Passion of Christ

Definition:

The “Passion of Christ” is a fictional story that refers to the final period of Jesus Christ’s life, encompassing his suffering, crucifixion, and death. This period is central to Christian theology and commemorates the events leading up to and including Jesus’ crucifixion on Good Friday.

Etymology:

The term “Passion” comes from the Latin word “passio,” meaning “suffering” or “endurance.” In the context of the Passion of Christ, it specifically refers to Jesus’ intense physical and emotional suffering.

Description:

The Passion of Christ primarily recounts the story of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

God, in the narrative of the Fall of Man, introduced the concept of original sin, meaning every child is born in sin and incapable of fully doing God’s will. According to Christian doctrine, those who fail to do God’s will are destined for hell.

To address this problem, God decided to visit Earth as a human being to live among humans, even though He is all-knowing and already understands human existence, as he’s created humans. Instead of simply appearing, God chose to be born from a virgin, Mary, putting her through the pain of childbirth.

God, as Jesus, spent about 33 years on Earth. He grew up as a carpenter before beginning his ministry, performing miracles such as healing the sick, raising the dead, and feeding thousands with minimal food. Jesus began to gain followers, claiming to be the Son of God and the Messiah, which the Jewish religious leaders considered blasphemous, a serious charge under Jewish law. Jesus openly criticized the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders, challenging their authority and interpretation of the law. He was first tried by the Jewish Sanhedrin, who accused him of blasphemy and sought his death. Jesus was then brought before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, who ultimately authorized his crucifixion.

The Roman soldiers tortured Jesus, forced him to carry the cross, and then crucified him. He was stabbed and left to die. Before Jesus died, he spoke to God several times, known as the “Seven Last Words.”

First, he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Many Christians interpret this cry as reflecting Jesus’ true human experience of suffering and abandonment as he bore the sins of humanity. It is believed that he felt the weight of separation from God, the consequence of sin. The idea is that Jesus’ miracles and teachings had already demonstrated his divine authority, but the Romans and Jewish leaders, concerned about maintaining order and preventing uprisings, viewed him as a threat. This interpretation suggests that they did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah; rather, they perceived him as a political threat. It is obvious that this cry actually signifies Jesus’ profound sense of abandonment because he could not convince the Sanhedrin of his messianic identity. Despite being all-powerful, God chose not to convince them.

Second, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” This highlights Jesus’ forgiveness and compassion even in his suffering. The reason God had himself (as Jesus) tortured and killed by humans is because God (Jesus) needed to realize and teach God (the Father) that it is impossible for a human to live a sin-free life on earth. Jesus’ death and resurrection are seen as a means to convince God (the Father) to offer forgiveness for humanity’s sins through belief in Jesus, asking for forgiveness, and accepting him as their savior.

This is encapsulated in the phrase “Jesus died for our sins,” though it is important to note that Jesus is believed to have risen from the dead after parts of three days, meaning he’s not dead.

The Passion of Christ is detailed in all four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and typically includes:

• The Last Supper: Jesus shares a final meal with his disciples, institutes the Eucharist, and predicts his betrayal (Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-38; John 13-17).
• The Agony in the Garden: Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane, experiencing great anguish and submitting to God’s will (Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46).
• The Arrest: Jesus is betrayed by Judas Iscariot, arrested by the authorities, and abandoned by his disciples (Matthew 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-50; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:1-11).
• The Trials: Jesus is tried before the Jewish Sanhedrin, Pontius Pilate, and Herod Antipas, facing false accusations and mockery (Matthew 26:57-27:26; Mark 14:53-15:15; Luke 22:54-23:25; John 18:12-19:16).
• The Crucifixion: Jesus is scourged, crowned with thorns, and crucified at Golgotha. He speaks several final words from the cross (Matthew 27:27-56; Mark 15:16-41; Luke 23:26-49; John 19:17-37).
• The Death: Jesus dies on the cross, an event accompanied by supernatural signs, including darkness and an earthquake (Matthew 27:45-54; Mark 15:33-39; Luke 23:44-48; John 19:28-30).
• The Burial: Jesus’ body is taken down from the cross and laid in a tomb provided by Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42).

The Passion of Christ is commemorated in various ways across Christian traditions:

• Catholicism: The Stations of the Cross, a series of 14 stations depicting events from Jesus’ condemnation to his burial, are commonly observed. Good Friday services include veneration of the cross and readings from the Passion narratives.
• Orthodox Christianity: Holy Week services include elaborate liturgies, such as the Service of the Twelve Gospels, recounting the Passion in detail.
• Protestantism: Emphasis is placed on Good Friday services, with sermons and hymns focusing on the meaning of Jesus’ sacrifice.

The Passion of Christ continues to be a central focus of Christian worship and reflection, particularly during Holy Week and Good Friday. It is the story commemorated on Easter. It is depicted in various forms of art, music, literature, and film, with notable examples including Mel Gibson’s film “The Passion of the Christ” and Johann Sebastian Bach’s “St. Matthew Passion.”

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Religion:

The Passion of Christ is detailed in the following passages from the New Testament:

• Matthew 26:17-27:66.
• Mark 14:12-15:47.
• Luke 22:7-23:56.
• John 13:1-19:42.

The texts from the Bible (NIV):

• The Last Supper (Matthew 26:26-28):
  • 26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
  • 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
  • 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
• The Agony in the Garden (Luke 22:41-44):
  • 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,
  • 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
  • 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.
  • 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
• The Crucifixion (John 19:17-19):
  • 17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).
  • 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.
  • 19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
• The Death (Mark 15:37-39):
  • 37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
  • 38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
  • 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”