The Marks Post: The Passion

Sunday was Palm Sunday which began what the Church calls Holy Week when we recall the events that took place in the final days of Christ’s life.
Let’s take a moment and walk with Christ along this moment in our salvation history to better prepare ourselves for what comes next Sunday at Easter.
The Passion begins with Jesus being condemned to death by Pilate. Jesus was not condemned for anything he did. He was condemned to die for what we do so He could save us from our sins. Earlier in the Gospel passages, we read about the Pharisees bringing a woman caught in adultery before Christ. The Gospel says he is doodling in the dirt. Some believe He is writing the woman’s sins in the dirt, but I believe He is writing our names.
After being condemned, Jesus takes up His cross. This is an example for us to take up our own crosses as a way of mortification. Christ Himself told us to take up our crosses daily and follow Him.
The way to Calvary was not easy. Christ fell three times along the way. Our way to seeing Him in Heaven is not easy. We fall. But, we get up again like Christ.
After Jesus fell the first time, He meets His mother, our mother, on the road. Mary, like then, is always with us to greet us on the way and give us that tender voice of encouragement and grace. Do we notice it amongst on the noise in our lives?
At this point, the weight of the cross is bearing down more and more. A Cyrenean named Simon is dragged from the crowd to help Christ carry His cross. Who are the people in our lives Christ has placed to help us carry our cross? The opposite is true too. In whose lives are we placed to help them carry their cross?
Christ continues His steps and is then greeted by Veronica who gently wipes His face of the blood, sweat, and dirt. This act of love causes His face to appear on the cloth. Do people see Christ’s face in us because of our gentle acts of love?
It is getting later in the day when Christ falls for a second time. He gets up and is faced with the women of Jerusalem. They weep for Him, but He tells them to weep for sins... our sins.
Steps away from Calvary, Christ falls for a third time. He stumbles up and continues forward. At Calvary, He is stripped of His clothing. Isaiah’s prophecies of the suffering servant come to fruition. David’s words in the Book of Psalms also become fulfilled as David wrote, “They divided my garments among them, and upon my vesture they cast lots.”
Jesus is then nailed to the wood of the cross. While hanging on the cross, He utters his last seven words. I could write a whole column on His final words, but I encourage you to take a moment and reflect on them yourselves. They are: “Father, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing;” “Truly, I say to you this day you shall be with me in Paradise;” “Woman, behold your son... Behold your mother;” “Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani (My God, my God, why have you forsaken me);” “I am thirsty;” “It is accomplished;” and “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
He then expired.
Christ’s lifeless body is then taken down and placed into the arms of His mother before being laid into the tomb. But, as we know, this is not the end. He rose from the dead on the third day and will come again.
When He comes again, will we be like Mary Magdalene and think He is the gardener, or will we believe it is Christ, the Son of God?