This service transports the worshiper into the dramatic unfolding of Christ’s suffering and death from the perspectives of those who witnessed these events firsthand. As flawed humans, we each can relate in some way to these characters. In our church, people were deeply moved by the vulnerability of these historical figures.
A director helped with casting and with guiding each reader into becoming the person they were portraying. The musical selections reflect and bridge the readings well.
Setting
The stage should be austere, and lights should be dimmed. Songs can be accompanied simply by piano. Song lyrics and Scripture readings can be projected or printed. The congregation can remain seated throughout. Characters should sit on chairs in a slight semicircle in random order on the stage and approach the lectern for their individual readings. All should enter together and leave together at the end of the service.
Cast of characters
[All cast members should wear dark colors.]
- Judas
- Peter
- Pilate
- Centurion
- Mary
- Criminal
- Scripture reader
Opening of Worship
Prayer
Lord, today we commemorate your death. We remember that you willingly laid down your life so that we could have new life. Move among us in this hour as we reflect on your suffering and dying for our sake. Amen.
Song: “Once Again” Redman [slowly and prayerfully]
Scripture and Dramatic Readings
Luke 22:1–6
Judas: When I first joined Jesus and the other disciples, it was exciting. The crowds were following, hanging on every word Jesus spoke. He did such incredible things: healings, casting out demons, feeding huge crowds with just a small lunch, even raising the dead! It was amazing! But slowly things have changed. Oh, Jesus still demonstrates his power, but for me it’s getting old. And lately there’s a lot of grumbling and plotting among the Jewish rulers and teachers. Jesus is stealing their thunder. It’s getting a bit scary. Maybe it’s time for me to bail. Maybe I can help the “establishment” capture the Master—for a fee, of course, because I’ll need to devise a plan to carry on with the rest of my life. I’ll need something to sustain me until I figure it out.
Instrumental: “Kyrie Eleison” Reindorf[Play once, then quietly repeat through the next reading.]
Mark 14:17–26
Song: “As He Gathered at His Table”(st. 1, 3–5) Richardson
Mark 14:27–31
Peter: Impossible! Since the day Jesus miraculously filled our fishing nets to the point of breaking and then invited me to follow him, I’ve never looked back. He is the One, the Messiah! I could never denounce him! He is everything! I would die before I would deny being one of his chosen. I’m blessed and proud to be in his circle. How can he say that I will deny him? Never!
Mark 14:32–42
Peter: We had the evening meal and walked to Gethsemane. Jesus asked us to stay while he walked a bit further into the olive grove. We were to watch and pray with him. I did pray, but after a while my eyes got heavy, and I just didn’t have the strength to stay awake. Jesus came back three times and found us asleep every time. I didn’t know what to say. Jesus was in deep distress; in fact, I noticed droplets of sweat dripping off his skin like blood from a wound. And there we were, sleeping like there was nothing to worry about. I’m so ashamed of my weakness.
John 18:3–12
Judas: It was time. The priest gave me a contingent of Roman soldiers and slaves to arrest Jesus. I greeted and kissed him, the signal that he is the one. Then Peter, who always overreacts to everything, pulled out his sword, and I thought, “This is it. Jesus is going to end this quickly. It’s his time to fight.” For a moment I wished he would. After all, it’s what we had been waiting for all along—for him to overthrow our Roman oppressors. I held my breath and watched Jesus’ face, looking for evidence that my betrayal might have pushed him to finally make something happen—but no. Peter sliced the ear of a servant clean off the side of his head! But Jesus didn’t join the fight. He scolded Peter, picked up the ear, and put it back on completely healing this young man who’s come to help arrest him! [pause] I wonder what I would have done if Jesus had fought.
Song: “Go to Dark Gethsemane”(st. 1–2) Montgomery
John 18:13–18, 25–27
Peter: Foolish, foolish wretch that I am! He told me! I am so arrogant! I was so sure that I would never let Jesus down. Now look at me: Fear has made me a coward. I have no excuse. Oh, if only I could fall on my knees before him and beg for mercy! But he’s too far away. [pause] It’s too late. I am undone.
