Why Did Jesus Have to Die?

Some would say that nothing but the resurrection from the dead can explain the birth of Christianity. Certainly, the resurrection is front and center of our Christian faith. What’s interesting is that even after Jesus’ resurrection, his followers chose the symbol of the cross as the primary symbol of their faith—rather than the empty tomb. That symbol remains front and center today.

It didn’t take long for the disciples to realize that what they thought was the most humiliating defeat—the death of Jesus—was actually the greatest victory of all time.

At the cross, the disciples experienced what seemed like the message: “Jesus defeated.”  As a result, they fled the scene of His execution in fear and hid behind closed doors. But soon, they were boldly proclaiming: “Jesus defeated death”—by His resurrection from the dead.

Think about it. The cross really is a staggering victory over our two greatest enemies—sin and death. Imagine defeating your greatest enemies not by overpowering them, but by going lower than the grave itself. That’s what God did in Jesus (see 2 Corinthians 5:19). Join us this week in worship as we explore the all-important question: Why did Jesus have to die?

Services are at 8:30 & 10:00 AM. Live Streaming available at 10:00 AM.