An honest question
Why did Jesus have to die?
Key points
- Short answer: Christians believe Jesus died because God loves us too much to leave us where we are.
- What Jesus did: Jesus saw it coming and said why: “The Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
- The Lutheran view: Luther called it a “happy exchange”: Christ takes what is ours, our sin and death, and gives us what is his, his goodness and life.
The short answer
Christians believe Jesus died because God loves us too much to leave us where we are. On the cross, God took our wrongs, our shame and our death on himself, and on Easter came out the other side.
What Jesus said and did
Jesus saw it coming and said why: “The Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” He also said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
The night before, he prayed, “Not my will, but yours, be done.” On the cross he prayed for the men nailing him there: “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Forgiveness was what he died giving.
A little longer
Christians have used several pictures for what happened, because no single one says it all. A ransom paid to set captives free. A sacrifice that ends all sacrifices. A champion who fights death and wins. A friend who takes the blame.
Underneath all of them is one idea: the distance between people and God is real, and we cannot close it ourselves. So God closed it from his side, at the cost of his own life, and Easter shows it worked.
It is not an angry Father taking it out on an innocent Son. Christians believe Jesus is God, one with the Father. On the cross, God does not stand at a distance demanding a price; God bears the cost himself, out of love.
Where Christians disagree
Christians agree that Jesus’ death saves, and disagree about how best to explain it. Some put the weight on Jesus taking the penalty for sin in our place. Others on his victory over death and evil. Others on the cross as the clearest picture of God’s love. Many hold all three together.
How Lutherans see it
Luther called it a “happy exchange”: Christ takes what is ours, our sin and death, and gives us what is his, his goodness and life. Lutherans keep the cross at the center of everything, and say you see who God really is most clearly there, not in power or success.
Where it is in the Bible
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Mark 10:42–45 Jesus came to serve, and to give his life for many.
Read Mark 10:42–45
42 Jesus summoned them, and said to them, “You know that they who are recognized as rulers over the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 Whoever of you wants to become first among you, shall be bondservant of all. 45 For the Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
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John 15:12–14 No greater love than laying down your life for your friends.
Read John 15:12–14
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
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Luke 23:33–34 On the cross, he prays for the men crucifying him.
Read Luke 23:33–34
33 When they came to the place that is called “The Skull”, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
What do these words mean?
| The word | It means |
|---|---|
| The cross | Where Jesus was put to death. Christians see God’s love most clearly there. |
| Sin | Anything that turns us away from God and from loving other people. |
Tap a word for more. All 228 church words: the glossary, A to Z
Where to go next
Other questions people ask
Written by Digital Lutheran Church, a small, free website from the nonprofit Hope for Americans, in the tradition of the ELCA. Bible passages are from the World English Bible.