Why did Jesus have to die?

Political Reasons:
So let’s do a little time travel here and go back into history roughly 2,000 years. Living in Israel back then had this kind of flavor going on:

People had a “Messiah fever”. In our current culture we have an end times fever going on; we are looking at everything as it being the end of times. Back in Jesus’ time they had a Messiah fever. The Jewish people were anxiously awaiting the Messiah, thinking that He would arrive in glory, remove the burden of Roman occupation on their land, and establish the “Kingdom” rule in Jerusalem. Every day there were new rumors that the Messiah was near.
Various men aspired to become that person, and gathered their own disciples, but were discredited by the entrenched Jewish authorities or arrested by the Roman police. Still, the anticipation could be felt everywhere.

“Pax Romana” was the overriding rule. Roman authorities were working hard to maintain the “Roman Peace” (Pax Romana is Latin for Roman Peace) throughout their empire. The situation in the MIddle East was then as it is today; touchy and unruly, and Pilot was under great pressure from Rome to keep the peace in the city of Jerusalem.

“Theocracy” continued to control daily life. Israel prided itself on being God’s representatives on earth. Their laws (given by Moses and expanded upon by Teachers and Pharisees) governed not only the people’s religious beliefs, but their civil life too. Rome allowed the local customs of the area they took over to continue to continue to under Roman rule; however this type of rule was a blessing and frustration for the Jewish authorities. The Jewish leaders, from the High Priest down to the Rabbis, Saddles and Pharisees, were feeling that their positions had been compromised by the inclusion of Roman rule. Meaning, the leaders in the Jewish faith felt that the Roman’s took their power from the people. In response, the Jewish leaders elevated themselves in the eyes of the people.

So Jesus’s actions and his ministry threatened each of those three facts of life back in the day. Let’s look at a couple of passages that talk about this.
Matthew 21:1-11; 23:1-4; 26:3-5
Luke 22:1-2
John 11:45-53; 12:17-19

Messiah Fever: Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and His teachings about the “kingdom of God” being close, fed the fever. However, when He was arrested and then seemed incapable of overcoming His arrest, His reputation as the Messiah flopped.

Pax Romana: His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and His overturning moneychanger’s tables in the Temple, could have been the spark to light off the powder keg that was Jerusalem during the holy festival. Roman authorities needed to maintain order and keep the emotions of the people in check.

Theocracy: Jesus’ prior actions and teachings hit at the core of the theocracy: ritual cleanliness and elitism. His actions in the Temple underscored His growing boldness, and HIs popularity.

Spiritual Responses:
Looking back on these events from this end of history we know that no amount of political pressure could have forced Jesus to death by cruifixation. At any amount He could have called a halt to the entire process. Therefore, something else must have been goong on in Jerusalem back then.

Jesus’ death was voluntary--Is 50:6; Matthew 26:51-54; John 10:17-18, 19:11, 28-30; Philippians 2:8
Jesus was not arrested, tied, beaten and cruifixed against His will. Those things happened to Him because of His will. His wounds did not kill Him. Loss of blood did not kill Him. The nails in His hands and feet did not kill Him. He did not die of suffocation  (as most victims of crucifixion did). He “gave up His spirit!”

Jesus’ death was payment--As awful, painful and tortuous as Jesus’ death was, He endured the experience He was God’s sacrifice for our sin. His great love for us is shown in His death on the cross. He was completely innocent of any sin, and in dying on the cross. He pain the penalty for the sin of humankind. Our sin put Jesus to death. Romans 4:25; 5:6-11; Gal 3:13.

Jesus’ death was temporary--By dying on the cross, Jesus paid the penalty for our sin. But we do not worship a dead Savior--Jesus did not stay in the tomb. By coming back from the dead He proved that He is God, that His payment was accepted, and that His claims are true. Acts 13:26-31; Romans 8:11; 10:9.

Jesus is ALIVE. Jesus had to die for our sins; he had to become a sacrifice for the sins of the world. The political system of the time put Jesus to death; however, it was the sins of us that put Jesus on the cross.

Why did Jesus have to die? He had to die so He could spend eternity with you! He had to die so you could have life.

Hebrews 12:2-3

Lesson adpated from Interlinc Resources.

(c) 2012 Joshua Shelton and Interlinc Resources

On Sunday April 1 the girls are having a tea party!

Cost: $10 (You can pay online at ocec.net and click on the EASY button; or click here)

Time: 3:45pm (meet at OCEC). 6:20pm (back at OCEC)

The tea party is going to take place at Cheryl's Cup of Tea

You need to sign up to go. We can only take 24 people in total. Sign up with Alissa through Facebook, send her a message.

Dress up in your finest tea party get up! This will be a blast for you ladies