PROLOGUE

NARRATOR:

The Seven Last Days! The final week of Jesus’ earthly existence.

Was there ever a more monumental week in all of human history?

          In some ways these seven last days mirror the seven first days of creation- in both cases a
          new world was being born. And yet, at the time, no one was aware of their importance.
          The Gospel of Mark paints a vivid picture of the events on that final week in Jesus’ life…
         Of those fateful seven last days.

PALM SUNDAY

NARRATOR:

The first day of the week dawned with a sunshine of hope and exhilaration.

On the day that came to be known as Palm Sunday, Jesus basked in the

Adoration of the throngs as he made his triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

“OPEN THE GATES OF JERUSALEM”

Open the gates of Jerusalem. Open the gate of Jerusalem.

Come thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free.

From our fears and sins release us: let us find our rest in thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art.

Dear Desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.

Open the gates of Jerusalem. Open the gates of Jerusalem.

Open the gates of Jerusalem.

NARRATOR:

Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead

Of you and you will find a colt there. Untie it and bring it here.” When

They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it.

Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches
they had cut in the fields. They cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who
comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest”

“BLESSED ARE THEY”

Hosanna, hosanna! Hosanna, hosanna! Hosanna, hosanna!

Blessed are they who come in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna, hosanna! Hosanna, hosanna! Hosanna, hosanna!

Blessed are they who come in the name of the Lord.

All glory , laud and honor, and hymns of joy we raise,

To Christ the Great Redeemer, we lift our hearts in praise.

Hosanna, hosanna! Hosanna, hosanna! Hosanna, hosanna!

Blessed are they who come in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna, hosanna! Hosanna, hosanna! Hosanna, hosanna!

Blessed are they who come in the name of the Lord.

MONDAY

NARRATOR:

Though the week had begun on a high note, dark clouds soon rolled in –

Clouds that Jesus himself had summoned. On Monday the world saw a side of Jesus they had seldom, if ever, witnessed before. It was an angry, violent Jesus who squandered the good will of the city that had welcomed him not twenty four hours earlier. His rage had been triggered by what he saw at the temple.

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of money changers and the benches of those selling doves. He said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations!’ But you have made it a den of robbers”

“A HOUSE OF PRAYER”

My house shall be called a house of prayer,

Where the broken and weak find strength and healing there.

My house shall be called a house of rest

Where grace is found, where hearts are blessed.

The house of God is a house of truth, ahouse of faith,

Built on the rock of God’s amazing grace.

Lord, listen to your children praying: Lord, send your spirt in this place.

Lord listen to your children praying. Lord, send us love, send us power

Send us grace.

My house shall be called a house of prayer,

Where the broken and weak find trength and healing there.

My house shall be called a house of rest.

Where grace is found, where hearts are blessed.

My house shall be called a house of prayer.

TUESDAY

NARRATOR:

Tuesday dawned as a day of controversy. An ominous spirit was moving among the people. As Jesus taught in the temple, he was confronted by priests, teacher and elders who questioned his authority. Throughout the day they squabbled, argued and debated.

They attempted to trap Jesus by posting thorny questions about paying taxes to Caesar and quizzed him about the greatest commandment. As the day drew to a close, an exhausted Jesus sat down to rest. It was then the only bright spot of the day came his way.

Jesus sat down in the temple and watched the crowd putting money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow had put more into the treasury than all the others. They gave out of their wealth, but she, out of her poverty- all she had to live on.”

“I SURRENDER ALL”

All to Jesus I surrender, all to him I freely give.

I will ever love and trust him, in his presence daily live.

I surrender all, I surrender all

All to thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give my self to thee;

Fill me with your love and power,

Let your blessings fall on me.

I surrender all, I surrender all,

All to thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.

I surrender all, I surrender all,

All to thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all.

WEDNESDAY

NARRATOR:

Wednesday will forever be stained by treachery, for it was on this fourth day of the week that Judas agreed to betray Jesus.

Judas! One of Jesus’ closest and most trusted disciples! Of all the wounds that Jesus suffered during his passion, this cut was among the deepest.

No doubt, his mind recalled the words of the heartbroken psalmist who wrote, “Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” (Psalm 41:9)

“Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over” (Mark 14: 10-11)

“ON THE NIGHT HE WAS BETRAYED”

On the night when he was betrayed,

While the sinister plans of the traitor were made,

With the faithful he gathered and silently prayed,

On the night he was betrayed.

