DRAMA—SERIES A—PALM/PASSION SUNDAY
Note: This document contains two dramas, one for the Palm Sunday theme and one for the Passion Sunday theme
Palm Sunday
Bible reference: Matthew 21:1–11
LOOK, HE’S COMING!
Characters: 4 readers, and one interjector
(Readers Theatre. Readers 1 to 4 enter and stand in a line across the stage area. They are dressed very similarly. 5 is an interjector who could be seated in the audience, or come from off stage. 5 should be dressed differently to the others and does not read his/her part)
1 & 2:
|
Hosanna to the Son of David!
|
3 & 4:
|
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
|
ALL:
|
Hosanna in the highest!
|
1:
|
(Pointing) Look, he’s coming!
|
5:
|
(Enters) Who’s coming? (During the next lines 5 moves to stand in the centre between 2 & 3)
|
3:
|
(Pointing) Over there.
|
4:
|
He’s riding on a donkey.
|
1 to 4:
|
(Giving 5 looks that says ‘How could you not know?’) He’s the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee!
|
1 & 2:
|
Lay down your cloaks.
|
3 & 4:
|
Prepare the way for him.
|
1 & 2:
|
Wave your palm branches.
|
ALL:
|
(Except 5 who looks a bit overwhelmed) Shout hosanna, Jesus has come!
|
(All look at 5)
1 & 2:
|
Hosanna to the Son of David!
|
3 & 4:
|
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
|
ALL:
|
(5 joins in tentatively) Hosanna in the highest!
|
1 to 4:
|
(Giving 5 looks that say ‘How could you not know?’) He’s our Saviour, the Son of God!
|
1 & 2:
|
Lay down your sins and burdens.
|
3 & 4:
|
Prepare the way for him.
|
1 & 2:
|
Open your hearts to him.
|
ALL:
|
(5 joins in) Shout hosanna, Jesus is here!
|
(All look at 5)
5:
|
(With enthusiasm) Hosanna!
|
1 & 2:
|
Hosanna to the Son of David!
|
3 & 4:
|
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
|
ALL:
|
(5 joins in) Hosanna in the highest!
|
(Optional: The readers theatre could end here or continue on to include the next section)
3:
|
He’s coming back again!
|
4:
|
He’s coming back in glory.
|
1 to 4:
|
(Giving 5 looks that say ‘How could you not know?’) We don’t know when!
|
1 to 4: But we wait in hope.
3 & 4:
|
Preparing the way for him.
|
3 & 4:
|
Giving him praise.
|
ALL:
|
(5 joins in) Shout hosanna, Jesus is coming!
|
1 & 2:
|
Hosanna to the Son of David!
|
3 & 4:
|
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
|
ALL:
|
(5 joins in) Hosanna in the highest!
|
© Verena Johnson 1998
Permission is given for the owner of this disk to make sufficient copies of this script for their group or congregation, for rehearsal and performance purposes only.
Passion Sunday
Bible reference: Matthew 26:47–56
THE SIGNAL
Characters: Narrator and two angels.
The angels should be in some sort of ‘angelic’ costume. They could be standing on something to raise them a little higher. They look downwards when they are watching what is happening. This play could also be done using the angels’ voices only as people mime the story.
NARRATOR:
|
There were two angels on guard duty that night. (The angels enter and take up their positions) They had been given strict instructions to keep a close watch on the Gethsemane situation. Reports had been coming in for some time of increased activity in the enemy camp. The legions had been put on full alert, and all leave was cancelled. The general feeling among the angels was that they might be needed that night.
|
ANGEL 1:
|
Did you hear the medical officer’s report? He just checked in from Gethsemane. He was with Him for a while. He reckons He was really sweating blood. He can’t be thinking of going through with it, surely.
|
ANGEL 2:
|
Look, why don’t a few of us just slip down right now and rescue Him, before Judas gets there with the soldiers. The Father would have to find some other way to save His crummy world then.
|
ANGEL 1:
|
No, that’s one thing you’ve still got to learn. A good angel always waits for orders from the Chief. He’ll call if He wants us. All you’ve got to do right now is keep you eyes peeled for a signal. One sign from Him, if He even raises His little finger in our direction—just one word, and we’ll get down there fast.
|
ANGEL 2:
|
Some of the angels who are close to Him reckon there won’t be any signal. Knowing Him, I wouldn’t be surprise. It could well be that we’ll be just standing here helplessly watching Him go.
|
ANGEL 1:
|
Could well be. He could have pulled out ages ago. But we’d better watch for the signal, just in case He finds it’s going to be too tough.
|
ANGEL 2:
|
(Looking downwards) Well, if He’s going to signal, He’d better do it quick smart! Look! (Pointing, angel 1 looks) There by the gate! Judas and the mob! Man, that Judas is a nasty piece of work! Sold Him out, right down the drain! A kiss?? Yuk! How low can you get? That’s his signal, I suppose. But where’s ours? Tell you what, when the signal does come, I’ll take Judas! I’ve got him lined up in my sights right now. (Lines him up in his sights) It’d be so easy. Just a sign, Lord, please.
|
ANGEL 1:
|
Hey, they’ve grabbed Him. They’re tying Him up. (Yells downwards) Quick Lord, now! The signal! For God’s sake, give us the signal. Twelve legions of the Father’s best will make short work of that crew!
|
ANGEL 2:
|
Just take a look at that Peter, will you! What’s he think he’s trying to do—waving his little sword around! (Waves imaginary sword around) Playing the big brave disciple now! Go back to sleep Peter. Leave it to us. This is angels’ work.
|
ANGEL 1:
|
It’s coming! It’s coming! Did you hear? ‘Put that sword back into its place!.’ That’s it, Lord. Who wants swords when you can call on angels. (Getting carried away) This is it! Call the legions out! Battle stations! The signal’s coming.
|
ANGEL 2:
|
Shhhh! Listen! (Both listen) ‘ÔDo you think that I cannot appeal to my Father and He will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?’ Yes, yes, go on. Appeal! The sign! We’re coming, Lord! Hold on! They won’t know what hit them. (Goes to leave)
|
ANGEL 1:
|
(Grabs angel 2) Whoops! Hold it! He hasn’t given the signal yet. ‘But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?’ What’s He saying, IT MUST BE SO! Oh no! He’s going to let them take Him; He wants it that way! (Looks shocked)
|
ANGEL 2:
|
(Sadly) So there’s not going to be a signal. No sign. No swords. No disciples. No angels. That’s the way it’s going to be. He’s going to die. On a cross. For them. He’ll fight the battle Himself — not with swords or angels — but with His love, with His own life.
|
ANGEL 1:
|
Look, call everyone out, anyway. This they’ve got to watch! They’ll never see anything like this again. We talk and sing about His love for His world. Now we’re going to see what it’s all about.
|
ANGEL 2:
|
(Looking down) I only hope those no-hopers down there realise. Do they know what would have happened if He had given the signal? Will they ever see why He didn’t call us down?
|
NARRATOR:
|
So the angel legions lined up and stood quietly to attention. And as they watched, one of them softly said:
|
ANGEL 1:
|
Do you remember when He left us and we all went down to Bethlehem to sing for Him? Why don’t we sing now? For Him.
|
NARRATOR:
|
So they sang their favourite chorus: ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased’. But who was listening this time?
|
© Dave Strelan 1980
Permission is given for the owner of this disk to make sufficient copies of this script for their group or congregation, for rehearsal and performance purposes only.
|