WHY Did Jesus DO It?
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of
our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured
the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the
right hand of the throne of God.
When Jesus came to the Earth, I think it’s pretty easy to understand why He lived a life without sin.
-He knows that the wages of sin is death (and avoiding death seems natural to me).
-It is very clear that Jesus didn’t want to sin! That AMAZES me because my problems haven’t come from being UNABLE to avoid sin, but rather WANTING to sin and having to RESIST myself…
The question I want to answer is why did Jesus choose to die? And He died joyfully! For a man as simple as I am, I could side-step the question by guessing it was the ONLY way to save us, only God knows, etc… But all we really know is what God tells us!
Today, let’s open God’s Word and see that He has made a curious promise by going to the cross for us. How that by dying boldly on that cross, Jesus changed the future of this Earth, Heaven, Hell and each one of us!
Consider:
First, Jesus made everything and everybody:
John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
This means Jesus planned everything and decided it would be this way.
Second, Jesus knows all things:
Being God Himself, Jesus is all knowing (omniscient); He knows the past, present and future.
-Because of this, prayer can be a curious experience…
Matthew 6:7-8 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Now for everyone here today, Jesus died for you BEFORE you repented, BEFORE you looked for Him, BEFORE you were even born.
Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
We were reconciled to God? That word means our relationship has been changed. In what way was our relationship with God changed?
-It was changed BEFORE we were even born.
-God considers us differently now than He did before Jesus died.
-Jesus’ death has somehow caused us to no longer be treated as the enemies of God!
To understand what Jesus did for us, let’s look at some fairly puzzling scriptures:
Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
When the time finally arrived in which Jesus could die for us, we didn’t even WANT to be saved…
Knowing the future, Jesus died for us ANYWAY!
Romans 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
This verse is curious because it describes how differently we react to righteous and good people:
The righteous man;
-If you have a neighbor that you don’t know well (but he has never committed any crimes against you), would you go to help him when it looked like you, too, could end up dead? Maybe, but it would be difficult…
The good man;
-Now imagine you have a neighbor that’s a good friend that’s helped you and your family when you’ve been in trouble. Perhaps you were going to lose your home or your job or your wife, but this neighbor stepped in and vouched for you. The word “peradventure” means “quickly” or “immediately”. You would run to help him!
Jesus told the story of a good neighbor in Luke 10:30-37
30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
What a difference between the righteous and the good!!
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Commend= to stand with, to introduce as partners
Knowing the future, Jesus has told the Father that we will do good things! At the time, we were full of sin and indifferent to God, but Jesus promises the Father that we are going to be SO GOOD that He will gladly die to save us!
-By “we”, I don’t mean “you and me”, I mean “us and Jesus”!
-If you surrender yourself to Christ, He will do Wonderful things in your life!
To live your life trusting that Jesus will lead you is to live by FAITH.
Did you notice that God lives by FAITH?
-Jesus had FAITH in the Father that His blood would be used to save us.
-God the Father has FAITH in Jesus when He says that you will be reconciled to Him.
-Jesus puts Faith in you when He sends the Holy Spirit to live in you.
When you have faith in Jesus as your Hero, your Savior, your Good Neighbor, your King… Well, that changes EVERYTHING!
Let’s each of us repent of our ungodly ways and ask Jesus to SAVE us!!
Let Jesus commend you before the throne of God!
It’s time to Worship Him!!
