Jesus for Today
The first programme could be used as the
culmination of a series of six Bible Studies exploring the themes or the people
of the Passion Play using the following
questions for discussion and the supplementary topics later in the
booklet. Each Bible Study could finish
with a prayer meditation from Jesus, for ever the same. The programme could be used in a single
session, beginning with a discussion on the themes, the people, or the
locations of the play, then showing the video, and finishing with Jesus for
ever the same.
It is one thing to read the words of the
story in the Bible, quite another to take those same words and dramatise them
on the streets of a town. Familiar
locations add new meaning and significance to old words. To be part of the
crowd, to be one of the disciples, to be a woman sharing the words of Jesus
with passers-by on the street takes you inside the story in a new and sometimes
startling way. To see your Mayor playing
the part of Pilate, and your Minister playing the part of the High Priest who
condemned Jesus to death makes you think again about the way Jesus would have
been received by the authorities today.
Friendship
The Passion Play begins in Cheltenham’s international
friendship park as we see Jesus reaching out the hand of friendship to people
across the divisions of gender, race and religion. Think about the barriers in our own world -
and how we can break them down.
What
are the friendships we should be developing in order to bring people together
in the sprit of Jesus’ teaching on love?
Conflict
At the cleansing of the Temple Jesus is
confronted with clergy on the steps of a town centre church desperately raising
money to keep the institution of the church going. Jesus reacts angrily
condemning those religious people for making a house of prayer into a
supermarket. Even as he breaks bread for
the last time with his friends those religious leaders are conspiring to
destroy him. What would Jesus have to
say about the priorities of the church and religious leaders today?
Betrayal
Betrayed by a friend, by the religious
authorities, by the civic authorities ... and by everyone in the crowd it dawns
on those participating in the Passion Play that they also have betrayed him.
Think of the ways in which Jesus is betrayed today.
How do you stop yourself going along with
the crowd at the point at which you need to take a stand for what is right?
Death
From the steps of the Municipal Offices we
follow the stations of the cross. To
witness a reconstruction of the crucifixion has a strangely moving power. On the way of the cross and in an agonising
death Jesus shared our griefs and sorrows.
Share with each other the way in which the death of Jesus helps us to
cope with death, dying and bereavement.
Resurrection
The crowds return to the walled garden
which had served as the tomb on Easter Sunday morning and celebrate
resurrection.
What do you make of
life after death and resurrection? How
do your views shape the way you live your life now and the priorities you have?