THE MEANING OF HIS DEATH

"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."  Mark 10: 45.

"Mercy and truth are met together; Righteous and peace have kissed each other." Psalms 85:10

"And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the Kingdom of our God and the power of His Christ, for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." Revelation 12: 10

It was of His own free life that the savior gave His life for sinners. He came in order to save all those who will come to Him in faith.

Born To Die

Jesus was born to Die. Even before His humanity in this earth the Bible portray that Jesus was born to die. While He was born some people who were just and devoted to God, were given a message a savior is born. Jesus [He] himself foretold his death.

From the Bible we find the following:

>>Revelation 13: 8, "A lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

>>Luke 2: 30+, "this [child] is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against", by Simeon.

>>Mark 10: 45, "For the son of men came not to be ministered unto but to minister, and give His life a ransom for many", by Jesus Himself.

"So Christ was once offered to bear sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Hebrew 9: 28.

All these proves to us, the death a Jesus Christ was not by accident or fell under probability theorems, but it was well defined in the plan of redemption.

Pont to note, how serious a sin is?

"The law of Jehovah, the foundation of His government in Heaven and upon earth, was as sacred as God Himself, and for this reason the life of an angel could not be accepted of God as sacrifice for its transgression. His law was of more important in His sight than the Holy angels around His throne. The father could not abolish or change one precept of His law to meet man in his fallen condition. But the son of God, who had in unison with the Father created man, could make an atonement for man acceptable to God by giving his life a sacrifice, and bearing the wrath of his father. Angels informed Adam that, as his transgression had brought death and wretchedness, life and immortality would be brought to light through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ"

[EGW, The spirit of Prophecy vol. 1, Chap IV = "The Plan of Salvation", page. 51]

How It Happened

Clearly large part of the Gospel has talked about Jesus passion, death and resurrection.

Though Jesus suffered physical torture, but this is not what pained Him much, the much pain was on the weight of my and your sin.

"The tears of Jesus were not in anticipation of His own suffering. Just before Him was Gethsemane, where soon the horror of a great darkness would overshadow Him. The sheep gate also was in sight, through which for centuries the beasts for sacrificial offerings had been led. This gate was soon to open for Him, the great Antitype, toward whose sacrifice for the sins of the world all these offerings had pointed. Nearby was Calvary, the scene of His approaching agony. Yet it was not because of these reminders of His cruel death that the Redeemer wept and groaned in anguish of spirit. His was no selfish sorrow. The thought of His own agony did not intimidate that noble, self-sacrificing soul. It was the sight of Jerusalem that pierced the heart of Jesus--Jerusalem that had rejected the Son of God and scorned His love, that refused to be convinced by His mighty miracles, and was about to take His life. He saw what she was in her guilt of rejecting her Redeemer, and what she might have been had she accepted Him who alone could heal her wound. He had come to save her; how could He give her up?" 

[EGW, The Desire of Ages, Ch.63 = "Thy King cometh", pg.577]

Read Isaiah 53, Jesus was made shame for you and me, suffered pain for mine sake, whatever torture it meant for our salvation. But all these did not overwhelm His love for us.

"It was not the pain and ignominy of the cross that caused His inexpressible agony. Christ was the prince of sufferers; but His suffering was from a sense of the malignity of sin, a knowledge that through familiarity with evil, man had become blinded to its enormity. Christ saw how deep is the hold of sin upon the human heart, how few would be willing to break from its power. He knew that without help from God, humanity must perish, and He saw multitudes perishing within reach of abundant help. "

[EGW, Desire of Ages, Ch. 753 = "Calvary", pg. 753]

What did Jesus death accomplished?

In this lesson, this answer will be answered, what was necessity for Jesus death? If God is the Lord of mercy, did He fail to show mercy on His and His only son Jesus? Could He just simply forgive us?

Summary of this lesson:

Jesus death accomplished the following:

•Ø       Saving our sinful race from eternal ruin.

•Ø       The prophecies were accomplished. As our substitute, He paid a price for us.

•Ø       Christ has redeemed as from the curse of the law, being made for us.

•Ø       He might sanctify the people with His own blood. God reconciled the world with Himself through Jesus Christ.

•Ø       It manifested to the unfallen beings (angels, and other worlds), His love and His sacred law.

•Ø       The last link of sympathy between Satan and the heavenly world was broken.

Key text: "Mercy and truth are met together; Righteous and peace have kissed each other." Psalms 85: 10.

"Through Jesus, God's mercy was manifested to men; but mercy does not set aside justice. The law reveals the attributes of God's character and not a jot or little of it could be changed to meet man in his fallen condition. God did not change His law, but He sacrificed Himself, in Christ, for man's redemption, "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself." 2 Corinthians 5: 19".

[EGW, Desire of Ages, Ch.79 = "It is Finished", pg. 762, 763]

Jesus revealed that justice is consistence with mercy contrary to Satan's arguments.

The Law of Jehovah is sacred as Himself. The penalty of breaking any line of it was [is] death. The whole world since the fall of our first parents we chose death. There was no way to change of its precepts and requirements. But our Father [God] of Love paid the death price for us.

"And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven, Now is come Salvation, and strength, and the Kingdom of our God and the power of His Christ, for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." Revelation 12: 10.

"Type has met antitype in the death of God's son. The great sacrifice has been made. The way into the holiness is laid open. A new and living way is prepared for all. No longer need sinful, sorrowing humanity await the coming of the high priest. Henceforth the savior was to officiate as priest and advocate in the Heaven of Heavens. It was as if a living voice had spoken to the worshippers. There is now an end to all sacrifices and offerings for sin. The son of God is come according to His word, "Lo, I come (in the volume of book it is written of written for me) to do Thy will, O God" By His own blood "He entereth" in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us."

[EGW, Desire of Ages, ch.78 = "Calvary", pg. 758]

 The security of the Universe

Note: Here I am talking not only our world but all God's entire creation, God created Heavens and Earths. Genesis 1:1

Our eternity is sure through Jesus, the Lamb slain even before the foundation of the world.

"The significance of the death of Christ will be seen by saints and angels. Fallen men could not have a home in the paradise of God without the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. . . . The angels ascribe honor and glory to Christ, for even they are not secure except by looking to the sufferings of the Son of God. It is through the efficacy of the cross that the angels of heaven are guarded from apostasy. Without the cross they would be no more secure against evil than were the angels before the fall of Satan. Angelic perfection failed in heaven. Human perfection failed in Eden, the paradise of bliss. All who wish for security in earth or heaven must look to the Lamb of God. The plan of salvation, making manifest the justice and love of God, provides an eternal safeguard against defection in unfallen worlds, as well as among those who shall be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb."

[Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1132]

Conclusion Summary

"Well, then, might the angels rejoice as they looked upon the savior's cross; for though they did not then understand all, they knew that the destruction of sin and Satan was forever made certain, that the redemption of man was assured, and that the universe was made eternally secure. Christ Himself fully comprehended the results of the sacrifice made upon Calvary. To all these, entire He looked forward when upon the cross He cried out, "It is finished"."