Why did Jesus Die?

Why did Jesus Die?

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34)

Why did Jesus die?  That is the question we need to answer as we read of Jesus’ suffering and death.  Christ died because it was the purpose for which He had come to the earth.  He died because His death would resolve the great dilemma of God.  And He died because His kingdom of righteousness could not come without sacrifice.  It was by the death of Jesus that the great tension within God Himself could be resolved. God has just as much hatred for my sin as he has love for my soul, but how can God strike my sin without destroying me?  The answer is in Jesus who came so God could take my sin and put it on another.  Then, with my sin on the Savior, God could strike the sin without striking me.

Jesus also suffered for righteousness’ sake at the hands of sinful men.  We will never understand the death of Christ until we realize that it was God the Father who put Him to death. When He hung on the cross, Jesus Christ was “made sin for us” (2Cor. 5:21 KJV).  The sinless Son of God took on the guilt and punishment of sin. He cried, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” (Mk. 15:34).  For God had forsaken Him.  God could not look upon the horrible thing that Jesus became when He was nailed to the cross.  He was there as sin, to be struck by God.  He suffered alone, bearing the full weight of evil and its dreadful penalty. There the love of God was exhibited in its fullest.
 
Meditation:  When I look at the cross, what do I see and how do I live?

Further Reading: Matthew 15:22-41