John 3:16 is a Christmas play about a homeless girl who finds the love of Jesus and the warmth and love of Christmas when the policeman sends her to a nearby orphanage. He instructs the little girl to say John 3:16 to the nice lady who will meet her. The little girl throughout the play says, “John 3:16, I don’t understand it, but it sure makes a hungry girl full, John 3:16 I don’t understand it but is sure make a cold girl warm, John 3: 16, I don’t understand it but it sure makes a dirty girl clean, John 3:16, I don’t understand it but it sure makes a lost girls saved.
The loving Christian Lady at the orphanage shows the love of Jesus and the warmth of Christmas as she teaches by example the love found in Jesus taught by John 3:16.
Scene 1 Street /Trash Dump
(Street scene with 2 little girls (dressed like a dirty boys with hair in Sock hat and old dirty shirt and pants ) rumbling thru the trash can, policeman steps up and takes one of the children by the shoulder.)
Mattie: I sure am hungry, Mattie. Do you think we’ll find any good food tonight?
Katie: I hope so, Mattie.
Policeman: Hey there young Man, What are you kids doing out here alone on this cold Christmas Eve? Where’s your family?
Katie: Leave us alone, and I’m not a young man, I’m a girl!
Policeman: You are a little girl, is this a little girl too? Where is your family? Where do you live?
Mattie : It’s none of your business where we live. Leave us alone.
Katie: Yeah, Leave us alone Mr. We ain’t broke any law.
Policeman: It’s dangerous out here on these streets at night, we need to get you girls home to your family.
Mattie: I don’t have no family.
Policeman: Are you homeless?
Katie: Mr. me and my sister ain’t eat in days, could you just tell me where we can get something to eat?
Mattie: Yeah, Mr. Mr. We sure are hungry.
Policeman: You ARE homeless. I know just the place for you. Do you see that big white house across the street?
(policeman writes a note and hands to Katie)
You take this note to the white house and give it to the nice lady and I promise you she will be kind to you and she will give you something to eat and a warm place to stay this cold Christmas Eve night.
Mattie: What does it say, Katie?
Katie turns to her sister(towards the audience)and reads the note.
John 3:16, (thinks a minute, then continues) I wonder what that means…
Curtain Closes. Song: Go and Tell of a Savior’s Love ( guitar)
Scene 2 Steps and Living Room
(Opens with the girls walking up steps to knock on door to a living room scene of an orphanage with the lady that runs the orphanage inside. )
Katie: Lifts hands to knock, then thinks a minute, then goes back down the steps. She pulls the note out of her pocket, and reads it. John 3:16, I don’t understand it.
Mattie: Do it Katie, I’m really hungry and it’s really cold tonight.
(Katie goes back up the steps and knocks)
Ms Rose (Lady over Orphanage comes rushing thru living room) “Who could that be? I’m trying to run and orphanage here. …”
(Ms. Rose opens door and sees Little Katie) “My my what have we here? “
Katie: The cop said me and my sister could get something to eat here. He said to read you this note. It don’t make much sense to me. It just says John 3 16, whatever that means. (Katie puts the note back in her pocket)
Ms. Rose: Come in, come in out of the cold. My name is Ms. Rose. What are your names?
Katie: My name is Katie and this is my sister. Tell her your name.
Mattie: My name is Mattie.
Ms. Rose: OK, Katie and Mattie let’s get you something to eat. Why you look like you haven’t eaten in days. We were just about to clean up the dishes. A good hot bowl of potato soup will be just the thing to warm you up on this cold winter night.
You sit here at the table while I fix you a hot bowl of soup.
(Ms. Rose walks to table and gets a bowls and starts filling them with soup and Katie and Mattie sit at the table.)
Katie: (opens the little note and reads) John 3 16
Mattie: I don’t understand it, Katie.
Katie: Me neither, Mattie, but it sure makes a lonley girl feel welcome.
Mattie: It sure does Katie.
(Ms. Rose hands places the bowls of soup and a cups of milk. Katie and Mattie quickly begins to gobble it down.)
Ms. Rose: Hold on, Hold on girls, we need to give thanks.
Katie: Give thanks? Ok, Thank you, Ms Rose.
Ms Rose: Katie, Mattie, Close your eyes, We’re going to thank God for our blessings
Katie and Mattie: They close their eyes, then open one eye to peek at Ms. Rose)
Ms Rose: Dear Lord, Thank you for loving us and blessing us so much and for bringing Katie and Mattie to us. Lord, please help them to see the Love of Jesus in our home this beautiful Christmas Eve. In Jesus Name we Pray. Amen.
OK Girls, You may eat your soup now while I clean the dishes.
(Ms. Rose gathers some dishes and leaves the stage briefly)
Katie and Mattie: ( gobble food)
Katie: (opens her little note again and reads) John 3:16, I don’t understand it, but it sure makes a hungry girl full.
Mattie: It sure does, Katie!
