THE PERSON OF THE PASSION
by Fleta Mathews
“I am the resurrection and the life.” John 11:25
“HE is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief … surely, HE hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows … HE was wounded for our transgression; HE was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace
was upon HIM; and with HIS stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way and the Lord hath laid on HIM the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:3-6)
Everywhere you turn, people are expressing their opinions of Mel Gibson’s blockbuster movie, The Passion of the Christ. Only time will tell the real results of this powerful portrayal of the sufferings of our Savior. I have never felt it feasible to depict the ghastly, gruesome treatment our Savior suffered to deliver our guilty souls from damnation. How can the extent of His agony be accurately handled by human hands? As great as the physical suffering He endured, I believe the emotional and spiritual
suffering was greater. Who can fully understand the depths of despair in Jesus’ words “My God, My God, way hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46)
Through His loving sacrifice He saves and secures all those who come to the Father through him (John 11:21-26). Praise God for His sacred suffering – his death and his resurrection! Thank God, He is neither on the cross nor in the grave. Rather, He is risen, ascended, AND coming again! Let us commit ourselves to serve Him faithfully as we look for “…that blessed hope and glorious appearing.” (Titus 2:13).