Why did Christ Die?

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8

The gospel accounts of Jesus arrest, trials, convicton, and execution cast blame on several characters. The Roman soldiers were the ones who physically put Jesus to death, and while they are shown to be cruel, they were obeying orders - it was their job. Pilate ruled the region for Rome, and it wa his sentence that allowed Jesus to be taken to the cross. However, the gospel writers are careful to show that Pilate was convinced Jesus was innocent. Pilate does not want to take a side in the dispute surrounding Jesus, and comes up with four ingenious ways to avoid sentencing him. First, he send him to Herod, trying to transfer responsibility - but Herod sends him back (Lk. 23:5-12). Second, he agress to have him punished, with the hopes he can be frees (lk. 23:16,22). Third, he tried to have him released according to passover tradition, but the people demanded the release of Barrabas instead of their Messiah. Fourth, he argued his innocence and symbolically washed his hands of the matter. However, in the end, he gave in to the demands of the crowd because the crowd black-mailed him, threatening to bring to Cesaer the news that Pilate had failed to deal with another claiming to be king (Jn. 19:12).

Others were also guilty as we trace back the chain of Jesus' custody on the night he died. Jesus himself will say to Pilate: "The one who handed me over to you is guilty of the greater sin" (Jn. 19:11). Caiaphas, and the Jewish religious leaders share the blame. Jesus, over the course of his ministry, had exposed their greed and sinfulness. The felt threatened by Jesus. He undermined their prestige, their hold over the people, their own self confidence. Mark tells us they "handed over" Jesus to Pilate. They play a large part in the chain of blame.

Judas will forever be known as the betrayer. Some try to excuse Judas, saying he was a victim of predestination. The logic that since Jesus had to die, then someone had to betray him. They point to the passages which say Satan "prompted" Judas (Jn. 13:2), then "entered into him"(Lk.22:3) and John's statement that he was "doomed to destruction" (Jn. 17:12). However, this logic does not exonerate Judas of guilt. Mark record the words of Jesus: "woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born" (Mk 14:21). The blood of Jesus is on Judas' hands.

While Pilate, Caiaphas, and Judas share guilt, Paul declares that the reason Jesus went to the cross is that "Christ died for us." This statement indicates we are also part of the chain of shame, but also that Christ went willingly to the cross. He didn't die "because" of our sin - He died "for" our sin. Paul's emphasis is on the fact that Jesus went intentionally and deliberately to the cross for us. All of us have sinned - we all bear responsibility for the cross. The cross exposes human evil, and at the same time reveals the thevine purpose to overcome the human evil thus exposed.

The cross enforces three truths. First, our sin is extremely horrible. Second, God's love is wonderful beyond comprehension. And finally, Salvation must be a free gift. When Christ victorously declared "It is finished" from the cross, he used the single Greek word "tetelestai", being in the perfect tense, meaning it has been and will forever remain finished."

Thank you Jesus for the cross!