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People of the Passion
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People of the Passion

the big idea:

Two thousand years after Jesus’ life and death we feel so far removed from the individuals who played a role in those events that we can’t imagine we share anything in common with them.

Yet, a closer look reveals that their struggles, their questions, their fears, and their temptations really are incredibly contemporary.

The People of the Passion: what can we learn about them? What can we learn from them? What do they teach us about ourselves and our own faith struggles? During the 40 days leading up to Easter we going to take a closer look at the people of the passion, examining their faith struggles and our own.

In this series we’re going to learn that we are more alike than we realize, not only in our faults and failings, but also in our need for a Savior and the redemption only he can bring.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Hebrews 4:15

The Followers

Think of the cheers of Palm Sunday: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” Then think of the jeers five days later: “Crucify him!” We may shake our heads. Yet, how easily we can get dragged along with the wrong crowd!

The Thinker – Pilate

When it comes to making the big, all-important decision, how often haven’t we got caught up in the over-thinking it game? And instead of doing the right thing, we gave in to fear.

The Born Leader – Peter

We think we’re so strong. Yet, when put to the test, how often we come up falling short! When we come up short, however, may God give us the strength to be more like Peter than Judas.

The Silent Believer – Nicodemus

We believe. Yet how many people around us have no idea that we confess Jesus as our one and only Savior? What keeps us from speaking up and sharing our faith with others?

The Schemers – The Sanhedrin

What moves us to hate people so intensely that we’ll go to any length to hurt or even destroy them? How easily we can rationalize along with the schemer inside each one of us.

The Opportunist – Judas

We may be quick to vilify Judas, the infamous Betrayer. But, what would you have done as Jesus’ leadership seemed to falter and it looked like you might be about to go down with the ship?