Ep 48: 'Christmas Joe' - A Heartfelt Retelling of the Nativity and Joseph's Journey of Faith

As the yuletide season casts its serene glow upon our hearts, we unwrap the poignant narrative of 'Christmas Joe' in our latest podcast episode. Plays on Word Theater offers a stirring retelling of the Nativity story; spotlighting Joseph's unwavering faith after a significant dream. Not merely a recount; it’s a journey through time that revives the essence of the first Christmas in the hearts of our listeners today.

We will look at Joseph's deeply human experience as he grapples with the news of Mary's divine pregnancy and the reassurance that unfolded through a dream. The discussion then weaves through Elizabeth's own miraculous conception, as our episode intersperses scriptural references and personal reflections, creating a tapestry of faith that connects the ancient prophecies with our contemporary world. Through the Christmas narrative, this episode bridges the gap between biblical times and our modern-day search for meaning and hope.

Rounding off our special Christmas celebration, we hear heartfelt greetings and shared updates from our faith community. We are reminded of the powerful hope Jesus extends to us all. Join us in this episode as we not only celebrate the season but also affirm our commitment to spreading joy and compassion throughout this Holy day ...and beyond!

CHRISTMAS JOE performed at:
America's Keswick Christian Retreat & Conference Center: https://americaskeswick.org/

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Lord, you know you listen on the place award. Radio is the best.

Speaker 2: 0:04

I come down here every year, every summer. I come down here to Bethlehem. I know all the people from from the house of David. I know all them. They all know me. They're my clan members. I come down here. We participate in the Davidic wood cutting ceremony for the temple Tonight, as we came down here right before she was about to give birth. I'm knocking on my family members door and you know not one. Not one person from the house of David, from my family. Not one. Let us in.

Speaker 4: 0:59

Hello and welcome to plays on word radio, where we discuss, analyze, work and play on the word of God. Thank you for joining us on this excursion. Today let's join pastor Teddy, also known as Fred David Kenny Jr, the founder of plays on word theater, as he does a deep dive into the word of God.

Speaker 2: 1:21

Okay, thank you very much, josh Taylor and Katie Kenny. Thank you very much. Merry Christmas to all of you listening out there in plays on word radio land. My name is Fred David Kenny Jr and, yes, it is Christmas time. We are celebrating the birth of Jesus. It is the. He is the greatest gift ever given and he continues to give. How do you like that? We have something special for you today. Since it's the Christmas time, we are going to play the Christmas Joe play for you, so you guys can get a dose of what we do. Of course, you can't see the facial expressions, but you have an imagination. I know you're going to be blessed by this. We're going to get right into. This is. This is a Christmas Joe performance we did at America's Keswick December of 2023, and I know you guys are going to be blessed and so, so check it out. Here we go. They're finally asleep.

Speaker 2: 2:29

Let me make sure that I got the story that you shepherds came and told us tonight. You said that you were out and you were shepherding the flocks tonight and you said that an angel of the Lord appeared before you and the glory of the Lord shown all around you and you were afraid. Right, that's what you told us. Right, you said that the angel said do not be afraid, for I bring you good news for all the people. From to you is born this day in the city of David, a savior who is Christ, the Lord, and this will be the sign to you. You will find a baby lying in a manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes. Right, that did I get that? I didn't mess that up. Right, that was correct. That's what you shepherds came and told us. Oh, but wait. Then you also said the heavens opened up and you saw multitudes and multitudes of the heavenly host and they were all proclaiming glory to God in the highest and peace on earth and goodwill to men.

Speaker 2: 3:45

I didn't mess that up, right, I got. That's the way you told the story, right, you shepherds? This is incredible. This is incredible. You know what? If, if you would have told me nine months ago that I would be here in Bethlehem with Mary and a baby, I wouldn't. I wouldn't have believed and I wouldn't have believed you. She tried to tell me nine months ago. She tried to tell me she was pregnant.

Speaker 2: 4:14

I didn't have nothing to do with that. Put yourself in my sandals for one moment. The one that's promised to you, the one that has betrothed you. She comes and tells you she's pregnant. You had nothing to do with it. But wait, there's more. She said it was by the Holy Spirit. I was like what you, what I? Had all these emotions going on. I was angry. How could this be? I was hurt. How can this be? I was afraid because if the people found out that she's pregnant outside of marriage, they can stone her and my reputation will be ruined. I remember thinking to myself when she told me this news God, god must be punishing me. He must be punishing me for something I did. That's why this shame has come upon me. We're going to take a quick break. We'll return right after these messages. I've always wanted to say that hello everyone.

