Living Last Supper Script

Scene One: Disciples Enter and Light Candles

(Violin music throughout)

(Light scene: Lord’s Supper 1)

(Violin music throughout)

Cody will read as the Disciples enter the stage.

Jesus and his disciples were just like millions of other Jews during the Passover. They had travelled from Galilee to come into Jerusalem and ascend the Temple Mount. The population of Jerusalem was easily five or six times larger than its ordinary population with people sleeping and eating wherever they could find space and hospitality.

You can imagine the intensity of the group that day. The Passover was the celebration of when God had delivered his people from their slavery to Egypt. To break the hardened heart of Pharaoh and to end the oppression of his people, God sent the Angel of Death to bring death to every, single household in all of Egypt, taking from them their firstborn, even Pharaoh’s own son. But, not a single Jewish life was lost. As they slaughtered lambs at the instruction of God and covered their houses in the blood from the slaughter, the Angel of Death passed over their homes, showing God’s grace and favor upon them.

You can imagine the intensity of the group that day. The Passover was the celebration of when God had delivered his people from their slavery to Egypt. To break the hardened heart of Pharaoh and to end the oppression of his people, God sent the Angel of Death to bring death to every, single household in all of Egypt, taking from them their firstborn, even Pharaoh’s own son. But, not a single Jewish life was lost. As they slaughtered lambs at the instruction of God and covered their houses in the blood from the slaughter, the Angel of Death passed over their homes, showing God’s grace and favor upon them.

And so, here was Jesus and his disciples, preparing to have their last meal together, and it was the Passover meal. This divine and ironic timing cannot be seen as an accident, but a powerful demonstration of the intricate providence of God. As Jesus, like all of those lambs 1500 years earlier, would soon give up himself to be slaughtered so that his disciples could be covered in his blood and be delivered, not from their slavery to Egypt or Rome, but to sin and death.

And so, here was Jesus and his disciples, preparing to have their last meal together, and it was the Passover meal. This divine and ironic timing cannot be seen as an accident, but a powerful demonstration of the intricate providence of God. As Jesus, like all of those lambs 1500 years earlier, would soon give up himself to be slaughtered so that his disciples could be covered in his blood and be delivered, not from their slavery to Egypt or Rome, but to sin and death.

So, we read in : 17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’ ” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.

So, Matthew says, in :

17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’ ” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.

Lights: Disciples will light candles during reading/Stage lights dim

Scene Two: The Betrayal

says that in Jesus ‘we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness’ but rather one who fully understands the pain and distress of human brokenness, even betrayal by those who are closest to you. The Passover table that night would have been set up very similarly to what you see here. The disciples and Jesus would have been lying around a table on the ground, leaning on one elbow with their feet forming an outer circle. And yet, in the midst of this most intimate of fellowship and brotherhood, Jesus and his disciples were leaned in with a betrayer.

(Light Scene: Lord Supper 2)

(Jesus Enters)

says that in Jesus ‘we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness but rather one who fully understands the pain and distress of human brokenness, even betrayal by those who are closest to you. The Passover table that night would have been set up very similarly to what you see here. The disciples and Jesus would have been lying around a table on the ground, leaning on one elbow with their feet forming an outer circle. And yet, in the midst of this most intimate fellowship and brotherhood, Jesus and his disciples were leaned in with a betrayer.

It says: 20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24 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 have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”

Narrator Read

20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24 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 have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”

Allow Judas to leave the room!!!!!

Read : 31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Scene Three: The New Covenant

Read

Include preparation of heart for Lord’s supper and abstinence.

Jesus would use this Last Supper with his disciples to establish a new ordinance with them. Jesus gave them this meal so that they could join together in unity and love at His table and remember what He had done for them. The bread that was to be broken was to remind them of his body that was broken for them. The cup that they drank was to remind them of the blood which He spilled. And so, at the Last Supper, Jesus established the Lord’s Supper as a time to bring his disciples together with each other and to call them again to repentance and recommitment in their Christian life. In , Paul reminds us that we must not take it unless our hearts are genuinely given to the Lord, and we must not come to the Lord’s table if we have unrepentant sin in our lives, lest we drink God’s judgement on ourselves. As it was for the disciples that night, the Lord’s Supper is for us a time of sober evaluation, commitment, and worship of the Christ who willingly died.

says: 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.

26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.

You will find the bread and the juice at the center of your tables. If your heart is ready, take the bread, eat, and remember the body that was broken.

Read

27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”

27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you,

28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”

If your heart is ready, take the juice, drink, and remember the blood that was poured out.

Scene Four: Washing of the feet

Read  Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Jesus will wash Peter’s feet while the narrator reads.

Jesus has commanded us to love and serve one another as He has. We are to wash one another’s feet, as Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. Tonight, we intend to honor the words of Jesus literally. Our elders will wash the feet of our deacons, and then our elders and deacons will wash the feet of our congregation. Peter shows us that it is a difficult and humbling thing for someone to wash your feet, and I would ask you to please consider receiving it, even if you find your heart resistant to the idea. If you do not wish to have your feet washed, discreetly wave God’s servant to the next person. Brothers and sisters, as you wait, use this time to contemplate Christ and his goodness to you. He left his throne to take the role of a servant so that you could live. Fill the stillness by practicing your gratitudes, and listing to the Lord all of the things you have to be grateful for.

It would be nice to talk about how we as your leaders would love to serve you in this way. If you are unconformable with this please just polity just say no when we come to you.

Cody will then start washing the Elders feet first and then they will wash the Deacons and then the congregations.