Story 1 One: The Last Candle in Bethlehem

Christmas Remembered

Chapter One: The Last Candle in Bethlehem

Theme Verse

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world."

John 8:12 (KJV)

---

The Story

Bethlehem was crowded.

Travelers filled the roads. Donkeys carried burdens through narrow streets. Roman officials recorded names for Caesar's census. Every inn was full. Every room was taken.

Near the edge of town stood a small candle shop.

The owner was an elderly man named Ezra.

For more than fifty years, Ezra had made candles for the homes of Bethlehem. His hands had shaped thousands of candles. His customers once filled the shop from morning until evening.

But those days were gone.

His hands trembled now.

His eyesight was fading.

And he lived alone.

Years before, Ezra had a son.

The boy had grown into a strong young man and traveled away to find work. Ezra expected him to return in a few months.

But the months became years.

No message came.

No traveler brought news.

No one knew what had become of him.

Though Ezra prayed faithfully, the ache never completely left his heart.

Every year he made one special candle.

He placed it in his window during the holy seasons.

Part of him wondered if someday his son might see the light and find his way home.

Now only one candle remained.

It stood alone on the shelf above his workbench.

Ezra carefully held it in his hands.

"My last candle," he whispered.

The old man smiled sadly.

The candle wasn't worth much money.

But it held years of memories.

Outside, the winter sky darkened.

Soon Bethlehem would be wrapped in night.

Just then the door opened.

A weary traveler stepped inside.

Dust covered his sandals.

His cloak showed the wear of a long journey.

"Peace be unto you," he said.

"And unto you," Ezra replied.

The stranger noticed the candle at once.

"Is that your last candle?"

Ezra chuckled softly.

"It is."

The traveler glanced toward the street.

"My wife and I have arrived late. The inns are full. We have found shelter, but there is no light."

Ezra looked at the candle.

Then at the stranger.

"What shelter?"

"A stable."

Ezra frowned.

"With your wife?"

The traveler nodded.

"Yes."

His eyes lowered.

"She is expecting a child."

The old man felt compassion.

Yet his hand tightened around the candle.

Not this candle.

Not his last one.

Not the one he had saved all these years.

For a moment neither man spoke.

Finally Ezra said quietly,

"I'm sorry."

Disappointment crossed the stranger's face.

He nodded politely.

"I understand."

Then he turned and left.

The shop door closed behind him.

Silence returned.

Ezra sat on his stool.

The candle remained in his hands.

But he felt no peace.

The stranger's tired eyes haunted him.

The thought of the young wife troubled him.

Outside, a brilliant star suddenly caught his attention.

It seemed brighter than any star he had ever seen.

He stepped outside.

The star hung over Bethlehem like a heavenly lantern.

Ezra gazed upward.

Then his thoughts turned to the Scriptures.

The promises.

The prophecies.

The years of waiting.

Had not Israel waited centuries for God's promised Savior?

Had not God remained faithful?

A lump formed in Ezra's throat.

"If God keeps His promises," he whispered, "why do I find it so hard to trust Him with mine?"

Slowly he returned inside.

He picked up the candle.

Wrapped it carefully.

And hurried into the night.

---

He found the traveler outside a stable.

"Joseph!"

The young man turned.

Ezra held out the candle.

"It belongs here."

Joseph looked surprised.

"But this is your last candle."

The old man smiled.

"Perhaps someone else needs it now."

Joseph accepted the gift.

His eyes filled with gratitude.

"Thank you."

Together they entered the stable.

Inside, all was quiet.

Mary rested on a bed of clean straw.

Nearby stood a manger.

The Child had just been born.

The stable was dim.

Almost dark.

Ezra knelt beside the manger.

With careful hands, he lit the candle.

Its gentle glow filled the stable.

Light touched the wooden beams.

Light warmed the straw.

Light shone upon Joseph.

Light shone upon Mary.

And light fell upon the face of the newborn Child.

For a long moment no one spoke.

The little flame flickered softly.

Then something happened.

The tiny Child stretched a small hand toward the light.

At once Ezra remembered another baby.

His own son.

Many years earlier.

A memory he had carried deep within his heart.

Tears filled his eyes.

The pain of loss returned.

But this time something else came with it.

Hope.

A strange and wonderful peace.

The Child before him was not his son.

Yet somehow Ezra knew God had not forgotten him.

While he had spent years longing for one beloved son, God had sent His own beloved Son into the world.

The old man bowed his head.

And worshipped.

---

Soon shepherds began arriving.

Breathless.

Excited.

Amazed.

They spoke of angels filling the sky.

They told of glorious songs.

They declared that a Savior had been born.

Ezra quietly slipped into the shadows.

No one noticed him.

No one knew about the candle.

