Why Jesus Had to Die?
The untimely death of a young person is always tragic, especially a good, hardworking person whose life is suddenly cut off. It was especially so in the case of Jesus.
We read in the Bible that:
"Jesus, the Son of God...was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."
(Hebrews 4 vv 14-15)
and that,
"...though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him..." (Hebrews 5 vv 8-9)
He was,
"...the man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all" (1 Timothy 2 v 6)
And that is why Jesus had to die. To save us all from death, which is of course the consequence of sin. He was tempted, just like we are, but only he could resist the temptation and remain sinless. He conquered sin by the strength which comes from the Word of God and the power of God through prayer. Only he, the Son of God, provided the salvation which could never have come by the will of man. All his life he fought the temptations which came to him, in spite of their appeal to every human heart. And in his willing death, he banished for ever the very human dispositions he had shared with us all.
Again we read,
"...that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil..."
(Hebrews 2 v 14)
Knowing how he kept sin at bay during his life, we can understand how his death could put an end to sin. He alone did not deserve to die. Only he was raised to immortality.
Only through him can we approach God in prayer. Only he can understand the problems we experience and take to him in prayer. Only he can plead our cause to God. Only he can give us eternal life. And he can do this only because he died - for you and me. An untimely death, yes. It need not be in vain. It really does mean something for you.
The untimely death of a young person is always tragic, especially a good, hardworking person whose life is suddenly cut off. It was especially so in the case of Jesus.
We read in the Bible that:
"Jesus, the Son of God...was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."
(Hebrews 4 vv 14-15)
and that,
"...though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him..." (Hebrews 5 vv 8-9)
He was,
"...the man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all" (1 Timothy 2 v 6)
And that is why Jesus had to die. To save us all from death, which is of course the consequence of sin. He was tempted, just like we are, but only he could resist the temptation and remain sinless. He conquered sin by the strength which comes from the Word of God and the power of God through prayer. Only he, the Son of God, provided the salvation which could never have come by the will of man. All his life he fought the temptations which came to him, in spite of their appeal to every human heart. And in his willing death, he banished for ever the very human dispositions he had shared with us all.
Again we read,
"...that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil..."
(Hebrews 2 v 14)
Knowing how he kept sin at bay during his life, we can understand how his death could put an end to sin. He alone did not deserve to die. Only he was raised to immortality.
Only through him can we approach God in prayer. Only he can understand the problems we experience and take to him in prayer. Only he can plead our cause to God. Only he can give us eternal life. And he can do this only because he died - for you and me. An untimely death, yes. It need not be in vain. It really does mean something for you.