Speaker 5: 5:38

My name is Pam Hess. I am a board member of plays on word theater, as well as the missions coordinator for step of faith ministries and, on behalf of step of faith, we'd like to wish you a very, very happy and festive Christmas.

Speaker 4: 5:54

God bless you all, okay to play on word beller fan to church and beller fan to christian academy.

Speaker 5: 6:01

We wish you a merry christmas.

Speaker 1: 6:02

We wish you a merry christmas hi, this is gloria and Orlando Burgos. We are supporters of plays on word and we want to wish you a very merry christmas and a happy new year yprosperaño nuevo pronunciales puerrico.

Speaker 6: 6:20

God bless you all. This is Reverend Michael Morgan, pastor of shallow baptist church. On behalf of my wife Joanne and the shallow family, we would like to wish you a merry christmas and a blessed new year.

Speaker 2: 6:34

Amen, amen, amen. That's that's what we're going to be doing on our breaks here. We're back, you guys? Yeah, all right, let's get back to this play. All right, we're going to get back into this. I'm a carpenter. I actually make the yolks for the oxen. If anything is broken in the entire village, everyone knows they bring it to joe and I can fix it. I usually can fix it, I can.

Speaker 2: 7:00

That's what I do, and I remember thinking to myself how do I fix this? I got it. I got it. I'll divorce her quietly. I mean, no one's gonna stone her. That's the fix. It's in the law of Moses. I mean God is so good. It's in the law of Moses. That's the fix. I mean I love Mary. I don't want any harm to come to her. I don't want the people to stone her. I want to do what's right in God's eyes. That's the fix.

Speaker 2: 7:41

So that angel that you shepherds saw when you were shepherding the flocks tonight, I think I know the exact one, because when I was contemplating these things and I made up my mind that I was gonna divorce her quietly, and I went to sleep that night, that angel flew to me in my dreams and when he landed I was like what? And the angel said to me Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for what is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She'll give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, for it is he that will save his people from their sins. Man, when I woke up from that dream, I was like what Wait, just tell the truth. It is of the Holy Spirit. So from that point on, god, he is so good. He started to bring to my remembrance all these scriptures that I heard when I was a little boy about this tall.

Speaker 2: 8:56

The rabbis would be going back and forth in the synagogues, the rabbis talking each other about these scriptures all the time. This one rabbi. He talked about prophet Isaiah, who prophesied 700 years ago from where we are right now. And prophet Isaiah said the virgin will be with child and she will give birth to a son and she will call his name Emmanuel. That means God with us. Now she went to stay with her relative, elizabeth, and not too far from here, in Judea, and Elizabeth was pregnant too. Six months on, you don't seem to understand, elizabeth is old.

Speaker 2: 9:46

Elizabeth is really old. No, you don't seem to understand. Elizabeth is too old and she's six months pregnant. Her husband, zachariah, he worked at the temple. He's at the priestly line and he went into the temple and he was working at the altar of incense. And he was doing his work at the altar of incense and all of a sudden I think it was the same angel. And the angel said to him Zachariah, your prayer has been heard. Your wife, elizabeth, will bear a son and you are to name him John, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.

Speaker 2: 10:29

Now, zachariah, he didn't really believe the angel. He was like and I'm old man, how's this going? How's it going to be? My wife is really old man. And the angel was like I stand in the presence of God and now you will be mute until all these things come to pass, because you have not believed my word. And the angel disappeared from him, zachariah, he came out of the temple and he was trying to talk to everybody out there and he was like I knew. We were looking at him like what's wrong with you? He couldn't speak.

Speaker 2: 11:16

Now, fast forward six months. Now Mary comes to the door and Elizabeth is six months pregnant. And as soon as Mary knocked on the door, the baby that Elizabeth was carrying leapt in the womb for joy and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she went to the door and said why does the mother of my Lord come to me? Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And Mary came in and sang a magnificent song. She was so excited. She said my soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior. He's been mindful of His servants, humble astated, and from now on everyone will call me blessed. Mary would stay with Elizabeth for three more months and, as you shepherds know well you might not know, you shepherds should know Caesar Augustus. He called for a census in the entire Roman world.

