The Passion Narrative

Traditionally the Passion narrative is read during the Service of the Word in the Palm Sunday service. The narrative represents the shift from the joy of the triumphant entry to be sober reality that this same crowd will deny Jesus and call for his crucifixion. The Passion reading may also constitute the "Service of the Word" in an evening service on Passion (Palm) Sunday. The Scripture would also be most appropriate for a Good Friday service, for it is traditional to reserve John's Passion narrative for Good Friday. In either of these services the reading may be preceded or followed by a brief homily, if necessary. The Passion reading may also serve as the central portion of a Tenebrae service, with its gradual extinguishing of lights, draping of chancel items in black, cessation of instrumental accompaniment, and silent recessing from the church. The script requires an evangelist (narrator), Jesus, a servant girl, Peter, an official, a bystander, a servant, Pilate, a chorus of …