Impassioned

Today is Good Friday.  This is the day that Jesus was crucified on the cross alongside sinners even though he had no sin.  He carried the sin of the world on his shoulders so that God's plan could be complete.  A plan to save His people from death.  A plan to provide a way for His children to be seen as righteous and clean.

I sat all day thinking about "I" words.  Immanuel.  I Am.  But Impassioned jumped off the page when I saw it.  Impassioned means passionate, ardent, fervent, fervid, showing intense feeling.  The meaning of impassioned makes me think about the moments before Jesus was arrested in the garden.  Jesus went off to pray as the disciples kept watch.

"Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

    Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is                             possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”  Matthew 26:38-39

Even as Jesus knew the hour was coming where he would be handed over by his betrayer, he still cried out fervently to God.  He was impassioned in his prayer to his Father.  And even though Jesus knew what God's Will for his life was, he still cried out one last plea. 

"After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.  I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.  And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.  John 17:1-5

Jesus was overcome with emotion because of the sin he carried for us.  He was overcome with emotion because of the sacrifice He had to bear.  And do we acknowledge that sacrifice the way we should?  Are we impassioned by what happened to Jesus?

"From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.  About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)...And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” Matthew 27:45-46, 50-54

To the very end Jesus remained impassioned for His people.  Even the sinners on each side of Him, he prayed over.  Even as He was hanging on that cross, we were on his heart.  There was never a moment where Christ did not trust God's plan and purpose.  So as we sit here in these scriptures on this Good Friday.  I want you to be reminded about how much Christ has given for you.  Open your eyes and see the love your Father has for you and then thank Him.  Praise Him for the gift of eternal life He has provided. 


Lord, thank you for Your sacrifice for our sins.  Thank you for living a life so impassioned by love for us that You would die on a cross for our eternal life and forgiveness.  As we sit and are reminded of that walk You took to the cross, let us be overwhelmed with love and gratitude.  The work You came to complete is finished.  Thank You Lord for defeating sin and death so that we may live eternally with You.