Speaker 2: 12:23

So everyone has to go to their town of origin. That's why I've come down here to Bethlehem, because I'm from the house of David, from Bethlehem. You know, you shepherds should know that, but you might not know that because you don't get Wi-Fi out in the fields, right, yeah, you got to go to the town of origin. And you know Beth, a lot of things happened here in Bethlehem. You know Beth meaning house of Lachem, meaning bread, beth, lachem house of bread. A lot of great things happened here. I mean the patriarchs Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, they all came through here and, of course, the great love story of the scriptures. Who could forget the great love story of the? Some of you shepherds are looking at me like you don't know what I'm talking about. The great love story of the scripture. How could you not know this? You shepherded the flocks in the fields that were owned by the man in the story the great love story. I'll tell it to you real quick.

Speaker 2: 13:24

Over 900 years ago, from where we are right now, in Bethlehem, there was a man here from Bethlehem. His name is Alimalek and he had a wife and his wife's name was Naomi, which means pleasant, and they had two sons, melon and Killian, and a famine hit this entire land and there was no bread in the house of bread. So Alimalek decided to move to a foreign country, the land of Moab, and after he got there he died. It's okay, naomi still has her two sons. They married two women from that land. One's name was Orba, the other's name was Ruth.

Speaker 2: 14:08

After about 10 years, melon and Killian both died. They only had nothing left. She had no hope. She had no husband and she had no sons. Everything seemed lost. All she had were too far in broth of women that married their sons. It's it she had. She was so devastated she felt completely disowned by God. She had no hope. She was at the bottom.

Speaker 2: 14:38

And then she heard that God had visited his people here in Beth Lechem, the house of bread, once again, and there was once again bread here. The famine was gone. So she decided to move back and as she did, she started to come back and her two daughters-in-law followed her and she said no, no, no, no, no, don't come with me. Go back to your father's household, go back to your houses. If I had two sons right now, would you wait for them to grow up? It's far worse for me. Hell should die. He's made my life bitter. Go back, go back to your families.

Speaker 2: 15:17

So Orpah went up to her mother-in-law and kissed her on the cheek and left, but Ruth clung to her and Ruth said where you go there, I will go. Where you stay there, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God. And where you die, there I will be buried, and God deal with me, be it ever so severely if anything but death separates you from me. And they only walked right up to God, right into her face, walked right up to her, okay. And so they headed.

Speaker 2: 16:05

They made their way back and when they got back to the outskirts of Bethlehem, all the women of Bethlehem, they all said is that Naomi? Remember? That means pleasant. Is that Naomi? Can that be Naomi? And Naomi said don't call me Naomi, call me Mara, which means bitter, because God has made my life very bitter. I left here full and I've come back completely empty. Don't call me Naomi. Now.

Speaker 2: 16:34

They just happened to come back during the time of the barley harvest and Ruth. She asked her mother-in-law if she could go behind the harvesters and glean, because God made provision for the poor. And Ruth just happened to find herself gleaning behind the harvesters in the fields that were owned by a man of God. His name is Boaz Now. But soon as Boaz showed up at the work site, boaz said to his employees the Lord be with you. And all his all's employees said the Lord bless you. Could you imagine getting the work and having a greeting like that? And right away, boaz, who was that? And his employee? He said that's Ruth the Moabitis. She's worked all day.

Speaker 2: 17:24

She came back here from the land of Moab with Naomi, her mother-in-law. She's worked all day long and she only stopped for a drink of water. That's it. Boaz said do not bother her. Instruct all the other men to not bother her. In fact, I want you to provide for her. Tell them to pull out and leave extra for her. And then he went right over to Ruth and he said my daughter, stay here and work in my fields. I've heard all the good that you've done for your mother-in-law since you came back from the land of Moab. I've heard all the good that you've done. Stay here. I've instructed my men to not bother you. If you want any water, you just go get water. Only stay here with my servant girls. And Ruth was so happy and so grateful to have found favor, so she worked in the fields of Boaz throughout the entire barley harvest, the entire time.

Speaker 2: 18:12

When Ruth went back to Naomi, naomi was. She couldn't believe how much grain she had brought back. And Naomi said I've a. Where did you glean today? And Ruth said I gleaned in the field of a kind man. His name is Boaz. And as soon as Ruth said that name, boaz Naomi. He's a close family member. God has not stopped showing kindness to the living in the dead. He's a close family, a kinsman, redeemer. So at the end of the barley harvest, naomi gave specific instructions to Ruth to go down. After the man had had a whole bunch of wine and a whole bunch of food and he was married. He falls asleep to lay down at his feet, uncovered his feet, and he would give you the specific instructions on what to do. So that's exactly what Ruth did.

