Why did Jesus have to die?

The cross is the most familiar image in the world and the least understood.

The question underneath it is fair: if God is loving, why could He not simply forgive?

God is holy, and sin is not waved through

A judge who lets guilt go unaddressed is not merciful. He is corrupt.

God's holiness means sin is dealt with, not overlooked.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sin carries a real penalty because God is really just.

God is love, and He did not want to lose us

The same God who will not ignore sin is the God who did not want to be without us.

So the question was never whether God would be just or loving.

It was how He could be both at once.

The cross is where both are true

At the cross, God took the penalty of sin onto Himself.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Justice was satisfied. Love was displayed. Neither was set aside for the other.

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit…

The righteous for the unrighteous.

That is the exchange.

Jesus was not a victim of the cross

It is easy to picture an angry Father and a merciful Son, as though the two were divided.

Scripture will not allow it.

The cross was the Father's own initiative, and the Son went willingly.

No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.

The death does not stand alone

The cross without the resurrection is a tragedy.

Three days later God raised Him, and the payment was publicly accepted.

So why did Jesus have to die?

Because sin is real.

Because judgment is real.

Because God would not pretend otherwise.

And because He would not lose you.

Someone had to pay, and God paid it Himself.