Passion/Palm Sunday Script - March 20, 2005
Matthew 21:1-11, Matthew 26:14-27:66; Philippians 2:5-11
Eileen Parfrey, Pastor - Springwater Presbyterian Church

This is the script (outline format) used by the pastor in telling the story of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem and his passion. The children are invited to the front of the church to experience the story, pretending that they are living in the time and place of Jesus.

Entry into Jerusalem Matthew 21:1-11
Passover is the festival of freedom from slavery in Egypt. We aren't free! The Romans are ruling our country. Are we happy? Rabble-rousers shout, "No!" What do we want? "Freedom!" When do we want it? "Now!" I've heard that God is sending us a new king--a Messiah--to set us free! Cheering. I've heard that Jesus of Nazareth is God's new king. His disciples have found a poor donkey to ride, but they're using that to make a parade for Jesus to come into town. Cheering. I think I see him coming. Go look! "Jesus" is waiting at the back door. He is! Singing "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" with a "palms" parade. Everyone in town wonders who this is, the prophet, Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus Matthew 26:1-5, 14-16
Jesus has been telling his disciples he is going to die. He even tells them when this will happen. They don't understand.
Jealous religious authorities decide to arrest Jesus and have him put him to death.
Judas goes to them, volunteers to betray Jesus, asks what they will pay him, so they give him 30 pieces of silver (the value of an injured slave). The sound of coins clinking

The Passover and The Lord's Supper Matthew 26:17-30
The disciples wonder where to celebrate the Passover, and Jesus tells them to find a man and say, "The Teacher says, 'my time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house.'" So they get the meal ready.
As they eat, Jesus warns that one of them will betray him. All of them worry, "Not me!"
Jesus says the one who puts his hand into the bowl with him is the betrayer, that his death is predicted, but woe to the one to betrays. Judas says, "Surely not I!" and Jesus replies, "You have said so."

While they are eating, Jesus takes the bread, breaks it and says, "Take, eat; this is my body." Then he pours a cup, giving thanks, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." "Jesus" will distribute the matzoh and the grape juice to the children. Elders will distribute the elements to the congregation.

Jesus Shows His Friends How They Must Live John 13:1-20
Have the children remove their shoes and socks. "Jesus" and Eileen wash the children's feet, asking each one if they want their feet washed.
How it feels to have someone do this for you, asking who is most likely to be washing your feet for you (parents? president? teachers? nurses? principal?). Jesus tells his friends that they might not understand now what this foot washing means, but that they will later.
Then he says that he is their Lord and Teacher, setting them an example. The example is to show love to one another. When they receive each other, they are also receiving him and the One who sent him. After the foot washing, "Jesus" quietly leaves the sanctuary.

Jesus Foretells His Betrayal and the Denial of Peter Matthew 26:31-35
Jesus knows that every one of his friends will desert him, but he will go ahead of them into Galilee.
Peter says he would never desert Jesus.
Jesus says that before the rooster crows, this very day, Peter will deny him three times.
Peter says he would go to death with Jesus, and the others agree.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane Matthew 26:36-46
Jesus and his friends go to the garden to pray. He leaves most of them in one place, but goes aside with Peter, James, John. He is very agitated and grieved, tells them to "stay awake."
He goes off and throws himself on the ground, asking his Father, if possible, to let this not happen-"let this cup pass from me; but not what I want, what you want."
He returns and finds his friends sleeping, says to Peter, "Couldn't you stay awake one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak."
He goes away again and prays, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done."
Again he returns to find his friends sleeping. Their eyes were heavy.
He goes away a third time, prays the same thing again.
He returns and says to his disciples, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? The hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up. My betrayer has come."

The Arrest Matthew 26:47-56
Suddenly, an armed crowd appears, led by Judas.
Judas had arranged that a kiss would be the sign of the one to arrest, so he greets Jesus and kisses him.
Jesus says, "Friend, do what you are here to do."
Confusion erupts, one soldier's ear is cut off. Jesus says to put the swords away because "all those who take the sword will perish by it." Besides, he says, he could appeal to his Father and he would send an army of angels to save him, but the way things are going is how scripture will be fulfilled.
Jesus chides the crowd for coming with weapons when they could have picked him up at the temple any day, but this is how the prophets are fulfilled.
His disciples desert him.

