Forever Amen (Glory To God)
Matthew 26:47-50
Why did Jesus die? In all the talk about sin and separation, about the Lamb of God taking on our iniquities, there might be a danger that we miss an important fact; that Jesus died when he was betrayed by His friend Judas. He had enemies in high places. He was a victim of complex politics. He was let down by the crowd. So why did Jesus die? Because He was living among humans, and this world – so stained by sin – has a habit of throwing bad things at us. Jesus died because of sinful choices.
But does this mean it was all a mistake? Was Jesus unlucky? Could things have worked out differently if only better choices had been made? Of course not: Jesus was always going to die.
His death was part of the plan, part of the route towards our salvation.
In choosing to come to earth, Jesus chose the ending on the cross. And that is where the power comes: as a willing, living, perfect sacrifice, Jesus' death was worth more than all the year old lambs that would ever exist.
There was nothing that could stop it. Redemption was released and its power was enough to set every prisoner free. Even you. Even me.