100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #57 | with Daniel Whyte III
SCRIPTURE — John 10:14-18: “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”
Muhammad lived until he was 62 years old and died of an illness. Confucius lived until he was 72 years old and died of grief over the loss of his sons and his friends. Historians tell us that Buddha died at age 80 presumably of natural causes. And the Bible tells us that Abraham, the father of the Jews, died in “the good old age” of 175.
Yet, the Bible and history tell us that Jesus died when he was 33 or 34 years old. He did not die a death brought on by illness, grief, or natural causes. He died a violent death. He was arrested, subjected to a mockery of a trial, beaten, scourged, and dragged up a hillside to be crucified on a cross. The leaders of every world religion valued and sought for longevity and permanence. But Jesus Christ willingly laid gave up His life on the cross.
Why did Jesus have to die? Some historians have said that Pilate allowed Jesus to be put to death for politically convenient reasons. Others say that the Jews pushed Pilate to kill Jesus because they hated for saying that He was God and threatening their established religious order. While these two reasons do factor in to the events surrounding Jesus’ death, many people don’t realize that there was a great purpose behind the crucifixion. Jesus had to die for much larger and more weighty reasons.
1. Jesus had to die to bring atonement for humanity.
2. Jesus had to die because He was the perfect sacrifice.
3. Jesus had to die to secure eternal life.
+ Plus, listen to Hillsong singing “Nothing But the Blood” and Deitrick Haddon singing “Sinner’s Prayer”
Gospel Light House of Prayer International 