Ms. Rose: (Ms. Rose comes back into the room with 2 little girls) This is Katie and Mattie.
Mary Beth: Hi Katie and Mattie. My name is Mary Beth. You’re gonna love it here. Ms. Rose is the sweetest.
Marcie: Hi, My name is Marcie. We do have the best home in the whole world. I’m glad you both came to stay here.
Ms. Rose: Mary Beth you show Katie where to get a warm bath and some warm clothes, and Marcie, would you please help Mattie.
Marcie and Mary Beth: (leave the stage with Katie and Mattie) Yes Mam, Ms. Rose.
Ms. Rose: (Cleaning dishes as curtain closes) Curtain Closes:
Song: I Call Him Lord(GUITAR)
Scene 3 Living Room
Ms. Rose: (Opens with living room with a fire place with Ms. Rose reading her Bible.)
Katie: (enters the stage dresses nice with combed hair and bow)
Mattie: ( comes in behind her with ribbons in hair and nice outfit)
Katie: (takes her paper out and reads)
“John 3 16, I don’t understand it, Mattie!
Mattie: Me neither, Katie, but it sure makes a dirty girl clean”.
Ms. Rose: Wow! Katie, look at you! Mattie, you are so pretty. Come and sit by the fire, it’s almost time for our evening devotions.
Katie: (sits by Ms. Rose.)
Mattie: (sits on other side of Ms. Rose)
Mattie: What is devo, devocia?
Ms. Rose: Devotions, Mattie, that’s when we gather each night to read the Bible and learn more about Jesus.
Katie: I ain’t never been in no devotions before, Ms. Rose, But I sure do like this place. That policeman sure was right.
John 3:16, I still don’t understand it, but it sure makes a cold girl warm.
6 (Katie scoots up closer to Ms. Rose)
Mattie(scoots closer) : Yea, And, Ms. Rose, it sure makes a lonely girl feel loved.
Ms. Rose: (hugs both of Them and smiles.)
Then, rings a bell): Time for evening devotions!
All Orphan Children: (come into the room and sit around on the floor. They all greet each other as they enter)
Merry Christmas Eve, Ms. Rose.
Ms. Rose: We have 2 new girls with us tonight. Everyone, meet Katie and Mattie.
All the Children: Welcome to our home!
(Doorbell rings)
Marcie: Someone’s at the door, Ms Rose, I’ll get it! (Opens door)
John: Jamie and I found the best Christmas tree.
Jamie: Yeah, this was the best tree ever. We walked all through the forest until we found just the perfect one.
Ms. Rose: Well, get the tree ready, we were just about to have our devotions.
Jamie: Are we gonna decorate the tree like we did last YEAR? We had so much fun last year!
John: We can have this tree ready in 2 minutes, right Jamie.
Jamie: Right.
Ms. Rose: OK, get it set up as quickly as you can.
Song: Greatest Christmas Tree
(Marcie goes out to get ornaments)
Marcie (enters with box of ornaments) I have the ornaments, Ms. Rose.
Ms. Rose: Good Job, let’s get started, OK Jamie, bring the tree:
Jamie: The Christmas tree has to have a solid foundation, like my faith has a strong foundation in Christ Jesus.
Anna: The lights remind me that Jesus is the Light of the World
Marcie: The ornaments make the tree pretty to glorify it to remind me that my life should glorify Christ Jesus.
Mary Beth: We wrap garland around the tree to remind us that Jesus wrapped himself in humanity for us.
Ginny: We put a star on top of our tree to remind us that as the Star led the wise men to Jesus, we should seek Him today.
Ms. Rose: As I look at our tree, I am reminded that Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.
Mattie: But, Ms. Rose, There ‘s no gifts under the tree!
Sally: The best gift of all is not under the tree,
The gift of God's love sent to you and to me.
God sent us his own Son from heaven above;
To show us, His children, the meaning of love.
Mary Beth: Everybody, I have an announcement to make, so repeat after me,
Jesus is the greatest gift of all.
Song: Our Christmas Song (Charlene – guitar)
Scene 4: (doorbell rings, Living room scene)
Marcie: I’ll get it Ms. Rose. (opens door) Oh, it’s the Pastor and the nice people from Morning Star Baptist Church.
Pastor: Merry Christmas Eve. We’ve brought gifts from the church for the children.
Ms. Rose: It’s so thoughtful of you to come and thank you for the gifts! We were just about to do our evening devotions, all of you please come in and join us.
Pastor’s wife: We would love to, Ms. Rose. Do you think we could sing some Christmas Carols with the children?
Ms. Rose: That is a wonderful idea.
Sally: And, Ms. Rose, Can the Pastor read us the Christmas Story like he did last year?
Ms. Rose: Could you please do us the honor, Pastor. All the Children have looked so forward to hearing you read the Christmas Story.
Pastor’s Wife: Ms. Carol, could you help us out on the piano?
