Why did Jesus Have to Die?
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
For the past five weeks, we’ve been looking at the story of the Passion or Jesus’ road to the cross. We’ve looked at different people Jesus encountered on the way to the cross, how they contributed to his death and the lessons we learned from each. The first was Caiaphas who served as High Priest over the Temple and leader of the Temple’s ruling body, the Sanhedrin. Caiaphas like so many other Jews had been looking forward to, praying about and anticipating the coming Messiah. But despite all of this, when Jesus did come, most of the Jews and the Sanhedrin didn’t see it and couldn’t accept Jesus for who he said he was, despite all of the miracles, the teachings and even his resurrection. Why? Because Jesus growing popularity and influence among the Jewish people threatened Caiaphas. And so in orchestrating the execution Jesus, he tried to protect his own turf and preserve his power.
Second was Pilate who was the appointed governor of Judea. Because of the stubborn resistance by the Jews toward their Roman captors, there was constant rebellion and unrest. Jesus is brought to Pilate because the Jews could no longer execute capital punishment. Pilate tries to stay out of this quarrel by having the people decide Jesus’ fate. And even though he says that an injustice is being done against Jesus, he refuses to act on his behalf. In his interrogation of Jesus, Pilate asks a question: “What is truth?” Jesus, who said “I am The Way, the Truth and the Life” is the Truth and stands right before Pilate but Pilate misses the moment of opportunity.
Third was Judas, a disciple of Jesus who betrayed Jesus by selling him out to the Jewish leadership. The Gospel of John says it was greed. Other scholars have thought that Judas was frustrated Jesus didn’t act to overthrow Rome and gain Israel’s freedom. Judas may thought that Jesus’ arrest was just what was needed to give him a little encouragement to use his power. When Jesus condemned to deathm, Judas immediately regretted his actions. He went back to the High Priest and said three of the hardest words anyone can say, “I have sinned.” Perhaps the greatest tragedy is that Judas went out and hung himself in despair and guilt, failing to wait and see what God could through his failure and betrayal.
Lastly was Peter. He was passionate about his faith. He gave all of himself to whatever he was doing. Yet it was that same zealous, “dive in head first without looking” attitude which often got Peter in trouble. So when Jesus predicted that one of the disciples would betray him, it was Peter who creid out first and loudest, “Surely not I!” But deny Jesus he did, three times that night, contradicting his faith, his pronouncement and the last three years of his life.
Caiaphas. Pilate. Judas. Peter. Each had an agenda and each had a role in Jesus’ crucifixion. They had the opportunity to draw closer to God and the Truth but they’re actions or sins only drove them further away from God. Though none are guilty of Jesus’ crucifixion, they were all in need of reconciliation.
Reconciliation. It’s what Easter is all about. In our Scripture passage today, Paul explains the true meaning of Christ’s life and death in no uncertain terms: “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself; that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses (sins) against them.” Our Scripture today reveals some magnificent truths about reconciliation. First, it reminds us we have all been separated from God through sin. The Apostle Paul puts it this way: “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” and thus we need to be reconciled with God. The very nature of reconciliation implies there is a brokenness in relationship, an emotional and spiritual divide which separates two people. That brokenness occurs when sin enters a relationship. In our relationship to God, it is we who have sinned against God by choosing our will over His and our way of life over His way of life. We have all sinned and we cannot begin to repair a relationship without first acknowledging our sin. The Biblical record reminds us that’s easier said that done. Last week in our sermon, “Lessons from Judas”, we learned that the words, “I have sinned” are spoken only 19 times in Scripture. In the story of humanity which spans centuries and is recorded on more than 1700 pages through 774,746 words, “I have sinned” is only spoken 19 times. The reason is that it’s hard to admit who you are and who you are not, let alone to speak that out loud. And yet that is the very beginning of reconciliation, admitting our sin.
The second thing we learn is that God hates sin. “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.” Proverbs 16:6-9 God hates anything which goes against his will and desire for our life. That’s a powerful word which we don’t use very often, especially when it comes to God. But he does. He hates sin. But listen very carefully, he loves us. God hates the sin but still loves his children. Your sin does not define who you are in God’s eyes. You are his child whom He so loves. Now any parent who loves their child corrects them when they do wrong. The same is true for God, there is a penalty, a punishment, for sin. “For the wages of sin is death…” This goes back to the Garden of Eden when both had sinned against God by eating that which had been forbidden. God then punished them by banishing them from the Garden. But the other punishment they received was a finite life. We too still live with original sin, reminding us that God hates sin. He hates it so much that He had to do something about its impact on our lives.
Third, God loves you and desires to be relationship with you. As stated earlier, sin creates separation and distance in any relationship. Take the analogy of a husband and wife. You can be hurt by their actions or their words but that does not change how you feel about them. You may hate what they did or what they said, but you still love them. The painful word or act causes some emotional distance between the two of you for a time, but you still love them and want to be married to them. Well, the same is true of God. He created you, He chose to be in an unconditional relationship with you which can never end and absolutely nothing can change that fact. You were created to be in relationship with Him. Nothing gives God greater joy that to be in close relationship with you. That’s His heart’s desire. That’s why He created you, to be in relationship with you. Because of that love, God takes the first step toward reconciliation.
