Lillenas Drama Presents Palm Sunday Trilogy from Worshiping Through Drama By David H. Kehret These three readings set the scene and mood for Holy Week and might be used anytime early in that week. The scripture text noted is printed in bold and, with some repetition, follows the text exactly. The commentary is printed in lowercase, normal type. Both parts could be read by one person, skilled and practiced in making vocal shifts between parts. Otherwise two persons could read each of the two parts, in distinct vocal styles. Outcry Scripture: Mark 11:1-9 (with use of Matthew 21 and Luke 19) When they were approaching Jerusalem, waiting waiting waiting When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, stone walls and towers waiting huge, carved blocks of quarried stone waiting paving stones upon the roadway waiting When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, waiting behold, your king is coming waiting behold, your king is coming to you! near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, Go into the village ahead of you, behold, your king is coming to you, humble Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. waiting humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey waiting If anyone says to you, Why are you doing this? just say this, The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately. behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey waiting stones and walls and towers waiting They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, What are you doing, untying the colt? They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. stones and walls and towers waiting Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it;
stones and walls and towers and walls and stones waiting they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, but some of the Pharisees and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. but some of the Pharisees in the crowd Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, but some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, teacher, order your disciples to stop! teacher, order your disciples to stop! teacher, order your disciples to stop! he answered, I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would cry out. if these were silent, the stones would cry out. the stones would cry out Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! stones and walls and towers and walls and stones Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
In Remembrance Scripture: Mark 14:3-9 While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the Leper, darkened room flickering lights simon jesus assorted disciples peter? james? john? While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the Leper, as he sat at the table, pungent aromas breads roasted meats and vegetables herbs oil soft cushions low table soft-voiced conversation While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the Leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came quiet tentative fearful intruding into the men s club driven bold As he sat at table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard nudge nod raised eyebrows conversations cut short silence A woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar sweetness overwhelming the pungent aromas of the table perfumed air heaviness of breath And she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head! rivulets running through his hair dripping down upon his forehead and cheeks tiny streams pouring down upon his neck upon his shoulders and back And poured it upon his feet and wiped his feet with her hair! skin upon skin soft hair scented oil hot tears weeping tears and scented oil kisses upon his feet warm breath soft hair kisses tears oil heavy scent flickering light silence holding breath soft cushions darkened room But some were there who said to one another in anger, Why? peter james john why? simon why? judas why? Why was the ointment wasted? Why was the ointment wasted in this way? rivulets running through his hair dripping down upon his forehead and cheeks tiny streams pouring down upon his neck and shoulders For this ointment could have been sold! Sold for more than three hundred denarii! And the money given to the poor! hot tears and scented oil kisses upon his feet warm breath skin upon skin soft hair oil heavy scent flickering light darkened room
And they scolded her. But Jesus said, Let her alone. But Jesus said, Why do you trouble her? But Jesus said, She has performed a good service for me. rivulets running through his hair dripping down upon his forehead and cheeks tiny streams pouring down upon his neck upon his shoulders and back soft hair scented oil For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me! She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, wherever you remember me wherever you do these things in remembrance of me What she has done will be told in remembrance of her!
Opportunity Scripture: Luke 22:1-6 Now the festival of Unleavened Bread, springtime housecleaning time top to bottom bottom to top out with every bit of leaven cleanse every pot and pan new flour set in for baking bitter herbs secured the appropriate lamb selected Now the festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was near. jerusalem streets with noisy crowds exuberant, festive travelers carnival atmosphere beyond the public streets hushed voices furtive glances a plot takes shape The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, annas? caiaphas? whose idea was it first, anyway? one person s or many? unthinkable! simply too dangerous! it has to be done! never get by with it! what if it backfires? The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they were afraid of the people. not during the feast! no, not during the feast! anytime but during the feast! lest there be a tumult of the people Then, Satan the ancient accuser that deceiver lying in wait practicing lies if you are the son of god, turn these stones to bread cast yourself down all this I will give you Then Satan entered into Judas with what lies now? what half-truths? what misperceptions encouraged? what personal weakness coddled? what damning blindness affirmed? what covert yearning nudged? Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve; how did that feel, judas? judas enhanced? or judas diminished? value added? or poisonous vacuum? he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers of the temple police about how he might betray Jesus to them. don t say betrayer make it benefactor seeing the bigger picture the greater good it is expedient for one man to die for the sake of the people come in come in let s talk about it They were greatly pleased he s one of them see, the movement is falling apart already he just walked in off the street unsolicited and if the conspiracy fails? scapegoat him! don t offer him too much, now he might do it for nothing just cinch the deal! They were greatly pleased and agreed to give him money.
but not too much, now he might do it for nothing just cinch the deal! So he consented and began to look for an opportunity judas? are you with us, judas? come on, we have passover preparations to make you seem so preoccupied, judas we found an upper room for the meal you need go buy the supplies, judas judas? pay attention and after dinner? why do you ask? the garden of gethsemane, of course for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them when no crowd was present. The purchase of this sketch entitles the purchaser to make photocopies of this material for use in their church or nonprofit organization. The sharing of this material with other churches or organizations not owned or controlled by the original purchaser is strictly prohibited. The contents of this sketch may not be reproduced in any other form without written permission from the publisher. Please include the copyright statement found below on each copy made. All scripture is from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the Nation Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Questions? Please write, call, or E-mail: Lillenas Publishing Company Phone: 816-931-1900 E-mail: drama@lillenas.com Drama Resources Fax: 816-412-8390 Web Site: www.lillenasdrama.com P.O. Box 419527 Kansas City, MO 64141 The sketch collection Worshiping Through Drama (MP-821) is available for purchase from Lillenas Drama or from your local Christian bookstore. For a full description of the rest of this collection, or to purchase other individual sketches, refer to www.lillenasdrama.com