Ms. Carol: I’d love to. (sits at piano and all sing)
Joy to the World (carolers and Children’s home)
O Come O Ye Faithful (Carolers & Children’s home)
Pastor: Lets look into God’s Word. (opens Bible and begins to read)
For its in His Word we see the most beautiful and wonderful story ever
old. It is history but more than that It’s HIS Story. The story of Jesus Christ
Pastor: Do you know why Jesus came into the world? He came for one purpose. To Die.
Sallie: To die?
Pastor: Yes, Jesus knew that the penalty of sin had to be paid. He loved us so much He was willing to die in our place. To be a substitute for us. Sin entered into the world when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Death passed upon all men. This spiritual death means to be separated from God forever in an awful place called Hell. The Bible says For ALL Have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Every person is born with this sin problem. But God loved us so much, He was willing to pay the price for our sin. He promised to send His Son Jesus to pay the sin debt for all mankind and make a way for us to be saved from the penalty of our sins. The world waited for the Savior to come.
Song: Mary Did you Know(Guitar outside curtain)
(Scene opens with Mary sitting and an angel appearing.)
Pastor: And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
Angel: Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee:
blessed art thou among women. Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Mary: How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
Angel: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the
Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Mary: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to
thy word. ( Mary and Angel remains during the song. )
Song: What child is this? – Shannon (sings from living room scene )
(curtains close after song)
Scene 6: Living Room on left of stage, Manger on right.
Scene opens with Mary, Joseph and the manger
Pastor: The Bible tells us in Matthew:
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Luke 2:7 tells us …. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped
him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Song() Little Stranger (Trio & guitar)
Pastor(after song): And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
(shepherds and Sheep)
(Angel enters and makes announcement to shepherds)
Angel: Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great
joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
(Host of Angels enter from back singing Away in Manger –
( PLAY PIANO)
Little Speaking Angel: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Host of Angels Sing: Joy to the World (sing to shepherds, then go to manger scene)
Shepherd1: Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come
to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
Shepherd2: Yes, There’s the star, Let’s follow the star.
(Shepherds and sheep go to manger scene)
Song: Do you see what I see? (Piano) (Curtain closes after song)
(After curtains close, Outside curtains kings walk on stage)
Pastor (from behind curtain): Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem.
(wise Men) Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
Song: (we 3 kings – piano , kings sing)
Scene 7: Living Room on left of stage, Manger on right.
Characters (Pastor, Katie, Mattie, Wise men)
Pastor: The story did not end with the manger.
Jesus came into the world to die on the cross to pay for the sins of the world.
We read in John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Today we celebrate the True meaning of Christmas; the Birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World.
This same Jesus is very much alive today and He promises to save each and every one who will repent from his sins and accept the free gift of salvation.
Katie: Did you hear that? John 3:16. Wow, John 3:16 is all about Jesus. That IS the meaning of Christmas.
Mattie: Yeah Katie. I understand!
Katie: Pastor, I know I am a sinner. I want so very much to have the free gift that Jesus has, and I need to be saved. Do you think Jesus would save someone like me?
Pastor: I know He will, Young lady.
The Bible says: In Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
If you will repent and turn from your sins and call upon Jesus, you can be saved today.
Katie: I will, Pastor, I really will.
Mattie: Me too, Pastor. I really want to be saved.
(They Bow to pray )
After a minute: They all stand. Katie hugs Mattie.
Katie: Mattie! John 3:16 It sure made this lost girl saved.
Mattie: Jesus saved me too, Katie (the girls hug again)
Katie and Mattie: John 3: 16 the True Meaning of Christmas.
Pastor: Right girls! That first Christmas night, God gave us the greatest Gift of all, His Son Jesus.
Jesus was born of a virgin, died on the cross to pay for our sins, and rose again the 3rd day. He ascended back to heaven and right now HE invites every man, woman, boy and girl to accept the free gift of Salvation.
Mattie: But, Katie, what about our friends down at the dump. They ain’t never heard about John 3:16.
Katie: We’re gonna tell ‘em, Mattie, We’re gonna tell ‘em everyone.
Pastor: Jesus commanded for us to Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Takes a candle and begins to sing: Go tell it on the Mountain (Cathy play all sing)
(all cast holds candles and begin to sing
"Go, Tell It On The Mountain"
Scene 1 Katie, Mattie, Policeman (3)
Scene 2 Katie, Mattie, Ms. Rose, Mary Beth, Marcie
Scene 3– Ms. Rose, Katie, Mattie, Marcie, John, Jamie,, Anna, Ginny, Mary Beth Sallie
Scene 4- Marcie, Carolers, Ms. Carol Pastor, Pastor’s Wife, Ms. Rose, Sallie
Scene 5 - Mary, Angel, Pastor
Scene 6 -Mary, Joseph, Pastor, Shepherds, Sheep, Angel, Host of angels, Little Speaking Angel, Shepherd 1, Shepherd 2, Pastor, Wise Men1
Scene 7 - Pastor, Katie, Mattie, all manger scene characters