Speaker 2: 19:04

She followed the instructions from her mother-in-law and Boaz, he went and he had his wine and his food and he was married. He went to sleep and when he woke up, in the middle of the night there was a woman at his feet and Ruth said spread your garment over me, for you are a kinsman redeemer. Now Boaz knew exactly what she was requesting. She was requesting to be redeemed, and Boaz said this kindness is greater than the kindness that you've shown at first. You haven't run after all the younger men, whether rich or poor, I will do all that you ask. So he laid down and she laid down.

Speaker 2: 19:54

Before the son came up, he measured out six measures of barley for her to take back to her mother-in-law. And when she got back to the house, naomi opened the door and Naomi Naomi said to her how did it go with you? Basically, what she was saying was who are you? Ruth took out the six measures of barley and showed her. Naomi said oh, the man's not gonna rest until this is settled today. Now, boaz, he made it clear that there was one redeemer actually closer legally closer than he was, who had the right to redeem. There was one other person that was closer than he was, and so he went to the city gate, waited and it just so happened that this other redeemer, just so happen to be walking by, said hey brother hey, do you?

Speaker 2: 20:43

uh, you want to redeem all that was lost with a brother, a limo, legs state and the other redeemer said yes oh no, the great love story looks like it's not gonna happen. Oh man, stay tuned, we're gonna be right back y'all after these messages.

Speaker 6: 21:02

Hi guys, my name is Akson Kaonga. I'm with my wife here. Hello, I'm Christine. I'm a pastor with Calvary Chapel of Ondola. We are found in Zambia. In case you do not know where Zambia is, Zambia is found in the southern part of Africa. We want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a blessed 2024.

Speaker 3: 21:23

Thanks, Hello everyone. This is Pastor Vinnie from Calvary Chapel, crossfields in Jamesburg, new Jersey. On behalf of Pastor Joe, pastor Paul and our entire staff, we want to wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. As we wait for the soon return of Jesus Christ, let's just keep serving Him, because he's coming back. God bless you have a great Holy Day.

Speaker 1: 21:48

This is Amtbed with Summit of Light. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Speaker 6: 21:52

Be sure to come to our Christian Gaspiriya Merry Christmas from Albania.

Speaker 5: 21:57

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Lydia.

Speaker 4: 22:00

Hey, I'm Roy Larson. Hi, I'm Greg Love.

Speaker 6: 22:02

And the reason we're here today is to worship our Lord and lift up joy in the name of Jesus.

Speaker 2: 22:08

And wish you a very, very Merry Christmas.

Speaker 7: 22:11

Happy, healthy love-filled New Year. We could go on and on with the joy Amen.

Speaker 2: 22:18

Greg Love and Roy Larson are both board members. That plays on Word 2 and they absolutely can go on. Let's get back to this program. You guys and Boaz said on the day that you do redeem, you also acquire Ruth DeMauwbitis as your wife to keep alive the name of her dead husband. And the other redeemer was like no, you go ahead. Yeah, you go ahead. I can't do that, I might endanger my own estate. You go ahead.

Speaker 2: 22:47

And now the way was paved for Boaz and Ruth, because Boaz had really taken a liking to Ruth and Ruth had really taken a liking to Boaz. And now the way was paved for them and they got married. And it was incredible, everybody was so happy in Bethlehem because they got married. And then she had a baby boy. And when she had the baby boy, all the women of Bethlehem, they scooped up the baby boy. It was like a miracle. And they placed the baby in Naomi's lap and all the women said Naomi has a son, naomi has a son. And they proclaimed it and tears are coming out of everybody's eyes because God, through the man of God, was able to restore and redeem all that was thought to be lost and ruined and gone. Naomi had no hope, nothing for the future. And now she has a hope and a future because of God, through the man of God. They would name their son Obed. Obed would grow up and he would have a son. His son's name would be Jesse. Jesse would grow up and he would have a son, and his son's name would be David, the shepherd that became king. I am directly in the lineage of this king, david. I go back to all the kings of Judah. Through them, all the kings of Judah, back to Solomon, back to David. In fact, if the Romans weren't ruling over us right now and things were the way they were centuries ago in Israel of old, I would be the king instead of just a carpenter.

Speaker 2: 24:59

I come down here every year, every summer. I come down here to Bethlehem. I know all the people from the House of David. I know all them. They all know me. They're my clan members. I come down here. We participate in the Davidic wood cutting ceremony for the temple. We chop wood for the temple. So every summer I'm down here, and tonight, as we came down here, right before she's about to give birth, I'm knocking on my family members' doors. And you know not one, not one person from the House of David from my family, not one. Let us in. They all said there's no room. There's no room. Every single house has an upper room Specifically for family members that are traveling to the temple. Every house has one. Not one person from the House of David.

