For as long as I can remember, I have had a fascination for and a love of motor vehicles, and there are no signs of that diminishing.
That fascination extends to virtually all forms of transportation — as the song goes, “trains and boats and planes.” I continue to avidly read motoring magazines, as well as try to assist people in choosing the right vehicle for their needs.
At this time of the year, globally, there are many international motor shows, with companies spending vast sums of money to convince potential purchasers that their product(s) are the best.
I remember, as a young person, the rather fruitless discussions (arguments?) one engaged in to convince others that one’s own vehicle was better than that of the other person.
As I reflect on all of this, there was a great deal of passion in what one felt and what one believed about a motor car (of all things)!
No doubt there are multitudes of things that different people would feel deeply passionate about and will “go to the wall” over.
Something else that happens globally at this time of the year is the attention that is given to the momentous events at the end of the earthly life of Jesus Christ.
The culmination comes this year in the period from April 1-8, the week known as Holy Week.
It is all about Jesus, beginning with His remarkable entry into Jerusalem, then His death on the Cross, followed by His Resurrection.
All of these events set people talking, even arguing.
Some people were passionate, others were dismissive, in much the same way that people can be about their motor cars, trucks etc.
For those who are Christian, there should be nothing more important than to make the case for Jesus — to be willing to talk about Him, to “go to bat” for Him. Regrettably, all too often, it is something that we do not do (and I include myself in this).
Before we can go to bat for Jesus, we first need to know Him — how else could we get to be passionate about Him?
There is a wide variety of ways in which we can get to know Jesus, and space and time do not permit me to go into them all.
However, at this time of the year, we have a wonderful opportunity in the life of the church to hear again the recounting of the events leading up to the death of Jesus on the Cross and all that followed. The hearing comes from the reading of the concluding chapters of all four Gospels.
After the hearing, one might do well to ask the question “Who is He?” and “Does this, and can this make a difference to me?”
Jesus was passionate about people and died for them. The truth is He did it for you, and He did it for me.
May I encourage you to read any of these Gospels? My favourite is John.