Man of Sorrows: The Last Supper

Transcription

1 Man of Sorrows: The Last Supper Compiled by L. Ruth Carter This is a simple program for people who are unable to hold rehearsals for a major production. The program is built on scripture reading and the traditional hymn, Man of Sorrows by Philip B. Bliss. It may be done as is, or special musical and/or dramatic numbers may be added where I've indicated. I will suggest hymns as examples of mood and message, but you may replace them with hymns that would suit your congregation better. My suggestions of music are the songs we used at my church when we did this, based on the abilities, preferences and repertoires of our singers. Because ours is a small rural church, we had the readers sitting in the body of the congregation. They stood and read their scriptures from where they sat. If you have a platform that will accommodate several people, you could have them seated there. This would be good if you have to use a microphone. One of the things that could detract from this program would be a constant flow of people up and down from the pews. The less of that kind of rustle the better. A note about Bible translations: I am adapting the text of the KJV for this script so that I do not violate the copyrights of any of the modern translations. However, while I love the poetry of the KJV and respect it as an accurate translation, I do not like to use it for a program such as this, because, as a communicator, I like to use the language of the people. Several of our more recent translators have taken great pains to make sure that their translations read aloud well, as well as maintaining an integrity to the text. Read through several translations and paraphrases to find what will work best for you. You might even want to use different versions for different passages! While I tend to use the New Living Translation the most, I also recommend the New Century Version, the Contemporary English Version and Eugene Peterson's The Message. Somebody will have to take the time to make a new script from this, using the version(s) of your choice, but if they use one of the many excellent Bible software programs available, it shouldn't take long! This is a program for Maundy Thursday or Good Friday. It plays out the "Last Supper" as it happened on that Thursday evening. The text is the account of the Last Supper as recorded by John, with a couple of excerpts from the Synoptic Gospels. There are a number of different ways this can be presented. The simplest would be a Readers' Theatre. Or it can be done as a play. The readers will memorize their parts and act out the story, such as the washing of the feet. As the scripture is spoken, every now and then there will be a musical interlude. The hymn "Man of Sorrows, What a Name" will look towards the sacrifice of the cross. The music can be sung by a choir or by the congregation. I will give the scriptures and how they line up with the hymn. With the first scripture portion, I will show how it can be scripted as an example. Page1

2 The program can be made longer by adding the entire upper room discourse found in John and more music. Man of Sorrows, vs. 1--congregation "Man of Sorrows", what a name For the Son of God who came Ruined sinners to reclaim! Hallelujah! What a Savior! John 13: The foot washing. Before the feast of the Passover Jesus knew that his hour had come when he should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He rose from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel which he wore. Then he came to Simon Peter: and Peter said to him, Lord, do you wash my feet? You don't know yet what I do; but you will later on. You will never wash my feet. If I do not wash you, you can have no part with me. Lord, don't wash my feet only, but my hands and my head also. He that is washed needs only to wash his feet, for he is clean: and you are clean, but not all of you are clean. For he knew who should betray him; therefore he said, You are not all clean. Man of Sorrows, verse 2 Bearing shame and scoffing rude, In my place condemned He stood; Sealed my pardon with His blood; Hallelujah! What a Savior! Matt 26: When Jesus tells the disciples one of them will betray him. Now when evening had come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they ate, he said, Page2

3 Verily I say to you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful. DISCIPLES: Lord, is it I? The one who dips his hand with me in the dish is the one who shall betray me. The Son of man goes as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it would be better for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, JUDAS: Master, is it I? You have said. John 13: When John asks who will be the betrayer. Now leaning on Jesus' bosom was one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spoke. He lying on Jesus' breast said to him, JOHN: Lord, who is it? He is the one to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, What you do, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew why he said this to him. For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said to him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night. John 13: The new commandment. Jesus predicts Peter's denial. Therefore, when Judas had gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall Page3

4 straightway glorify him. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Where I go, you cannot come; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another. Simon Peter said unto him, afterwards. Lord, where do you go? Whither I go, you cannot not follow me now; but you shall follow me Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for your sake. Will you lay down your life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say to you, The cock shall not crow, till you have denied me three times. John 14: Words of comfort and promise. Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know. Thomas said unto him, THOMAS: Lord, we do not know where you go; how can we know the way? I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one comes to the Father, but by me. If you had known me, you should have known my Father also: and from now on you know him, and have seen him. Philip said unto him, PHILIP: Lord, show us the Father, and it will be enough for us. Have I been so long time with you, and you don't know me yet, Philip? he that has seen me has seen the Father; and how you say then, Show us the Father? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak to you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwells in me, he does the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Page4

5 Man of Sorrows, verse 3 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to my Father. And whatever you ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. Guilty, vile and helpless, we; Spotless Lamb of God was He; "Full atonement" can it be? Hallelujah! What a Savior! John 16: The hour comes. These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time comes, when I shall no more speak to you in proverbs, but I shall show you plainly of the Father. At that day you shall ask in my name: and I say not to you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. DISCIPLE 1: Lo, now speak you plainly, and speak no proverb. DISCIPLE 2: Now are we sure that you know all things, and need not that any man should ask you: by this we believe that you came forth from God. Do you now believe? Behold, the hour comes, yet, is now come, that you shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken to you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Man of Sorrows, vs. 4 Lifted up was He to die, "It is finished," was His cry; Now in Heav'n exalted high; Hallelujah! What a Savior! Luke 22: The supper. During the reading of this scripture, the pastor and deacons will serve the bread and wine to the congregation. The scripture will be scripted as I showed above. It will need to be coordinated with the serving of the bread and wine. And when the hour had come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said to them, Page5

6 With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer: For I say to you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks. Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. them. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave unto This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. 1 Corinthians 11:26 PASTOR: For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you do show the Lord's death till he come. Man of Sorrows, verse 5 When He comes, our glorious King, All His ransomed home to bring, Then anew this song we'll sing: Hallelujah! What a Savior! The End Page6