alpha@wefc

Why Did Jesus Die? Sat, 13 Sep, 2008

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Introduction

Have you ever thought about why it is that some people wear a cross as jewellery, maybe as a necklace or earrings? Any why is it that people put it on their doors, and some organizations have it as their logo? We don’t think it’s strange at all. We don’t give it second-thought.

But what would you think, if you went down to Taka Jewellery or Soo Kee or Tian Po or to buy a special gift and the shop assistant opened a case for you and said, “Madam, I have this lovely gold pendant of an electric chair! Look carefully, can you see how little diamonds are used to stud the seat of the electric chair? So beautiful right?

Or would you like this beautiful and delicate sterling silver replica of these gallows, complete with the rope used to hang people. If you prefer, we can custom-make this for you in 18K white gold. I know gold prices have gone up, but gold is always an investment mah, can keep forever and you can pass this to your daughter next time.” We would think it rather strange – in fact, totally tasteless – to have jewellery made of these tools for execution!

But that’s exactly what the cross is. This almost universal symbol was actually a method of execution – and an extremely cruel one too. In fact, the cross as a method of execution was so cruel that even the Romans stopped using it a few hundred years after Jesus’ death. And this brings us to a curious thing about Jesus and his death. You see, a famous leader or teacher is usually known for the things that he accomplished in his life. He achieved this or that… even religious teachers are known for what they taught and what they did. And though Jesus is known for the good and amazing things he did, he is remembered even more for his death.

So a really important question we must ask ourselves is why did Jesus die? And what did his death achieve? We must ask ourselves whether this is relevant for us or not. And if it is, how so?

The whole of the Christian faith hinges on this – which is why the cross is such a central symbol of Christianity. The Bible teaches that Jesus’ death is extremely relevant for us today because he died for our sins:

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

Jesus, the Son of God, died on the cross because of our sins. He died on the cross so that you and I would not perish but may have this gift of eternal life. He died to pay the punishment instead of us. This is why the cross, and Jesus’ death is so relevant to us today 2000 years later. Let’s unpack this a bit more.

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A. The Problem

This problem can be clearly seen all around us. We all try to live a good life, well most of us do anyway, but even if we try really hard we still fail and do wrong. I think most of us would agree that none of us are perfect. While there are many of us who do a lot of good in the world, none of us are completely perfect and without sin.

This is exactly what the Bible teaches. The Bible says that there is indeed something that is noble about humanity, because we are created in the image of God. So there is lots of good morality and decency in human beings. But there is also a lot of sin as well. The Bible tells us:

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. – Romans 3:23

Sin goes against God’s perfectly holy character. It is anything that displeases him. It is what makes us spiritually dirty or unclean. This is the pollution of sin. The Bible gives examples of these when it says:

For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean’. – Mark 7:21-23

Now you listened to that list, and I’m sure that for us in this room, most of those things don’t apply to you. But perhaps there are one or two of things that made you admit quietly in your heart, “Somehow I know that’s a problem for me.” That is sin in our life. It’s a problem because it pollutes our life.

Now you may think you live a good life. You may think you’re a rather good person. Well that depends on who we compare ourselves to.

Someone explained it this way… A scale on this wall of who was the worst to the best. Adolf Hitler – where would you put him? Mother Theresa? Mas Selamat? Yourself? All of us fall somewhere between there and there. What do you think the standard is? The standard is actually the sky! It is perfection! God! Look at Romans 3:23 again. All of us fall short of the glory of God. All of us fall short and therefore fail the standard.

You may say, well if everyone is a sinner – if everyone is in the same boat then why does it matter? It does matter because of the power of sin, when it remains unchecked in our lives. Jesus said

…I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. – John 8:34

Sin is addictive. We become slaves to sin. It’s obvious with things like being an alcoholic or a drug abuser. Together with some others in church, I go to Changi Prison fairly often, to care for the Christian inmates there. Many are locked into cycles of addiction. Many are repeat offenders, in prison for the second, third, fourth time.

If you’ve tried to stop a bad habit, something you knew is not good, and you struggle. You know this habit is not good for you or for those you love. But it’s just so hard to give up this habit. Then you know the meaning of the Bible verse earlier which says “..everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” Because sin traps us.

There’s something even worse than being a slave to sin, and that is the penalty of sin. Because God is a perfect God he must uphold his perfect standard. Now most of us know that God is a God of love. He wants to love and bless us – and not punish us. But the same Bible that tell us that God loves us, also tell us that God is a just God. This means that even though he loves us, he must punish the wrong things we do.

Like a righteous judge, God also must punish the sin in our lives. This is why the Bible says in Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death…”. That is not only physical death, but it also means separation from God forever, after this life on earth. This is bad news indeed.

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B. The Solution

But there is good news. Let me illustrate this with a story. D. James Kennedy tells this true story of sacrifice.

Back in the days of the Great Depression, a man named John Griffith was the controller of a great railroad drawbridge across the Mississippi River in America. One day in the summer of 1937 he decided to take his 8-year-old son, Greg, with him to work. At noon, John Griffith put the bridge up to allow ships to pass and sat on the observation deck with his son to eat lunch. Time passed quickly.

