Why did Jesus have to die?

Let me be clear, Jesus did not HAVE to die. Jesus chose to die. Jesus chose to take on all the sins of the world and as a result took the judgment that that sin brought forth. As a result of our sins, Jesus had to die because our Lord, and savior took our sins, whose consequences are death.

An example of this is imagine you were arrested for murder(or whatever crime you can think of) and you were found guilty. Instead of giving you the sentence, the judge payed the fine and served the time. That’s what God did for us by sending his Son to die for our sins.

How can one man forgive the sins of another?

If you kicked a friend in the shins and I went to you and said, “I forgive you”, then your friend would think I am crazy. I had no right to forgive you of that act, only the one who was wronged. Since Jesus is fully God, the act was also against him, since God laid forth the law and the sins we commit are against the law. The act of forgiveness from God is complete with Christs sacrifice.

But why did Jesus have to die?

Your still asking, “why did Jesus have to die”, couldn’t God have forgiven our sins without the sacrifice of Christ?

Hebrews 9:22 “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”

What is the law it is referring to? Lets go all the way back to Leviticus 17:11, it says

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.

God knows that life does not exist without the blood, therefore a sacrifice of blood requires death. Before Christ, this meant a sacrifice of a choice animal. To atone for you sins, a sacrifice must be made. The sacrifice had to hurt. It had to be a real sacrifice to you, which was usually your choice animal, the best of what you owned. That atonement for your sins was painful as it may have required a lot from you, but such is the consequence of sin.

1 Peter 1:19 “[you were ransomed] with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”

Christ was the choice sacrifice and since he was perfect, that sacrifice was great enough to cover all the sins of the world. As someone who was forgiven by Christ, my life is now his. He laid down his life for me, so that I may live. He was the choicest sacrifice, like “a lamb without blemish or spot”. Personally, I do not know why God demands blood to atone for sin, but I am not going to question it. By sending his Son, Jesus Christ, to die for the sins of the world, God showed the world that his demand was blood was true and right, so much so that his sons own blood was spilled.

Thank you Jesus for your mercy on my life and I offer my life to you. Use me to advance your kingdom, in whatever way you see fit. I want you to have the glory, give none of it to me, for you died on the cross and I am indebted to you and you will never be indebted to me, no matter what I do in your name. Thank you Jesus!