April 2, 2023
Welcome to Gateway! It’s such a blessing to worship with you today. If you’re new to Gateway, we want to extend a special welcome to you. Please visit GatewayOnline.org/nextsteps to get more connected.
"Why Did Jesus Have to Die?"
Whether you're hearing about Jesus' death on the cross for the first time or the 500th time, it's important to spend time just taking it in.
The crucifixion was God's plan from the beginning.
Revelation 13:8 - “All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.”
The crucifixion of Jesus is predicted in Messianic prophecies such as Psalm 22:16-18 and Isaiah 53:4-11.
Isaiah 53:4-11
· Verse 4 – “We considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.” When Jesus was on the cross, the Jewish leaders said, “Let God rescue him now if He wants him.” They certainly thought Jesus was stricken by God and God wouldn’t want Him.
· Verse 5 - “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities.” Jesus didn’t die for any sins of His own. He lived a completely sinless life and died in our place. It was our transgressions and iniquities that caused Him to die.
· Verse 6 – “The Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Jesus cried out from the cross: “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” There always is and has been perfect harmony within the Trinity – except that moment when the Father placed our guilt on Jesus and He took the wrath of God on our behalf. At that point, the Father turned away and Jesus suffered God’s wrath for sin on our behalf.
· Verse 7 – “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” Remarkably, Jesus gave no defense before the governor named Pilate when he was falsely accused.
· Verse 8 - “By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested?” Those of his generation, His Jewish peers, demanded His death.
· Verse 9 – “He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death.” Jesus’ temporary grave was given to him by a rich man named Joseph of Arimathea.
· Verse 11 – “After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied.” Jesus didn’t stay in the tomb. He rose from the dead and saw the light of life once again.
Exodus 12:21-23
21 Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. 22 Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning. 23 When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.
God instructed the Israelites to keep the Passover as a lasting ordinance to remind them how He spared His people from death through a blood sacrifice.
Leviticus 17:10-11
10 “ ‘I will set my face against any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who eats blood, and I will cut them off from the people. 11 For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life."
The requirement of death to make atonement for sins might seem drastic to us, but we must remember that it's not so much about the specific act of disobedience as it is about the fact that it is God we have disobeyed.
The severity of punishment is tied to whom we offend.
1 Peter 3:18
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit."
Christ suffered deeply on our behalf. He died for you because He loves you!
Salvation Prayer
Jesus, I confess that I am sinful and that I’ve made a mess of things on my own. I believe that you died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins. Right now I turn from my sins, and I place my full trust in You. I receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for making me your child. Amen.
