Why Did Jesus Die?

Introduction

The death and resurrection of Jesus is central to our faith. It is at the cross that sins are forgiven. It is at the cross that reconciliation with God is found. It is at the cross that we find grace, mercy, and love. But without the resurrection the cross loses its full meaning. The resurrection signifies not only life but eternal life. The resurrection demonstrates that death no longer wins and that God is Lord of even the one who controls death — Satan. Today we are going to look at the cross and next week we will look at the resurrection.

1 Peter 1:18-21 says that because of Jesus’s death we are redeemed. We have been bought by the precious blood of Christ so we are to live holy lives. But what is significant for our purposes is that Peter says that Jesus’s death was intended before the beginning of time. The plan of God throughout history was to bring Jesus into this world and that he would die on a cross. His death would coincide with the Passover so that he would become the ultimate Passover Lamb. He would be the one who delivered not out of physical bondage but spiritual bondage. Sin would no longer have its effect. In the plan of God all sin would be forgiven at the cross. The cross would forever be the symbol not of death and shame but of life and freedom.

We are here today because of the cross and the resurrection. With our focus on the cross today, we see the man Jesus who bleeds, experiences pain, and feels alone. But we see the divine son of God who takes on our sin and makes it possible for us to unite in heart and mind around His grace and mercy. We do not unite over politics. We do not unite over economic success. We do not unite over race, gender, ethnicity, or common interests. We unite around the one who gave his life for us. We unite because God made it possible for us to be part of his family. As sons and daughters of the one true God we are spiritual brothers and sisters. With this in mind let’s remember the cross. Let’s praise God’s plan and let’s share in the supper together.

Without the Cross

It may be difficult to imagine life without the cross. If we trust in the death of Jesus to take care of our sin then we live in freedom. We live freely to love others and free without guilt or shame. Unfortunately we may take this freedom for granted. As is often true in life, the more we know something the more apt we are to take such things for granted. A/C is common. We take it for granted unless it quits working. Relationships are precious but we tend to take them for granted and only with separation do we begin to understand what we are missing. We rarely look at the world with wonder or awe. We have to experience something different in order for awe to return.

Such can happen with the cross. Taking the Lord’s Supper week to week can result in casualness rather than thankfulness. We are often encouraged to see God’s work at the cross each week. But even with that encouragement we may find ourselves only passing a glance at the cross. Paul writes a letter that is designed to create a new appreciation for what God has done at the cross. The readers both Gentiles and Jews were having difficult finding unity as fellow believers. Paul writes to secure this unity by reminding them that they now belong to a new kingdom. Distinction based upon heritage no longer has any advantage.

Paul emphasizes how the Gentiles were viewed from a Jewish perspective. Before their conversion, the Gentiles lacked five things:

Without Christ — unlike the Jews who had the promise of Christ, the Gentiles were separate from him with no promise.

ii. No citizenship — Jews because of God’s choosing were citizens in Israel.

iii. No covenants — foreigners have no rights. The covenants are a reference to the unconditional covenants of God made to the Jews (Abraham, David, new covenant of Jer. 31).

iv. No hope — hope is the eager expectation of the future; no expectation of God’s working in their lives

Without God — interestingly Paul uses the word from which we get the word “atheist.” While the Gentiles believed in gods they did not believe in the one true God. There were a-theist. Without God.

But this all changed in Jesus. They have been brought near by the blood of Jesus. What was lacking has been taken care of in Jesus. Notice in verse 11 the word formerly and notice in verse 13 the word now. The word “but” in verse 13 is set in the strongest contrast. What was once true has been taken care of in Christ. We like the Gentiles also were lacking in these same five areas. By the blood of Christ we have been brought near.

While Paul is writing primarily to Gentiles in the first section, he leaves no doubt that Jews are also a part of this discussion. There is no room for boasting on either side — Gentiles or Jews. Jesus is the one who has made the two one. He destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. The NIV does a good job of demonstrating that there are two words here that have similar meanings (barrier and wall). Why does Paul use two words? The definition for barrier is “fence.” We put up fences around our yards. Why? Demarcation. Boundary line easily defined. A wall and fence serve the same purpose. It keeps things out and it also keeps things in. The law was to keep Gentiles out but it also kept the Jews in. The wall not only kept out it also hemmed in. This is Paul’s thought.

Gentiles and Jews were divided by the hostility of their differences. But it was Jesus who broke down the wall. Neither group could do it. Only Jesus could. Jesus is the peace. The point is not that he is the source of peace which is true, but he, himself, is peace. How did he destroy the wall? Through his death he set aside the law which was for Jews only. The law was fulfilled in him so that no one has to live according to the law. No longer was the law going to be used to divide. The Jews held it against the Gentiles for not keeping the law; demanding conversion to be saved. The Gentiles found the Jews arrogant and boastful; thus they were put off from God.

This fulfilling of the law brought two purposes.

A new body out of the two. No longer Jews and Gentiles but a new body — Christians. No longer labeled by culture; named for Jesus.

ii. Reconciliation both of Gentiles and Jews through the cross. No one can be reconciled to God without the cross. Thus, hostility has no fuel. For Jesus himself preached peace to those who were far away (Gentiles) and peace to those who were near (Jews). Now both groups have access to the same God by the same Spirit.

So What?

What does this have to do with us? There are several implications because of the cross. Not only do we have forgiveness and peace and unity but the implications are profound.

First, we have a new identity. We may identify ourselves by nationality, race, occupation, or political leanings. All of these are a false identity. For every person who comes to the cross and demonstrates their trust in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus has a new name, a new kingdom, a new King, and a new hope. We may live in this world but our hearts belong elsewhere. We are Jesus followers. We trust the one true God. We are assured by the same Spirit. We have a new identity.

ii. Second, we have a new confidence. We are no longer living in guilt and shame. We no longer condemn ourselves. Romans 8:1 — There is no condemnation for those who live in Christ. This confidence is not based on our abilities or talents but upon what God says about us.

iii. Third, we have a new friend and family. Romans 5:10 says that we were enemies of God. Before we named Jesus as Lord, we were at war with God. But at the cross the war is no more. With repentant hearts; with confessing lips; we come to the cross and plead that we no longer want to fight against God. God makes us his child and adds us to his family. We now have a friend in Jesus. But this friendship is not casual; nor is it taken for granted. This friendship is not based on common interests or even one of equality. It is a friendship that recognizes the tremendous sacrifice of our friend for us and our desire to honor him and him alone.

iv. Fourth, we have a new purpose. Paul will write in Ephesians 3:10 that as God’s representatives on this earth, our collective lives reveal God’s wisdom to the spiritual realm. The unseen realm includes angels and demons. These beings do not have perfect or complete insight. According to Paul we are the means by which they learn how God’s wisdom is carried out in this world. This means our lives matter as we reflect the intent of God to bring peace and reconciliation. We seek ways to bring people together not drive them apart. We find ways to heal not hurt. We want unity not discord.

Fifth, we have a new way to look at marriage. This seems odd but the cross demonstrates for husbands what it looks like to be Christ to your wife. And our response to the sacrifice for wives helps to understand what respect like. Paul makes this same point in Ephesians 5. Quoting Genesis 2:24, Paul says this verse really is about the mystery of the relationship between Christ and the church. If we really want to know the intent of God for marriage, then we need look no further than the cross. Jesus’ death allow us to love far more deeply than we could ever imagine.

Invitation.

Follow Jesus

If you’d like to respond to this message or learn more about following Jesus, please reach out.