This is part two of this article. Click here to read part one.

If there is any aspect of Jesus Christ we should learn, it is His passion. What drove Him, and still motivates Him throughout eternity? Can we ponder: why would He leave that glorious realm of Heaven to come to this earth? Why humble Himself, take to Himself human flesh, and be willing to go to the cross?

Jesus Christ Is Love

If there is anything we can know about the Lord—more than almost anything else—it is that He is a God of love. God is love… the Scripture tells us so, and we can see it in everything He does in eternity and on earth.

The New Testament is filled with the mention of His love toward others. Consider the rich young ruler who had come to the Lord seeking eternal life.

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.—Mark 10:21

As He stood and wept outside the grave of Lazarus, the Jews said: “Behold how he loved him…” (John 11:36).

John was called that disciple whom Jesus loved.

And of course, 1 John 4:19 tells us, “We love him, because he first loved us.”

It was His love that brought Him to earth, to walk in such humility, suffer such reproach, and love enough to sacrifice Himself for us—the Just for the unjust, to bring us to God.

Jesus Christ Is Compassion

Hand in hand, with His great love wherewith He loved us, is His compassion on the human race—so lost, so hopeless, so helpless.

We read also of His compassion time and time again.

“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”—Matthew 9:36

When a man with the disease of leprosy came seeking healing, Jesus was, “Moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean” (Mark 1:41b).

It would be hard for anyone to find an example of the Lord Jesus not responding with compassion. Even in His cleansing of the temple, He was showing great compassion for those who had been led astray by the carnal example of the religious establishment.

In this sin hardened, harsh day in which we live, we could stand to learn more about Jesus and His passion.

This is part two of this article. Click here to read part three or four.