Melchior Reminisces
Monologues
JESUS REFLECTS
Monologues And Children's Lessons For AdventAnd Christmas
My name is Melchior. I am one of the astrologers that came to Bethlehem several years ago in search of the new-born King of Israel.
I am from Persia, and am in the court of the King of Persia. We, as magi, study the stars and are convinced they foretell the destiny of individuals and nations. My brethren and I are deeply religious, also, and believe that the Great God of the universe directs all things in both nations and individuals. Our basic religion is Zoroastrianism, founded by Zarathustra, many years ago. It is a monotheistic religion much like the Judean religion of the Hebrews. We, too, subscribe to the belief that the contest between good and evil is everywhere visible in our world. We honor the scriptures of Israel and admire the teachings of Moses and the prophets. We recognize that they expect their long-awaited Messiah and have prayed for centuries for him to come. We, too, are greatly interested in this Messiah for it is our belief as well that he will rule the world as God's special representative.
You can imagine our delight when we saw the convergence of several planets in the east, what is now called the Star of Bethlehem! We were sure, my brethren and I, that an unusual birth had taken place and were determined to journey to that star and discover who that personage might be. We were quite convinced it was the Messiah, the King of Israel, but we wanted to be certain.
We discussed this with the King of Persia and he agreed that we should make the trip. It would be long and arduous, many, many miles across the Syrian Desert, but we were determined to go. The king suggested we take with us gifts suitable for a king: gold, frankincense and myrrh. He told us also to visit King Herod and offer him our congratulations on the birth of the new monarch.
We prepared ourselves for the long journey. We took an ample supply of food and drink, tents, clothing and the gifts. Our camels were of the best breed for the long journey. We knew that we would not arrive in time for the Messiah's birth, but we hoped to be able to see him and present him our gifts.
We, too, knew that the birth of the King of Israel was to take place in Bethlehem. This we had learned from the Hebrew scriptures. Our calculations told us that the special star was somewhere over the city of Bethlehem.
After many days and nights (I don't think any of us made count) we arrived in Jerusalem and sought an audience with King Herod. We inquired of him where the young King may be, and he seemed quite surprised that a King had been born! He questioned us for some time and said that we should tell him when we found him, for he, too, wanted to come and pay homage to him. He appeared somewhat suspicious and uneasy. We said that we would tell him when and if we found the child, thinking that he would, indeed, want to pay homage to such an important personage. But, we were warned in a dream that we should not inform King Herod, and should seek an alternate route home, bypassing King Herod. In the dream, which incidentally was my own, I was told that Herod might want to take the life of the young child since he was very jealous of his throne.
We went our way to Bethlehem and, sure enough, the Star of Bethlehem shone directly over the city! We were now sure that the Kingly Messiah had been born, and we must see him! We inquired of several, and finally found one individual who seemed to know something of his whereabouts. We were told that he was born in a cave! A stable for horses and cows! We could not comprehend this. We went to the caravansary on the outskirts of Bethlehem (where we were told he was born) and talked at some length to the owner, a man by the name of Jerash. He told us that a baby had been born in his stable several days ago, and it was his understanding that the young couple and baby were staying with some friends in a home in Bethlehem. He did not know exactly where it was, but told us of one in Bethlehem who should know. After some inquiry we were told of a home in which the King of Israel dwelt! We went immediately and found him! His mother, Mary, and father, Joseph, were quite surprised to see us - all the way from Persia!
We looked at the beautiful child in his crib and sank to our knees in gratitude to the Almighty for enabling us to find him. When we presented our gifts to his parents they received them with humble gratitude. We stayed but a short time. But we heard from his father that he, too, had a dream in which he was warned to flee to Egypt, for Herod was determined to destroy the child! How could that be? Did not Herod know that God would protect this special child whose birth was proclaimed by the stars? Mary and Joseph planned to leave the next day, and we urged them to do so. I told them of the dream I had had, also, and we did not plan to return to Jerusalem.