Mark 15:1–15
Pilate: What troublesome people the Jews are! Annas and Caiaphas couldn’t make any charges stick, so they put this mess on me. Well, I wash my hands of it even though that doesn’t sit well with me. This man Jesus is like no one I have ever met—so dignified, so calm, so articulate when he actually speaks. He’s clearly done nothing wrong, so I keep trying to find a way to release him, but the mob will have nothing to do with it. They want that scoundrel Barabbas set free instead of Jesus. It’s wrong—unjust—and I know it. But my hands are tied. Political decisions can be like that. At any rate, I don’t want to deal with an uprising of these troublesome people!
Matthew 27:27–30
Centurion: Sometimes being a soldier is really boring. No action. Today, though, there was an opportunity for a bit of entertainment. We took this Jesus to our headquarters and called everybody in for a bit of fun. This guy was unbelievable! He just stood there and took it, the mocking and name calling, the razor-sharp thorns we pushed into his skull, the spitting in his face—all of it. But it wasn’t as much fun as I thought it would be. We didn’t get enough of a reaction. It just felt like all our ridicule withered the moment it reached him.
Song: “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” (st. 1–3) attr. Arnulf
Luke 23:26–27
Mary: Jesus had warned us that he must die. We knew it, but it’s so hard to understand—and even harder to watch. But we couldn’t turn away. He is our Master, the one on whom we hang all our hopes and dreams. He is our Lord, our precious Rabbi! How could we not follow until the end? But how heavy our hearts were within us. Our grief built with every step. We followed behind our Lord, who is gentle and kind, tender and loving, the essence of everything good—the essence of God. My heart is wracked with pain—as though someone has taken hold of it and is squeezing the life from it.
Song: “The Servant King” (st. 1–3) Kendrick
Instrumental: “Jesus, Remember Me” Berthier [Repeat quietly during the next two readings.]
Luke 23:32–43
Criminal: [Spoken clearly, but with pauses to indicate difficulty in speaking and breathing:] I hang beside him as the soldiers and the rabble yell insults and mock him. Somehow I know he’s an innocent man. I am so far from who he is. I know my guilt, which seems magnified as I hang beside him. I can’t believe the sinner hanging on the other side has been mocking him. What nerve! I defend this Jesus, whom the soldiers identified as King of the Jews. Then I ask him to remember me when God takes him to heaven. And right there, he promises me a place with him in paradise—not in some distant future, but today! That’s what he said! To me! At that moment I experienced love as never before.
Luke 23:44–49
Centurion: I’m trying to shake off the discomfort of what we’d done to him at headquarters. While he hung on the cross, we rolled some dice to pass the time, and we divided up the criminals’ garments. We were going to tear and share his, but since there was no seam, I suggested we roll the dice for it. And miracle of miracles, I won! I became intrigued by this man. I started to watch him and saw his mouth move, so I listened closely. I heard him say, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Was he talking about us? About me? Then suddenly, right in the middle of the day, the sun disappeared, and the sky went pitch black! This was when the “King of the Jews” gave a shout and surrendered his spirit to God—at least I think that’s what he did.
Special Music: “Were You There?” (st. 1–2) Spiritual
Centurion: Right after that, an earthquake shook the ground. People started to leave, but I just stood there with the dead man’s robe in my hands. My heart began to swell, and I fell to my knees before this innocent man. Then I did something I’ve never done before: I started to praise God. Something mysterious, something wonderful, something awesome had just happened.
Song: “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” (st. 1–4) Watts
Matthew 27:57–61
Mary: Our eyes are red with weeping, our bodies exhausted by the trauma of today. We stayed with Jesus’ body. Then a member of the Jewish council named Joseph—a good man—received permission to bury the body. We watched as Joseph carefully wrapped the body in a linen cloth, took it to Joseph’s own new tomb, and laid the body inside. We saw workers seal the tomb with a stone, and soldiers are still guarding it. The priests and Pharisees asked Pilate for this extra security because they had heard Jesus say that he would rise to life in three days. They want to be sure no one will steal Jesus’ body and claim he is risen from the dead. Who other than these suspicious and unbelieving religious leaders would believe anyone would do that? [sigh] There is no more time today to anoint Jesus’ body for burial. The sun is beginning to set, and Shabbat is beginning. For now, we’ll go home in sorrow and wait.
Special music: “Were You There?” (st. 3) Spiritual
After readers exit, the congregation leaves in silence.