QUESTION:
WHY DID JESUS HAVE TO DIE ON THE CROSS?
ANSWER:
If Jesus did not die on the cross, we would never be saved from the lake of fire and the second death. There is just no other option.
The cross of Jesus Christ stands at the very center of human history. It is not merely a symbol of suffering—it is the ultimate expression of God’s justice, mercy, and love. According to God’s law, sin demands justice. And that justice requires the shedding of blood for the forgiveness of sins. If Jesus had not been crucified and died, there would be no remission, no resurrection, and no hope of eternal life.
“And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.” — Hebrews 9:22
When Jesus began to reveal to His disciples that He must suffer, be betrayed, and killed in Jerusalem, Peter strongly objected. But Jesus did not commend Peter’s concern. Instead, He rebuked him and said, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men” (Matthew 16:23). That powerful statement reveals something profound: the plan of the cross was not optional—it was ordained by God. Jesus also foretold His death in other moments (Matthew 17:22-23, Luke 18:31-33), and each time, He made it clear that this was necessary.
If Jesus did not die on the cross, we would never be saved from the lake of fire and the second death. There is just no other option.
1. It Has Been God’s Plan All Along for the Redemption of Mankind
When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they broke their fellowship with God and brought a curse upon themselves. Yet even then, God did not abandon humanity. Because of His great mercy, we see that He already had a plan to restore what sin had broken. He gave the first prophecy of redemption: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:15). This foretold the virgin birth and the ultimate victory of Jesus over Satan.
God knew—even before creating man—that he would sin. Yet He chose to create us anyway. He could have prevented the fall by not creating man at all, or by assigning an angel to guard the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But He didn’t, because He loves us and values our free will. And even before the foundation of the world, He had already prepared the plan of redemption through His Son. “The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8) reminds us that this was not an afterthought—it was God’s plan from the very beginning.
2. God Included an Amazing Provision in His Laws
God, in His mercy, included a powerful provision in His holy law that opened the door for redemption: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood… for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul” (Leviticus 17:11). This Old Testament principle became the foundation of the sacrificial system, where animals were offered as substitutes for the sins of the people.
But even then, those sacrifices could only cover sin—they could never remove it completely (see Hebrews 10:4). It was God’s grace that provided this temporary solution until the perfect and final sacrifice—Jesus Christ—would come. Without this divine provision, we would all be condemned, for there would be no way to receive forgiveness.
You see, God already knew we would fall, and yet He lovingly included this provision in the law with us in mind. What we could never do, God did!
3. The Perfect Sacrifice Could Only Be Jesus
Even with God’s redemptive plan and the provision in the law, there still needed to be a perfect, sinless sacrifice. No man qualified, for all had sinned. Angels could not redeem us—they were not given that role. Only Jesus, the eternal Son of God, was worthy.
And Jesus willingly offered Himself. “I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself” (John 10:17-18). He chose to leave His glory in heaven, take on the form of a servant, and be obedient unto death—even death on the cross (Philippians 2:6–8). Why? Because of His great love for us. His mercy would not let Him abandon us to our fate. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
4. The Old Testament Saints Awaited the Cross
Have you ever wondered why the souls of the Old Testament saints were in Abraham’s bosom and not in the full presence of God? (Luke 16:22-23). The reason is simple: their sins were not yet fully paid for. Though their faith was credited to them as righteousness (Romans 4:3), the sacrifice that would remove sin had not yet happened.
The cross changed everything. Jesus’ death not only opened heaven’s door for us—it also set free the faithful who had died in hope. “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive…” (Ephesians 4:8). If Jesus had not died, they would have remained in Abraham’s bosom, and the resurrection of the dead would never be realized.
5. Understanding The Power of The Cross
The crucifixion was not just a Roman execution—it was the most brutal and shameful form of punishment ever devised. Originally developed by the Persians and later perfected by the Romans, crucifixion was designed to inflict the maximum amount of suffering for the longest possible time.
The condemned was first scourged with a whip embedded with metal and bone, tearing through flesh and muscle. Then, forced to carry a heavy crossbeam, they were paraded through the streets in humiliation. Upon reaching the execution site, large nails—more like spikes—were driven through the wrists and feet, crushing nerves and sending unbearable pain throughout the body. As the victim hung, they would struggle to breathe, pushing up on pierced feet just to draw air, only to collapse again in exhaustion. It was death by suffocation, exhaustion, and excruciating agony.
This is the death Jesus endured.
And yet, the cross is not a symbol of weakness—it is the greatest demonstration of divine power the world has ever known. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).
But many people still ask: “If God is good, gracious, and merciful, why can’t He just forgive our sins and forget our disobedience?”
Here’s the answer: Because God cannot deny who He is.
God is perfectly loving—but He is also perfectly holy and just. If He were to overlook sin, He would violate His own righteousness. His justice demands that sin be punished. His holiness demands separation from sin. But His love desires to save. How can all these truths about God be reconciled?
Only at the cross.
At the cross of Calvary, all the attributes of God converged in a single moment in history.
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His Love was revealed in sending His only Son for us.
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His Justice was satisfied when Jesus bore the punishment our sins deserved.
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His Holiness was upheld as Jesus lived a sinless life and fulfilled the righteous requirements of the law.
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His Mercy and Grace were poured out on us because Jesus gave Himself as the sacrifice for our redemption.
There has never been, and will never be, a moment like this again.
The cross is where God’s justice met His mercy. It is where His holiness embraced His love. It is the only place where sinners can be made right with a holy God—not by their efforts, but by the finished work of Jesus Christ.
What a divine masterpiece of salvation! What a glorious collision of heaven’s attributes for the salvation of man!
Now, let me ask you again:
Was it necessary for Jesus to die on the cross?
The answer is an overwhelming, undeniable YES.
Conclusion: The Singular Path to Salvation
Jesus’ death on the cross was not just necessary—it was the only way for humanity to be saved. Through His sacrifice, we receive forgiveness, righteousness, and eternal life. As Acts 4:12 declares, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Have you accepted the forgiveness that Jesus offers? Do you possess the assurance of eternal life? If you’re uncertain and desire to be forgiven, continue reading: “How to Receive the Forgiveness of My Sins”
