A Drama For Maundy Thursday

The following drama could be used in a gathering on Maundy Thursday, perhaps during a preservice congregational meal or in conjunction with reading the Scripture lessons during worship.

The story line, a device to employ the dramatic and living aspect of this liturgy of the Word, is formed by a line of children divided into two groups—Chorus One and Chorus Two. The story line forms a circle around the story center. Within the circle will be the story figures. They may be children of the same age, older children, even adults. Simplicity is important. The bodily positions and movements take precedence over production. All participants in the liturgy, if the group is small enough, can be involved in the story line with their responses printed on a song sheet. The content for this dramatic liturgy is based on the three readings for Holy Thursday and incorporates the actual scriptural texts. PART ONE (Within the circle are Moses, Aaron, and Voice of God—a person on a box or standing to one side. The action and props may all be pantomimed. Moses and Aaron are on their knees, hands folded and heads bowed in prayer.) Chorus One: "It is a Passover in honor of Yahweh" (Exod. 12:11). Chorus Two: "This day is to be a day of remembrance for you" (Exod. 12:14). Chorus One: "It is a Passover in honor of Yahweh." But who is Yahweh? And what is Passover? Chorus Two: "This is to be a day of remembrance for you." Let's listen to the story to learn what God wants us to do. Voice of God: "Speak to the whole community of Israel" (Exod. 12:3). "I will go through the land of Egypt and strike down all the first-born in the land of Egypt, man and beast alike, and I shall deal out punishment to all the gods of Egypt, I am Yahweh!" (Exod. 12:12). Moses: (rising, looking heavenward, arms raising to outstretched position) Moses, your servant listens. (bows his head and then instructs) "This is Yahweh's message. ?'Towards midnight I shall pass through Egypt. All the first-born in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first-born of Pharaoh, heir to his throne, to the first-born of the maidservant at the mill and all the first-born of the cattle' " (Exod. 11:4–5). Chorus One: Oh no! Oh, no! Chorus Two: Yahweh is God. Why did God do that? Moses: "And throughout the land of Egypt there shall be such a wailing as never was heard before, nor will be again. But against the sons of Israel, against man or beast, never a dog shall bark" (Exod. 11:6–7). Aaron: (rising now, like Moses) Aaron, your servant, listens. This is Yahweh's message. "On the tenth day of this month each man must take an animal from the flock, one for each family." (steps forward holding a sheep in his arms, instructs) "You must keep it 'till the fourteenth day of the month when the whole assembly of the community of Israel shall slaughter it between the two evenings." (He places the animal upon a table. Now speaking slowly, in deliberate, hushed tones) "Some of the blood must then be taken and put on the two doorposts and the lintel of the house where it is eaten." (He places a mark on the door. Then he joins Moses at a table; both begin eating.) "That night the flesh is to eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs" (Exod. 12:3–8). Moses: (speaking to Aaron) "You shall eat it hastily! It is a Passover in honor of Yahweh" (Exod. 12:11). Voice of God: (low, reassuring voice) "The blood shall serve to mark the houses that you live in. When I see the blood I will pass over you and you shall escape the destroying plague when I strike the land of Egypt" (Exod. 12:13). (Allow a few moments to pass unspoken. Aaron and Moses rise, extend hands outward, speaking to everyone.) Aaron: "This day is to be a day of remembrance for you" (Exod. 12:14). Moses: "It is a Passover in honor of Yahweh" (Exod. 12:11). "For all generations you are to declare it a day of festival forever" (Exod. 12:14). Chorus One and Two: (All join hands and raise their arms high over their heads) "It is a Passover in honor of Yahweh. This day is to be a day of remembrance for you." PART TWO (The story line opens and story figures leave. A song such as "This Is the Day" may be sung while the circle rotates slowly. The figures of Jesus and The Twelve enter the circle and sit at a table, apparently eating a meal.) Chorus One: Jesus was a Jew. Was it a Passover festival he knew? Chorus Two: If he knew the law, what offering would he give? Chorus One: The Passover was a meal. A gift of himself as the sacrifice would make it real. Jesus: (He takes some bread, thanks God for it, and breaks it. As he says the words, he looks at each and every one of the Twelve.) "This is my body which is for you. Do this as memorial of me" (1 Cor. 11:24). (He passes the bread to each of the Twelve. They respond, saying "thank you," looking at one another questioningly, or with heads bowed prayerfully—some of each.) Chorus One: He celebrates the Passover. He gives bread to each and every one. Chorus Two: That is the mark. What will be the plague that is to come? Jesus: (He pushes the plate away, indicating the end of the meal. He takes the cup and raises it, again looking at each of his friends.) "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this as memorial of me" (1 Cor. 11:25). The Twelve: (in unison, speaking to everyone) "Until the Lord comes, therefore, every time you eat the bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming his death" (1 Cor. 11:26). PART THREE (The story line joins hands and rotates once silently saying:) Chorus One: "They were at supper" (John 13:2). Chorus Two: "It was before the festival of the Passover" (John 13:1). Jesus: (He gets us from the table, removes his outer garment, and takes a towel and wraps it around his waist. He then pours water into a basin and begins to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel he is wearing.) (John 13:4–5) (The Twelve react with loving gestures, bend forward, hands on Jesus' shoulders.) Peter: (one of the Twelve) "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" (John 13:6). Jesus: "At the moment you do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand" (John 13:7). Peter: "Never! You shall never wash my feet" (John 13:8). Jesus: "If I do not wash you, you can have nothing in common with me" (John 13:8). Peter: "Then Lord, not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!" (John 13:9). Jesus: "No one who has taken a bath needs washing, he is clean all over. You, too, (he looks at some of the others) are clean, though not all of you are." (One of the Twelve looks to the ground) (John 13:10.) (Jesus returns to the table and puts on his clothes again.) Jesus: "Do you understand what I have done to you?" (John 13:12). The Twelve: (Some nod yes; some nod at each other; some raise their shoulders questioningly.) Jesus: "You shall call me Master and Lord, and rightly; so I am" (John 13:13). Chorus One: Master and Lord! Chorus Two: The sacrifice of this Passover meal. The sacrifice is real—Master and Lord, the sacrifice is real.