Why Did Jesus Die for Us?
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…John 1:14a
God in Christ demonstrates how He, our Holy God, can join us outside the paradise of Eden. Even more, God demonstrates His love for us by allowing His only begotten Son to come and die for us, Romans 5:8.
Once exiled from the Garden, humans battled a cursed earth just to survive. Even so, God joins them in this wilderness. The most vivid example of this is the Tabernacle. A very mobile house of God—a moving place of worship—an open invitation to come and be where God is. This God does because, like in the Garden, He wishes to dwell (tabernacle) with His creation.
Like the Garden, the holy place within the tabernacle walls is a death-free zone. Nothing dead or unclean was allowed to enter the place where God was. For this reason, Jesus came to remove the veil separating man from God. This was necessary because sinful man is unclean, spiritually dead, unworthy to enter the Holy of Holies. Jesus changes that.
Like the sacrifice for sin was slain outside the walls, Jesus was crucified outside the city. The sacrifice was supposed to be perfect—without blemish. As was Jesus—perfect in every way. This was necessary to fulfill the requirements of the law. Leviticus 17:11: For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. What God says stays forever.
The one who presented his sacrifice to God laid his hands upon its head. This act of faith transferred his sin, and the sin of his family, to the sacrifice. God did this for us with Jesus. He took our sins to the cross. To overcome death from sin Jesus took our sin and nailed them to the cross, Colossians 2:14. People come to Jesus for many personal reasons. Perhaps more who come can realize what they have received as a free gift. More than the love of God, which would be enough. But release from their body of sin. While we appreciate in amazement the death of Jesus, we celebrate His resurrection.
