Why did Jesus have to die for our sins?

Jesus' death was not God's original plan but a tragic outcome of human failure and disbelief, particularly by John the Baptist and the Jewish leadership. God intended for Jesus to fulfill the three blessings, marry, and establish the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth, bringing complete spiritual and physical salvation. When this was rejected, Jesus' crucifixion became a secondary path, securing spiritual salvation and laying the foundation for future physical restoration.

Why Jesus had to die for our sins is a pivotal question, revealing not a God who demands arbitrary sacrifice, but one who relentlessly pursues salvation amidst human failure, offering hope for humanity's complete restoration.

The Biblical Foundation: Anticipation of Atonement

The Bible unequivocally states that Jesus' death was for the atonement of sins, presenting humanity's fallen state and God's persistent pursuit of reconciliation. The Old Testament details a pervasive concept of sacrifice for sin, pointing toward necessary purification. Leviticus 17:11 states, "For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life." These repeated, temporary sacrifices foreshadowed a greater, ultimate sacrifice. Isaiah 53:5 prophesied, "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." This prophecy of the "suffering servant" detailed the course Jesus would have to take if his people rejected him.

The New Testament identifies Jesus as the fulfillment of this prophecy and the ultimate sacrifice. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:3, "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures." Mark 10:45 quotes Jesus: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." The book of Hebrews emphasizes the finality of Christ's sacrifice, surpassing all previous rituals. Hebrews 9:12 explains, "He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption." This biblical narrative establishes Jesus' death as central to God's redemptive plan for forgiveness.

God's Original Will and His Secondary Plan

Jesus' crucifixion was not God's original will but a tragic consequence of human disbelief and faithlessness. God's primary purpose for sending Jesus was for him to become the True Parent of humanity. Through his perfection, Jesus was to have married a pure woman, raising a sinless family to establish the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. This would achieve both spiritual and physical salvation, restoring humanity to God's original ideal as described in Genesis 1:28: "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Jesus was not supposed to die before fulfilling these three blessings.

However, the people, particularly the religious leadership and John the Baptist, failed to recognize and support Jesus. Their rejection, exemplified by "Away with him, away with him! Crucify him!" (John 19:15), led to his untimely death. Jesus himself said, "The Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sin," indicating his death was not necessary for forgiveness. His prayer, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me" (Matthew 26:39-46), shows he did not desire the cross. This act thwarted God's original plan for complete physical salvation through Jesus as the True Parent.

Therefore, Jesus’ death became God’s secondary plan of salvation. Through his death and subsequent spiritual resurrection, he achieved spiritual salvation, opening the path for humanity to be reborn spiritually as children of God through faith. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of Man had to be lifted up (John 3:14) as a way to salvage salvation after humanity rejected him. This brought immense spiritual benefit, establishing the foundation for spiritual rebirth. God did not cause Jesus' death; rather, He utilized the tragic outcome of human failure, heroically endured by Jesus, to salvage what was possible, allowing for spiritual restoration until the Second Coming for the completion of physical salvation. For as the scripture saith, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16 KJV).

God's Providential Purpose: Spiritual Salvation and the Path to True Parenthood

Although Jesus' death was a profound tragedy that went against God's original intention, it played a crucial role in God's ongoing providence. His crucifixion established the condition for spiritual rebirth and atonement, allowing humanity to receive the Holy Spirit and begin purification through faith. Jesus' willingness to offer his life, demonstrating "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends" (John 15:13), laid the foundation for Christianity. This spiritual bedrock allowed God to continue His work of restoration, securing a spiritual realm of liberation and preparing the spiritual world. Jesus' last words on the cross, "It is finished," meant that he had finished laying the foundation for spiritual salvation. Though he could not become the physical True Parent, he became the spiritual True Parent, guiding souls and laying groundwork for future physical True Parents on Earth. And thus was fulfilled the saying of the prophet: "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." (Isaiah 53:3 KJV).

Why Jesus Spoke of Paradise Only on the Cross

Throughout his public ministry Jesus proclaimed one destination and one destination only: the kingdom of heaven. "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17) was his opening message, and he never once directed his listeners toward paradise. Yet on the cross, speaking to the repentant thief at his right hand, he said for the first time, "To day shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). The change of word marks a change of circumstance, not a change of teaching.

The kingdom of heaven was to be entered by families and nations receiving the Messiah while he lived, so that God's reign could be established on earth first and then reflected in the spirit world. Because Jesus was rejected, that foundation was never laid, and the gate of the kingdom of heaven was not opened. Those who believed in him therefore could not enter it. What Jesus could offer the dying thief was a waiting place — paradise, a realm of rest and light where those who follow him remain until the kingdom itself is opened. This is why he could tell the thief "to day", and yet the same scriptures still look forward to a kingdom prepared at his return.

Living the Principle

Understanding why Jesus died transforms faith into active participation in fulfilling God's original dream for humanity: 1. Embrace responsibility: Recognize that Jesus' death was a result of human failure, and strive to align our actions with God's will. 2. Strive for complete salvation: Work toward establishing God's Kingdom on Earth, transforming families, communities, and nations spiritually and physically. 3. Become True Parents: Cultivate true love within families, raising children according to God’s principles, fulfilling the original ideal of marriage and family. 4. Practice true love and forgiveness: Emulate Jesus' ultimate love by forgiving others and extending unconditional love, just as he taught and exemplified.

These answers explain the Bible in the light of the Divine Principle, the teachings of Reverend Sun Myung Moon. .

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