“the most important aspect of the gospels is the intentional focus on the final eight days of jesus’ earthly ministry . . . referred to by many as ‘the passion of the christ.’. . . the term ‘passion’ is connected to the latin word passio, which means suffering. . . . because jesus is who he claimed to be we can look to him with confidence and hope. . . . jesus relied on the old testament to clarify his mission and ministry. . . . we know the cross was not an accident or triumph of evil; it was the preordained will of god, and it was foretold in the old testament.”