A Marvel Movie Moment in the Passion of the Christ

In James’ sermon yesterday (viewed here), he talked about "Marvel Movie Moments" where the hero-to-be suddenly gets a look of determination in their eye that tells the audience that everything is about to change ... and it’s going to get nasty for the bad guys.

My first pastor instilled in me a deep appreciation for one moment in the Gospels, a moment which I was taught to see as a watershed in Jesus’ ministry, following which He became an unstoppable freight train. James reminded me of that moment as he read this text:

When the days were coming to a close for him to be taken up,
he determined to journey to Jerusalem. (Luke 9:51, CSB)

This was many weeks or months before His final week. As James pointed out, the word “determined” here is more nuanced in the original Greek. The NIV says that, “Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” We can’t say that He didn’t know what was coming because He had been dropping hints about His coming death throughout His ministry, and was about to become crystal clear about what the trek to Jerusalem meant for Him. Wasn’t He afraid? Perhaps, yet He resolved in His mind to go anyway. Why? Because true passion overrides fear.

In our modern age we throw around the word passion so casually that scarcely can you find a person who actually knows what the word means: at least the original meaning. We can be passionate about our work, we can be passionate about using our gifts and talents and we can be passionate about protecting our family and loved ones. But, can we really be passionate about things like cheesecake, vacationing at all-inclusive resorts or the Toronto Maple Leafs? No, not if we are using the word according to its original meaning.

The word, passion, originates from the Latin word, patior, meaning to suffer or to endure (OK, maybe I’ll take back the comment about the Maple Leafs). People endure hardships with passion and conviction for seemingly incomprehensible reasons, because those reasons reside in the core of their spirit. Current day business gurus teach that our hearts light-up and become highly engaged when we follow our passion. True saints, however, understand that our souls become debilitated, disoriented and even crushed when we don’t follow our passion. There’s a reason why the phrase the passion of the Christ has rooted itself into our lore. Jesus chose to suffer for us because, well, to not do so would have been an even greater suffering. This kind of passion is illogical and irrational, especially when it involves love, as seen in these words of Paul in Romans 5:7-8:

Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  (NIV)

Jesus journeyed to Jerusalem even though He knew He was going to die for people He had never met and for people who hated and despised Him. How could He endure such a journey when He knew about the fateful Friday that was coming? Because He also knew Sunday was coming!

Will you join me in this prayer?
Heavenly Father, I cannot yet understand the strength of Jesus’ love and passion for me. I have suffered some things for You and for Your children, but I confess that I have also sometimes seen myself as a victim rather than a volunteer. Lord, I offer my life and my choices to You and ask You to help me fully adopt Jesus’ attitude of humility and service, so that I can say from the depths of my soul, “I serve at the pleasure of The King.” In the name of King Jesus, amen!”

Note: your writing team this week is Claire Walker, Rob Tudball and Peter Bowyer.