The Passion

A few words meditating on the passion—

The passion—central defining action of Jesus of Nazareth—his trial as an innocent man. His trial for our own humanness, where his divinity waits to show the glory of God. Was his suffering because of us? Are we the Jews who put him on trial? Are we Pilate who wash our hands of his death?

The terrible suffering and death of Jesus was the culmination of all his acts of love for us. He time and again has risked his life by healing on the Sabbath, questioning the leaders of the Jews in their temples, and raising Lazarus from the dead in a way that incites them against him. He is taken like a thief. He is treated like a criminal. Is this for all our thieving ways? For our criminal behavior toward each other?

Jesus’ death is for us. Jesus’ death is more than the snuffing of one life. His death stands for the death of sinfulness and the power of death over us. His death snuffs out death, not life. His death is our own death if we let it be. The death of mean-spiritness, the death of jealousy and greed. The death of working so much we don’t have time to love. The death of trying to control all our world out of anxiety.

Jesus did not die without purpose.Jesus did not suffer without first loving all the world and calling each of us to him in love. Love conquers jealousy and greed, and anxiety, if we accept this gift from Jesus.

The terribleness of this death that Jesus died carries the weight of the world with it so that love may have the last say.