On the night the betrayal was planned,

When a friend turned his back on the dear Son of Man,

The foundation was laid for the nails in his hands,

On the night , the betrayal was planned.

On the night when the perfume was poured,

As the fragrance so precious, anointed the Lord

His death was fore told, by the cross and the sword,

On the night when the perfume was poured.

With the faithful he gathered, and silently prayed,

On the night when he was betrayed.

THURSDAY

NARRATOR:

Thursday was the Day of Preparation for the Passover. For most people, this day was spent in joyous celebration – anticipating the great feast and remembering God’s salvation and deliverance. But a shadow fell over the table where Jesus and his friends gathered in an upper room. And an even darker shadow awaited him in a garden on the outskirts of the Holy City. By day’s end, the table would become a place for all to remember another kind of salvation and deliverance.

While they were eating, Jesus took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave ti to his disciples, saying. “Take, eat, this is my body.”

Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many.”, he said to them. “Do this in remembrance of me.”

“THINK OF ME AND REMEMBER”

Take this wine I pour, take this bread I break.

Search your heart and remember the sacrifice I make.

Come and follow me. I will hold you forever.

My life I give, so you may live. Think of me and remember.

When your feet grow tired, and your flesh is weak,

Think of me and remember. I am the rest you seek..

Come and follow me, I will hold you forever.

My life I give, so you may live. Think of me and remember.

Remember how I prayed at Gethsemane,

“Father let this cup pass from me.”

Remember how the soldiers captured me,

Then led the Son of Man to Calvary.

As you close the day, as you sing and pray,

Search your heart and remember, the debt I came to pay.

Come and follow me, I will hold you forever.

My life I give, so you may live, think of me and remember

Think of me and remember.

GOOD FRIDAY

NARRATOR:

At daybreak on Friday, Jesus was led before a council of chief priests, elders and teachers who accused him, and found him guilty and deserving of death. They delivered him to Pilate so that he might carry out their wishes. But Pilate, recognizing the duplicity of the accusers, was reluctant to do so.

However, he misjudged their influence over the crowd and soon cries of “Crucify him!” were rising up all around. Giving in to the mounting anger of the people, Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified.

The soldiers clothed him an a purple robe and twisted together a crown of thorns for his head. They mocked him. Calling out, “Hail, king of the Jews!” They spit on him, slapped him in the face and struck him again and again on the head with a staff. Carrying his own cross, he was led out to the place of the Skull, where they crucified him. Two criminals were crucified with him, one on his right, the other on his left.

At the sixth hour, darkness descended over the whole land. Then, at the ninth hour, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And with a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

“WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”

My God, why have you forsaken me?

You have turned your back on your only son!

Now it’s finished, my work is done.

O God, why have you forsaken me?

My God, why have you forsaken me?

Youu have turned your back on your only son!

Now it’s finished, My work is done.

As the thief cried, “Lord, please rmember me,”

As the darkness covered the sky,

They mocked and scorned and crowned him with thorns,

As they shouted, “CRUCIFY!”

O God, why have you forsaken me?

My God, why have you forsaken me?

You have turned your back on your only son!

Now it’s finished, my work is done.

As He hung there crying in agony,

As the blackness covered the sky,

As the heaven sighed as his mother cried,

Jesus breathed his final breath, and died.

O God, why have you forsaken me?

You have turned your back on your only son!

Now it’s finished, my work is done.

Woman behold your son!

It is finished!

SATURDAY

NARRATOR:

Saturday began at sundown, just three hours after Jesus died. His limp body still hung there on the cross. But then, in the midst of the darkness, a ray of light appeared.

A member of the Council that had condemned Jesus, a man named Joseph who had not consented to the sentence came forward. Something had happened to Joseph as he stood in the presence of Jesus, and he transformed from an accuser to a disciple.

Determined to perform one final act of kindness, Joseph asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and placed it in a tomb, cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a large stone against the entrance to the tomb and went away.

“WERE YOU THERE?”

“

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

Oh! Sometime it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

CONGREGATION: PLEASE DEPART IN SILENCE AFTER THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON.

PEACE.