Christians believe that Jesus was not just a prophet or teacher but the Son of God who came to earth to save humanity from sin and death. In this article, we’ll take a look at why He allowed himself to be killed.
To understand the significance of Jesus’ death, we need to examine the concept of sin and the need for a savior.
This article will delve into the reasons behind Jesus’ willingness to die on the cross and what it means for believers today.
Our Need for a Savior
To understand why Jesus allowed himself to be killed, we must first understand the concept of sin and the need for a savior.
According to the Bible, sin entered the world when Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s commandment in the Garden of Eden.
From that point on, all humans were born with a sinful nature, prone to selfishness, disobedience, and separation from God.
The consequences of sin are severe. Romans 6:23 tells us that “the wages of sin is death.”
This means that sin brings about not just physical death but also spiritual death or separation from God.
No matter how hard we try, we cannot save ourselves from this eternal separation.
We need a savior, someone who can pay the penalty for our sins and restore our relationship with God.
This is where Jesus comes in. John 3:16-17 tells us that “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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
Jesus, as the Son of God, was the only one who could bridge the gap between humanity and God.
He lived a sinless life and willingly took on the punishment for our sins by dying on the cross.
But why did Jesus have to die? Couldn’t God have simply forgiven us without requiring a sacrifice?
The answer lies in the justice and holiness of God. Sin cannot go unpunished, or else God’s justice would be compromised.
As Hebrews 9:22 states, “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” In order for our sins to be forgiven, a sacrifice had to be made.
Jesus’ death on the cross was the ultimate sacrifice. It was a demonstration of God’s love for us and his willingness to pay the penalty for our sins.
Through faith in Jesus, we can be reconciled with God and have eternal life.
As John 14:6 states, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Did Jesus Want to Die?
Some people may wonder why Jesus didn’t simply escape his captors and avoid being killed.
Was it his plan all along to be executed? Or did he have a choice in the matter?
Jesus made it clear that he knew what was going to happen to him.
In Matthew 20:28, he said, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
This suggests that Jesus knew his death was necessary for the salvation of humanity.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
This prayer shows that Jesus was not eager to die. Still, He ultimately submitted to the will of God.
Jesus’ death was also foretold in numerous Old Testament prophecies, such as Isaiah 53:5-6: “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
This shows that Jesus’ death was part of God’s plan from the beginning.
Jesus could have called upon legions of angels to save him (Matthew 26:53), but he chose not to.
He willingly allowed himself to be arrested, tried, and executed, even though he had committed no crime.
His death was a sacrifice for the sins of humanity and a demonstration of his love for us.
Why did Jesus Christ allow himself to be killed? The answer lies in his love for us and his desire to save us from sin and death.
He knew that his death was necessary for our salvation, and he willingly gave his life as a ransom for many.
Was Jesus Murdered?
Some may argue that Jesus was murdered and that he had no choice in the matter. However, this viewpoint misses the deeper theological significance of Jesus’ death.
While it is true that Jesus was arrested, tried, and executed by human authorities, his death was not solely the result of their actions.
As previously mentioned, Jesus willingly submitted to the will of God and allowed himself to be sacrificed for our sins.
Furthermore, Jesus’ death was not the end of the story.
Three days after his crucifixion, he rose from the dead, defeating death and sin once and for all.
This is the cornerstone of the Christian faith and the reason why we can have hope in eternal life.
So, was Jesus murdered?
While it may appear that way on the surface, the theological truth is that Jesus allowed himself to be killed in order to save us from sin and death.
His resurrection demonstrates that death could not hold him and that he is indeed the Son of God.
In the end, it is important to remember that Jesus’ death was not the result of human malice or evil but rather a part of God’s plan to save humanity.
Why did Jesus Christ allow himself to be killed? Because he loved us and wanted to provide a way for us to be reconciled with God.
Slain From the Foundation of the World
Jesus’ death was not a last-minute plan. It was part of God’s eternal plan for salvation from the very beginning.
In fact, Revelation 13:8 refers to Jesus as the “Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.”
God had always intended for Jesus to die for our sins, even before the world was created.
In Ephesians 1:4-5, Paul writes, “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”
Even before the foundation of the world, God’s plan for our salvation was already in place.
Why did Jesus Christ allow himself to be killed? The answer is simple: it was part of God’s eternal plan for our salvation.
Jesus’ death was not a random act of violence but rather a deliberate and necessary sacrifice that was planned from the beginning of time.
In John 3:16, we read, “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.”
This verse encapsulates the heart of the gospel message: that God’s love for us was so great that he was willing to sacrifice his own Son to save us.