No one thanked him.

Yet he felt richer than any king.

For his last candle had become part of the greatest story ever told.

---

Years later, Ezra heard Jesus teaching a crowd.

The teacher from Nazareth spoke with authority unlike any rabbi Ezra had ever known.

Then Jesus said:

"I am the light of the world."

Immediately Ezra remembered the stable.

The candle.

The manger.

The Child reaching toward the light.

And suddenly he understood.

The candle had never been the light.

It had only pointed to the Light.

That evening Ezra returned home.

His workshop was old.

His eyes were weak.

His hands trembled more than ever.

But his heart was full.

Looking toward heaven, he smiled and whispered:

"I thought I gave my last light to Him."

For a moment he paused.

Then softly added:

"No. He gave His light to me."

---

Scripture Reflection for Children

Key Verse

"I am the light of the world."

John 8:12 (KJV)

Ezra thought his candle was small.

It was only one candle.

But God used that one candle in a special way.

Sometimes we think the little things we do are not important.

A smile.

A kind word.

Sharing a toy.

Helping someone who is lonely.

Praying for a friend.

But God can use small acts of kindness to do wonderful things.

Ezra's candle gave light to a stable.

Jesus came to give light to the whole world.

When we follow Jesus and show His love, we can help others see His light too.

---

Think About It

⭐ What is one kind thing you can do for someone today?

⭐ Has someone ever shown kindness to you when you needed it?

⭐ How can you let the light of Jesus shine through your actions this week?

---

Life Lesson

God can use even the smallest gift when it is given with love.

---

Children's Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for coming into the world as the Light of the World.

Help me be kind like Ezra.

Help me share what I have.

Help me think about others and look for ways to help them.

Use my words, my actions, and my heart to show Your love.

Let Your light shine through me.

Thank You for loving me and being my Savior.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

---

Christmas Remembered

One candle gave light to a stable.
One Savior gave light to the world.

John 8:12 (KJV)

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Coloring Page Caption

THE LAST CANDLE IN BETHLEHEM

"One candle gave light to a stable. One Savior gave light to the world."

---

©2026 Susan Barker Nikitenko — All Rights Reserved
Protected Creative Content. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, adaptation, or use of this original work is prohibited.

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At treasurebox18@yahoo.com - All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include the Site Name And Proper Credit Back To This Blog. Thank-You.

The Green-Eyed Monster - Halloween Lesson - Rated 1-5 -This is a 5-Star Lesson

This is a very important lesson. Jealousy is one of the most powerful and destructive emotions, and the Bible gives us the ultimate "before and after" picture of how it works.

But Every sin Is Wicked and Our Righteousness as Filthy Rags

Here is a complete Sunday School lesson plan for a 3rd–5th grade class, balancing fun, relatable activities with the serious Biblical truth.

 The Green-Eyed Monster - Halloween Lesson

Theme: Overcoming jealousy by choosing God’s way and loving others.Memory Verse: “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” — James 3:16 (KJV) Bible Story: Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:3–8)

Part 1: The Icebreaker — "The Not-So-Fair Game"

Goal: To let kids feel a small, safe taste of frustration and unfairness.

1. Preparation: You need a small, highly desirable prize for every child in the class (e.g., a full-size candy bar, a cool pen, or a squishy toy). You also need some "not-so-fair" prizes (e.g., a single, broken cracker, or a crumpled piece of paper).
   
   
2. The Game: Have the kids line up. Tell them they are going to play a simple game (e.g., "Simon Says" or a coin toss).
   
   
3. The Setup: Rig the game so that the first 3 children you pick win the amazing prize, and everyone else gets the crummy prize.
   
   
4. Observe: Let the reaction happen. The kids who didn't win will likely groan, complain, or look at the winners with obvious frustration.
   
   
5. The Transition: Stop the activity before it gets out of hand. Ask the non-winners, "How did you feel when you saw them getting the big candy bar, and you got a broken cracker? Was it fair?"
   
   
6. Introduce the Topic: "That feeling in your stomach? That anger or sadness because someone else has something better, or is being treated better? That is the seed of a powerful monster called Jealousy. Today, we’re going to see what happens when that monster gets too big."
   
   

Part 2: The Serious Lesson — "The Cain and Abel Story"

Goal: To teach the Biblical example of jealousy, using the exact details requested.

Use visuals! You can use felt board figures, a simple whiteboard drawing, or print out pictures of a farmer with crops and a shepherd with a lamb.

"Turn in your Bibles to Genesis 4. Let’s meet two brothers, Cain and Abel."

1. What They Were Taught (Doing it God's Way):

• The Teacher: "Cain and Abel were full-grown men. But their parents, Adam and Eve, had taught them something very important all their lives. God had shown them that when you bring an offering to Him, it must be a perfect, unblemished sacrifice. It pointed to the future Savior, Jesus. This was God’s Way."
  
