Passion

Defining Passion

Over the past week I have been on Induction training at work (although I have been with my new company now for six months).  In one of the talks during the training, the word passion was mentioned.  It was suggested that the definition of the word passion is found within the word.

          I

Pass           On

The final hours of Christ’s life before he died on the cross are traditionally referred to as the Passion of Christ.  My question is this: Does the above definition (I pass on) still hold for the Passion of Christ and if so, what is being passed on?

By trying to answer the second half of the question, we will get the answer to first part of the question.

What is being passed on?

1. Love – The message of the Passion is primarily about love.  There is the love of God “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 and a response to this love by mankind to also pass on the love to others, “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.” - 2 Corinthians 5:14
2. Sin and Forgiveness – In the Passion of Christ, mankind passes on our sin to Jesus on the cross.  Jesus is actively paying the price for all the lies, robberies, thoughts of hatred, murders, rapes, child abuses as he hangs on the cross.  At the same time, forgiveness for these awful things in our lives is coming back the other way and be passed on to us.
3. Example - “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
     “He committed no sin, 
      and no deceit was found in his mouth.”When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.  “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”  For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”- 1 Peter 2:22-24.  Jesus passes on his example during the Passion.  The response is should not be a passive one, but an active one.  When we are tempted to follow our natural instincts of being vengeful, rude, abusive, quick tempered, the cross provides us with another way and example to follow.  A way where we trust in God’s supreme justice and not in our own efforts to bring about justice.

Conclusion

Does the Passion of Christ fit to the definition of “I Pass on”?  Even in this brief discussion, we can see that it certainly does.  The question is now over to us, how can we pass on the love, forgiveness and example of Christ as we live our daily lives?

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