Well friends, we are on the cusp
of Holy Week. Since early February, we have been going through the season of
Lent as a way to help us prepare for the glory of Easter Sunday. Before we make
our way to the empty tomb of Resurrection Morning, we need to first pause and
reflect over the passion of Jesus Christ.
Perhaps you have heard of the
events of Holy Week referred to as the Passion
of the Christ. There was a famous movie released several years back
viscerally depicting Jesus’ suffering and death. Where we might view the term
passion as something we feel strongly about, the term passion as it relates to
Jesus’ death comes from the Latin verb, passiō,
which literally means to suffer. As you can see, the passion of Christ (His
suffering) is quite different from how we view our individual passions (loves),
because our passions, similar to our priorities, tend to dictate how we live.
The difference for Jesus isn’t that startling if you really think about it – Jesus’
life mission was to save the lost and show the world the heart of GOD. This was
His passion. His passion directed His life, and since it is His death that
brings us life, we can see that His passion (love for us) and passion
(sacrifice for us) are inextricably linked.
This must raise the question for
us about our passions. What are the things you are passionate about? On the flip
side, what passions are you willing to suffer for, and maybe even die? Can the
things that you love point people toward the greatest love of all? Can you find
opportunities through your personal passions to deepen your love for GOD and
love for others? Or are your passions things that do not honor GOD, and
therefore, need to be rooted out and removed? There is no doubt that there are
aspects of our passions that need to be redeemed. The sinless Jesus certainly
found a way for His passions (love for GOD and humanity) to fuel His passion
(suffering and death)…this is how He lived and how He died, and it is how His
Spirit lives on in eternity. May GOD’s Spirit work within you so that the zeal
you have for living does indeed shine the light and love of GOD, reflecting His
image to creation, which is our life’s task.
I want to leave you with this passage
from Titus 2.11-14: “For
the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’
to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and
godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the
blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus
Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all
wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to
do what is good.”
May GOD’s grace working within
you during this holy time of year, give you a new glimpse into His passion of love
and passion in suffering for you!
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