The Passion of Christ

The Passion is a term refers to Jesus’ suffering during the last two days of His earthly life, especially His crucifixion.

As Jesus rides into Jerusalem, we see a large crowd gathered to see him.

The crowd was vibrant and joyful. They were excited to see the King… at least, most of them.

Josephus, a first century Jewish historian, says that there were 2.7 million people in Jerusalem for the passover on that occasion.

As i said, this was a large crowd. This was the only “public demonstration” that our Lord allowed while He was ministering on earth. His purpose was to fulfill the Old Testament prophecy (Zech. 9:9).

There were three different groups in the crowd that day:

the Passover visitors from outside Judea (John 12:12, 18)

the local people who had witnessed the raising of Lazarus (John 12:17)

the religious leaders who were greatly concerned about what Jesus might do at the feast (John 12:19)

The third group are the ones who were not excited to see Jesus.

John 12:19

John 12:19 NKJV

The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!”

Luke 19:39-40

Luke 19:39–40 NKJV

And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”

The Pharisees had a plan for Jesus, and it was far different from what the crowd wanted.

Even more importantly, Jesus had a plan, and it was not what any of them expected.

There would would be no political coup that day, no change in government, no new found freedom.

Instead, Jesus would be arrested, tortured and crucified. Little did the Pharisees know that they would be playing right into Jesus’ hand.

Jesus would have one last supper with His disciples, and the next day He would go into the Garden of Gethsemane, where He would be arrested.

Jesus was arrested

John 18:1-3

John 18:1–3 NKJV

When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

Jesus faced trial

From there, Jesus would face trial in Gabbatha

John 19:13

John 19:13 NKJV

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.

This is where public opinion would change.

The people wanted political deliverance, they wanted a conquering king, and it quickly became apparent that it was not going to happen.

When things didn’t go their way, they quickly turned on Jesus, yelling CRUCIFY HIM! They knowingly chose a murderer over the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

The crowd turned on Jesus

John 19:15

John 19:15 NKJV

But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”

Are people so different today?

Jesus would then be beaten, tortured, and shamed. He was stripped naked and mercilessly whipped.

These whips often used lead balls or broken pieces of pottery woven into the end of the whips, probably the latter.

This would literally rip out pieces of flesh! He was then led though the streets to a place called Golgotha.

Once again, a crowd was gathered to see Jesus, but this time there were no calls for deliverance. the crowd was angry, not joyful. Picture the scene.

Here comes Jesus, so badly beaten that he barely looked alive. Blood pouring from the thorns on His brow and the wounds on His body. His blood running down the cross and pouring over the ground the ground.

His body was struggling to keep from going into shock from the loss of blood. His heart racing, faster and faster as the blood pours from His body. Dehydrated and literally on the brink of death.

While He is fully God, the body is human, and con only take so much.

People watching as He struggled and fell, the cross coming down upon His back. The crowd yelling in the midst of agony and pain.

As Jesus lay there with that heavy cross across His back, it must have looked like He would never make it to His place of execution.

Then a roman soldier picks a man from the crowd and screams, "YOU! Carry his cross!" (Adapted and modified from Watch the Lamb by Ray Boltz)

The Man (Simon) picks up the cross and being covered with the blood of Jesus from His blood drenched cross, follows in the footsteps of Jesus.

Did you get that? Simon took up the cross and followed Christ, and he was covered in the blood of Christ!

Such an amazing illustration, hidden in plain sight! Jesus to take up your cross on follow Him. the Bible also says that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin. And here it all is, wrapped up in one simple illustration!

The Bible doesn’t specifically say that Jesus fell, but we know that He carried his own cross, at least for a time. (John 19:17)

John 19:17 NKJV

And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha,

As Jesus, barely alive makes it to Calvary’s hill, its not over yet. Still He is mocked and ridiculed.

Large nails driven through His wrists and ankles, yet still He says “Father forgive them...”

Dehydrated, He is denied water, yet still, He does this for them.

This is the passion of Christ. This is but a glimpse of what He suffered

This journey of Jesus was one of sacrifice, one which ultimately became our victory, and God’s glory.

This journey of sacrifice that Jesus made, ultimately ended in His glory.

Jesus has promised that the journey of the faithful will also lead to glory.

The journey of the faithful leads to glory

John 14:2-3

John 14:2–3 NKJV

In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

The journey begins with salvation

Romans 10:9

Romans 10:9 NKJV

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Ephesians 2:8-9

Ephesians 2:8–9 NKJV

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

What better reason to praise the Lord and lift up His name.

He went from heaven to Earth to show the way

From the Earth to the Cross, my debt to pay

From the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky

Lord I lift your name on high