This Palm Sunday reading centers around two different parades that happen in Jerusalem: the one led by Pilate and the one led by Jesus. The script is designed to be interactive with the whole congregation.
I first set up the reading by sharing the book, A Pig Parade Is a Terrible Idea by Michael Ian
Black.
The script was inspired by a quote from John Dominic Crossan and Marcus Borg, The Last Week.
Two processions entered Jerusalem on a spring day in the year 30. . . One was a peasant procession, the other an imperial procession. From the east, Jesus rode a donkey down the Mouth of Olives, cheered by his followers. . . On the opposite side of the city, from the west, Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Idumea, Judea, and Samaria, entered Jerusalem at the head of a column of imperial calvary and soldiers. Jesus’s procession proclaimed the kingdom of God; Pilate’s proclaimed the power of empire.
Narrator
It is Passover, when the people of God remember how the people of Israel escaped slavery in Egypt. And just like every Passover, Pontius Pilate, friend of the Roman emperor, parades through Jerusalem on a stallion from the west.
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Narrator
. . . as well as a crowd of foot soldiers, donning leather armor, helmets, weapons, banners, golden eagles mounted on poles, and a cavalry on horses.
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Narrator
There was no cheering from the crowd or praises sung. Just the sounds of the marching of feet, the creaking of leather, the clinking of bridles, the beating of drums. The swirling of dust. And the sounds that horses make.
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This was an opportunity for Pilate to show off his power and remind everyone who rules the land.
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Pilate made sure everyone knew who was the One to be worshipped. It was Caesar, the true son of God.
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Pilate instructed his soldiers to make sure no one shouted anything in protest.
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Jesus
The eyes of the silent onlookers stayed quiet – some curious, some awed, some resentful.
Song
Praise the Lord by G. F. Handel from the oratorio Judas Maccabeus
I wanted a song that sounded triumphant as if Pilate and his soldiers were marching in.
Narrator
When Jesus had come near Bethpage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples,
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Jesus
Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find a donkey tied there
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Jesus
that has never been ridden. Bring me that donkey.
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Jesus
If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
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So those disciples went out and found things just as Jesus had said.
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The disciples were just untying the horse, when its irate owner showed up. “What do you think you’re doing with our donkey?”
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“Really?” the owner asked. “The Lord needs my donkey? Why didn’t you just say so?” So the disciples,
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Took the donkey
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. . . to Jesus, and after throwing their cloaks on the donkey, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples
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Narrator
. . . began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen. Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him,
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Jesus
I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.
SONG
Siyahamba
We are walking in the light of God (4x)
We are walking, walking, we are walking, oh
We are walking in the light of God (2x)
We are moving in the power of God (4x)
We are moving, moving, we are moving, oh
We are moving in the power of God (2x)
Song
Hosanna Song by Paul Zach, Jon Guerra, Kate Bluett
With one breath, “Hosanna!” we cry
With the next one, we say “Crucify!”
With one voice, we praise your name
With the same voice,
we condemn you to shame
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna to the Lord!
With palm leaves, we welcome your reign
With twisted thorns, we crown you with pain
You wash our feet to show us your love
We wash our hands of your innocent blood
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna to the Lord!
We claim you when you come in pow’r
But we leave you in your terrible hour
We hail you for victory won
But we mock you as you say, “It is done.”
Still Waters 