From: Ben Kelley
Subject: The Passion of the Christ, part 9

This message is being done about 2 years later than the first 8 installments on "The Passion of the Christ."  I really thought I had covered this, but as God reminded me of it today, I discovered I had not.  Though the thought may seem minor to you, to me it is absolutely astounding.

There is a passage of Scripture I have heard partially quoted many times: "This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it."  (Psalms 118:24 (NKJV)  When someone speaks this verse, often they are in a safe and comfortable situation.  Occasionally they may be facing a little adversity, but we need to see how and when it was used by Jesus.  During the event we call "The Last Supper", the Passover meal, when Jesus commanded His Disciples to practice what we call "Communion", symbolically partaking of the body and blood of our Savior, the statement is made: "And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives." (Matthew 26:30 (NKJV)  Jesus fulfilled all the law and did all the practices of the Feasts used by observant Jews.  One of those practices was the singing of hymns called the "Hallels", which translates as "praises."  Those songs they gave voice to were comprised of Psalms 113-118 (some say 114 or 115 through 118.  The song HE and His Disciples "went out singing" would have been the final one, "the Great Hallel", Psalm 118.  Now, remember, during this Passover meal, Jesus had told of His impending betrayal and sufferings.  His coming torments were fully and freshly on His mind, as is demonstrated by the repeated mention of His great sorrow and grief during the meal and later at the Garden of Gethsemane.  It is in this context that Jesus sang these words: "This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it."  Imagine, explicitly knowing the cruel tortures HE was heading towards, and saying "My Father made this day, and I am going to rejoice and be glad throughout it."!!!!!!  Jesus knew full well about His coming arrest, beatings, scourging, mocking, and crucifixion.  Although it was the Passover season, the pain and suffering would not "pass over" Him. HE had been telling the Disciples about them for at least 9 months prior to this.  HE was so grieved by what was coming that we are told, as they entered the Garden: "He began to be troubled and deeply distressed.  Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch."  He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him."  (Mark 14:33-35 (NKJV)  When Jesus said what we have recorded in these verses, it was like us saying, I'm so low I could just die."  The difference is, though, when HE said this, it was the absolute truth, not an exaggeration like we would do.  Jesus' approaching sufferings were so grievous, the heaviness it brought Him was enough to cause His death; HE stayed alive by His own determination to accomplish the Father's plan.  HE refused to "lay down and die" and relieve Himself of this awful suffering.

If any of us were to see something terrible approaching us, we would begin to moan and groan, doing everything we could to avoid it; yet, our Savior sang "My Father made this day, with all its suffering and pain; I am going to rejoice and be glad in it!"  Read the entire Psalm and you will hear Jesus repeatedly speaking praise to His Father, while rehearsing the fact that HE was going to be rejected and His enemies were going to attack Him as they swarmed Him like bees.

This verse we so glibly quote, "This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it,"  was not spoken by our Savior as HE walked in bright sunshine and joy; instead, HE was in the darkest night of the soul, knowingly marching towards His unimaginable sufferings; yet HE determined to rejoice and be glad in it!!   What an example Jesus has given us!

Are you facing darkness and suffering in your life?  Can you determine to follow Him Who is the Way?  Pray aloud, "This is the day the LORD has made, it's not a day that has slipped past Him.  He knows everything in it and is working it all together , I am going to rejoice and be glad in it!!  Thank you Father, for being the Awesome and Eternal God.  I trust You to bring me through all the fiery trials, whole and complete before You.  By Your will, Your Son took the terrible judgment for my sins, because of that, I will never taste the smoke of Hell or feel the torture of its flames, I will never be abandoned by You.  Praise Your Holy Name, because HE took my place, I wll never suffer the Passion of the Christ!"

Ben