  

2. The Choices (The Perfect Lamb vs. The Fruit of His Hands):

• Abel (The Shepherd): "Abel was a shepherd. He followed his parents' teaching. He went to his flock, found his very best, perfect little lamb, and brought it as a sacrifice to God. He did things God’s Way."
  
  
• Cain (The Farmer): "Cain was a farmer. He grew great vegetables and fruit. But instead of listening to what he was taught, Cain decided he knew better. He wanted to give God the 'fruit of his own hands.' He thought, 'Hey, I grew this! This is good enough.' He did things his own way."
  
  

3. The Rejection and The Monster:

• The Result: "God was pleased with Abel and his offering because it was done in faith and obedience. God was not pleased with Cain’s offering. Cain rejected God’s instruction, so God rejected Cain’s gift."
  
  
• The Monster: "Cain didn't think, 'Oh man, I messed up. I need to fix this.' No. The monster of Jealousy woke up inside him. He looked at his brother and thought, 'God loves him more. He is the perfect one. He makes me look bad.' His heart turned sour, angry, and hateful."
  
  

4. The Plan and The Fall:

• The Warning: "God even spoke to Cain! God told him, 'If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. Its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.' God was telling Cain to stop the jealousy before it took over."
  
  
• The Fall: "Cain did not listen. He let jealousy rule him. He made a plan. He invited his brother Abel out into the field, and there, because the jealousy had filled his heart with so much hate, he slew his brother."
  
  

Part 3: Application — "Rules for Fighting the Jealousy Monster"

Goal: To give practical, Biblical steps for handling feelings of envy.

"Jealousy is like a weed. You must pull it out the moment you see it, or it will take over your whole garden. Let’s look at God’s rules for dealing with it."

1. Admit It (The Truth):

• "First, you have to admit you're jealous. Stop saying, 'I just don't like them,' and admit, 'I am jealous of them.' Talk to God about it."
  
  

2. Celebrate Others (The Opposite):

• "This is the secret weapon against jealousy. When someone you are jealous of wins an award, gets a better grade, or gets a new toy, you make yourself say, 'Congratulations! I am happy for you!' Even if you don't feel like it. Praising them breaks the power of the monster."
  
  

3. Thankfulness (The Cure):

• "The reason we get jealous is that we are focusing on what we don't have. Jealousy is cured by thankfulness. Think of three things God has given you that you are grateful for."
  
  

4. Obey God (The Prevention):

• "Cain’s problem started when he decided he didn't want to do what he knew was right. God’s way is always best. When you feel the urge to be unkind, remember God’s rule: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
  
  

Part 4: Craft / Activity — "Squash the Weed"

Goal: A visual reminder to "squash" jealousy immediately.

1. Materials: Green construction paper, white paper, markers, and a heavy rock for each student (or a fly swatter).
   
   
2. The Activity: Give each student a sheet of green paper. Have them draw a big, ugly weed (the "Jealousy Monster") on it.
   
   
3. Personalize It: On the weed, or on a separate piece of paper that they glue to the weed, have them write words like "ANGER," "HATE," "COMPLAINING," "NOT FAIR."
   
   
4. The Action: Have them write one thing they learned to defeat jealousy on the paper (e.g., "SAY CONGRATS," "THANKFULNESS").
   
   
5. Squash It: Instruct the students to place the rock (or hit with the fly swatter) directly onto the weed, "squashing" it completely. This represents them taking control of the emotion instead of letting it control them.
   
   

Conclusion:

"Cain let jealousy control him, and it led to disaster. We cannot let that happen. We have to do things God's way, which is the way of love and obedience. When you feel that monster waking up, squash it immediately with prayer, thankfulness, and praise for others."

====================================================================

   

Here is a fun, interactive puppet skit designed specifically for your KJV Sunday School lesson. It brings your monster to life, gets the kids laughing, and bridges right into the story of Cain and Abel.

Puppet Skit: "The Green-Eyed Monster in the Room"

Characters:

• Teacher (You, holding the puppet)
  
  
• "Envy" (Your soft, three-eyed, green puppet with the moving mouth)
  
  

[Scene Start]

(Teacher walks up to the front of the class holding Envy, but keeps Envy hidden behind their back or turned around so the kids only see the back of the fuzzy head.)

Teacher: "Good morning, class! Today we are talking about a very tricky emotion. It’s something that sneaks into our hearts when we least expect it. In fact, I brought a special guest today who knows a little too much about it..."

(Envy pops up over the podium/desk, blinking its three eyes and wearing a very grumpy, crossed-arms expression. Envy’s moving mouth chomps dramatically.)

