Did Jesus Need to Die on the Cross & Why?
The Meaning of the Crucifixion - Get the Bigger Picture of the Bible
Apr 14, 2009 Christine Fadhley
Easter is the time when Christians celebrate the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but why did He have to die in the first place? Some "new age philosophers" believe that Jesus didn't die, but became a refugee in a foreign land. However this interpretation misses the whole point of the story of Christ. To understand the narrative, one has to start at the very beginning.
The Genesis Contract
When God created Adam and Eve (humanity) in the Garden of Eden there was no barrier between God and His people. It says in Genesis that He walked in the garden and spoke (fellowshipped) with Adam and Eve. However Satan (the fallen angel Lucifer) driven by his anger towards God at having created humanity "in His image" decided to try to intervene and ruin this relationship.
Through Satan's temptation, Eve - and then Adam too - ate the forbidden fruit of the Tree of Good and Evil, and their eyes "were opened" to fear and negativity. They effectively come under Satan's power at this point. It says in Genesis 3. v 7 that they realised they were naked and then hid from God because they were ashamed.
God's Anger Towards Satan
Realizing that Satan had corrupted his perfect creation, God then banished them from paradise and placed a curse over Satan. He placed emnity between mankind and Satan to whom he says "the seed of mankind will bruise your head". This is understood by some commentators to be a prediction that Jesus would "crush the head" of Satan.
A Love-Hate Relationship
Mankind "went forth and multiplied" but although God's love for mankind remained true, the same cannot be said of humanity's feelings towards their Creator. During the period covered by the Old Testament mankind sometimes obeyed and worshiped God, and at other times, under Satan's influence, they veered off into idolatory and pagan practices such as sacrificing their children to the abominable god Molech. Such actions bring down God's anger and retribution.
Predictions of the Messiah's Coming
During Old Testament times there are numerous predictions that a Savior would be sent to help mankind out of their dreadful predicament. Isiah, a prophet who lived around 740 - 700 before Christ's birth, predicted that God would come to earth in human form to die for humanity - "He was wounded for our transgression, bruised for our iniquities.... and with his stripes we are healed" etc (Isiah 53 v.5).
The Birth of Jesus and the Ending of the Contract
The predictions were fulfilled in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ in a small town called Nazareth. At the age of 30 he started his miraculous ministry. At the time of his crucifixion Satan seemed to be getting the upper hand, but with Jesus's death, at the time of Passover, his sinless sacrifice repaid the "debt" that mankind owed to Satan and the contract was broken forever. On the third day Jesus is resurrected and makes himself known to His followers. They became filled with the Holy Spirit and carried on His ministry to this day.
The End Times in Revelation
In the book of Revelation the future is laid out - the last scenes in the struggle between good and evil. Satan, in his death anguish, writhes and lashes out at humanity, but his power is spent and he is overthrown. The faithful believers in God and Jesus are garnered into paradise. God's people are filled with the Holy Spirit once again and right is restored.
References
- Predictions of Jesus' Coming in The Holy Bible
Christ's Crucifixion Redeemed Satan's Contract
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Eve Ate the Apple Creating a Contract with Satan
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