Upper Room 1

Step into the Upper Room on Maundy Thursday, where Jesus shares His final meal with His disciples, washes their feet, and delivers His powerful command to love one another. This moving 15-minute production captures the tension, intimacy, and foreshadowing of the night before the crucifixion—complete with Judas’ betrayal, Peter’s bold promises, and Jesus’ unforgettable words: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

 Cast: 14

• Jesus
• Narrator
• 12 disciples

Bible Reference: Matthew 26:17-35

Set:

• bare with tables and chairs

Lighting:  standard

Sound: wireless mics if available

Song: none

SFX:   none

Costumes:  likely traditional

Props: Basin and towel for washing feet

Special Instructions:  none

Time: 15

Sample Script

Disciples are sitting at the table. Jesus comes on stage; the others gather close to Him, touching Him as He moves toward the table. Judas enters hurriedly, out of breath and appearing furtive. Jesus looks up.

Jesus: Must that truly be done?

Judas quickly looks downward and moves away from Jesus.

Jesus: Come, all of you, the feast has been prepared.

Jesus goes to center stage left, removes His outer robe, ties a towel around His waist, and pours water into a basin. He invites each disciple in turn to come forward for the washing of feet. This is done quickly and reverently, with each disciple facing center stage so the audience can see both Jesus and the disciple. When it is Judas’ turn, Jesus pauses, looking sadly into Judas’ face. Judas avoids His gaze. After their feet are washed, each disciple returns to the table. The narrator speaks as the washing continues.

Jesus: Come first, that I may wash your feet, Simon Peter.

Peter (shocked): Master, are you going to wash my feet?

Jesus: You don’t understand now what I am doing, Peter, but it will be clear enough to you later.

Peter (offended): You are not going to wash my feet—ever!

Jesus: If I don’t wash you, you can’t be a part of what I am doing.

Peter: Master, not only my feet then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!

Jesus: If you have had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you are clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you are clean . . . (looking at Judas, who reacts by turning away) . . . but not every one of you.

Jesus washes Peter’s feet, then Nathanael’s, and continues with each disciple. The narration pauses as each man returns to the table.

Narrator:
There was Nathanael, the guileless man, one in whom is no pretense, nor subterfuge, nor insincerity. A man transparently honest, his mind like an open book.
And James, the son of Alphaeus, the patron saint of the unrecognized . . .
Andrew, the evangelist, the one who brought the little boy, and also Peter, to Jesus . . .
Judas Iscariot, into whose heart the devil had already entered, that he would betray the Lord . . .
John, the beloved disciple . . .
Thomas, the man given to questioning, yet loyal to the end . . .
James, son of Zebedee and brother of John . . .
Philip, to whom Christ said, “follow me” . . .
Matthew, Levi, the tax collector who left his toll booth to follow . . .
Thaddeus, or Judas not Iscariot, the unknown disciple serving the known Savior . . .
And finally Simon the Zealot, whose fiery zeal was redirected by Christ into holy purpose.

Jesus puts on His robe and returns to the table.

Jesus: Do you know what I have done to you? You address me as Teacher and Master; and rightly so—that is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must also wash each other’s feet. I have laid down a pattern for you. What I have done, you do. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee does not give orders to the employer. If you understand what I am telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life.

Jesus grows quiet, looking among the group.

Jesus: I have something difficult but important to say to you: One of you is going to hand me over to the conspirators—one who at this moment is eating with me.

The disciples are shocked, looking from one to another. Judas keeps his eyes downcast.

John: It cannot be!

Thaddeus: It isn’t me, is it, Master?

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Chatter rises from the others: “Can’t be!” . . . “Surely He is wrong . . .” “Who could it be?”

Jesus: It’s one of the Twelve, one who eats with me out of the same bowl. In one sense, the Son of Man is entering into a way of treachery foretold in the Scriptures—no surprises here. In another sense, the man who turns Him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man. Better never to have been born than do this!

Judas: Master, is it I?

Want to see how the story unfolds? DramaShare members get this complete script—and access to our entire library—free! Not a member? You can still grab this individual script and bring it to life.