Lesson 13: The Passion of Christ and the Compassion of Christ
Easter Message
By David Chaltas, Kentucky Division Chaplain

Lesson 13: The Passion of Christ and the Compassion of Christ Easter Message
By David Chaltas, Kentucky Division Chaplain

On March 20, 2005 I was at the Siege of Bridgeport, Alabama and attended two church services. Both services were filled with passion and compassion for their fellow man. Both parsons had the last name of Smith. The younger chaplain was filled with youthful vigor and was passionate regarding his calling. His tears were genuine and he asked that as we travel to different reenactments we remember our calling as Christians. The older parson was filled with compassion and talked of the cup that is given to us versus the cup we wish to drink. Both made me think about the passion of Christ, the compassion of Christ and his sufferings.

There He hung, a man of sorrows, between the heavens and earth on that terrible Good Friday having been beaten and afflicted by man. He was wounded for our transgressions (Isaiah 53: 5) but He opened not His mouth (Isaiah 53: 7). When I read this chapter again I realized the significance of the messages by the parson and chaplain along with verse 7. He had but to open His mouth and the torment would have ended (but so would the offering of salvation through Christ). He could have abandoned His compassion; He could have drunk from His cup and not His Fathers at anytime. Yet He lingered on the cross. And He suffered for our iniquities but was a willing vessel. Now that is compassion as well as passion! Even with such intense pain that this fielder cannot fathom, He also cried out to His Father to “Forgive them for they know not what they do (Luke 23: 34).” Is it not wondrous that our Lord is in the forgiving business instead of the justice business?! And as he tarried in the pains of the flesh He once again demonstrated the most remarkable gift of all: forgiveness for those who believe on Him. Hanging beside our Lord were two men. Both were convicted thieves, both were found guilty and both were being executed for their crimes. One chose to embrace the dark one while the other asked Jesus to, “Remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” The man had faith and it was immediately rewarded! “Verily, verily I say unto you, today, you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23: 43) Blessed assurance! I know my Redeemer lives and reigns with compassion as well as passion!

This Easter what will you do with the cup offered unto you? Will you drink from the one offered as did the thief that sits beside of Christ or will you drink from your own as did the one unrepentant of his sins? What is your will? Will you follow His will? Just how deep is your compassion for Christ? What is the strength of your passion for Christ? Can you forgive your enemies and pray for them? Can you help another even though you are suffering as well? We know that in John 15:13 the Bible tells us that, ”Greater love hath no man that this than to lay down his life for his friends.” Can we continue walking in along the old path, seeking guidance and praying to our God in good times and well as bad? That is the question of the choices of cups, the passion and the compassion that we face everyday. Let us pray that we can ask our Heavenly Father for strength to endure the cup of bitter water that each of us must sip from during sometime in our lives. “He will not leave us as orphans. He will come to us” (John 14:18) and with that knowledge can we not rejoice simply in the fact that our Redeemer lives? May the peace that passeth all understanding be yours forever and a day. Happy Easter brothers and sisters.