People often wrestle with the idea of God sending His Son Jesus to live on earth and die for sin. If God is all powerful, why would God choose this method for “saving” people? Why not “just forgive” people? Or why not do it another way? Why Jesus?

The Bible offers a simple answer to these difficult questions: Jesus’ coming and dying provided the ONLY sufficient solution to an infinite problem. Thus far I introduced two important aspects of God’s nature and the obstacle created by man’s sin. Last time I explained that in this world three realities are colliding: God’s perfection, man’s imperfection, and God’s love. This collision brings God to the point of finding a way to satisfy His perfection and love in the face of man’s sin.

Again, His solution satisfies four necessary requirements.

1.      The need for a sacrifice.

2.      The need for a human sacrifice.

3.      The need for a perfect human sacrifice. Again, the sacrifice is required because of God’s absolute perfection. If the sacrifice was not perfect, it could not have accomplished its purpose. The primary reason I cannot die for the sins of my neighbor or brother or children is that my death will only pay the penalty for my own sin. I cannot die for you because even if I tried I would only be dying for myself. Imperfection cannot be offered as a means of satisfying God’s perfection. Thus, imperfect people are disqualified from being a sacrifice for other people’s sin.

4.      The need for a perfect person to make the perfect human sacrifice. Similarly, if the person offering the sacrifice is imperfect, he taints the sacrifice. Again, the sacrifice must be perfect or it tarnishes God’s perfection. So in order to preserve the purity of the sacrifice, it must be offered by a perfect priest.

So… why Jesus? Only Jesus could satisfy all four conditions. He could die as a sacrifice. He could die as a human sacrifice. He lived a sinless life so He could die as a perfect human sacrifice. He offered Himself by dying willingly so the sacrifice would not be tainted by a human priest.

Romans 3:26 summarizes that Jesus died “so that [God] might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” In a way He could never accomplish without Him, God satisfies His justice and His mercy perfectly in the death of Jesus.

Why Jesus? Because there is NO OTHER WAY!