Day 14 – The Passion of the Cross

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6)

“And He who sent me is with me.  He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” (John 8:29)

“And going a little farther, He fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him.  And He said, ‘Abba Father, all things are possible for you.  Remove this cup from me.  Yet, not what I will, but what you will.'” (Mark 14:35,36)

“And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross.” (Philippians 2:8)

The last hours of the life of Jesus are known as The Passion of Christ.  No one is quite sure how the word “passion” came to be associated with the suffering and death of Jesus, but, most likely it is related to the Latin word for suffering “passionem”.  Whatever the source, it is true that the cross event illustrated for us the “passion” of the life of Jesus…to do the will of His Father in heaven…to please Him.

Let’s be clear, Jesus did not have some morbid desire to suffer pain.  The torture He endured did not bring Him some kind of twisted pleasure.  Jesus was not committing suicide as the disciples interpreted it…”Go to Jerusalem? Are you crazy?  That is suicide!”  This was an act of love…obedience…and self-sacrifice.  It was His passion to do the Father’s will that kept Him on the path to the cross.  His strength came from His focus…”not my will, but yours be done”.  This is how He could endure such agony and ridicule.  This is how He could have such resolve through the injustice of His arrest and trial.  This is why He willingly laid down His life for us…His hunger and thirst for righteousness…His passion.

When we are passionate about following God and pleasing Him it changes the way we do everything else.  It gives us the strength we need  in times of suffering.  It gives us courage when going through “…the valley of the shadow of death”.  It demands a deep trust in the One who has created us…the One who loves us…the One who has made possible this divine relationship.  Yet, as wondrous as it is, it is not complicated.  In fact, it calls us into simplicity.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind” (Luke 10:27)

What is your passion?  What do you hunger and thirst for today?  Who are you trying to please?

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” -Jesus (Matthew 6:24)