Why does Christ have a Passion?
The Passion of Christ is the period before and following the crucifixion of Jesus in the New Testament. It includes Jesus’ pain, murder, deportation, arrest, trial, crucifixion and death.
It is the last period of Jesus’ life on this planet, when he gladly underwent untold suffering in order to pay for the sins of the world. These are the events that matter most: Jesus’ confession to Judas, his trial by Pontius Pilate, his being carried on the cross to Golgotha, and his crucifixion.
This Passion matters to Christians because it makes clear the death that Jesus ultimately paid in order to save us. It is a potent act of kindness, sacrifice and forgiving. The Passion, which is recalled in special occasions during Holy Week with its Good Friday services, prefigures the Easter Sunday celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. It is central to the Christian belief, it is the central gospel message of redemption through Christ’s sacrifice.