Friday, April 2, 2010

TSMSS - Easter Passion



You'll find more songs at Amy's.



The Purpose of the Passion can be summed up as--a second chance! The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ provides a second chance for mankind to walk in relationship with the God who created them. The Scriptures make clear that through Adam sin entered the world, but through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ there is justification for every man, woman, boy and girl--if they only place their trust in Him.
The passion of Christ provides a second chance for each of us to be right with God by being forgiven of everything and anything we have ever done. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ gives you and me the ability to live life to its fullest because we can be free of guilt and be guided by a purpose that eclipses all that the world has to offer.
Mel Gibson, in his movie The Passion, captures both the need and the power of the second chance available to us through Christ. Jesus is praying in Gethsemane when the guards of the high priest arrive to arrest Him. The guards approach and ask for Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus identifies Himself and Judas comes up to Him and kisses Him, saying "Hail, Rabbi." Jesus asks Judas why he is betraying "the Son of Man with a kiss?" Judas is stunned and steps back.
The guards move in to arrest Jesus. Suddenly, Peter explodes into action, attacking the guards. Ultimately, Peter pulls out a sword and cuts off the ear of one of the guards. Peter is eventually subdued, and Jesus tells him to drop his sword, saying, "Those who live by the sword die by the sword." Then Jesus reaches down, picks up the guard's severed ear, and looking into the guard's eyes, heals him.
Jesus stands up, and the remaining guards move in and arrest Him--striking Him and handling Him roughly. They shove Him along the road and begin to leave. The healed guard is still on his knees, unmoving. His fellow guards tell him to get up and come along, but he cannot. The guard can no longer participate in anything that brings harm to the Christ.
He was left in the garden of Gethsemane to marvel at what the Savior had done for him. In the film, Peter, left behind, then comes face to face with the guard after Jesus healed his ear and touched his life. This is especially poignant, as within hours Peter would need that same forgiving touch of Jesus and a second chance.
This is the same Peter who had walked with Jesus (Matt 4:18-20). This is the same Peter who boldly declared that Jesus was the Son of God (Matt 16:13-17). This was the same Peter who committed to follow Jesus to the death (Matt 26:35). Despite all of this, Peter denied even knowing Jesus, not once, but three times (Matt 26:75). Was this the end for Peter? Was Peter beyond the forgiveness of Jesus Christ? Not at all! Following the resurrection, Jesus gave Peter a second chance (John 21:15-17).
The Purpose of the Passion is to give each of us a second chance. Whether you're like the guard who came face to face with Jesus for the first time or whether you're like Peter who had walked with Jesus in the past, declared who He is to others and even committed his life to Him, if something is separating you from the abundant life Jesus has obtained for you--a second chance awaits you. That's the Purpose of the Passion.

Take this opportunity for your second chance today, This Day. 

Peace and Joy,
Susan

Matthew 20:17-19 (NIV) 17Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, 18"We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death 19and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!"



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12 comments:

Debbie Petras said...

Every Easter Sunday, our music minister sings this song. I love it! By the end of the song when he says ...He's alive we all can't help but stand and praise.

Love this song. Happy Easter to you Susan.

Love,
Debbie

Marina@EBMR said...

Such a powerful powerful song by Don F. I'm posting the David Phelps version on my blog tomorrow....awesome piece

Thanks for Sharing!

Blessings to you and yours this Easter

-Marina

http://energizerbunnysmommyreports.blogspot.com/2010/04/at-cross-then-sings-my-soul-saturday.html

Michelle said...

This is so beautiful.
I've never seen it.
Thanks for sharing.

Mocha with Linda said...

This song takes me back to my high school days! I thought about posting it, and I'm glad you did.

Have a blessed Easter!

Willys and Elizabeth (Lizzie) said...

Happy Resurrection Weekend!

Thena said...

Such awesome music today.
Loving the older ones, that I haven't heard in years.
Happy Easter!!!!

KrippledWarrior said...

Bless you sister. Enjoy the SONRISE.

Tea with Tiffany said...

Stopping in to wish you an amazing Easter with those you love.

achildoftheking said...

Happy Resurrection Blessings, Susan.

Teresa @ Grammy Girlfriend said...

Just wanted to say Happy Easter....have loved reading all the Easter posts today.
Hope you will stop by ...remember I am drawing for $100 GOODIE BASKET tomorrow night...All it takes to enter is a comment..

gigi said...

Most beautiful! Have a blessed Easter.

Tammy Real-McKeighan said...

This is wonderful! He is alive indeed. He did it! Jesus did it! He saved us! He suffered all those terrible things then died to give us life! He conquered death and the grave and Satan!
He did it!
Praise God. He did it! May we never lose the wonder of what he did for us!