Upper Room 2

Step into the Upper Room in a way that is both dramatic and deeply meaningful. This extended Maundy Thursday drama (25 minutes) not only portrays Jesus washing the disciples’ feet and sharing the bread and cup, but also brings out the full richness of the Passover meal and its symbolism. With prayers drawn from Scripture, blessings over the elements, and a moving retelling of Israel’s story of deliverance, your congregation is invited to experience the Last Supper as the disciples might have.

The script concludes with a powerful communion moment and hymn, drawing the audience into the drama itself—making it more than a play, but a shared act of worship.

 Cast:  14 (inc. narrator)

• Narrator (m or f)
• Jesus (male)
• 12 disciples (male)

Bible Reference:    Matthew 26: 17-35

Set:

• Upper Room, the area which was used to celebrate the Passover.
• It is a long, rectangular room, built upon the roof of the house, therefore the back set could have windows painted showing hillside scenes.
• An earthenware jar is in the upstage left corner of the room, from here Jesus will get the water to wash the feet of the disciples.
• At upstage center is a low table, at which all would recline on carpets or cushions, (or alternately a standard table and chairs can be used).

Lighting:        standard

Sound: wireless mics if available

Song:  none

SFX:   none

Costumes:  traditional

Props:

•  Dinner elements: Grape juice, bowls of salt water, parsley or celery, three matzos (wrapped in large napkin), bitter herbs (horseradish), haroses (mixture of apples, cinnamon, and nuts).
• Wash basin, earthenware jar, table, (with or without chairs), towel

Special Instructions:   none

Time:  25

Sample of script:

In the dark, the narrator speaks.

Narrator: On the first day of the Passover ceremonies, when bread made with yeast was purged from every Jewish home, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where shall we plan to eat the Passover?” And Jesus replied, “Go into the city and there you shall find . . . .”

Lights up. Jesus enters from the back doors of the church, proceeding to the stage where the others, except Judas, are seated.

Jesus: Father, the time has come. I ask that you reveal the glory of your Son so that I can reflect the glory back to you. You have given me authority over every man and woman in all the earth. And I now give eternal life to each one you have given me. And this is the way to have eternal life: by knowing you, the only true God, and I, Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth! I brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you told me to.
And now, Father, reveal my glory as I stand in your presence, the glory we shared before the world began. I have told these men all about you. They were in the world, but then you gave them to me. Actually, they were always yours, and you gave them to me and they have obeyed you.
Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, for I have passed on to them the commands you gave me; and they accepted them and know for certain that I came down to earth from you, and they believe you sent me. My plea is not for the world but for those you have given me because they belong to you. And all of them, since they are mine, belong to you; and you have given them back to me with everything else of yours, and so they are my glory! Now I am leaving the world, and leaving them behind, and coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your own care—all those you have given me—so that they will be united just as we are, with none missing. During my time here I have kept safe within your family all of these you gave me. I guarded them so that not one perished, except the son of hell, as the Scriptures foretold.
And now I am coming to you. I have told them many things while I was with them so that they would be filled with my joy. I have given them your commands. And the world hates them because they don’t fit in with it, just as I don’t. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from Satan’s power. They are not part of this world any more than I am. Make them pure and holy through teaching them your words of truth. As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world, and I consecrate myself to meet their need for growth in truth and holiness.
I am not praying for these alone but also for the future believers who will come to me because of the testimony of these. My prayer for all of them is that they will be of one heart and mind, just as you and I are, Father—that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me.
I have given them the glory you gave me—the glorious unity of being one, as we are: I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one—so that the world will know you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want them with me—these you’ve given me—so that they can see my glory. You gave me the glory because you loved me before the world began!
O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. And I have revealed you to them, and will keep on revealing you so that the mighty love you have for me may be in them, and I in them.
Father, my heart is sorrowed and full of loneliness, that I must leave these behind for a little while. Strengthen them, dear Father, for the strenuous task which lies ahead for them as together they build my Church. Keep them strong and pure and true to service in my name. Strengthen me too, my Father, for the task at hand is one I would avoid could this be. Yet not my will, but Yours, Father.
I go now that I may say goodbye to those I love.

Jesus comes onstage, behind the disciples at the table. As He passes behind each disciple, He pauses, placing His hands on their shoulders.

Narrator: Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end, each one special in his eyes.

Jesus moves to center position, standing behind the table.

Jesus: Baw-ruch a-taw a-do-nai elo-hay-nu me-lech haw-o-lawm a-sher baw-char baw-nu mee-kawl awm v’ro-m’maw-nu mee-kawl law-shon v’ki-d’shaw-nu b’mitz-vo-sawv.
Blessed art Thou, O Eternal Lord, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.

Disciples: Blessed art Thou, O Eternal Lord, King of the Universe, who has preserved us alive, sustained us, and brought us to enjoy this season.

All drink the first cup of grape juice. Jesus, taking the place of the Father, washes His hands in the bowl of water provided for this purpose.

Narrator: And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.

Jesus moves to center stage left and invites each disciple in turn to come for the washing of feet. This can be done quickly and kindly, with the disciple facing center stage for good visibility. After each washing, the disciple returns to the table. The narrator continues as the washing proceeds.

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

Peter: Lord, are you going to wash my feet?