The Passion of Christ: Who Would You Be?

Passion - a root history meaning suffering. The suffering of one man. From His birth in a barn to His death upon wooden boards, Christ deeply knew passion.

Of those who came and went … of those who remained… in these hours of passion, do you find yourself?

Would you have poured out the finest of all you could offer upon the dusty, calloused, weary feet of Jesus? Would you have used the locks of your own hair as a cloth upon His skin? Could He have defended your service? John 12:3

Would you have lined the streets of Jerusalem bowing low, palm branches extended, voice raised, singing “Hosanna” as Jesus entered your town? Could He have returned your joyful smile? John 12:13

Would you have lingered with him in the garden? Would you have prayed as He prayed? Would you have heard when He, in willing sacrifice submitted, “O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, Thy will be done.” Matthew 28:42b

Would your eyes have grown heavy? Would He have found you alert, on guard, as the enemy approached? Could he have depended upon you? Matthew 26:36-46

Would you have betrayed Him? Would you have been lured by greed and treachery? Would it be your deceit which brought about His shackles? Would He find in your kiss the sting of deception? Matthew 26:49

Fearing the swords of the guards who came to lead Him away, would you have fled? Could He have known the steps of yours with His, lest He not walk alone? Matthew 26:56

Would you have silenced the crowds, or succumbed to them, as ruler of the land? Would you simply wash your hands and hold yourself blameless? Could He depend upon your judicious use of authority and leadership? Matthew 27:22-24

Would you have borne the cross? When the weight of an entire world was too great, would you rise up beneath it? Could He call upon your strength? Matthew 27:32

Would you shrink in fear and deny you even knew Him? Would your shame tear at your heart? Could He foretell of your bravery and loyalty? Luke 22:54-62

Would you stand heartbroken, yet true, as final moments stretched in agony. This babe, who once breathed tender against your cheek with rhythmic sounds of rest, now heaves crying out to Heaven in torturous pain. Would you love with the unconditional love a mother holds for her son? John 19:25

Would you be His beloved friend, a brother by choice, pledging to care for His precious mother? Would He see in you the honor and devotion that endures lifetimes? John 19:26-27

Would you be there when the drama subsided to tend to the details no one else considered? Would you have offered up your own burial place? Would you have served in secret when everyone else had gone? John 19:38-42

Would He find you waiting, mourning days later? Would you remain ready, even in your sorrow and weeping, to receive tremendous joy? In the face of loss and adversity would you answer, “Raboni!”, “Master!”? John 20:11-18

Would He find your arms outstretched upon His return? Or would you question? Would you need to see with your own eyes… feel with your own hands… hear with your own ears… before you would believe? How much would be enough to satisfy your doubts? What would it take for you to trust? How long would you delay your rejoicing? John 20:24-31

Who would you be? Amidst the passion… the suffering of the Savior… who would you be? What would He find in you during the moments of greatest sacrifice the world will ever know?

Or would you, like the majority, be found sleeping, unaware, lost and apart from incomprehensible love and sufficient grace? Do you feel as if you are on the outside looking in on a story you’ve never understood?

I notice the candles in the dim of the night. I light one… as the light of Christ. I light one of the remaining two… that of the thief who sinned even as I sin, who believed even as I believe, who cried out in the darkness even as I weep this night, and who will sing with me in heaven. One candle is life. The second is hope. The third is darkness. If you do not know the life of Christ’s passion, you need not linger in darkness… for this day, this moment, there is hope.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16