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Why Did Jesus Have to Die?
Learn the crucial reasons why Jesus had to die
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When we are "in Christ Jesus" we are covered by his
blood through his sacrificial death, our sins are paid for, and
we no longer have to die an eternal death
- we receive eternal life through Jesus Christ - this is why Jesus had to die.
By Mary Fairchild
Why did Jesus have to die?
This incredibly important
question involves a matter central to Christianity, yet effectively answering
it is often difficult for Christians.
We will take a careful look at
the question and lay out the answers offered in Scripture.
But before we do, it's
essential to understand that Jesus clearly understood his mission on earth —
that it involved laying down his life as a sacrifice.
In other words, Jesus knew it was his Father's will for him to die.
Christ proved his
foreknowledge and understanding of his death in these poignant passages of
Scripture:
Mark 8:31 - “Then Jesus
began to tell them that he, the Son of Man, would suffer many terrible things
and be rejected by the leaders, the leading priests, and the teachers of
religious law. He would be killed, and three days later he would rise again.” (NLT) (Also, Mark 9:31)
Mark 10:32-34 – “Taking the twelve disciples
aside, Jesus once more began to describe everything that was about to happen to
him in Jerusalem. ‘When we get to Jerusalem,’ he told them, ‘the Son of Man
will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They
will sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans. They will mock him,
spit on him, beat him with their whips, and kill him, but after three days he
will rise again.’" (NLT)
Mark 10:38 – “But Jesus answered, ‘You don't
know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of sorrow I
am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I
must be baptized with?’" (NLT)
Mark 10:43-45 – “Whoever wants to be a
leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be
the slave of all. For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to
serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many." (NLT)
Mark 14:22-25 – “As they were eating,
Jesus took a loaf of bread and asked God's blessing on it. Then he broke it in
pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘Take it, for this is my body.’
And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them,
and they all drank from it. And he said to them, ‘This is my blood, poured out
for many, sealing the covenant between God and his people. I solemnly declare
that I will not drink wine again until that day when I drink it new in the
Kingdom of God.’"(NLT)
John 10:17-18 - "Therefore My
Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one
takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and
I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father." (NKJV)
Does It Matter Who Killed Jesus?
This last verse also explains
why it is pointless to blame the Jews or the Romans — or anyone else for
killing Jesus.
Jesus, having the power
to "lay it down" or "take it
again," freely gave up his life.
It truly doesn't
matter who put Jesus to death. The ones who nailed the
nails only helped carry out the destiny he came to fulfill by laying down
his life on the cross.
The following points from
Scripture will walk you through answering the question: Why did Jesus have to
die?
Why Jesus Had to Die
God Is Holy
Although God is all merciful,
all powerful and all forgiving, God is also holy, righteous and just.
Isaiah 5:16 - “But the LORD
Almighty is exalted by his justice. The holiness of God is displayed by his
righteousness.” (NLT)
Sin and Holiness are Incompatible
Sin entered the world
through one man's (Adam's) disobedience, and now all people are born with
a "sin nature."
Romans 5:12 – “When Adam sinned, sin
entered the entire human race. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to
everyone, for everyone sinned.” (NLT)
Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned; all fall
short of God's glorious standard.” (NLT)
Sin Separates Us from God
Our sin completely separates
us from the holiness of God.
Isaiah 35:8 – “And a highway will be
there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey
on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go
about on it.” (NIV)
Isaiah 59:2 – “But your
iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face
from you, so that he will not hear.” (NIV)
Sin's Punishment Is Eternal Death
God's holiness and justice
demand that sin and rebellion be paid for by punishment. The only penalty or
payment for sin is eternal death.
Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is
death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ
Jesus our Lord.” (NASB)
Romans 5:21 – “So just as sin ruled over all
people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful kindness rules instead,
giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (NLT)
Our Death Is Insufficient to Atone for Sin
Our death is not sufficient
to atone for sin because atonement requires a perfect, spotless
sacrifice, offered in just the right way.
Jesus, the one perfect
God-man, came to offer the pure, complete and everlasting sacrifice to remove,
atone, and make eternal payment for our sin.
1 Peter 1:18-19 – “For you know that
God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your
ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. He paid for you
with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” (NLT)
Hebrews 2:14-17 – “Since the children
have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he
might destroy him who holds the power of death — that is, the devil, and free
those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely
it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. For this reason he
had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a
merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make
atonement for the sins of the people.” (NIV)
Only Jesus Is the Perfect Lamb of God
Only through Jesus Christ can
our sins be forgiven, thus restoring our relationship with God and
removing the separation caused by sin.
2 Corinthians 5:21 – “God made him who
had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness
of God.” (NIV)
1 Corinthians 1:30 – “It is because of
him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that
is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” (NIV)
Jesus Is Messiah, Savior
The suffering and the glory of
the coming Messiah was foretold in Isaiah chapters 52 and 53.
God's people in the Old
Testament looked forward to the Messiah who would save them from their
sin.
Although he did not come in
the form they expected, it was their faith which looked forward to his salvation that saved them.
Our faith, which looks backward to his act of salvation, saves us.
When we accept Jesus' payment
for our sin, his perfect sacrifice washes away our sin and restores our right
standing with God. God's mercy and grace provided a way for our salvation.
Romans 5:10 – “For since we were
restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his
enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life.” (NLT)
When we are "in
Christ Jesus" we are covered by his blood through his
sacrificial death, our sins are paid for, and we no longer have to die
an eternal death.
We receive eternal life
through Jesus Christ. This is why Jesus had to die.
Mary
Fairchild
Christianity
Expert
Education
General
Biblical Studies, Interdenominational Christian Training Center
Introduction
Christian
minister since 1988 with General Biblical Studies and Missions degrees
Full-time
writer and editor specializing in Christianity, Bible study, and Christian
living since 2005
Author
and general editor of "Stories of Calvary"
Experience
Mary
Fairchild has worked full time in Christian ministry since 1988. While in Bible
School, she worked for a major city church as the assistant to the dean of
Christian education. Next, Mary served on the foreign mission field in Brazil
from 1990-1994. Upon returning to the States, Mary became a pastoral assistant
and office manager for a large intercity church.
Mary
worked as the general editor on several Christian books and booklets for
Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg from 2006 until 2017. Recently, Mary joined the
team of writers for GotQuestions.org, where she provides responses to
questions related to the nature of God, the Scriptures, salvation, and
other spiritual topics.
Education
Mary
received a General Biblical Studies degree from an Interdenominational
Christian Training Center in Central Florida. She also holds a Missions degree
from Youth With A Mission Discipleship Training School.
Publications
"Stories
of Calvary" (2008, Winepress Publishing)
"Exposing
Samson" (General Editor, 2009, Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg)
A
Message from Mary Fairchild
As a
writer, my greatest passion is to study and expound on the Word of God.
I’ve made it my goal to offer practical, applicable resources for living the
Christian faith with authenticity in today's world. Inspired by the words
of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:12, I’ve adopted this purpose:
"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."
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Religions and Dotdash
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https://www.learnreligions.com/why-did-jesus-have-to-die-700645
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