On our long journey home, my friends and I discussed the fascinating circumstances surrounding the birth of the Kingly child. We could not fathom King Herod and his desire to destroy the infant, but word reached us several months after we had returned that he had sent his soldiers to Bethlehem and had destroyed all the male infants two years of age and under! Surely that could not be! But, we had received the word on good authority.
But, he had not destroyed the young King! For that we were most grateful.
Who knows what lies in the future for the young King? He already has his enemies! But, I believe his reign will be blessed by the Almighty, and he will bring peace and justice to this world of ours. I look forward with eager anticipation to his reign, should God grant that I live that long. Surely the world will be a much better place for all of us!
I remember the words of the Prophet Isaiah who proclaimed the coming of this marvelous King: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!"
God grant that I shall see his reign in my lifetime!
Children's Sermon
Epiphany Sunday
A Brand
New Page
Object: A blank piece of paper and a pencil with an eraser
We are still at the beginning of a New Year and many people like to think in terms of getting a fresh start. In a sense, starting over again.
Something like a blank sheet of paper, such as I hold in my hand this morning. There is nothing written on this paper. Let's say we haven't done anything in the New Year yet. Most of us would like to put down some very good things we do this year - such as coming to Sunday school and church each Sunday, obeying our parents, making good grades in school, being nice to other people. As we do all of them they will be written down in the New Year.
But, when we do something wrong, that is written down, also. Now, how do we get rid of the things we do wrong? We can pray and ask God for forgiveness. We can also ask a friend or our parents for their forgiveness if we have done something wrong to them. Let the forgiveness we ask for be like this pencil's eraser. See, if I have something wrong written on my paper, I can ask God, through prayer, to forgive it. And he will erase it from the paper! (Erase something you have written on the paper.) It's as if it didn't happen at all, though of course we know it did.
Try to make good entries on your sheet of paper this year by doing lots of good things. But, remember when you do something wrong God still has an eraser, called forgiveness. He can make the sheet white again. And at the same time he asks us to try not to do it again. Have a good New Year!
I am from Persia, and am in the court of the King of Persia. We, as magi, study the stars and are convinced they foretell the destiny of individuals and nations. My brethren and I are deeply religious, also, and believe that the Great God of the universe directs all things in both nations and individuals. Our basic religion is Zoroastrianism, founded by Zarathustra, many years ago. It is a monotheistic religion much like the Judean religion of the Hebrews. We, too, subscribe to the belief that the contest between good and evil is everywhere visible in our world. We honor the scriptures of Israel and admire the teachings of Moses and the prophets. We recognize that they expect their long-awaited Messiah and have prayed for centuries for him to come. We, too, are greatly interested in this Messiah for it is our belief as well that he will rule the world as God's special representative.
You can imagine our delight when we saw the convergence of several planets in the east, what is now called the Star of Bethlehem! We were sure, my brethren and I, that an unusual birth had taken place and were determined to journey to that star and discover who that personage might be. We were quite convinced it was the Messiah, the King of Israel, but we wanted to be certain.
We discussed this with the King of Persia and he agreed that we should make the trip. It would be long and arduous, many, many miles across the Syrian Desert, but we were determined to go. The king suggested we take with us gifts suitable for a king: gold, frankincense and myrrh. He told us also to visit King Herod and offer him our congratulations on the birth of the new monarch.
We prepared ourselves for the long journey. We took an ample supply of food and drink, tents, clothing and the gifts. Our camels were of the best breed for the long journey. We knew that we would not arrive in time for the Messiah's birth, but we hoped to be able to see him and present him our gifts.
We, too, knew that the birth of the King of Israel was to take place in Bethlehem. This we had learned from the Hebrew scriptures. Our calculations told us that the special star was somewhere over the city of Bethlehem.
