Why did Jesus have to Die? Part two.

Simply speaking, Jesus had to qualify to be our high priest.  That may seem strange to you.  Jesus was and is God. Why would he have to qualify or do anything to prove he is worthy to be our High priest?  Wasn’t that foreordained? 

Consider the following scriptures that talk about the subject quite directly.  First he was placed here on Earth for the  purpose of suffering death so that he could taste death for every man.  Second, he had to demonstrate that he would obey God even to the point of being crucified to death.  Read the verses below carefully.

 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. 13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

Christ shared man's mortal nature, that by His dying men might be freed from death and to deliver them from Satan.  He had to be made like us so that he could be a merciful high priest.  Being in the flesh he could experience all things we experience, even death.  All these things were necessary so that he could become our High Priest.

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Heb 2:9-18 (KJV)

Notice now that he had to suffer only once to put away sin once and for all. 

24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Heb 9:24-28 (KJV)

He had to die to redeem all those who transgressed under the first, old covenant.  He also had to die to make the New Testament in force.  The New Testament had to be dedicated with blood.  His was the blood of the New Covenant to establish it.

And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. 18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

Heb 9:15-18 (KJV)

Heb 3:1-6 (KJV)

1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: 2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. 3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. 4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. 5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. 6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Heb 5:1-9 (KJV)

18 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: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

1 Peter 3:18-22 (KJV)

            So, in a nutshell, why did he have to die?  To demonstrate to God and to us that he was capable of enduring anything and everything to remain faithful to God. 

He had to experience all things like we did so he could have compassion on us.  (For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. Heb 2:18 (KJV))

            Without Jesus doing all of this, and doing it voluntarily, how would we, ourselves, have total conviction that he could feel our weaknesses?  Wouldn’t we say, “Jesus never was tempted like me.  How could I rely on him to understand when he’s never been through it himself?”  Or, how about this: “How could Jesus ever expect me to die for my beliefs when he did not do it himself?”  Yet Jesus did suffer as we do and proved his faithfulness by doing so.

            Without Jesus’ death we couldn’t have a merciful and faithful high priest in heaven.  He couldn’t have qualified for that position.  He couldn’t have qualified because a high priest has to be able to feel our infirmity, be one of us, be faithful unto death and have lived a perfect life.