Christus Victory: Three Scenes of Passion
Christus Victory: Three Scenes of Passion
Palm Sunday
John 11 & Luke 19
April 13th, 2025
“Passion” comes from the Latin Patior meaning to suffer, bear and endure.
Passion is extreme love not measured by want but by what. What am I willing to suffer, bear or endure to obtain it?
When an answered promise of God has been so far out into the future, it’s easy to miss when He is fulfilling it right in front of you.
In Passion Week, the magnitude of Jesus love and the full force of His conquering power was on full display.
Living in the realization of Jesus’ love and power will turn your whole life upside down.
Three scenes of Passion
Lazarus’ Tomb
The road into Jerusalem
The Temple Courtyard
Lazarus’ Tomb
John 11:32-38 (AMP) 32 When Mary came [to the place] where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her sobbing, and the Jews who had come with her also sobbing, He was deeply moved in spirit [to the point of anger at the sorrow caused by death] and was troubled, 34 and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him [as a close friend]!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the blind man’s eyes, have kept this man from dying?” 38 So Jesus, again deeply moved within [to the point of anger], approached the tomb. It was a cave, and a boulder was lying against it [to cover the entrance].
Jesus wept. John 11:35.
Noteworthy observations about Jesus and death.
Jesus is angry at what death steals.
Jesus is angry that death masquerades as the end.
Jesus is passionate about overturning the power of death.
Death is a marquee enemy of Jesus.
1 Corinthians 15:55-57 (NIV) “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
3 Truths About Death in Light of the Resurrection
Death is for real but it isn’t forever!
2 Corinthians 5:8 (NIV) “to be absent in the body is to present with the Lord.”
3 Truths About Death in Light of the Resurrection
Death is for real but it isn’t forever!
Death inevitable but it doesn’t come in its own time or on its own terms.
Psalm 139:16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2a There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die…
3 Truths About Death in Light of the Resurrection
Death is for real but it isn’t forever!
Death inevitable but it doesn’t come in its own time or terms.
Death is no longer lonely, dark or a dead end.
Psalm 23:6 (NIV) “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all my days and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!”
John 1:4-5 (NIV) 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Revelation 21:1-7 (NIV) Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.
Jesus was so angry at death that He died to defeat it. Death was defeated by the resurrection of Jesus; live fearlessly!
The Road to Jerusalem
Luke 19:41-42 (NIV) 41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.
Jesus acknowledges their rejection and it brings Him to tears but it doesn’t bring Him to a stop.
Rejections don’t stop Jesus’ salvation actions. Live in Hope for yourself and others!
The Temple Courts
Luke 19:45-46 (NIV) 45 When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling. 46 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”
Jesus alone stands between us and God. He stands not as a barrier but as a bridge! Cross the bridge!
Passion Recap
Death was defeated by the resurrection of Jesus. Live fearlessly! Live in the security of a life in Christ not in fear of death.
Rejections of Jesus won’t stop His salvation actions. Live with Hope for yourself and others!
Jesus alone stands between us and God; He stands as a bridge not a barrier! Cross the bridge! Don’t let a past experience block your forward movement.