Why did Jesus Die?
He died as part of God's PlanThe New Testament writers tell us that the death of Jesus was not some dreadful mistake, but part of God’s plan and purpose. God was using the wickedness of men to provide a way of forgiveness for those who would turn from sin. Amazingly, those who crucified Jesus would find that forgiveness was available to them too! Their dreadful crime made a way by which even their sin could be forgiven! Later in this study we shall see how the death of Jesus makes forgiveness possible.
God predetermined that Jesus should be killedGod had decided beforehand that Jesus should die.
Act 2 v23This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.
What is significant in this passage?
God used man's hatred in His divine planGod never made people hate Jesus, but He used the hate that was in man to bring about His purposes. The perfect life of Jesus made the imperfections of others more obvious. So they hated Jesus, and preferred to kill Him rather than have their own sinful ways exposed by His light. Jesus was a light in a dark world. Men tried to extinguish the light, preferring the darkness of their sin.
John 3 v19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
God used man's envy in his divine planAlthough many people hated Jesus, there were many others who were attracted to Him. His popularity was envied by the rulers and was another reason why He was hated. The Roman governor knew they envied Jesus, and so he wanted to release Him.
Matthew 27 v17-18So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them,"Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.
Historic Note Crucifixion was a slow and painful death.The victim’s hands and feet were nailed to a cross.Jesus was badly whipped before He was crucified.
The death of Jesus was no accident, nor was it the end. God was permitting men to do evil in order to achieve the greatest possible good, as the New Testament writers explain in the sections that follow.
He died as a punishment for SinGod is just. As an earthly judge cannot ignore crime, so God cannot ignore the bad things we do. Therefore sin must be punished, and God’s punishment for sin is death.
But the perfection of Jesus not only makes Him the perfect judge (Studies 2 and 3), it also makes Him the perfect substitute. Because He had no sin of His own, He was able to bear the sin and punishment of others.
Jesus suffered in the believer's placeThe just and holy Jesus suffered for the unjust, to bring them back to God.
1 Peter 3 v18For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,
Failure to keep God’s law brings the curse of God. Jesus bore this curse in the place of every believer.
Galatians 3 v13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written:"Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."
Jesus was God's LambBefore Jesus came, lambs and other animals were sacrificed. Sin was ceremonially transferred to them, and they were killed. They died in place of others – the innocent in place of the guilty. This was a picture of what Jesus would do. Jesus is called The Lamb of God because He died, like a lamb, in place of others. Animals can never take away sin, but the death of Jesus takes away sin once and for all.
John 1 v 29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said,"Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Lambs were also sacrificed at the Jewish Passover. The feast commemorated the day when God spared (passed over) the first-born son in every home painted with lamb’s blood. The lamb died in place of the son. Jesus is the Passover Lamb who died in the place of every believer.
He died to reconcile believers to GodThe teaching of the New Testament is clear – sin angers a holy God, so that man is now God’s enemy. But Jesus died in the place of believers in order to reconcile them to God. They are no longer God’s enemy because their sin has been punished in Christ and removed.
Jesus' death reconcilesNow that believers have been put right with God they can rejoice.
Romans 5 v10-11For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
No condemnation remainsThere is no more condemnation for believers. God is now their friend. They have nothing to fear from the Day of Judgement.
Romans 8 v1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Only true believers are reconciled to God. We shall obtain a clearer understanding of what it means to believe when we come to Study 6.
Reconciliation at a priceIt cost Jesus a great deal to reconcile believers to God. Jesus told us that His death was a “ransom for many”. A ransom is a sum of money that is paid to buy someone back. Kidnappers often demand a ransom. Jesus gave His life in place of sinners as a ransom to redeem believers back to God. Believers are no longer their own since they are bought by Jesus, and must now live for Him.
1 Peter 1 v18-19For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
He dies to open heaven to believersBelievers from every land will be in Heaven. The New Testament describes Heaven as a holy place where God and His angels live. Nothing impure or sinful can ever enter it. Believers are reconciled to God through Christ’s death, and their sin has been taken away. Now there is nothing to prevent them entering Heaven when they die.
A reserved placeJesus often spoke of Heaven, and told His disciples that He was going ahead to prepare a place for them, and all believers.
John 14 v2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.I am going there to prepare a place for you.
A lasting possessionEverything in this world rusts or fades, but Heaven is the one thing that lasts forever. Christ’s death and resurrection has bought this imperishable possession for every believer.
1 Peter 1 v3-4Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you,
And FinallyIf Jesus is indeed God’s Son (see earlier studies), then to die so cruel a death is remarkable, and requires an explanation. In fact, we should expect God to give us one.
The New Testament writers claim to give us God’s explanation. This study has been their account of why Jesus died. If we accept that they have given us a faithful record of His life, then we shall be open to what they say about the purpose of His death. Certainly, the high ethical tone of the New Testament suggests they are not out to deceive us.
There is something very awesome about the death of Jesus. While hanging on the cross He shouted “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me”. The most obvious explanation of this cry is that God was punishing Jesus for the sin of others.
Jesus willingly suffered for rebels like us. No one took His life from Him. Heaven’s eternal years will be too short to offer all the praise and adoration that is due to Him. Such amazing love is very compelling. It demands our life, our soul, and our all!
Copyright © 2002 Homerton Baptist Church.Designed by SolfaWEB, Hosted by SolfaNETSend mail to the Webmaster with questions or comments about this web site.
