It comes to this: you cannot kill God. The soldiers didn't arrest him—he gave himself to them. The authorities didn't kill him—he chose to die, to fulfill the Scriptures, the plan he and his Father had made from the foundation of the world. God intended to have Jesus crucified before time began.

So know this: we are the ones responsible for his death. We are the reason he gave his life. God knew his only begotten Son would die for you before he made you. Consider that fact for a moment.

A family is moving into the vacant house next to yours. Somehow you know that your son is going to befriend their drug-addicted daughter and save her life. But her drug dealers will kill him for it. Would you introduce them?

Your daughter calls to say that she is driving home from college this weekend with a friend. Somehow you know that this friend is going to drive drunk, and steer the car into oncoming traffic. At the last moment, your daughter will grab the wheel and save her friend's life, but she will die. Would you allow the trip?

A friend's kidneys have failed, and a transplant is his only hope of survival. The only possible donor is your son. Somehow you know that his kidney will save your friend's life, but your son will not survive the operation. Would you allow it?

Absurd questions, aren't they? Do you love anyone that much? Does someone love you that much? Actually, someone does.

You may know that Mel Gibson, the director and producer of The Passion of The Christ, appears in the movie himself. When Jesus' hand is stretched on the cross, a fist holds the spike which is driven into the Savior's flesh. The hand which holds that spike, the hand which crucifies the Lord, is Mel Gibson's. He was asked why he did it that way. His answer: because I killed him. We all did.

I understand and appreciate what he means. But we can't kill Christ. He chose to die, for you. Before he made you, he knew he would die for you. That's how much he loves you. The passion of the Christ is you.