Why did Jesus have to die ?

Saturday January 8, 2022

Christ also suffered, once and for all, for sins. He the righteous, he suffered for the unjust in order to lead them to God. 1 Peter 3.18

Why did Jesus have to die ?

Why did Jesus have to die ? Couldn't God just forgive us ?

This question, often asked, is difficult. The following example might help us find an answer. I lend my car to a friend ; he slips and hits a wall ; the car is unusable. What can I do ? Demand that he pay for repairs ? Share the costs ? Bear the cost at my expense ? As my friend doesn't have the money, I have the car repaired. I forgive him, quite simply, by assuming the cost of the forgiveness (the mechanic's bill).

We could say that to forgive is to cover the cost of the offense, instead of charging the culprit.

This is what Jesus died for. He, being God, became man to take upon himself, on the cross, the condemnation that our sins deserved. He who was innocent suffered for us guilty, in order to lead us to God, freed from this condemnation.

"This is how God shows his love for us : while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Jesus' death was absolutely necessary to save us. Why did Jesus have to die for God to forgive us ? The debt of sin was on us, and we could not repay it ; it had to be settled. God paid for it himself in the person of Jesus.

The lost man, from the depths of his misery,

See sin, by Jesus abolished.

To pay the terrible salary,

He suffered. It is accomplished.

Source (The Good Seed)