Why Did Jesus Die?

Introduction:

Series in the book of John…

Written by the disciple John… Three other gospels… and from the beginning most people know how the story is going to end. But knowing how it ends is not the same as understanding why it ends the way it does… John’s testimony, so that we would believe.

First Text:

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus…

John 19:23a (ESV)

Don’t gloss over this. Remember at this point what Jesus had been through.

He lost blood as he prayed in the garden of Gethsemane He had been beaten, spit upon, mocked, tortured almost to the point of death He had been given a purple robe and a crown of thorns He was forced to cary his cross and now he was nailed to it So here he is, crucified and in terrible shape, but look at the attitude of the soldiers who were there…

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,

“They divided my garments among them,

and for my clothing they cast lots.”

John 19:23–24 (ESV)

There is a flat out disregard for human life on the part of the Romans. Here in front of them was the God of the universe nailed to a cross and they could care less. They’re gambling for his clothes. Our culture today has the same disregard for Jesus.

There are those who just see Jesus as a man who was a good teacher, and got killed and that was it. There are even those in the church who believe in Jesus, but treat his death as just commonplace. But even in the midst of this, scripture was being fulfilled! This is no small thing!

So the soldiers did these things, but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

John 19:25–27 (ESV)

In spite of what was happening around him and to him, Jesus was thinking about others. He was making sure that his mom would be cared for. And I believe he was also thinking about you. Because remember what he prayed in chapter 17? In verse 24, “Father I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory…”

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

John 19:28–30 (ESV)

What was finished? The work that Jesus came to do. His mission on earth. What was that? And why was his death necessary to complete his work? My message today is going to divide into two parts. In this first part we are going to ask the question:

Part 1 - Why did Jesus die?

Question 1: Why did the Romans want him dead?

Answer: The Romans were afraid of civil unrest.

Pastor Joel shared last week that multiple times Pilate found Jesus to be innocent. But ultimately he caved to the pressure that the people put on him

From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” John 19:12

They forced his hand. The people could have used this against Pilate if he didn’t do it. But he probably also saw that he would have civil unrest and rioting on his hands if he released Jesus. The tension level was high. So most scholars will tell you that the Romans killed Jesus to squash a potential revolt. But that’s not why Jesus died. He didn’t die because the Romans killed him.

Question 2: Why did the Jews want him dead?

Answer: The Jews saw Jesus as a blasphemer.

Blasphemy is to say something false or slanderous about God. Jesus through his words and actions was claiming to be both the Son of God and also God himself.

The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.

John 19:7

If Jesus was committing blasphemy then the Jews were correct. Death was the penalty for blasphemy. So most scholars will tell you that the Jews killed Jesus because of his claims. But that’s not why Jesus died. He didn’t die because the Jews killed him.

Question 3: Why did one of the disciples want him dead?

Answer: Judas gave in to the temptation of the enemy.

Some people think that Judas had a different idea of what the Messiah was supposed to look like. There were a lot of people in fact who thought that the Messiah was going to come in as a warrior and lead rebellion to overthrow Rome and set up a new kingdom for Israel. One of the disciples (known as Simon the zealot) came from this perspective, but Jesus changed his heart And so some people think that Judas was upset that Jesus hadn’t done this and so that’s why he betrayed him… But the scripture doesn’t tell us that. We only see one thing…

During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot… John 13:2

Judas betrayed him because he gave into the temptation of the enemy. He allowed Satan to have his way. But that’s not why Jesus died. He didn’t simply die because Judas betrayed him.

Question 4: Why did Satan want him dead?

Answer: Satan, because of his pride, opposes the plans of God.

Your heart was proud because of your beauty;

you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.

I cast you to the ground… Ezekiel 28:17a

You said in your heart,

‘I will ascend to heaven;

above the stars of God

I will set my throne on high;

I will sit on the mount of assembly

in the far reaches of the north;

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High.’

But you are brought down to Sheol,

to the far reaches of the pit.

Isaiah 14:13-15

So we see that from the beginning Satan has opposed the plans and purposes of God. Satan seized the opportunity to use Judas to betray Jesus. But that’s not why Jesus died. It wasn’t merely the plot of the devil. Even though the devil wanted Jesus dead, this was not outside the master plan of God.

Question 5: Why did God send his Son?

Answer: God loved us and sent Jesus to give us life.

There are people today who blame God, saying that he is a cruel father. They say what kind of father would send his son to die.

