What is Passion?
The word ‘Passion’ refers to the intense suffering in Jesus’ life from the time of his betrayal and agony in the Garden of Gethsemane to his trial, torture and death.
Passion [noun:] agony, suffering, distress,
torment, torture
The word ‘Passion’ can also refer to the fervent love Jesus had for the people he came to save. The Bible tells us that ‘God so loved the world that he sent his only son so that no one would perish but all would come to eternal life’. Such fervent love endures all suffering and we know that Jesus ‘for the joy set before him, endured the cross, despising its shame’.
Passion [noun:] fervour, intensity, feeling, excitement, hope, longing, desire
Finally, the word ‘Passion’ can also encompass our response to God’s love and Jesus’ willingness to die for us. Telling the story of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection reminds us of how God entered our world of suffering and paved the way to new hope and a second chance. Jesus came to die on the cross and his cruel death and disgrace were in exchange for our new life. His suffering – his passion – is the measure of his love for us.
