Why Jesus' Life And Death Was Necessary Series

Why Jesus Life and Death Was Necessary

What’s the big deal with Easter? Did Jesus really have to die?

Little boy who was explaining Easter and said, “And if Jesus sees his shadow when he comes out, we have six more weeks of winter.”

1. Problem: We naturally were headed for hell.

“You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan... All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God’s anger just like everyone else.” Ephesians 2:2-3

That phrase, “we were by nature children of wrath”. . . means that we were naturally living under the anger of God.

I’m not judging or condeming you, because I was no better. I was the same way!

Solution: Someone to take the anger of God on himself.

“In this act we see what real love is: it is not our love for God, but his love for us when he sent his Son to satisfy God’s anger against our sins.” (1 John 4:10)

2. Problem: We naturally ruin our lives.

I don’t have a text for this verse. . . I don’t have to prove this one by the Bible! Just look around you!

Divorce. . .

In the last 2 months, I’ve watched a family break up, hurting both husband and wife, because they were both too stubborn and proud. The 2 year old son is the one who gets hurt the worst!

Drug and alcohol addictions. . .

I’ve watched people dragged down by the little white power on the paper, or the smoke from the weed in their hand.

Anger. . .

Just a few weeks ago, I was called to a house where the husband had tried to strangle the wife. He couldn’t control his anger.

Gambling away the money that you need. . .

I’ve been to the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, NJ. Donald Trump’s huge casino, and walked inside. They wouldn’t let me go into the actual gambling floor, because I was too young, but I could see the senior citizens, and other people I knew couldn’t afford it feeding the slots their hard-earned money.

Kids crying at home because they’re hungry. . .

I’ve gone to McDonald’s to get food for four little kids whose Mom had fooled around and whose dad wasn’t around. The only reason they were hungry is because of their Mom’s decisions – decisions not to wait until marriage, decisions not to get a job, etc.

Trashed relationships. . .

I’ve been in the home of a rich man, who was worth millions, and whose wife just left him recently. It’s not just poor people who naturally ruin their lives. . . everyone does.

Greed. . .

From the people who work 70 hours a week to the people who try to hit it big in the lottery, they’re all wasting their lives over something that they can’t take with them.

Carelessness with money. . .

I tried to help someone with financial counseling one time. They were making a very small amount per week. They were going to sell some items at a pawn shop to pay a bill. The next time we met, they had bought a cell phone that used up every bit of the money from the sale of the items, plus a week’s pay.

Jail time. . .

A couple years ago. . . John, a daddy of 5 kids who had just gotten out of drug rehab. We were thrilled, because he was in church Sunday AM. Three hours later, we got the call from his wife. John had told his son, “Jake, I think your mom is calling you.” Then he jumped in his work van, sold his painting equipment, and disappeared on a drug binge. Today, he’s doing time in jail.

Have you ever stood back and said, “What are they THINKING? Don’t they know they’re going to RUIN their lives?”

It’s not just out there. . .look in your own heart. Do you feel the potential there? Look at your life. . . is it what God intended when he created you, or is it something that you’ve messed up?

Solution: Someone to show us how to live.

"For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” John 13:15

3. Problem: We naturally can’t do right.

“I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. When I want to do good, I don’t. And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway.” Romans 7:15, 19