Appendix A – Reasons Why Jesus Died

Author: Kevin George

This book is a work in progress. Posts on this blog are to enable readers to examine the manuscript and make commentary. These blog posts are NOT the final version!

In no particular order:

  1. God wanted a faithful man to take Adam’s place. 1 Corinthians 15:22, 45-49, Philippians 2:8-11
  2. To reconcile us to God. 2 Cor. 5:17-21, Ephesians 2:13-16, Romans 5:6-10, Colossians 1:19-22
  3. To be an example. 1 Peter 2:21, 3:18, Philippians 2:4-10
  4. To stop sin. Matthew 26:27-28, Mark 10:45, Romans 6:6-14, 1 Peter 2:24, Galatians 1:4, 2:21, Titus 2:14, Revelation 1:5
  5. To defeat the powers of evil. Colossians 2:15
  6. To become the firstborn from the dead. Romans 8:29, Colossians 1:18
  7. To supersede the Mosaic law with a blood covenant. Ephesians 2:13-17, Galatians 3:13
  8. To express God’s love. John 3:16, Romans 5:8
  9. To set us right by faith. Galatians 2:21, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
  10. To defeat death. Romans 6:9, 1 Corinthians 15:26, 2 Timothy 1:10
  11. To triumph over the power of sin. Romans 6:10-11
  12. To crush the serpent’s head. Genesis 3:15
  13. To bring resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:20-22
  14. To draw others to himself. John 12:32-33
  15. To become our High Priest. Hebrews 10:19-22

In addition to the above, or perhaps an expansion of item 4, to stop sin, Jesus died as a demonstration. This point is often not considered, yet it is one of the most emphasized reasons. The fact that God’s only Son, the long awaited Messiah who was attested by God with miracles, signs and wonders which God did through him, was betrayed, tortured and killed, served to expose the evil of sin and the depths of mankind’s depravity when it is not checked with submission to a righteous God. The story shocks the conscience of those who have a heart for righteousness. It makes sin to be exceeding sinful; our selfishness to become perverse.

In Acts 2 we have Peter’s sermon which was just 40 days from the crucifixion event. Did Peter tell them that Jesus died to pay for their sin? No! Peter told the crowd that what they did was evil and called them to repentance. “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” Acts 2:22-23 KJV Peter goes on, “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” Acts 2:36-40

Not long after, Peter healed a man and then told the crowd, “the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead…“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers…Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out…” Acts 3:13-19 ESV