The Passion of Christ essentially talks about the intense love of Christ for humanity. His suffering, pain, and death as a result of his love.
The film The Passion of Christ from which this topic was inspired shows us the passion of Christ at the last moment of his life. In this series, we shall be looking at some of the key events that feature in the last moment of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Why is this study important at this time?
The scripture Act 1:1-3 "The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God" shows us what Jesus did after His death and resurrection. He was appearing to His followers for forty days. The bible did not give us a specific account of all that he did during this period. A lot would have happened during this period. As we remember the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ we must know that the same thing that He did after his resurrection is happening now. We are still within the 40 days after Easter Sunday, Jesus is still appearing to many.
As we study His passion it will bring us into the spiritual connection that will trigger his appearance to us this season.
At the last moment of His life (12 hours to death) as depicted in the film we saw four important events that happened:
1. Jesus moment at Gethsemane Mathew 26:37-46.
2. The betrayal Mathew 26:47-57.
3. His trial and punishment.
4. The road to the crucifixion and on the cross.
Jesus moment at the Gethsemane
Mathew 26:37-46, LMark 14:32-42, John 18:1-14.
What are the key happenings in this event?
1. He went to his secret place of prayer at the most challenging period of His life. Gethsemane was a garden that he often resorts to pray. John 18:1-2.
Reflection- Jesus has a place of resort. What or where is your own place of resorts? Where do you go at your challenging times?
2. He asked the disciple to watch and pray. To watch and pray means to be sensitive to happenings around you while you pray. Both are used in critical situations. Soldiers are permanently expected to be in this position. But the disciples failed woefully in this assignment.
Reflection- As soldiers of Christ are you awake to watch and pray? When last did you keep a personal vigil to watch and pray? Are you a prayer machine that only prays without watching?
3. The disciples could not watch and pray at the critical moment of the life of Jesus. They were both weak in body and Spirit. It was a sign of disconnection.
Reflection- The devil our adversary is going to and fro looking for whom to devour it will be a disaster if he found you weak in body and Spirit.
4. Jesus prayed earnestly for the cup to pass over him but accepting that the will of God be done. It is a sign that he was humane. However, even in his weakness, he was still praying for the will of God. Luke 22:44.
Reflection- Do you pray your will without considering your makers will? God's will may appear negative, or painful sometimes but it is always the best for you.
5. An angel came to strengthen him in the course of the prayer. This showed that God answered his prayer because Angel's always come to deliver answers to our request. God gave him what he needs to go through the period since he prayed for the will of God. Luke 22:43.
Reflection- There are cup we must drink if we must be great, God only needs to strengthen you to pull through. God answers all prayer, but he may not answer the way you want him to.
Jesus showed us his passion at Gethsemane as a God who came as man, thinks like a man, has feelings as a man and submitted to the father's will only for Love. Discover His passion today!
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