Sunday 29 September 2002 7.00pm
If Jesus was so good why was he executed?
or
Why did Jesus have to die?
We began by watching a brief clip of the Jesus Video this shows the death of Jesus.
Luke 23.33 Is one among many scriptures that speak of Christ death.
Josephus was a Jewish historian and he too refers to Jesus and to his death.
So it definitely happened. From last week, when we considered why believe, I shared then why for me and million of other Christians why we believe the Bible to be the word of God and why we are able to build our lives upon it.
Tonight we consider the question “If Jesus was so good, why was he executed”? Or phrased another way – “Why did Jesus have to die”.
1. He Chose To – John 10.17-18
Jesus was not a person with a death wish, one who was just longing for his life to end. Rather he chose to
i. Because of the state of Humanity
Things aren’t as God intended the reason is because as Genesis 3 tells us God had plans for us and we, meaning humankind, had our own. That was not good news and it is still not.
The Bible uses the word sin to describe this.
Joseph Steinberg who is on the Why Video doing a talk on this theme, which actually was brilliant, gave some very helpful illuistrations of what this means.
i. Like a car going along the motorway suddenly thrown into reverse – imagine the chaos which would ensue.
ii. The world is like a supermarket trolley with a buckled wheel. It steers in its own way.
iii. Like an oil spillage which tarnishes everything around, polluting beaches and the sea, killing all forms of life, birds, fish, plant life.
In other words the world has gone through a seismic shift. The consequence being that this has resulted in a breach of relationship between God and humankind. Roms 6.23.
ii. Because He could bring restoration to our world Col 1.20
To use another of Joseph’s illustration’s God is not a traffic warden –out to book us. Yet we are in a state where we are helpless to save ourselves.
In the OT the way back to God was through sacrifice. When a person sinned he could be forgiven because the animal that was killed had to be perfect and became a substitute for the person. It was a life for a life.
Roms 6.23 tells us that the consequence of our inheritance is not just big noses or little feet, or hair loss but rather a future where we would spend eternity without God. We deserve death, that’s the payoff that our ancestors Adam and Eve have left us and our own actions add to this.
Yet Jesus as God and as perfect man was the one who through his death, though his giving his life as a ransom for us could take away our sin 2 Cor 5.21 says that Christ took our sin into himself.
In the very act of dying hit was he who committed his spirit into God’s care. Luke 23.46
iv. Although he chose to, the Jewish hierarchy made it happened
As far as the establishment was concerned Jesus had to go. Supremely because he claimed to be God, which in their eyes was blasphemy.
Luke 23.70
v. Evil delighted in thinking Jesus was dealt with - John 13.2
Satan the evil one was out to destroy Jesus.
vi. Jesus knew this was the way to fruitfulness John 12.24
Jesus allowed himself to be crucified
knowing that through his death many others would experience the fullness of
life that he came to bring.
Sunday
29 September 2002 7.00pm
If Jesus was so good why was he executed?
or
Why did Jesus have to die?
Josephus Antiquities 18.3
1. He Chose To – John 10.17-18