Fourth, it is initiated by God. “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself.” We cannot on our own be reconciled to God. Many have tried by being a better person or doing good things, but they fail miserably. What we failed to understand is how great the gulf is between us and God and how egregious sin against God really is. Nothing can satisfy the debt we have to pay as a result of our sin. So reconciliation can only come from God. This is the very reason why the Gospel is such Good News! God loved us so much that he gave his only son as a sacrifice to pay the debt, bridge the gap and reconcile us with Him, to make us His children again. “For while we were yet enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son…” Romans 5:10 God’s act of reconciliation comes because he loved us so much that he wanted us to be in right relationship, close intimate relationship with Him. But for that to happen, Jesus had to die upon the cross. There was no other means to receiving forgiveness and having the penalty of rebellion and sin against God paid for. Did Jesus have to die on the cross? Absolutely! He had no other choice if he wanted to accomplish the will of His father which was to reconcile His children to himself.
That is the message of Easter but it is also the most difficult to grasp. It’s one thing to say Jesus died for the sins of the world, but quite another to look into the face of our sin and see that Jesus paid the price because of it. Jesus was crucified because of my sin. Say it with me “Jesus was crucified because of my sin.” Now silently say it again but this time name a sin in your life, Jesus died because I….” That may be one of the most difficult things to grasp and claim. It may also be one of the most pain-filled.
Dr. Martin Christianson taught a required survey of Christianity course at a small college. Every freshman was required to take the course regardless of his or her major. Although he tried hard to communicate the Gospel, students viewed the class as nothing more than a waste of time. He just couldn’t get them to understand. So one day, Dr. Christianson came in with a large box of fluffy, cream filled doughnuts. The class was excited, it was Friday the last class of the day, and after, they could start their weekend. Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the row and asked, "Cynthia would you like a donut?" "Yes," she said. Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve, who was the center of the football team, and asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?" "Sure." Steve jumped down out of his desk and counted off ten push ups. Dr. Christianson laid the donut on Cynthia’s desk. Joe was next. He asked Joe the same question and Joe said "yes." Steve did 10 more pushups and the professor laid the doughnut on Joe’s desk. And so it went all the way down the first row and half way down the second until it came to Scott. He was a basketball player and replied to the professor’s question by saying, "I want the doughnut if I can do my own push ups." Dr. Christianson said, "No Steve has to do the pushups." Then Scott said, "Well I don’t want one if I can’t do my own." Dr. Christian turned around and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push ups so Scott can have a donut he doesn’t want." Scott said, "hey! I said I didn’t want one!" Dr. Christianson said, "Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don’t want it." And he put the donut on Scott’s desk.
By this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little and sweat had began to form on his cheeks. Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Students were beginning to get a little angry. Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?" Sternly, Jenny said, "NO!" Then Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve, would you do ten more push ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn’t want?" Steve did ten and Jenny got a doughnut.
By now a sense of uneasiness had filled the room. The students were all beginning to say "no." There were uneaten donuts on every desk. Steve was now putting forth a lot of extra effort to get the pushups done for each doughnut. A small pool of sweat was on the floor, his face was red, and you could see the sweat soaking through his shirt.
Dr. Christianson asked Robert, the most vocal unbeliever in class, to watch to make sure Steve did the full ten. Dr. Christianson started down the forth row. Students from other classes had come in and were sitting along the side of the room watching on. When the professor saw them he counted and saw that there were now 34 people in the room. He was worried about Steve, "Could he do that many push ups?" Jason, a recent transfer student, didn’t know what was going on and came in to see. The class yelled, "Go away! Don’t come in!" Steve picked up his head and said, "let him come in." Jason was asked and he said "yes." "Steve will you do ten push ups so Jason can have a donut?" Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great struggle. Jason, confused, was handed a donut and he sat down. Dr. Christianson then finished the fourth row and began on the visitors. Steve’s arms were shaking uncontrollably with each push up. By this time, sweat was pouring off of his face and arms.
The very last two students were cheerleaders. "Linda, do you want a donut?" Linda cried and said, "no thank you." Professor turned to Steve, "Steve would you do ten push ups so Linda can have a donut she doesn’t want?" Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push ups for Linda. The last girl was Susan. "Susan would you like a donut?" Susan was full of tears and did not answer. "Steve would you do ten push ups so Susan can have a donut?" Susan asked, "Dr. Christianson, why can’t I help him?" Dr. Christianson had tears in his eyes also and replied, "I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party I looked at the grade book and found that Steve was the only person with a perfect grade. All of you had failed a test, skipped class, or turned in inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes."
Steve slowly got up off the floor, he had done 350 push ups, his arms buckled beneath him as he started to get up. Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile. "Well done good and faithful servant", said the professor, "not all sermons are preached in words class." Turning to the students the professor said, "My wish is that you may fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God did not spare His only Son but gave him up for all of us. Whether or not, we accept His gift is our choice. The price has been paid.” When you realize that, you come to understand the true meaning of Easter, that Jesus died not just for the sins of the world but for your sins that you might be reconciled with God and be able to draw close to Him.
