Why Jesus Had to Die
Introduction. The title is a question many have asked. Why was the cup Jesus had to drink so bitter? We all know Jesus died to redeem us, and that through His blood we received remission of sins. But the question above takes us back one step further. Why couldn’t God just overlook sin and set it aside? Paul answered the most important aspect of this question: “to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Rom. 3:25-26). Jesus died to demonstrate God’s righteousness. He died so God could continue to be just, and also have the ability to be the justifier of all sinners who have faith in Jesus.
The dilemma illustrated. A story to help understand the nature of this dilemma was first written in 1882. I modified it to fit our context.
The dilemma illustrated. A story to help understand the nature of this dilemma was first written in 1882. I modified it to fit our context.
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A kingdom based upon equity and fairness was ruled over by a just king who never showed partiality. But in a moment of anger, the king’s son struck a man, who then lost sight in both eyes. Living under an “eye for an eye”, everyone knew the king would be forced to take both eyes of his son. The kingdom was divided. Some sought mercy and others believed that the king must keep the letter of the law or forever soil his reputation.
On the day of the verdict, the king spoke of the importance of impartial law and concluded he could not simply absolve his son, leading to dismay in the hearts of those who had sought mercy. Then he spoke of mercy, compassion and forgiveness, and those seeking impartial justice felt concerned he would show favoritism and ruin his reputation. How could the king reconcile the righteous requirement of law with his desire as a father to show mercy? Two eyes must be blinded to fulfill the law. One eye must be spared to show mercy. The king proclaimed that he would offer one of his eyes along with one of the eyes of his son. In this way the law would be fulfilled and mercy could be extended. |
This illustration is not without flaws, and does not really fit God’s circumstances. What it does do is reveal the nature of the dilemma. God is just, impartial and righteous and sin is both a debt and wages that must be paid (Mt. 6:12; Rom. 6:23). One cannot show mercy under such circumstances unless they are willing and able to pay the price of the one deserving punishment.
God punished angels when they sinned ("God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment.") God punished the ancient world through the flood, but in mercy spared Noah. Later God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, yet spared Lot (2Pet. 2:4-6). God has punished all the wicked who have sinned without repentance. Yet God has passed over the sins of all the men and women of faith including those listed in Hebrews 11.
The debt of sin must be paid! Either by the sinner or by God. Until Jesus’ death, God had promised to pay, but could only “pass over” the sins of the faithful as though they had been paid. Since “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord,” God needed something powerful and valuable enough to pay for our eternal death.
Only God knew the cost of the debt and the full wages of sin, and only God could determine what was necessary to pay for it. God revealed two truths to help us better understand this. First, “without shedding of blood there is no remission,” and second, “it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins” (Heb. 9:22; 10:4). So the wages of sin requires the death of the one who sinned, but God could not use the blood of animals, and the lifeblood of men was already required to pay their own sins (Gen. 9:5).
Before God created the heavens and the earth, the plan to pay for sin with the precious blood of Jesus was prepared. We needed to be redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1Pet. 1:18-21). What had been planned in eternity was fulfilled when Jesus “appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself,” and “Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many” (Heb. 9:26-28).
Jesus had to die so we could be “reconciled to God through the death of His Son” “that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.” (Rom. 5:10; Heb. 2:9) It was “through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Heb. 2:14-16)
Only when “Christ died for us,” could we now be “justified by His blood, “have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,” and “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (Rom. 5:8-10; Col. 1:14; 1Jn. 1:7) "Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption” (Heb. 9:11-13).
Conclusion. God gave up His only begotten Son as the purchase price for our sins. Only this could pay the debt and the wages owed for sin. Jesus is our “propitiation” that “appeased and expiated" them. Jesus death removed all doubt. He paid all, fixed all, and resolved all completely. We are justified freely because Jesus paid it all! Although this forgiveness is conditioned on our faith and walking in the light (1 Jn. 1:6-7), this did not pay for our sins. “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.” (Luke 17:10) “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.” “Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.” (2Cor 8:9; 9:15).
God punished angels when they sinned ("God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment.") God punished the ancient world through the flood, but in mercy spared Noah. Later God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, yet spared Lot (2Pet. 2:4-6). God has punished all the wicked who have sinned without repentance. Yet God has passed over the sins of all the men and women of faith including those listed in Hebrews 11.
The debt of sin must be paid! Either by the sinner or by God. Until Jesus’ death, God had promised to pay, but could only “pass over” the sins of the faithful as though they had been paid. Since “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord,” God needed something powerful and valuable enough to pay for our eternal death.
Only God knew the cost of the debt and the full wages of sin, and only God could determine what was necessary to pay for it. God revealed two truths to help us better understand this. First, “without shedding of blood there is no remission,” and second, “it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins” (Heb. 9:22; 10:4). So the wages of sin requires the death of the one who sinned, but God could not use the blood of animals, and the lifeblood of men was already required to pay their own sins (Gen. 9:5).
Before God created the heavens and the earth, the plan to pay for sin with the precious blood of Jesus was prepared. We needed to be redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1Pet. 1:18-21). What had been planned in eternity was fulfilled when Jesus “appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself,” and “Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many” (Heb. 9:26-28).
Jesus had to die so we could be “reconciled to God through the death of His Son” “that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.” (Rom. 5:10; Heb. 2:9) It was “through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Heb. 2:14-16)
Only when “Christ died for us,” could we now be “justified by His blood, “have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,” and “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (Rom. 5:8-10; Col. 1:14; 1Jn. 1:7) "Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption” (Heb. 9:11-13).
Conclusion. God gave up His only begotten Son as the purchase price for our sins. Only this could pay the debt and the wages owed for sin. Jesus is our “propitiation” that “appeased and expiated" them. Jesus death removed all doubt. He paid all, fixed all, and resolved all completely. We are justified freely because Jesus paid it all! Although this forgiveness is conditioned on our faith and walking in the light (1 Jn. 1:6-7), this did not pay for our sins. “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.” (Luke 17:10) “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.” “Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.” (2Cor 8:9; 9:15).