SCENE 1—The Search

Time: Late evening of an early spring day, around 4 B.C.

Place: A small room in an inn in Bethlehem. The stage contains a chair and a low table covered with a mat to represent a bed. It may also contain a regular table and a window frame, although these may be suggested by pantomime.

RABBI ELEAZAR and his pupil, JONATHON enter. The RABBI is an elderly man, very weak. JONATHON, a young man in his late teens, supports him carefully and tenderly. He leads him to the chair and lowers him into it.

RABBI: (Waving weakly at him) I’m all right! I’m all right! One would think you were my slave, Jonathon, and not my pupil!

JONATHON: (Smiling) Are they not one and the same, Rabbi?

RABBI: (Snorting) To look at you, one would think so! Ah, but I am grateful to you, my son. This past year – who knows how hard it would have been for these old bones without you to care for them. Many are the nights I’ve watched you slumbering near me and thanked our God that he sent me such a pupil. Others your age – they would be seeking wives by now, perhaps, or working at their fathers’ trades. But you were willing to give all that up for me.

JONATHON: Not for you, Rabbi, for your dream. When you told us you were going to start looking – well, something stirred, deep in here (touches his chest), and I knew I wanted to look with you.

RABBI: And God will reward you, Jonathon. Perhaps – perhaps – but, no, that’s just an old man’s fears. Do you think they could spare a little food for two weary travelers?

JONATHON: I’ll see, but I doubt it. We were lucky as it was to even get a room. I know, I know! “The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly from the LORD”, so luck has nothing to do with it! I just don’t understand, though, why you came back here to Bethlehem. There are no really important families in this town. And now, with the census – (He spreads his hands)

RABBI: I have my reasons, my son. By the way – that young man who arrived right behind us, the one whose wife was so close to her time; did you notice if they were given a room?

JONATHON: (Shakes his head) We were given the last one. They were getting ready to sleep in the stable when I took our donkey out there.

RABBI: (Indignantly) In the stable? In her condition? I will not have it! (Starts to rise) They must have this room!

JONATHON: (Firmly pushing him back) And I won’t have this! Rabbi Eleazar, we’ve done a lot of traveling, and it’s taken its toll on you. I, too, am sorry for those people, but they’re younger than you and can better stand a night or two in a stable!

RABBI: (Reluctantly) Very well. But tomorrow we speak to Rabbi Matthias; I’m sure the Bethlehem temple can find some lodging for us. Be sure those young people have this room tomorrow night!

JONATHON: I’ll do what I can. Now you rest. It may take me a while to get us some supper.

JONATHON leaves. RABBI ELEAZAR sits in contemplation for a moment, then covers his head and begins to pray silently, rocking back and forth as his lips move rapidly and his face creases in intense concentration. Then, suddenly, his expression becomes one of surprise and pain, and he gasps and clutches at his chest. He tries to rise and call out, but slowly collapses back in the chair, breathing hard. The lights slowly dim. At last JONATHON backs in, carrying an imaginary tray.

JONATHON: If I’d known it was going to take so long, Rabbi, I’ld’ve left a lamp lit. The place is in an uproar. The woman in the stable – her time arrived sooner than expected. Even now, she’s out there, giving birth. (He sets the “tray” on the table without noticing RABBI ELEAZAR.) I had to find our own food, but I managed to get some bread and cheese and – (He turns and stops abruptly, seeing RABBI ELEAZAR.) Rabbi? Rabbi Eleazar! (He drops to his knees beside him.) What happened? No, don’t talk! Here, let me help you! (He manages to get him to the bed.) I’ll get a physician.

RABBI: (Weakly) No!

JONATHON: It’s all right – I’ll be right back. There’s probably one in the stable.

RABBI ELEAZAR: No, Jonathon. There would only be a midwife, if that, and what could she do here but watch an old man die? Better for her to be where life is entering the world. Come here, my son. (JONATHON hesitates, and RABBI ELEAZAR beckons feebly.) Come. Sit by me. Have no fear, the LORD’s hand is upon me.

JONATHON: (Still hesitating) But, Rabbi, I don’t understand! You were certain the Messiah would be revealed in your lifetime!

RABBI ELEAZAR: (Dryly) I didn’t say my lifetime, I said our lifetime. My part of that is nearly over now; your part is continuing. You must carry on the search now for both of us. Come, don’t look so skeptical! There is something I must say while God grants me the breath. Come, Jonathon. (JONATHON sits reluctantly.) You asked why we came back to poor Bethlehem, where no family of power or repute dwells. Do you remember my plan when we first set out to seek the Messiah?

JONATHON: Of course. You decided to seek among the wealthy families because the Messiah would have to have a base of power from which to act.

RABBI: And so we sought for young men, about your age, among the families that had this power. And what have we found?

JONATHON: Nothing. But, Rabbi, we have many families to visit yet!

RABBI: No, my son. Last night, the LORD our God spoke to me, reminding me of His words to the prophet Isaiah: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways.” It was my thoughts, Jonathon, my ways, which took us to the homes of the wealthy and the influential. But consider, my son: if a Messiah is to arise who is to understand the needs of His people, their sorrow and oppression, then how better than if He were to arise among the poor? His father might be a shepherd, perhaps, or a fisherman; a carpenter, or a potter; a tent-maker, or – yes, even a tax collector! And why should he be a young man, Jonathon? Why not an old man, like me, or a boy, or even an infant? We have limited ourselves, Jonathon. Perhaps we have already looked upon the Messiah, thrown Him a few coins, and walked on.

JONATHON: (After a brief, silent struggle with these new concepts) All right. I’ll accept your argument. If God directed you to these conclusions, I can’t very well do otherwise, can I?

RABBI: That is wise, my son.

JONATHON: But why here? We could’ve started looking right where we were. There were plenty of poor people in Jerusalem. Why come back to Bethlehem? And why now, with the census?

RABBI: I can’t answer that last question. I don’t know if there is anything special about “now”. But “here”? Jonathon, do you recall the words of the prophet Micah? Concerning Bethlehem?

JONATHON: (Confused) Micah? I’m not…I don’t…

RABBI: (Prompting) “But you, O Bethlehem Ephratha, who are little to be among…”

JONATHON: (Simultaneously) “…to be among the clans of Judah, from you comes forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.”

RABBI: It was staring us in the face, but we were too blind to see it. Think, Jonathon! “Whose origin is from old, from ancient days”? Only the Messiah could fit that description! Depend on it, my son, the Messiah will come from Bethlehem.

JONATHON: (Slowly) But if you’re right, Rabbi, then He could be anyone. Anyone at all. How can I possibly know Him?

RABBI: The LORD our God will guide you, my son, if you keep your mind and your heart on Him. Be diligent, Jonathon. Find Him.

JONATHON rises, his face showing his struggle to accept RABBI ELEAZAR’s words. He wanders to the window and stares out.

JONATHON: (Almost to himself) Find Him. The Messiah. By myself. (Pause) Look out there. It’s dark already, but the streets are still full. Somewhere out there…somewhere…. Where do I start, Rabbi? (There is no answer) Rabbi Eleazar? (He turns slowly, fearfully.) Are you all right, Rabbi? (He approaches the still form, then drops to his knees.) Rabbi!

As JONATHON takes RABBI ELEAZAR’s limp hand in silent anguish, we hear the distant crying of a baby. The lights fade, but the crying continues, carrying us over into the next scene.