Why did Jesus have to die?

Sermon Title: Why Jesus Had to Die

Text: Isaiah 53:5–6

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” —Isaiah 53:5–6 (NIV)

Pray.

Introduction: The Question That Echoes

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I. The Reality of Sin (Isaiah 53:6)

“We all, like sheep, have gone astray…”

Isaiah doesn’t pull punches. He says all of us—no exceptions—have wandered from the path of righteousness. Sin is not just breaking rules; it’s breaking relationship. It's our rebellion, our selfishness, our turning from God to self.

This matters because you can’t understand why Jesus had to die unless you understand what He came to fix. Atonement assumes a problem needing reconciliation.

Biblical narrative….

Genesis 3, the severance of relationship with God, with humanity, with creation

Sin brings separation from God (Isaiah 59:2).

Sin brings brokenness—internally, relationally, and communally.

Sin brings judgment, because God is not only loving, but holy and just.

II. The Substitute: Pierced, Crushed, Punished (Isaiah 53:5–6)

Isaiah gives us the image of a suffering servant who is:

Pierced for our transgressions.

Crushed for our iniquities.

Punished so we could have peace.

Wounded so we could be healed.

And on him, the Lord laid all our iniquity.

This is the heart of substitution. He took what we deserved.

This brings us to the core idea of atonement—how Jesus' death reconciles us to God. Let’s explore a few biblical models that help us understand the cross.

III. Models of the Atonement

Theologians through the centuries have used different models or metaphors to describe what Jesus accomplished on the cross. Think of them like facets on a diamond—each revealing a different truth, all grounded in Scripture.

1. Substitutionary Atonement (Penal Substitution)

This is perhaps the clearest in Isaiah 53.

Jesus bears the penalty for sin in our place.

God’s justice is satisfied.

We are forgiven and made right with God.

This model speaks powerfully to guilt and justice: Jesus took my place.

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

2. Christus Victor (Victory over Evil)

This model emphasizes Jesus’ triumph over the powers of sin, death, and Satan.

The cross was not defeat—it was victory.

Jesus disarmed the powers and made a public spectacle of them (Colossians 2:15).

This model speaks to bondage and fear: Jesus broke the power of evil.

IV. The Cross Is the Convergence

So which model is right?

They all are. They’re biblical. They’re rich. They speak to different aspects of our need and God’s provision. At the cross, God’s justice, mercy, love, and power converge.

To the guilty, Jesus is our substitute.

To the enslaved, Jesus is our liberator.

To the wandering, Jesus is our shepherd.

To the hopeless, Jesus is our peace.

Isaiah saw it centuries before: “By his wounds, we are healed.”

V. Our Response: Grace All the Way Down

Isaiah says: “We all, like sheep, have gone astray…” But here’s the gospel: “The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

That’s not just information—it’s an invitation. An invitation to receive, respond, and be transformed by grace.

In the Wesleyan tradition, we understand salvation not as a one-time transaction, but as a lifelong journey of grace. Methodists have often spoken of the ordo salutis, the “order of salvation,” not in rigid steps, but as a movement of the Holy Spirit drawing us deeper into Christ.

Here’s what that looks like:

1. Prevenient Grace – Grace That Goes Before

Before we ever knew we needed saving, God was already at work. He was stirring our hearts, awakening a desire for more, convicting us of sin, and nudging us toward Christ.

“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

Even our first response is a work of grace.

2. Justifying Grace – Grace That Makes Us Right

This is where we respond in faith and repentance, trusting in what Christ has done for us on the cross. In that moment, our sins are forgiven, and we are reconciled to God.

This is where Isaiah 53 comes alive: He was pierced for OUR transgressions.

We are made right with God—not by our goodness, but by grace through faith.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)

3. Sanctifying Grace – Grace That Makes Us New

But God doesn’t just forgive us—He transforms us.

Sanctifying grace is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, renewing us in love, reshaping our desires, helping us grow in holiness. We are no longer conformed to the pattern of the world but are being renewed into the likeness of Christ.

“By his wounds, we are healed.”

So How Do We Respond Today?

The cross is not just something to admire—it’s something to respond to. If you feel God drawing you today, know this: it’s grace.

Are you far from God? That tug on your heart is prevenient grace.

Do you feel conviction and want to turn toward God? That’s justifying grace at work.

Do you want to grow, to be made new? That’s sanctifying grace calling you deeper.

Respond with openness. Trust. Repent. Yield. Follow.

Conclusion: The Wounds That Heal

Why did Jesus have to die?

Because love took sin seriously. Because justice had to be satisfied. Because you and I needed healing.

Jesus didn’t just die—He died for us. And by His wounds, we are healed.

So let us stand in awe. Let us kneel in gratitude. Let us live in the freedom and forgiveness He purchased at the cross.

Amen.