Here is a responsive reading Jason and I wrote for our Good Friday gathering. Four of us each presented on a day of Holy Week, and then we each took turns as the “Speaker” while the congregation played the part of the Crowd.
Responsive Reading
Speaker: Jesus’ disciples brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it. Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting
Crowd: Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!
Speaker: Tell me, what do you expect of this Jesus who is called the Messiah?
Crowd: We expect one who confronts our enemies.
Jason: He will not confront your enemies before he first confronts you.
Crowd: We expect one who agrees with us.
Sheila: He will not agree with you. He will question you and challenge you.
Crowd: We expect one who fights for us, who defends us and celebrates over us.
JR.: He will not fight for you. He will weep for you. And he will die for you.
Crowd: We expect one who rules us, whose strong arm empowers us.
Keven: He will not empower you. He will serve you and wash your feet.
Crowd: We expect the Lord to prepare a table before us, in the presence of our enemies.
Keven: He will not give you a table. He will offer himself as bread and drink.
Speaker: I tell you the truth — this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know him.
Crowd: Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!
Speaker: He was arrested. And they came to you, and said to you, “”You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.”
Crowd: I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Speaker: These people were with Jesus of Nazareth.
Crowd: We don’t even know the man.
Speaker: You must be one of them; we can tell by the way you speak.
Crowd: A curse on me if I’m lying – I don’t know the man!
Speaker: And so Jesus was handed over to Pilate. And Pilate brought forth Jesus and a criminal called Barabbas. “Whom do you want me to release for you, Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”
Crowd: Give us Barabbas!
Speaker: And what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”
Crowd: Crucify him!
Speaker: What should I do with this one who comes in the name of the Lord?
Crowd: Crucify him!
Speaker: What should I do with this one who challenges us instead of our enemies?
Crowd: Crucify him!
Speaker: What should I do with this one who refuses to make us comfortable?
Crowd: Crucify him!
Speaker: What should I do with this one who embraces death rather than fighting for his life?
Crowd: Crucify him!
Speaker: What should I do with this one who claims to be a King but who acts like a servant?
Crowd: Crucify him!
Speaker: What should I do with this one who offers us nothing except his body and blood?
Crowd: Crucify him!
Speaker: What should I do with this one who has failed to meet our expectations?
Crowd: Crucify him!
Speaker: What should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?
Crowd: Crucify him!
Speaker: I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.
Crowd: His blood be on us and on our children!
Speaker: It will be as you say. Take him away and crucify him. Amen and amen.
What do you think? Does this reading do a good job of drawing you into the narrative of Holy Week? Is it too harsh?