Suddenly the shrieking of a train whistle in the distance startled him. He quickly looked at his watch and noticed it was 1:07 – the Memphis Express, with four hundred passengers on board, was roaring toward the raised bridge!

John leapt from the observation deck and ran back to the control tower. Just before throwing the master lever he glanced down for any ships below. There a sight caught his eye that caused his heart to leap poundingly into his throat. Greg had slipped from the observation deck and had fallen into the massive gears that operate the bridge! His left leg was caught in the cogs of the two main gears! Desperately John’s mind whirled to devise a rescue plan. But as soon as he thought of a possibility he knew there was no way it could be done.

Again, with alarming closeness, the train whistle shrieked in the air. He could hear the clicking of the locomotive wheels over the tracks. That was his son down there – yet there were 400 passengers on the train. They would all die unless he let the bridge down.

John knew what he had to do, so he buried his head in his left arm and pushed the master switch forward. That great massive bridge lowered into place just as the Memphis Express began to roar across the river.

When John Griffith lifted his head, his face drenched in tears, he could see into the passing windows of the train. There were businessmen casually reading their afternoon papers, finely dressed ladies in the dining car sipping coffee, and children pushing long spoons into their dishes of ice cream. No one looked at the control house, and no one looked at the great gear box. With heart-wrenching agony, John Griffith cried out at the steel train: “I sacrificed my son for you people! Don’t you care?” The train rushed by, but nobody heard the father’s words. No one cared.

This is an illustration of what God the Father did in sacrificing His Son, Jesus, for us, so that we would not die but have forgiveness and eternal life. Now, in the story, John Griffin was caught by surprise. But God in His great love and sovereign purpose was not caught by surprise. He had determined to sacrifice His Son, to save us:

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.

- 1 Peter 1:18-20

Moreover the love of Jesus Christ the Son is shown in that he was not accidentally caught, but willingly gave up his life for the sins of mankind. God’s love for us is truly amazing. He sacrificed His Son for people who don’t deserve it, who just ignore Him as they rush on in their busyness and pleasures. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8

This is good news indeed! Yes, God is perfectly righteous and holy. He must therefore punish sin – otherwise He would be inconsistent with His own character. But God is also perfect in love. And because of God’s great love for you and me, He Himself provided the solution. He sent His Son to pay the penalty for you and for me. And so we read in the Bible:

He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. – 1 Peter 2:24

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C. The Result

The result is that you and I can be free from the pollution of sin, free from power of sin, and free from the penalty of sin! We are restored to right relationship with God! We can now live as God’s children, enjoying His presence with us every day of our lives. And we have the certain hope of eternal life.

But now a righteousness from God… has been made known. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. – Romans 3:21-24

Let me explain it in this way.

First, Jesus’ sacrifice means that the pollution of sin has been removed. Our sins have been transferred to Jesus Christ and so we are clean.

Second, the power of sin is broken. When we are in a right relationship with God, God’s presence is with us to enable us to break those chains that lock us into sinful thoughts and behaviour.

Third, the penalty of sin is paid. Jesus has already paid this penalty through his death. His last words before he died were “it is finished”. What did that mean? He has paid that last bit so we don’t have to pay that penalty.

On the cross, Jesus sacrificed his life for ours. He died that we might live. He could have called down battalions of angels from heaven to end his physical and spiritual torture. But he didn’t. It was love that held him on the cross.

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Conclusion

Let me summarize here. Why did Jesus die? Because God wanted to save us from eternal separation from Him. You see, there was a problem. We are sinners – lost and separated from God because of our sin. God is love, yes. But God is also holy and will punish sin. The solution? God provided His Son as a substitute for us. Jesus died in our place, taking our punishment. The result? God accepted the finished work of Jesus on the cross that secured forgiveness of sin and offers peace with God for all who put their trust in His Son.

It is absolutely crucial that we understand that all this is not just something written for other people – but that this truth is for you and me. If we understand all of this in our head but it doesn’t go into our heart, then it’s useless truth.

Jesus has done all of this for you and for me. But the results are not ours until we personally receive it. We must receive this gift by faith by believing in Jesus and putting our trust in him that what he has done has indeed paid the penalty for our sins.

How do we actually do this? This is done through prayer, which is just talking to God.

Allow me to lead us all in a simple prayer to respond to Jesus by inviting Him into our lives to be Lord and Saviour. If you are already a Christian, would you repeat my words to affirm the truth of what you already believe. But if you are not yet a Christian, and you want to be one, then repeat my words after me too. Let’s all bow our heads, and close our eyes. Please repeat after me.

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Dear Lord Jesus,
I know I’m a sinner.
I know I can’t save myself from my sins.
I believe you are the Son of God
and that you died on the cross for my sins.
I believe you rose from the dead
so that I can spend eternity with you.
I’m sorry for all my sins.
Today, I invite You into my life as my Lord and Saviour
And I promise to follow you for the rest of my life.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your love for me.
Amen.

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If you prayed this prayer from your heart for the very first time – congratulations!

Please do let your group leader or one of us know about your decision afterwards, ok?

Have a fruitful discussion!

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- Ps Jew Yun Shern

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[Editor's Note: pdf copies of the talk of the speaker's notes can be found HERE.]