That it's called Passion Week makes sense, doesn't it? As we've heard, what happens on Thursday alone conjures so much passion, so much emotion, and that's just one day of the week.  As we know, much more is to come. On that subject, I'd be remiss if I didn't invite you to a solemn time of silence here tomorrow from noon until three. More scripture will be read intermittently. Line by line, word by word, we'll be present to the crucifixion. With reverence, we'll sit in mourning, reflection, introspection, and in connection with the physical death our Savior and our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Tonight, however, we're talking about the word passion, and the word passion generates from the heart. It stirs us, moves us, gets us involved, particularly with what we've just heard.

Recall the very last lines of scripture read. Here we have the story of one young man who, after Jesus was betrayed by Judas and arrested by men carrying swords and clubs, follows along. The scripture tells us that this young man wears a long, linen shirt. Why is he wearing just that? Why is he following along, and, finally, why does he, like the disciples, desert Jesus and run away when the mob tries to grab him?

These questions do not have answers, but point us to what Jesus says at various times in all four gospels, which, in essence, is this. Everything that has happened in his lifetime, from the virgin birth to the king riding in on a borrowed donkey, from his being betrayed with a kiss to his death on a cross, everything happens according to the prophecy of scripture laid out long, long before that star shone that night in Bethlehem.

Yet as Jesus experienced each of these events—from the Last Supper on through the Cross on Good Friday—as he pressed on, faced evil, persevered, and fulfilled Scripture and His Father's will—have you ever wondered, in all that time, what was on Jesus' mind?

First, consider times when you face suffering or unfair treatment. What do you think about when you are weak or afraid or sick or tired or depressed or angry? What do you think about when you endure a heavy load? Do you think about God? Are your thoughts about God complimentary? Do you think He is fair? Do you lose patience with Him?  Do you ever wonder what God wants to do with your life?

About four years ago, the BBC conducted a poll where they asked ten thousand people in ten different countries what they thought about God. The poll was titled: "What The World Thinks of God." Wouldn't it be great if you could conduct a follow-up poll titled: "What God Thinks of The World?"

What does God think of the world? We have that answer. We have a record of what God thinks of the world. It's recorded right here in the Bible.

One of the central messages of the entire Bible is that God is thinking about you. Starting with the creation of Adam and Eve, in the life boat God made for Noah and his family, in the calling of Abraham and singling out of Israel, in the giving of the Ten Commandments and God's rescue through Moses, in the crossing of the Red Sea and in the covenants and the promise of the Messiah, we can see that God was thinking of us. Leading all the way up to the birth of the baby Jesus in Bethlehem, we can see what God is thinking of us. And we see it in Jesus' lifetime, too. We can see what God through Jesus is thinking of us through Jesus' words and his miracles. We can see it all the way to the Cross, through this very night and into Easter morning.

That is exactly what God is saying to us in Hebrews 12:2, which says, "(fix your) eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

God is saying to us in this Bible verse, "Take a long hard look at Jesus." He didn't enjoy the Cross. It says here he "endured" it, and he "despised the shame" of it. But what kept Jesus going? What kept Him on task? Was it the support of His disciples? No. Was it that Jesus somehow perfected mind over matter? No. Was it that Jesus had a supernatural pain tolerance? No, he, like us, was human. Was it just the sheer tenacity of Jesus character? No. What kept Jesus on task? What kept Him going? He thought of you.

There in the upper room, Jesus said, "Take and eat, take and drink, this is my body and my blood given for you, for the forgiveness of sins." He thought of you. He made a provision for you, to find a way in this crazy mixed-up world to find the healing, repair and recovery from the brokenness that we suffer from so much of the time because of the mortar shells of sin.

Think of all the "outs" Jesus could have taken. He could have said, "Nuts with this," or "Is this the kind of appreciation I get around here for what I am doing?" But that is not what Jesus said or did because He thought of you.

