Why did Jesus die and what does it have to do with you and me?

Some say “Who really cares that Jesus died on a cross? He obviously was a criminal. He obviously deserved it. He must have been just some crazy teacher.”

Are those statements true?

“He obviously was criminal” some may say. No. He never sinned. He never broke any law. He was not a criminal.

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” Hebrews 4:15

“Then why did they kill him?” some might ask. The Jews killed Jesus because they thought He was blaspheming against God. They thought He was lying about who He was. They thought He was trying to make Himself God the Father.

“He obviously deserved it then” some may think. No. He did not deserve death. He did nothing wrong. The Jewish religious leaders didn’t like what He was saying so they had Him killed. They felt threatened. They thought He was blaspheming. They thought He was a heretic.  

“He must have been just some crazy teacher” some think.  No. Did Jesus every do anything crazy? No. Did He do some amazing things like walk on water and cast out demons and heal people with the touch of His hand? Yes. But He never did anything crazy. He never yelled a bunch of expletives uncontrollably. He never said He was from outer space or that He was a cat or that He was a woman. He was not crazy.

So what does Jesus death have to do with you and me? Jesus’ death paid the penalty required for your sins and mine. Jesus’ death was the payment God required for the forgiveness of all humanity who put their faith in Him.

“He [Jesus] himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 

We are healed for eternal life through Jesus. Our sins will not count against us. On the cross Jesus took on all our sins and paid the punishment God the Father required.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Who will have eternal life in heaven? Those who believe in Jesus as their Savior. God the Father gave His one and only Son to come to earth, live a perfect life, die on a cross and rise again three days later so that whoever believes in Him, whoever believes in Jesus will not perish [go to hell] but will have eternal life [in heaven].

That’s why Jesus died on the cross. That’s why Good Friday and Easter Sunday are so important. God wants all to be saved and it’s through faith in Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection that all can be saved.

So what will you do with the death and resurrection of Jesus? Will you say “sounds like a nice story” OR will you say “This is the most important event of all time. Jesus deserves my full commitment, my full life, my full devotion in response to all He has done for me?”

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