The communion table is set with filled communion cups, empty chalice, juice-filled pitcher, three plates with pieces of matzoh.

Pouring of the Baptismal Water: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

Entry into Jerusalem Matthew 21:1-11
The children are called to the front of the sanctuary and invited to pretend they are in Jerusalem for Passover. Passover is the festival of freedom from slavery in Egypt. We aren't free! The Romans are ruling our country. Are we happy? "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 from the kids. I've heard that Jesus of Nazareth is God's new king. I hear he's coming to town! Cheering from the kids. I think I see him coming. Go look! (a child is sent to the door at the back of the sanctuary to see if Jesus is coming) He is! The children welcome Jesus into Jerusalem with the song "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" and a "palms" parade. .

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus Matthew 26:14-16
Judas goes to the chief priests and asks how much they wil l pay him to hand Jesus over. They give him thirty pieces of silver.

The Last Supper Matthew 26:17-30
The disciples ask Jesus, "Where do you want us to make preparations for the Passover?" Jesus tells them to "go to a certain man's house" and tell him "The teacher says, I will keep Passover at your house" and "My time is near."

The words of institution are told within the context of the story of Jesus and his friends eating one last Passover together. Jesus has longed to eat this meal with them, and now he will not drink the wine again until the Banquet in God's kingdom. This is why, when we celebrate communion, we are looking backwards to this meal that Jesus celebrated with his friends, but we are also looking forward to God's coming kingdom. Jim and Eileen had the children matzoh and grape juice, and the whole congregation is served by elders.

Jesus Foretells His Betrayal and the Denial of Peter Matthew 26:31-35
Jesus knows that all of his friends will betray him tonight (thus fulfilling prophecy). "It is hard but important to tell them." Jesus tells his disciples that they are going to feel like their world has fallen apart, and they will blame him. Peter says he would never desert Jesus, that he will never be ashamed of Jesus. Jesus says that this very night Peter will deny him three times. Peter says he would be willing to die with Jesus. All the other disciples agree.

Jesus Shows His Friends How They Must Live John 13:1-20
Have the children remove their shoes and socks. Jim and Eileen wash the children's feet. Eileen talks about 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?), how Jesus tells his friends this is a matter of discipleship, showing that they really are his followers. They will understand better later that he has done this as an example for them, so that they can imitate him in loving each other, loving people who are not lovable. After the foot washing, as the children put their shoes and socks back on, Jesus Jim quietly leaves the sanctuary.

Jesus Prayes in Gethsemane Matthew 26:36-46
Jesus and his friends go to the garden to pray, taking three of them further into the garden with him. Jesus is lonely, sad, frightened, upset about what he knows God is asking him to do. He tells his friends that he is grieved to death and asks them to stay awake with him. He throws himself on the ground and prays "Daddy-Father God-you can get me out of this, take this cup away from me. But not what I want, what you want." When Jesus goes back, he discovers Peter asleep and tells him to pray to not be put to the test. Jesus goes to pray again, saying "Not what I want, what you want." He returns to find his friends still asleep, their eyes are so heavy. He prays again ("Your will be done") and returns to wake the disciples to tell them his betrayer is at hand.

The Arrest Matthew 26:47-56
A gang of ruffians have come to arrest Jesus-the temple police, the scholars, the swords and clubs. Judas has arranged to kiss the one they are supposed to arrest, so he kisses Jesus saying, "Hello teacher!" Jesus tells him, "Friend, do what you are here to do." A scuffle takes place, one soldier's ear is cut off. Jesus chides them, says "the sword is not the way to live" and that he could stop all of this by asking God to send twelve legions of angels to protect him. But scripture wouldn't be fulfilled them. He chides the police for coming with ruffians to a secret place, when he had been out in public in the temple. Jesus is hauled off and his disciples desert him and run away.

Denial Matthew 26:57-75
Jesus is taken to the High Priest's house. The priests are enemies of Jesus because they are afraid of him and how popular he is with the people. They are looking for false witnesses against him, but the lies don't agree, until finally someone says Jesus claimed to be able to tear down the temple and build it up again in three days. The priest asks Jesus if this is true, but Jesus doesn't answer. They ask him pointblank, "Are you the Messiah?" He replies, "You've said so" and calls himself the Son of Man. Blasphemy! All call for his death. They are shocked and spit at him, slap him, ridicule him. Peter is hanging out to "see how this would end," when someone recognizes him and asks if he knows Jesus. Peter says no. Another maid thinks she knows Peter has been hanging around with Jesus, but he says he doesn't know the man. Peter is asked the third time if he knows Jesus. He swears and says no, the rooster crows. Peter goes away and weeps bitterly.

Jesus Before Pilate Matthew 27:1-2, 11-14
Jesus is taken to Pilate, the Roman governor, because only the government can order someone to be killed. Pilate asks if Jesus is king of the Jews, Jesus replies, "You say so." Pilate finds no reason to kill him.

Jesus is Sentenced to Death Matthew 27:15-26
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. Children and congregation incited to murmur the name of Barabbas. Pilate doesn't think Jesus is getting a fair trial, tries to let Jesus go, the crowd is determined to ask for Barabbas. Pilate's wife warns him to have nothing to do with this man and he tries to let him go, but the crowd starts to yell "Crucify him!" Pilate is scared of riots in the streets. He agrees to crucify Jesus and washes his hands to show he doesn't want to accept the blame. He has Jesus beaten.
[Jim silently carries the cross into the sanctuary and sets it down and leaves.]

Jesus is Mocked Matthew 27:27-32
The soldiers lead Jesus away to hit him, make fun of him, dress him in mock king robes, put a crown of sharp thorns on his head. They pretend to bow down to him, whip him, punch him, spit at him, then lead him away to be crucified. A man named Simon of Cyrene is forced to help Jesus by carrying his cross part of the way.

The Crucifixion Matthew 27:33-44
Jesus is nailed to the cross. He refuses a drug. The crowds see what is happening to Jesus and they laugh at him and make fun of him (he saved others, but he can't save himself; he said he could destroy the temple and re-build it in three days; come down from the cross and we will believe you; the sign on the cross saying "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews"). Even the thieves crucified with him mock him. If this is happening to Jesus, he can't be the Messiah at all.
[Give each child a nail as this is being told.]

The Death of Jesus Matthew 27:45-54
Even though it's the middle of the day, the sky becomes very dark. It stays dark for three hours. Jesus says, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" People in the crowd wonder what this means. They offer Jesus sour wine and ridi cule him. He cries out again and dies. The temple curtain rips, the earth quakes. A soldier says, "Truly this was God's Son!"

Jesus is Buried Matthew 27:55-60
Some of the women who followed Jesus were standing by watching. A rich man, Joseph of Arimathea, also one of Jesus' friends, goes to Pilate and asks to be able to bury Jesus. He takes Jesus' body, wraps it in clean cloths, puts it into his own new tomb, and rolls a huge stone across the opening.

Scripture Reading Philippians 2:5-11

 

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