Art came to life at Zion United Church of Christ’s performance of the “Living Last Supper” on Thursday night, providing personal and striking insights into the minds of Jesus’ disciples.

“What we’re doing tonight is basically a re-enactment of the da Vinci painting “The Last Supper.” It’s a dramatization of that picture, where each one of the disciples tells their story and questions themselves as to whether they’re going to be the one who betrays Jesus,” director of music Brad Cressley said. “This is a nice way to know not only how Jesus felt as these days were coming upon him, but how the disciples felt.”

The Rev. Dr. Jennifer Bannerman began the service by reading Mark 14:12-19, which set the stage for the Maundy Thursday performance.

“When it was evening, Jesus came with the 12, and when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, ‘Truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me, one of you who is eating with me.’ They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, ‘Surely, not I,’ ” Bannerman read.

The curtains withdrew, revealing the actors frozen in the position of the apostles in the Leonardo da Vinci painting. One after another, the disciples snapped out of their still pose to tell how they met their master, how they came to be one of his trusted servants, and how strongly they believe in his message.

James the Lesser, played by Mitchell Hourt, recounts how he witnessed John baptize Jesus, and the appearance of a holy dove. Matthew, played by Debbie Strawser, tells of the feast he held at his home, where Jesus explained that he dines with sinners with an allegory, stating those who are sick are the ones who need the attention of a physician. Peter, played by Bryan Buffington, recalls Jesus bestowing him with his name, and how his master said that he would build his church upon him. Later, he laments the foretelling that he will deny Jesus three times before the cock crowed.

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At the end of each monologue, though, the disciples begin to wonder if they could be the betrayer, asking “Is it I? Is it I?”

The standout, of course, is that of Judas, played by Robert Schaeffer Jr. As the betrayer, he invokes not the reverence toward Jesus that the others present, but a more defensive position.

“If I conspired with the chief priests, and if I have 30 pieces of silver on my person, that is my affair. I believe in Jesus, but somebody has to make him assert himself as the Messiah. He refused to make the move. Well, I made one. He hints that he knows what I’ve done. He said so when he washed my feet a few moments ago. My soul is not as black as some of you think it is, nor is your soul as white,” Schaeffer said.

Between the tales, the Chancel Choir performed as the cast rested briefly behind the curtains.

While one may think that the most difficult part of the performance was the memorization of the stories, most of the actors agreed that holding their poses presented quite a challenge as well. However, they were all able to evoke passionate performances, fraught with emotion.

“It just kind of comes to me. The Lord speaks, and it comes to me. It’s all in that power. It’s hard to describe, but it’s in the power,” Hourt said about his intense storytelling.

Following the final story by Peter, the hymn “Come Share the Lord” was performed, followed by a Communion celebration, where the disciples presented the wafers to the crowd.

“I thought we all did very well,” Strawser said. “It really shows the disciples, one on one, who they were, and how they stood with Jesus. It was an awesome service.”

Bannerman was very pleased with the performance, and the unique way in which it presented the message of the Bible for the congregation.

“It’s just a wonderful way of seeing it lived out. Just like Shakespeare, there’s a whole difference between reading it and seeing it on stage, it brings a whole different level to it,” she said.