This is something I posted last year that I thought I would spotlight for the upcoming Christmas season.

The Manger and the Cross

A Christmas reading for 2 people. Do not read the Bible references out loud. They are only there for a reference.

One : The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. (Isaiah 9: 2)

Two: He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. (Isaiah 53:3)

One: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. (Isaiah 9:6)

Two: Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, (Isaiah 53:4)

One: And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

Two : yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. (Isaiah 53:4)

One: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (John 1:1-2, 14)

Two : But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

One : In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to his own town to register. (Luke 2:1,3)

Two: We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; (Isaiah 53:6)
One: So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. (Luke 2:4-5)

Two : the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

One : While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:6-7)

Two : he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12)

One : (Smiles at TWO, he has warmed up to this new style of Christmas reading.) For unto us a child is born, (Isaiah 9:6)

Two : But he was pierced for our transgressions, (Isaiah 53:5)

One : unto us a son is given, (Isaiah 9:6)

Two : he was crushed for our iniquities; (Isaiah 53:5)

One : The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; (Isaiah 9:2)

Two : the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,

One : on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. (Isaiah 9:2)

Two : and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

One : The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (John 1:14)

Two : He was crushed, he was pierced,

BOTH : and he rose again.