Earlier in the upper room Jesus said to the disciples, "You will all fall away. . ." And Peter says, "Even if all fall away, I will not." (Mark 14:27, 29) And Jesus says to Peter, "Let me clue you in Peter, tonight before the rooster crows you will disown me three times." (Mark 14:30) And Peter says, "No way Jesus, I will die first, before doing that." And then the events of that night unfold. Peter's life has been turned upside down. He's behind enemy lines in the courtyard of the high priest, warming himself at the fire, and he denies Jesus once, and then twice, and three times, and, as the words slips out of his mouth, a rooster crows in the distance. At that precise moment, Jesus turns around and locks eyes with Peter, and a chill races up Peter's spine.

I wonder how it felt for Jesus—at that moment—to look out and not to be able to count one friend. He could have denied us. When it felt like all of earth was turning against Him however, he turned toward us and remembered you and me. God promises this to us in Deuteronomy 31:6: "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

With 70, 000 angels close at hand to bail him out, why did Jesus do it? Yes, he did it to fulfill the prophecy. But there is something more here, something personal. Why did Jesus do it? Because he thought of you.

You are worth dying for. No matter how much it seems that God loves others, he couldn't possibly love anyone else more than He loves you. In this love, note this. God makes no promises that you will always "feel" loved, and He doesn't promise that your circumstances in life will make it "obvious" that you are loved. God simply promises: you are loved!

Simply and perhaps humorously put, if God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If God had a wallet, your photo would be in it. Our Creator sends you flowers every spring, and is in a sunrise every morning.

Again, recall the young man at the end of our last scripture reading. As he ran way naked of clothes, you can run from this truth: You are His masterpiece.

Sadly, not all masterpieces are recognized by all people. Sometimes, it takes years for others to appreciate not only their true beauty but also the beauty of others. But that doesn't mean that the beauty wasn't there in the first place because God put the masterpiece in you from the start.

Recognize the beauty around you. Recognize the beauty within you. You are here and let the spirit of Christ continue to envelope you because yes, there is a chair and a place setting at this table for you. Join him at the table. Come as a disciple who will not run, but tonight, journey ever more deeply in abiding faith that you, yes, you were on His mind the day he died.

At that one moment in time, when all history stopped and pointed to a single hill outside Jerusalem, where God appointed a Savior to pay the penalty for your sin and mine, Jesus died. And now, now, yes tonight, His face lights up when He looks at you.

No one can take your place in His heart. Why? Because He thought of you.

 Amen.

Have you heard, John?

What?

Peter continues. I've heard a rumor. He leans in closer to his friend. The high priests, they are looking for someone to betray Jesus. They may offer us silver coins.

John continues walking and says, "Betray him? Seriously? You have to be joking."

"No, I'm not joking. John, they may offer money."

John stops, looks Peter in the eye and asks, "Peter, you would never deny Jesus, would you?"

Peter looks to the ground and shakes his head. "No way. I would never say that I wasn't one with Jesus of Nazareth. I would never deny him."

"Good, Peter. Me either."

The two agree to keep going. They walk down one street and up another, looking for a man carrying a jar of water. When they do meet him, they follow him, just as Jesus had told them to do.

The three come to a two-story house. When Peter and John meet the owner of the house, they ask what Jesus tells them to ask. Without wasting time, the owner takes the two to an upper room. It was a large room, with stairways both inside and outside the home. To arrange for the meal, as Jesus instructed, Peter and John see to it that the table is set. They buy and prepare the Passover lamb, unleavened bread, sauces, and other ceremonial food and drink.  

I know what Peter and I talked about as we made our way to the city to prepare for the Passover meal. I know when we were looking for the man carrying a jar of water that I told Peter that I would never deny Jesus. Earlier, as we set the table in the upper room, I knew I would never deny Jesus. Me, deny Jesus?

Like you here tonight, there's a lot I do not understand. I mean, I've heard about Jesus' miracles, or I've seen them firsthand—yes, I have seen Jesus do more miracles than what we have recorded, and I don't understand how he does all he does, except to say that he loves us.

Jesus just told me that everyone would fall away. How can that be! He was so many followers! I mean, just this past Sunday, as he entered Jerusalem, there were throngs of people waving palm branches to the king!

And I don't know what he means when he says he will rise. I imagine, still today, others don't know what his rising means.

But I did declare that even if everyone falls away, even if everyone leaves his side, I will not. I'm sure when things are difficult for you, I'm sure that when there is uncertainty in your future—as there will be mine—that you here tonight would never, never deny Jesus.