24
COW 3 Indeed. THAT will be nice.
OWL And in Isaiah, “Yet those who
. wait for the Lord will gain new strength;
. they will mount up with wings like eagles...”
COWS (thinking) Ooooo.
PIG I’ve always wanted to be an eagle.
HEN Me too.
PIG At least you have wings.
HEN Have you ever SEEN a chicken fly?
. It’s far from soaring, let me tell you.
. It’s just enough to get us up off the ground
. away from the fox’s mouth. It’s like...
(HEN frantically flaps and drops, flaps and drops around
the stage.)
HEN (adding after) It’s pathetic.
DOG (back to OWL) What else?
OWL Isaiah talks about how the WOLF will live
. with the LAMB and they will eat together,
. the leopard will lie down with the young goat,
. the lion will eat straw like the ox,
. and the children will play with the calf
. and the lion –
PIG (excited) You mean, all of us animals
. will get along?
OWL Yes.
PIG So there will be peace for everyone. Even me.
HEN Amazing! Truly amazing!
(CAT wipes away a tear. DOG notices.)
DOG What’s wrong now?
CAT Nothing. These are - tears of joy. 25
. I am – I truly am - a changed cat.
DOG I believe. I feel like a new dog, myself.
. (getting an idea) Now, let’s have some fun,
. just so people don’t think we can REALLY talk.
CAT What are you talking about?
DOG I chase you – you run – all the way
. up that tree way over there...
. One-two-three–go!
(DOG barks and CAT tears off of the stage
with the DOG following.)
HEN Sweet. This I’ve got to see.
COW 2 Me too.
(Agreeing, all ANIMALS follow and exit.)