Why Did Jesus Have To Die?

Pastor Bill Nichols - April 4, 2010

Introduction


If Jesus is God, or more theologically correct, the Son of God, then why did He have to die? As God, couldn't He have brought salvation to mankind without going to the cross? Could not Jesus have simply proven to the Jews that He was the promised Messiah by appealing to all of the prophecies that He had fulfilled? Couldn't He have convinced the religious Elite that He was the Son of God by performing miracles that had a direct impact on their own lives? Couldn't Jesus have debated with them about theology in such a way that they would recognize His superior wisdom and understanding of the Word of God? What proof might it have taken to convince the religious leaders, the people, and the Roman government that He was the Messiah, the Son of God and thus avoid the cross?

You know, as I think about that question, I am drawn to only one logical conclusion, based on the teachings of Scripture. Jesus could not, or maybe more correctly, would not avoid the cross.

I want to share with you just two passages of Scripture this morning that I believe help us to understand why Jesus had to die.


Please Read Ephesians 1:3-8


Ephesians chapter one tells us very simply that sometime way back in eternity past, even before God began creating our world and all that is in it, He knew that mankind would need a Savior from sin. So God devised a plan whereby we could be saved. This plan involved the second person of the Godhead, the Word, or as you and I know Him, Jesus.

In the Old Testament we have a religious system that was based on the ritualistic sacrifice of animals. The purpose of this system was to point to a better sacrifice, a more perfect sacrifice that God Himself would provide in His Son.

John 1:1-2 tell us that Jesus is eternal with God and that He is God. Colossians 1:16 tells us that

"by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earthÉ"

It would stand to reason then, if Jesus is eternal with God, and if Jesus is the agent of creation, that Jesus knew about this plan of redemption before He came to earth as the Christ child in Bethlehem. Before He left His glory in heaven, He knew He would die on the cross for the sins of mankind. As Jesus made his way to Jerusalem, knowing the fate that awaited Him, He took His disciples aside and said to them:

"We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!" (Matthew 20:18-19 NIV)

God's plan, from eternity past, required that Jesus die for your sin and mine.


Please Read Hebrews 10


The next passage of Scripture that I want to share with you this morning is found in Hebrews chapter 10. Beginning in chapter seven, the author contrasts the ministry of Jesus with that of Melchizedek the Priest in the Old Testament that Abraham paid a tithe to. It also contrasts the sacrificial system of the Old Testament with the sacrifice that Jesus offered of Himself. When we get to chapter ten we find a summary of why Christ's death is superior to all the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament, and it helps us to understand why Jesus had to die to pay for our sins.

Hebrew 10:1

"The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming--not the realities themselves. For this reason it (the law) can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship."

In other words, all those sacrifices for sin that were made in Israel's history were useless when it came to salvation. The only affect they had was to delay the punishment year after year.

Hebrews 10:12-14, referring to Jesus says:

"But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time He waits for His enemies to be made His footstool, because by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."

Did you hear that? By one sacrifice, the death of Jesus on the cross, you and I receive not only forgiveness of sin, but we are being made perfect forever. Without the death of Jesus, this would not be possible for two reasons. First, as I read previously, all those animal sacrifices never forgave the Israelites their sin, they just pushed them back for another year. Second, the law was only for the Jews, as Gentiles, those sacrifices did not even apply to us. When Jesus died on the cross, He died for the sins of all men, including us.


Please Read 1 John 2:2 (NIV)


"He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." "He is the one who turns aside God's wrath"


Conclusion


Why did Jesus have to die? The truth is, He did not have to. He is God. He could have let all of mankind perish because of sin, and spend eternity separated from the love of God. Jesus chose to die because He loves you and me. It is as simple as that. You can take it or leave it. You can accept the love and forgiveness that God has offered you through His Son Jesus, or you can reject that love. You see, God does not force anyone to believe in His Son. He does not force anyone to confess Jesus as Lord and Savior. He does not force anyone to believe that Jesus died for their sins, was buried and on the third day rose from the dead, conquering sin and death.

He gives everyone a choice between life everlasting and eternal death. He wants you to choose life, but He has given each one of us free will, and we all get to make that choice. What will you choose today?


Invitation and Prayer

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