Most of you will remember the frenzy that surrounded Mel Gibson's release of "The Passion of the Christ" in 2004. The movie turned out to be a world wide blockbuster phenomenon, impacting people of all faiths. Whether or not you are a follower of Christ, there is something alluring about that kind of passion.
Have you ever wondered why they used the word passion?
As a kid we would trek through the Ozark Mountains to the little town of Eureka Springs in NW Arkansas to watch the "Passion Play." Passion Week actually began this past Sunday, Palm Sunday, and will take us through the Easter. Passion- a strong emotion? a driving force? an insatiable appetite?
Passion's roots are deeply embedded in the idea of suffering.
Passion's roots are deeply embedded in the idea of suffering.
pasi, pati - latin for suffering.
To be passionate is to suffer. The two concepts cannot be divorced.
The story of the cross is not just one of a love sick Saviour walking through the pains of Roman Execution. It is the story of intense, unrelenting suffering- emotional, physical and spiritual in nature. It is a suffering or passion that refuses to relent. The scouring was just part of the equation, it was also the dispersion of the unfaithful disciples, and the blatant rejection from the Father.
PASSION- A perfect love MOTIVATED to ENDURE the pains and SUFFERING of eternity's deepest WOUND.
Yeah, passion week.