Denial Matthew 26:57-75
Jesus is hauled off to the high priest's house, the headquarters of the conspiracy against him. Peter follows at a distance.
The religious authorities try to find liars to bring evidence against Jesus, so they can have him put to death. Finally, two people come forward to say that Jesus said he'd tear down the temple and build it up in three days.
The religious authorities demand to know if Jesus thinks he's the Messiah. They put him under oath to admit he's the Son of God. Jesus says "You have said so" and quotes Bible verses about the Messiah.
The high priest thinks Jesus has blasphemed, tears his clothes, and asks for a death sentence.
Soldiers spit on Jesus, hit him and ask him to "prophesy" who did it.
Peter has been sitting in the courtyard. Someone says to him, "You were with him!" Peter denies it, saying "I don't know what you're talking about."
Another servant says, "I saw you with him." Peter swears and says, "I don't know the man."
Again, a bystander comes to him and says, "You have the same accent as Jesus. You must be one of them." Peter curses, denies it, and the rooster crows. Then Peter remembers Jesus had said he would deny him, and he goes out weeping bitterly.

Jesus Before Pilate Matthew 27:1-2, 11-19
Jesus is taken by the religious authorities to Pilate, the Roman governor, because only the government can order someone to be killed.
The religious authorities lie, saying that Jesus has been trying to get people to make him king.
Pilate asks Jesus if he is king of the Jews, Jesus says, "You say so," and then does not respond more.
Pilate thinks Jesus is accused because of the jealousy of the religious authorities, and finds no reason to kill him. His wife warns him to have nothing to do with Jesus because of a dream she had.

Jesus is Sentenced to Death Matthew 27:20-26
The Romans used to set free a prisoner every Passover to keep the people in Jerusalem quiet. A crowd has gathered, ready to ask for the release of Barabbas, a famous terrorist. Pilate asks the crowd who they'd like to have released; he says Jesus is innocent. Murmur the name of Barabbas.
Pilate, sensing a riot about to happen, washes his hands of Jesus, then he asks the crowd what to do with Jesus. They cry "Crucify him!" Pilate releases Barabbas, flogs Jesus and sentences him to be crucified.

Jesus is Led Away Matthew 27:27-34
The governor's soldiers make fun of Jesus, stripping off his clothes and putting on a scarlet robe and crown of thorns. Pass the crown of thorns to the children. They pretend to honor him as "King of the Jews," and spit on him and strike him.
"Jesus" silently carries the cross into the sanctuary, sets it down and leaves.
Then they lead Jesus away to be crucified. A man named Simon of Cyrene is forced to help Jesus by carrying his cross part of the way to the place called The Skull.

The Crucifixion Matthew 27:35-44
Jesus is nailed to the cross. Hammering sound. Soldiers gamble for his clothes and nail a sign over his head, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." Two bandits are being crucified with him. People walk by and laugh at Jesus. "You thought you could tear down and build the temple, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down off the cross." The religious authorities mock him, "He saved others, but he can't even save himself! King of Israel! Come down off the cross, then we'll believe you! Trust in God! Let God deliver him, if he's really God's son!" Even the thieves make fun of him.

The Death of Jesus Matthew 27:45-56
If this is happening to Jesus, he can't be the Messiah, can he? Even though it's the middle of the day, the sky becomes very dark and stays dark for three hours. Jesus cries out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" The crowd thinks he's calling for the prophet Elijah.
Give each child a nail as this is being told.
Jesus cries out again, and as he takes his last breath, the curtain of the temple is torn in two. Tearing sound. The earth quakes, rocks are split open, and one of the soldiers says, "Truly this man was God's Son." The women who had followed Jesus wept as they watched.

Jesus is Buried Matthew 27:57-66
A rich man, Joseph of Arimathea, one of Jesus' friends, goes to Pilate and asks to be able to bury Jesus. Pilate agrees, so Joseph takes Jesus' body, wraps it in clean cloths, puts it into a tomb, and rolls a huge stone across the opening. The women sit beside the tomb.
The religious authorities go to the governor and ask for guards to be put outside the tomb.

Scripture Reading Philippians 2:5-11
Without comment, read the scripture and close the Bible.

Sending Hymn: Congregation sings "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded." As worshipers leave to go to the fellowship hall, each receives a nail. No benediction, no comment, no postlude.