Continuing on

So, last post I mentioned in closing why did Jesus come to die for us. Of course the easy pat answer in this is "To save us from our sins." Which is of course correct. however, there is so much more in His coming than simply salvation. Why did Jesus die? Perhaps let's start this discussion farther back even. "Who killed Jesus?" The Sunday school answer you would normally get to that one is, "Me, I did." or "Man's sins" or "All Humanity", and while in theory those are correct, in reality the right answer is that God Himself was the principle player in Jesus's death. Now I can hear it, "wait a minute...God, killed Jesus?" Well...Yes, God killed Jesus. you see Jesus came with the purpose to die. Isaiah says that "It was the will of God to crush Him..." in speaking of Jesus. Romans says "God presented Him as a sacrifice..." So you see, the Bible even says God was the key player here. Remember Joseph speaking to his brothers. "You intended it for evil, but God meant it for good..." So, if we take that God is the author of good and not of evil, as the Bible says He is...What was the "good" in the death of His son? What is not the cause of Jesus' death, but the core purpose, the meaning behind it? Human's had all kinds of reasons for wanting Jesus dead, but only the Holy God can design His death to be for the good. I read in a writing from John Piper that, "The controversy about which humans killed Jesus is marginal. He chose to die. His heavenly Father ordained it. He embraced it." So, what did God achieve for us sinners in the death of His Son? I will look at some of the purposes in upcoming blogs, let me know what you think, do you agree with me, or not, why, etc., etc., etc. Anyway I think it will be interesting if nothing else. What was the purpose? Not the cause of His death, but the purposes behind it.

I will be borrowing some from the book "Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die". It is a good read, but anyway, I'm getting tired now, and need to go to bed. I pray God bless you all and care for you too. Peace of Christ to you, and Peace out yo'!

th