After many days and nights (I don't think any of us made count) we arrived in Jerusalem and sought an audience with King Herod. We inquired of him where the young King may be, and he seemed quite surprised that a King had been born! He questioned us for some time and said that we should tell him when we found him, for he, too, wanted to come and pay homage to him. He appeared somewhat suspicious and uneasy. We said that we would tell him when and if we found the child, thinking that he would, indeed, want to pay homage to such an important personage. But, we were warned in a dream that we should not inform King Herod, and should seek an alternate route home, bypassing King Herod. In the dream, which incidentally was my own, I was told that Herod might want to take the life of the young child since he was very jealous of his throne.
We went our way to Bethlehem and, sure enough, the Star of Bethlehem shone directly over the city! We were now sure that the Kingly Messiah had been born, and we must see him! We inquired of several, and finally found one individual who seemed to know something of his whereabouts. We were told that he was born in a cave! A stable for horses and cows! We could not comprehend this. We went to the caravansary on the outskirts of Bethlehem (where we were told he was born) and talked at some length to the owner, a man by the name of Jerash. He told us that a baby had been born in his stable several days ago, and it was his understanding that the young couple and baby were staying with some friends in a home in Bethlehem. He did not know exactly where it was, but told us of one in Bethlehem who should know. After some inquiry we were told of a home in which the King of Israel dwelt! We went immediately and found him! His mother, Mary, and father, Joseph, were quite surprised to see us - all the way from Persia!
We looked at the beautiful child in his crib and sank to our knees in gratitude to the Almighty for enabling us to find him. When we presented our gifts to his parents they received them with humble gratitude. We stayed but a short time. But we heard from his father that he, too, had a dream in which he was warned to flee to Egypt, for Herod was determined to destroy the child! How could that be? Did not Herod know that God would protect this special child whose birth was proclaimed by the stars? Mary and Joseph planned to leave the next day, and we urged them to do so. I told them of the dream I had had, also, and we did not plan to return to Jerusalem.
On our long journey home, my friends and I discussed the fascinating circumstances surrounding the birth of the Kingly child. We could not fathom King Herod and his desire to destroy the infant, but word reached us several months after we had returned that he had sent his soldiers to Bethlehem and had destroyed all the male infants two years of age and under! Surely that could not be! But, we had received the word on good authority.
But, he had not destroyed the young King! For that we were most grateful.
Who knows what lies in the future for the young King? He already has his enemies! But, I believe his reign will be blessed by the Almighty, and he will bring peace and justice to this world of ours. I look forward with eager anticipation to his reign, should God grant that I live that long. Surely the world will be a much better place for all of us!
I remember the words of the Prophet Isaiah who proclaimed the coming of this marvelous King: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!"
God grant that I shall see his reign in my lifetime!
Children's Sermon
Epiphany Sunday
A Brand
New Page
Object: A blank piece of paper and a pencil with an eraser
We are still at the beginning of a New Year and many people like to think in terms of getting a fresh start. In a sense, starting over again.
Something like a blank sheet of paper, such as I hold in my hand this morning. There is nothing written on this paper. Let's say we haven't done anything in the New Year yet. Most of us would like to put down some very good things we do this year - such as coming to Sunday school and church each Sunday, obeying our parents, making good grades in school, being nice to other people. As we do all of them they will be written down in the New Year.
But, when we do something wrong, that is written down, also. Now, how do we get rid of the things we do wrong? We can pray and ask God for forgiveness. We can also ask a friend or our parents for their forgiveness if we have done something wrong to them. Let the forgiveness we ask for be like this pencil's eraser. See, if I have something wrong written on my paper, I can ask God, through prayer, to forgive it. And he will erase it from the paper! (Erase something you have written on the paper.) It's as if it didn't happen at all, though of course we know it did.
Try to make good entries on your sheet of paper this year by doing lots of good things. But, remember when you do something wrong God still has an eraser, called forgiveness. He can make the sheet white again. And at the same time he asks us to try not to do it again. Have a good New Year!