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9

Jesus death was a display of God’s love for us. It was not a cruel act of an unloving father.

Question 6: Who caused Jesus’ death?

Answer: The blame lies with us.

We can’t blame the Romans, the Jews, Judas, Satan, or God Jesus died because of our sin!

But he was pierced for our transgressions;

he was crushed for our iniquities… Isaiah 53:5a

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree… 1 Peter 2:24a

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit. 1 Peter 3:18

Question 7: Why did Jesus die?

Answer: Jesus died willingly to pay for our sin.

That word “willingly” is so important… Don’t miss this. Jesus didn’t die because of the Romans or Jews. He did not die because God forced him to. Jesus died willingly for us.

For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father. John 10:17-18

Jesus laid down his life. He did it to be our perfect sacrifice. He payed the penalty for our sin, because we have all sinned.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 5:45

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30

This was his mission. There on the cross he accomplished it. Jesus made it possible for us to be with him where he is. This was his plan from the beginning.

Through his death Jesus purchased our salvation.

Second Text:

Jesus was crucified. The Romans made sure and even triple checked that he was dead. And he was placed in a tomb, sealed with a stone.

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”

John 20:1–2 (ESV)

Immediately we have confusion. Where is Jesus? What has happened?

So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.

John 20:3–7 (ESV)

So Peter and John get to the tomb together. Peter looks and he’s also confused.

Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;

John 20:8 (ESV)

When you look at all of the disciples, Peter is often the first to speak or to act… But John is the first to believe. He got it. He saw the evidence and knew what it meant. And remember, that’s why he’s telling us his story… so that we might believe.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

John 20:11–16 (ESV)

And now it becomes clear to everyone, that Jesus is alive. He rose. The question is:

Part 2 - Why did Jesus rise?

Most Christians can tell you why Jesus died, but for a lot of people, they can’t explain why he rose. We believe he rose and that it’s a historical fact. But why did he do it?

Question 1: What did Jesus’ resurrection show the Romans?

Answer: Jesus, not Caesar is Lord! Jesus is the King of Kings.

For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. 1 Corinthians 8:5-6

Jesus is Lord. Our allegiance is to him. We are citizens of heaven… his kingdom. He is in control. He told Pilate that he only had authority because it was given by God.

Question 2: What did Jesus’ resurrection show the Jews?

Answer: Jesus really is the Son of God.

A Jewish man named Saul through that Jesus was a blasphemer, but then when he saw the risen Lord he changed his mind. He became known as Paul… and look what he did.

And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” Acts 9:20

And John, as a Jewish man writing this book says,

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13

Question 3: What did Jesus’ resurrection show the disciples?

Answer: Jesus really is the Messiah.

At the very beginning of the book, as the disciples are first getting connected to Jesus, one of them named Andrew did this:

He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). John 1:41

Jesus showed them that they were correct in their belief. Many of them probably that that they were wrong at the point Jesus died on the cross. Paul as he went out and preached told everyone that Jesus was the Messiah, the Savior.

Of this man's offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. Acts 13:23

Question 4: What did Jesus’ resurrection show Satan?

Answer: Jesus defeated sin, death, and the work of the devil.

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:18 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? 1 Corinthians 15:55

Question 5: What did Jesus’ resurrection show about God?

Answer: God accepted Jesus’ perfect sacrifice and exalted him.

And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. Hebrews 10:11-13

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11

Question 6: What did Jesus’ resurrection show about Jesus?

Answer: Death could not hold him!

God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. Acts 2:24

Question 7: What does Jesus’ resurrection show us?

Answer: Jesus have the power to raise us from the dead.

These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31

Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord.” John 19:18

She encountered the risen Jesus and now she has a testimony. I have seen him. I believe in him. I have life in his name.

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

The Ultimate Question: Why did Jesus die on the cross and rise on the third day?

Answer: To give you life!

Invitation to Salvation

Jesus paid the penalty for our sin. And he rose again showing that he has the power to give us life. All you have to do is place your faith in Jesus. You simply ask him to forgive your sin and you give him your life. Maybe there’s someone here today who is ready to do that. Maybe you’ve been drowning in your sin and you’re ready to hand it over to God. He will forgive you and remove your guilt and give you eternal life. And then God himself through the Holy Spirit will move into your heart. If you’re ready to be forgiven and receive eternal life then I want to give you the chance to do that right now.