Why did Jesus die on the Cross? - BIG Ideas on Faith No. 3

Why did Jesus die on the Cross?

Some people say Christianity needs to be crucio-centric. That's a fancy way of saying the crucifixion of Jesus is central to the Christian faith. Though what makes the death of Jesus on the cross central to Christian belief? There must be something significant regarding this sacrifice!

The question worth asking is, 'Why did Jesus die on the cross?' I mean when you reflect upon it, Jesus was brutally murdered; left to hang upon a tree. He was beaten and whipped and gruesomely nailed to the wood. But for what purpose? If Jesus' death on a cross is so central to Christian faith, then why?

Chris Wright ("Whose world? Whose Mission?") unpacks some thoughts on the centrality of the cross. He provides five answers to the question of why Jesus died on the cross.

• To deal with the guilt of human sin (1 Pet. 2:24)
• To defeat the powers of evil (Col. 2:15)
• To destroy death (Heb. 2:14)
• To remove the barrier of enmity and alienation between Jew and Gentile (Eph. 2:14-16)
• To bring reconciliation to the whole of creation (Col. 1:20)

A few years ago my wife and I saw a film depicting Jesus death on the cross, and our hearts absolutely sank. I cannot explain my anguish, the sense of sinfulness I felt at that moment. My wife and I left the movie theatre, and drove to our local Salvation Army Corps. We raced inside the building, attempting to both hold in our emotions. We were wrecked. Wrecked by the realisation that we had just been confronted with who Jesus is. We were all of a sudden somehow aware that we were sinners and in need of redemption. We were broken and in need spiritual repair. Kneeling at the cross, on the mercy seat, we cried, and cried and cried. A memorable, defining moment was occurring for us. In those sacred moments, we asked Jesus for forgiveness, and we dealt with the sense of guilt were feeling. The story of Jesus; the life of Jesus; the message of Jesus came flooding upon our minds, and we transacted with God that night.

Maybe you have had the same experience at some point? Either way, my prayer is that you would be continually interrupted and kindly reminded of your sinfulness and your need to embrace the forgiveness that is available through the death of Jesus on the cross.

BIG Idea No. 3 - Jesus death on the cross is central to the Christian faith.
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