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Why Did Jesus Have To Die? (I)


And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;  but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17)  

          Why did Jesus have to die? I have a book somewhere that lists fifty reasons why Jesus came to die, but I think this is one of the biggest of those reasons, and it's the one with which most people have the most trouble. I mean, really, the death penalty for eating an apple? And what about me? I mean, I'm a goody two-shoes. I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't swear, I go to church most Sundays and even read my Bible and pray between times. I even pick up other people's litter. 
         OK, I'll admit, there was that time in Office Max when I was sure that if I had had a gun, I'd have attempted to commit mass murder, but that was thirty years ago and I really doubt I would have done it. Even if I had, the walls would have been in the most danger. I mean, there are people who are so much worse. I know that there are good Sunday School answers to this, but there's part of me that can understand how some people can't understand this. Sometimes.
         The answer really isn't difficult until we make it difficult. Most people in most nations would say that treason is a terrible crime. Even when other crimes aren't punishable by death, treason is. Treason is defined as "the crime of betraying one's country, especially by attempting to kill the sovereign or overthrow the government." This is why the only sane response to treason is to kill the traitor. A house divided against itself cannot stand.
          So, God, the sovereign ruler of the universe says, "Don't ___________." I do what He has commanded me not to do. In doing so, I have rejected His right to make such rules. Isn't that the point of the serpent's temptation, "...you will be like the Most High"? God's equal...no longer subservient or obedient...setting my own rules, and thereby replacing Him as sovereign. It doesn't matter whether in our minds sin M is not as bad as sin B. Neither is a petty crime or misdemeanor. They are both treason. The traitors must die. 
           This brings us back to our question: why did Jesus have to die? It makes sense to wipe out the traitors, but why kill the one person who didn't commit treason? There are two answers that I believe are valid. 1) Love, and 2) He's God, which means that He is the one person who could survive the punishment of death.

 

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