The Passion of Christ: A Love That Refuses to Abandon the World
This past Sunday was different. There was no traditional sermon.
Instead, we listened. We heard a story of a love that refuses to abandon the world.
To view the worship service from Sunday, March 29, click here.
It would be easy to keep this story at a distance. To say: this is what happened back then.
But as we listened, something became clear: This story keeps happening.
Again and again, we see what happens when systems feel threatened.
They move quietly.
They protect themselves.
They pass responsibility.
The chief priests hand Jesus to Pilate.
Pilate hands Jesus to the crowd.
The crowd hands Jesus to the soldiers.
No one fully owns what is happening.
And yet—it happens.
That pattern is not ancient history.
It is painfully familiar.
When Fear Shapes the Crowd
One of the most unsettling moments in the Passion is how quickly the crowd turns.
The same voices that once welcomed Jesus with cries of “Hosanna” now cry out, “Crucify him.” Why?
Fear.
Pressure.
Uncertainty.
Voices join together more easily than we expect.
And if we’re honest, we know this dynamic.
We know how easy it is to go along. To stay quiet. To let someone else take responsibility. To wash our hands and let ourselves off of the hook for what is happening.
The Passion story invites us to ask a hard question:
When have I gone along with the crowd instead of standing in the truth?
Betrayal, Denial, and Being Human
The story also shows us different kinds of failure.
Judas plans his betrayal.
Peter swears loyalty—and then denies Jesus three times.
Two very different paths.
But both are part of the story.
Which means this:
There is room in this story for us.
For our fear.
For our failure.
For the moments we don’t live up to who we want to be.
And still, the story does not end with abandonment.
The Ones Who Stayed
While many fled, some remained.
The women stood at a distance, watching.
Present.
Faithful.
They could not stop what was happening.
They could not fix it, but they stayed anyway.
And sometimes, that is what faith looks like.
Not fixing.
Not solving.
But staying.
Being present.
Where Is God in All of This?
At the cross, Jesus cries out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Those words are not distant.
They echo in hospital rooms.
In grief.
In desert heat.
In quiet prayers whispered when life feels overwhelming.
Sometimes they are yelled and accompanied by words we wouldn’t say in “polite” company.
And yet—even there—God does not turn away.
Not from suffering.
Not from injustice.
Not from death itself.
The Good News Hidden in the Darkness
It might sound strange to say that there is something good in this story.
There is nothing good about betrayal.
Nothing good about injustice.
Nothing good about suffering.
But there is something good here, the love that refuses to abandon the world.
Even here—God is present.
Even here—God is working.
Even here—God is holding on.
That is the heart of the gospel.
Holy Week Is an Invitation
On Ash Wednesday we began with an Invitation to Lent. Let us see Palm Sunday as another invitation. An invitation to not rush to Easter.
This story slows us down.
It asks us to pay attention.
To notice the patterns.
To see where this story is still unfolding.
And to choose how we will respond.
Will we pass responsibility?
Or will we tell the truth?
Will we follow the crowd?
Or will we stand in love?
Will we run away?
Or will we stay?
Weekly Spiritual Practice
Stay present. Tell the truth.
This week, choose one moment each day to:
- Notice where fear or pressure is shaping what people say or do
- Resist the urge to look away
- Speak truth gently and honestly when needed
- Or simply remain present with someone who is hurting
Faith this week is not about fixing everything. It is about staying—and not abandoning love.
Walking Toward Easter
As we move through Holy Week—through Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and toward Easter—this truth goes with us:
God does not abandon the world.
Not then.
Not now.
Not ever.
Remember that The Passion of Christ is a story of A Love That Refuses to Abandon the World.