Speaker 1: 25:58

Hi, this is Gloria and Orlando Berger. We are supporters of Place On World and we want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Speaker 6: 26:06

Feliz Navidad y Prospero a Nuevo Franciáles, puerto Rico. God bless you all.

Speaker 2: 26:11

At the time, instead of being upset, god, he brought to my remembrance another scripture that the rabbis would be talking about in synagogue, talking about going back and forth all the time, the rabbis and this other rabbi he was another rabbi he brought. He talked about Prophet Micah, who prophesied, alongside of Isaiah, 700 years ago from right now. And Micah said Though you, bethlehem, ephratha, right here, though you are small among the clans of Judah, from out of you Will come the one who will be ruler of my people, whose origins are from ancient times. One of the rabbis even teaches his origins are from eternity. And then, as Mary gave birth tonight, I received Jesus with my hands. We didn't have a midwife, no, I received him. And as I did, god reminded me of another scripture. This one also was from Prophet Isaiah, and it said For unto us a child is born, for unto us a son is given and the government will be on his shoulders and he will be called. Wonderful, but there's more to it, counselor, right, but there's still more to it. Mighty, mighty something. Mighty, mighty, mighty God, mighty God, but there's still more to it. Everlasting something. But who said everlasting, everlasting, father? Right, but there's still more to it. Prince of something, brother Jesus.

Speaker 2: 27:56

Yes, the scripture's made sense. The virgin will be with child, she'll give birth to a son and she will call his name Emmanuel, which means God. With us, from out of Bethlehem will come the one who is ruler of God's people, whose origin is from eternity, and for unto us a child is born, for unto us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders, and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, mighty God, everlasting father and prince of peace. I'm going to raise the son of God. What I'm going to raise? The son of God? This is in the middle. Oh, what I'm going to raise? The son of God? I'm just a carpenter. I'll do my best with the gift that you have given.

Speaker 5: 29:17

Amen.

Speaker 2: 29:22

Amen. Yeah, christmas, joe. Amen, amen. That's all the time we have. May you all have a blessed Christmas. May the Lord smile upon you all. Make sure you listen to the rest of this program.

Speaker 4: 29:48

This program was made possible by the Plays On Word family of supporters. To find out more, check out our website at PlaysOnWordorg.

Speaker 6: 30:00

Hi, my name is Ching Yong Shin, pastor of Faith Community UMC. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Speaker 7: 30:07

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from DJ John Luke.

Speaker 5: 30:21

This is Pastor Larry Sassman. Merry Christmas from Calvary Chapel of Monmouth County in.

Speaker 7: 30:28

Leonardo, have a very Merry Christmas and a happy and blessed new year. From Hands of Providence International and Hope Albanian Church. Hey, merry Christmas. God bless you. Fred, david Kenney plays on word the podcast and the plays and your ministry man. You represent Jesus in a great way. So many get blessed by you. It's such an honor. Just to wish you a Merry Christmas.

Speaker 7: 30:57

My name is Santos. I'm from Santos Ministries, I get to serve there and we just came back from Mississippi. We were in prisons all over the state. God is doing a new thing. They're starting Bible colleges and transforming lives. People are hungry, they know they hit the bottom and they want to change.

Speaker 7: 31:12

I was even on death row just spreading the good news, and it reminded me of this song by Gregor reporter. I'm going to sing you a couple of verses. But man, this is where it's at. Jesus came in through the back door when he was born. That ought to tell you something right there. He came for the broken, the hurting and the lost. So if you're there right now, what a great place to be, because you can open the front door of your heart and let the Lord and here's that song Just get blessed by it. God loves you and so do I, hallelujah.

Speaker 7: 31:49

Well, they build their houses in preparation for the King and they line the sidewalks with every sort of shiny thing. They will be surprised when they hear me say Take me to the island, take me to the afflicted ones, take me to the lonely ones that somehow lost their way. Let them hear me say you are my friend, come to my table, rest here in my garden. You will be a part in. Yeah, I love that lyric. You will be a part in because when I opened my heart to Jesus and invited the men man, he came in. And he came in for all the hurt, pain and mess up and just made me brand new. And I pray that happens to you this Christmas. What can you give the one that has everything? Jesus Christ, give him your heart. That's all he wants is your heart. God bless you.