Envy:(Grumpily, in a high or raspy funny voice) "Hmph! I don't even want to be here. Tommy got the red crayon I wanted, and Sarah has brand-new shiny shoes, and you didn't give me a juice box, and—"

Teacher:(Gently) "Whoa, hold on there, little guy! Class, look at our friend here. Do we know what his name is? His name is Envy! Look at all those eyes—he spends all his time watching what other people have instead of looking at what God gave him."

Envy:(Pouting, opening and closing its rigid mouth) "Well, it’s not fair! I want what they have! Why should they get the good stuff? It makes me want to just... grrr... stomp my feet!"

Teacher: "Class, has anyone here ever felt like Envy? Have you ever seen someone get a better toy, or praised more, and a weird, ugly feeling pops up in your stomach?"

(Kids respond / raise hands)

Teacher: "That feeling is called jealousy. And you know what? It’s not a new problem. People have been dealing with the jealousy monster since the very beginning of the Bible. Envy, do you know the story of two brothers in the Bible named Cain and Abel?"

Envy:(Tilting its three-eyed head curiously) "Cain and Abel? Weren't they farmers and shepherds?"

Teacher: "That's right! They were full-grown men. And all their lives, their parents, Adam and Eve, taught them God’s way: that when you bring a sacrifice to God, you bring a perfect little lamb, doing it God's way."

Envy:(Nodding) "Oh yeah! Abel listened. He brought the best little lamb from his flock. He did things God's way."

Teacher: "Spot on, Envy. But what about Cain?"

Envy:(Sighing and slumping down) "Cain... well, Cain was a farmer. He grew a bunch of fruit and vegetables. But instead of doing what God taught him, Cain thought, 'Hey, I worked hard for this fruit! I'll give God what I want to give Him instead.' He wanted to do it his own way."

Teacher: "That's right. And when God accepted Abel's gift because it was done in faith and obedience, but rejected Cain's because he refused to follow God's instruction... what happened inside Cain's heart, Envy?"

Envy:(Looking sad and quiet) "The jealousy monster woke up. Big time. Cain looked at his brother and thought, 'God loves him more. It's not fair.' Instead of fixing his own heart, Cain let that jealousy turn into terrible anger. He made a dark plan... and he ended up slaying his own brother in the field."

Teacher: "That is so tragic. Jealousy started as just a little selfish thought in Cain's mind, but because he didn't squash it, it grew into a massive monster that destroyed a family."

Envy:(Shaking its head frantically, eyes wide) "Oh no! I don't want to be like Cain! When I start feeling jealous because someone else has something better, what am I supposed to do? Squash it?!"

Teacher: "You got it, Envy! The Bible tells us in James 3:16 (let the kids help say it if they know it), "For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." God wants us to have pure hearts. Instead of being jealous, we have to practice being thankful for what God gave us, and celebrate when others are blessed."

Envy:(Brightening up, mouth opening into a wide, happy grin) "Okay! I can do that! I choose God's way, not Cain's way! Can I help the kids learn how to beat the jealousy monster today?"

Teacher: "I thought you'd never ask. Say goodbye to the class, Envy!"

Envy:(Waving its little stuffed hands) "Bye, kids! Remember to squash that jealousy monster!"

(Envy ducks down / hides)

[Scene End]

Important Fact:

 Shakespeare actually coined that exact phrase in Othello when he wrote about "the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on." It has been used for hundreds of years because green has always been associated with envy and feeling "sick" with want.

Bringing that up in your lesson is a fantastic connection for the kids!

Here is how you can seamlessly slip that origin into your lesson or skit:

💡 Quick Skit Addition:

Teacher: "Envy, did you know people often call jealousy the 'Green-Eyed Monster'?"

Envy: (Blinking all three eyes and looking down at its green fur) "Hey! I'm green, and I've got three eyes! But wait... I don't want to be that kind of green-eyed monster! I want to be a happy, thankful monster who does things God's way!"

📖 How to Connect It to the KJV Lesson:

You can explain to the kids:

• The World's Term: The world calls jealousy a "Green-Eyed Monster" because when we want what others have, it makes our hearts feel sour, ugly, and sick.
  
  
• The Bible's Term: Proverbs 14:30 in the KJV says, "A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones."
  
  
• The Connection: Long before people called it a green-eyed monster, the Bible warned us that envy acts like "rot" or sickness inside us. Cain let that rot grow until it destroyed his brother, but with God's help, we can keep our hearts pure and thankful!
  
  

It’s such a neat detail that links a famous saying, your cute green puppet Envy, and the Bible scripture together perfectly!

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At treasurebox18@yahoo.com - All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include the Site Name And Proper Credit Back To This Blog. Thank-You.