From what we've experienced here, don't we have to die? The probability stands at what, one in one die. And yet we ask the question why death, not too irregularly? The question points me both backwards and forwards. It points me back to the beginning of the world, as it was when it was first created by God, when everything was good, and there was no death. There are times we feel exceptionally far from there. And the question also points me forwards. Forward to what is yet to come, to the more there is to this life, the more there is to this living and dying. The question searches for more than life and death. C.S. Lewis writes these words
'If I find in myself desires nothing in this world can satisfy,
I can only conclude that I was not made for here'
The desire not to end, certainly does not fit with this world where nothing seems to last forever. But is the desire built on false hope, or is the more we search for, to be found, fulfilled?
There are times however we ask the question 'Why death' more, times it lingers for longer. Usually when a death seems cruelly unfair, or wrong; a parent, a child, a life ended too early, someone of strong significant positive impact on society. Would you place Jesus into the later category?
He was after all, 33 years old, having 3 years of ministry, an extra ordinary compassionate teacher, a healer, whose teachings and miracles are still spoken of today. And yet the people turned on Him, crying for Pilate to 'Crucify Him'. To torture Jesus with one of the worst forms of death, and for what reason Pilate asked, What evil had He done? To this the people could not give a reply, for He had done no wrong. This question, Why did Jesus have to die, is fantastic, and we could leave it there with that; it isn't as if injustice is something we have not heard of before. But this question requires much more explanation than the injustice of a people, that would be poor, completely inadequate, barely an explanation, or a start to one. No this was not just an unfortunate sequence of events, this is something that demands an investigation.
Before His death, Jesus prayed to His Father and asked if it was possible that what was to come, the cross, would be taken from Him. It was not taken from Him. It was not possible to be taken from Him. It was prophesied, foretold in the Old Testament, the section of Gods Word long before Jesus birth. What Father plans to do this? No Father would want to plan this, consider this, never mind carry it out. And yet here we find that Jesus death most certainly held a purpose, a need that must be fulfilled. Why did God have to send Jesus to die?
God is good. He is creator of all. We are created by Him, made in His likeness, given a sense of what is right, and what is wrong. I'm stating the obvious by saying we do not always do what is right. And many times we do what is right, are our motives really right? We dislike selfishness, and yet we are self centered.
What a contrast to this God, who sent His Son to die on a cross, for people who did not love Him, know Him and who did/do everything that is against His character. God is righteous, no hint of wrong-ness can be found in Him. He knows what is right and what is wrong, and therefore He must punish what is wrong. Like a teacher (who knows the correct answers, from the incorrect), He must mark us. How do we compare to Him? He knows no wrong, we cannot achieve a tick. We fall short. We offend God, with the wrong we do, we do it against Him, our maker. God is the only one who can determine the price to be paid for what has been done against Him. And what could we do to fix it? Nothing.
Might this be the need, the purpose for Jesus' death?
Yes! This is the plan God had to initiate to save us. He did it out of His love, (undeserved love). He gave up His only Son, sending Him to become a man, to die on a cross, so that a way might be made through which we might know Him. Jesus alone could take the punishment for sin, for He is the only one who has not sinned. He himself had done no wrong. Christ the sinless one, died for sinners. He paid the price, so that through faith in Him we might be set free from the punishment of sin. Nothing good that we have done, can solve the problem. Only the death of Christ.
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
I can not pin down why it is this way, why it took the death of Jesus, but this is how it is. The death of His Son shows us the seriousness of what we have done against God the Father, and the amazing love He has for us. The reason God sent His only Son, Jesus to die is so that we might be able to come to know Him- His character, His love, and His justice. God is holy, we are not. He is loving and just. His love caused Him to send Jesus to offer us salvation from His justice that requires our sin to be punished if we believe. He wants us to know His greatness, to know Him.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life
John 3:16
We have been made to know God who He is, and was and will be forever more. We have been made for more than life as we know it. Christ did not stay dead. He defeated death, rising again three days later, showing His power.
I don't know who you are, it would be a little creepy if I did. If you know Jesus as Saviour, remember what He has done, give thanks that Jesus has paid it all. If you do not know Jesus, you do not have to trust what I've said, you really do not have to! But do INVESTIGATE the claims of Jesus Christ. Investigate not only His death but His resurrection from the dead. Ask questions. Don't base it on hearsay, or what others think. Read the Bible for yourself, maybe start with Luke. And I'd also recommend this book. Written by someone who questioned the claims for himself.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Case-Christ-Journalists-Investigation/dp/0310209307/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397667725&sr=8-1&keywords=case+for+Christ
'Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.' C.S. Lewis
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