John 12:23 (HCSB)
“Jesus replied to them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.’”
In this verse we sense the “Passion” of the Christ as He announces the future Messiah taking on the requirements of the law and becoming the “lamb that takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)
Passion. A word used in many ways and forms, yet for the series of devotions we will focus on the following definitions:
- In the Greek, the word passion is means “eagerness, enthusiasm, ardor, ardor, excitement.”
- In the Hebrew, it means “”
- Defined by English, the word means a “strong and barely controllable emotion; the suffering and death of Jesus.”
Before we move forward, let us take a moment and examine the various synonyms for the word, which will be addressed in the following devotions:
- Crucifixion
- Pain
- Suffering
- Agony
- Martyrdom
- The Passion of Christ
By reading the following scriptures, the reader comes away with a clear understanding of the passion of the Christ:
Matthew 26:36 – 28:10
God’s Word clearly shows the intense love of the Father, as seen in human flesh through the Son and Savior Jesus Christ. This love is a love extended to every person, and comes with a desire they will all spend eternity with Him in a prepared place called heaven. Here is the reason the Christ came to the earth and endured the cross, dying a horrific death, satisfying the demand of the scripture.
God’s Word states all people have sinned against Holy God, by breaking His commandments. These commandments are listed for us in Exodus 20 and include: lying, stealing, wishing you had what someone else does, sex outside of marriage, along with many other sins which prohibit a relationship with God. There is a separation these sins have caused between man and God; even one sin committed against God is enough to separate man from God and from eternity. The Bible says, “For all have sinned, and fall short of the Glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
This separation forming a gulf which was between God and man, than began in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve failed God and were cast out of the garden, is the reason Christ had to go to the cross. God knew there was only one way to redeem mankind to Himself-once and for all. This remedy for sin could only come through God sending His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to live a sinless life and die on the cross as a one-an-for-all sacrifice for all of man’s sins. Paul said, “But demonstrates His love toward us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
In Christ Jesus we have the ultimate love story. He was willing to go the cross, for me and you because He loved us! He was willing to take the humiliation, the intense pain, the severe suffering, and the multitude of sin of the entire human race, for me and you because He loved us! He took the sin of the past, the present and the future upon Himself, for you and me because He loved us! Jesus was willing to allow Himself to be separated from His Father when He took upon Himself my sin and your sin, because of His great love for us! He did all of this because He loves us, and He so desperately wants you and me to spend eternity with Him in Heaven!
That is PASSION!
Yet, it we refuse to accept this sacrifice of Christ, we will not see heaven! Refusing to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and refusing to receive His sacrifice for your sin, will leave you responsible for all the sins you have ever committed against God. Dying in this condition will cause you to be judged by those sins and render a sentence of death. That sentence will result in being eternally separated from Jesus Christ and God the Father. The Bible says that all of those who do not personally know Jesus as Lord and Savior will spend eternity in hell, a place of weeping and eternal torment. This does not have to be the case for you!
See what the Bible says: “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)
I have for the many years led children, youth and adults through the A-B-C’s of Salvation:
- A-Admit you are a sinner and without hope in this life and in the life to come.
- B-Believe Jesus is the only way to eternal life and that Jesus will forgive all your sins.
- C-Confess to Jesus your sin and failures and proclaim Him as Lord and Savior of your life.
If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.
Now the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on Him will not be put to shame,
for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him.
For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:9-13 HCSB)
This is the most important decision of your life. It is always said there are two most important decisions any person will ever make: one is who you will spend the rest of your life married to, and, secondly, what you will do with Jesus Christ.
It is your decision to make. What will you do with Jesus?
