Spiritual
Did Jesus Have To Die?
Easter
Krista Dunk
This season, many people across the US and the world will visit local churches, temples, and sanctuaries for traditional Easter services.
Easter and Christmas are the two busiest days for congregations, who welcome many non-regular attendees on these special holidays.
Both of these days represent a significant event in the life of Jesus–His birth and then His crucifixion and resurrection. Knowing that many visitors and non-regular attendees will be at services on Easter, it’s worth taking a closer look at Jesus’ sacrifice. Many people have this question–did Jesus have to die on the cross? If so, why? The answer is yes, unfortunately, it was quite necessary. As for why, that requires a bit more explanation.
In The Beginning…
Let’s start at the beginning. God created the heaven and the earth. Things at that time were perfect, God called everything ‘good.’ No weeds, no shame, no conflict between animals and people, not even any hard work necessary. Simple obedience kept Adam and Eve living in paradise-like conditions. That is, until they made the devastating, conscious choice to disobey and eat the forbidden fruit. Things on earth and in their lives went drastically downhill from there, ushering sin in to the world.
In the Old Testament, there was only one way to rid ones’ self of sin (falling short of God’s best). That solution was to offer a sacrifice to God. Something had to die as a payment for sin, normally an animal (lamb, dove, bull, ox, ram, etc.) without any defect or blemish.
Moses said to Aaron, “Come to the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering and make atonement for yourself and the people; sacrifice the offering that is for the people and make atonement for them, as the LORD has commanded.” ~Leviticus 9:7
However, this method of sacrificing fell short and was insufficient in removing or ‘covering’ sin.
In Jeremiah 7, God said, “For when I brought your forefathers out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices, but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you.”
He wants heart-felt obedience, not just meaningless sacrificing.
Plan B
He Himself had to create plan B (really was plan A all along) to give people an option for true, complete atonement (payment) for sin. God basically sent Himself to earth in human form–Jesus. The word Emmanuel means God with us. God in flesh-–a sinless lamb to make the ultimate sacrifice for all mankind, for all time.
Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, O God.’ “First, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them” (although the law required them to be made). Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” ~Hebrews 10:5-10
The Ultimate and Final Sacrifice
All other sacrifices have been set aside, in exchange for Jesus’ sacrifice once and for all. Although the cross and crucifixion is brutal and can be difficult to comprehend as being necessary, the events of the first Easter is really a story of love. God has so much love for His creation (you and I) that He sent Jesus to become the final sacrifice. I imagine He would have done it even if it meant only one soul would be saved because of it. He desires so greatly that all people will be reconciled to Him, that He Himself took care of the necessary payment for sin. All we need to do is accept His free gift of love.
Krista Dunk, Co-Founder