Significance of Christ's Passion in Christian Theology
The "Passion of Christ" refers to the suffering of Jesus, culminating in his betrayal, crucifixion, and death [4]. The term "passion" in this context signifies suffering, as seen in Acts 1:3, which speaks of Christ's suffering [2]. This suffering is not merely a historical event but holds profound theological significance, serving as the foundation for Christian understanding of redemption, God's love, and the nature of discipleship.
Jesus's passion was a necessary and sovereign purpose of God for the Messiah [4]. The Old Testament concept of God includes a "passion" or "zeal" that identifies Him as a personal deity, passionate for His word and covenant people, leading to both punishment for sin and restoration for repentance [3]. This divine passion is ultimately expressed in Christ's sacrificial love [6]. The Gospels record Jesus predicting his passion multiple times, emphasizing that he "must suffer before entering his glory" [4]. These predictions also served as lessons on the cost of discipleship, indicating that followers would face similar suffering [4].
The Passion of Christ is understood as the ultimate demonstration of God's love for humanity [1]. Paul highlights Christ's love in offering himself as a sacrifice, a love that motivates and models Christian love [6]. This sacrificial act is described using Old Testament imagery of a pleasing aroma to God, signifying a complete and acceptable offering [6]. The depth of Christ's love, as shown in his willingness to die for humanity, is considered far greater than ordinary human love [9]. This love is not based on human merit but is a manifestation of God's great and unfailing love for perishing sinners [1].
Theologically, Christ's passion is central to the concept of redemption. John Calvin, in his commentary on Philippians, links the power of Christ's resurrection to the completion of redemption, encompassing his death [5]. The shedding of Christ's blood on the cross is seen as fulfilling the demands of the Mosaic Law, which required blood for the remission of sins [7]. Through his passion and death, Christ accomplished what the law foreshadowed, establishing the means for forgiveness and salvation [7].
For believers, the passion of Christ has transformative implications. The Christian life is founded on the experience and personal knowledge of God's grace and love in Jesus Christ [9]. Adam Clarke, in his commentary on 2 Thessalonians, states that the ultimate goal of Christian calling is for Jesus's passion and death to be magnified in the lives and happiness of believers [8]. This means reflecting Christ's glorious excellence and being adorned with the graces of his Spirit, demonstrating salvation from sin [8]. The believer's life is made complete by being filled with the fullness of Christ, conforming to his image and reflecting God [9]. The suffering of Christ, therefore, is not just a historical event but an ongoing source of spiritual power and a model for Christian living.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love of God, The — Is a part of his character -- 2Co 13:11; 1Jo 4:8. Christ, the especial object of -- Joh 15:9; 17:26. Christ abides in -- Joh 15:10. Described as Sovereign. -- De 7:8; 10:15. Great. -- Eph 2:4. Abiding. -- Zep 3:17. Unfailing. -- Isa 49:15,16. Unalienable. -- Ro 8:39. Constraining. -- Ho 11:4. Everlasting. -- Jer 31:3. Irrespective of merit -- De 7:7; Job 7:17. Manifested towards Perishing sinners. -- Joh 3:16; Tit 3:4. His saints. -- Joh 16:27; 17:23; 2Th 2:16; 1Jo 4:16. The destitute. -- De 10:18. The cheerful giver. -- 2Co 9:7. Exhibited in The g”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Passion — Only once found, in Acts 1:3, meaning suffering, referring to the sufferings of our Lord.”
- Zechariah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Zechariah 8:2: 8:2 Passion (or jealousy, zeal) is a basic element of the Old Testament concept of God (see also 1:14). God’s passion identifies him as a personal deity, not an abstract natural force. God is passionate for his word and for the people of his covenant. His passion results in punishment for sin, restoration for repentance, and reward for the pursuit of righteousness.”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 16:21: 16:21-28 Jesus, now officially recognized by his disciples as the Messiah, begins to reveal a startling aspect of his mission: He must suffer before entering his glory (16:21-23), and those who follow him will meet a similar fate (16:24-28). 16:21 This is the first of three predictions of Jesus’ passion—his suffering through betrayal, crucifixion, and death (see also 17:22-23; 20:18-19). Each prediction gives a lesson on the cost of discipleship (16:24-27; 20:20-28). • That he would suffer was God’s sovereign and necessary purpose for the Messiah (see 17:12).”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 16.7: of faith — that it is the knowledge of Christ, and that, too, not bare or indistinct, but in such a manner that the power of his resurrection is felt. Resurrection he employs as meaning, the completion of redemption, so that it comprehends in it at the same time the idea of death. But as it is not enough to know Christ as crucified and raised up from the dead, unless you experience, also, the fruit of this, he speaks expressly of efficacy. 188 188 “ De l’efficace ou puissance ;” — “Of the efficacy or power.” Christ”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 5:2: 5:2 Christ’s love is shown especially in his offering himself as a sacrifice for us (cp. 5:25; John 15:13; Rom 5:8). Christian love is motivated by and modeled after Christ’s sacrificial love (see Phil 2:5-8). • Paul draws on Old Testament imagery, where the smell of a burning sacrifice was a pleasing aroma to God (see Lev 1:9; 2:2; cp. Rom 12:1).”
- Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 3:31: Do we then make void the law through faith? - 1. By law here we may understand the whole of the Mosaic law, in its rites and ceremonies; of which Jesus Christ was the subject and the end. All that law had respect to him; and the doctrine of faith in Christ Jesus, which the Christian religion proclaimed, established the very claims and demands of that law, by showing that all was accomplished in the passion and death of Christ, for, without shedding of blood, the law would allow of no remission; and Jesus was that Lamb of God which was slain from the foundation of t”
- 2 Thessalonians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Thessalonians 1:12: That the name of our Lord - This is the great end of your Christian calling, that Jesus who hath died for you may have his passion and death magnified in your life and happiness; that ye may show forth the virtues of him who called you from darkness into his marvellous light. And ye in him - That his glorious excellence may be seen upon you; that ye may be adorned with the graces of his Spirit, as he is glorified by your salvation from all sin. According to the grace - That your salvation may be such as God requires, and such as is worthy of his grace to co”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 3:19: 3:19 May you experience (literally know) the love of Christ: The whole Christian life is based on the experience and personal knowledge of God’s grace and love in Jesus Christ (see Rom 12:1). • it is too great to understand fully: Christ’s love is much greater than ordinary human love (see Rom 5:6-8). • The believer’s life is made complete when it is filled with all the fullness of life and power by the presence of Christ within (see Eph 1:23; Gal 2:20; Col 1:27). The believer then is conformed to his image and reflects God (see Eph 4:14, 24; 5:1-2; Rom 8:29; 2”