Why did Jesus die?

Many people see Jesus’ death as tragic – the martyrdom of a driven and determined man in the prime of his life. In one way this is right. But for Christians, Jesus’ death is good news.

How can a man’s death be good news? To understand how, we need to think about our relationship with God.

I don't need God...

Many people think that they don’t need God. That they already live a good life. As Christians we question this way of thinking. We ask ourselves: ‘what is a good life?’ Good compared to a notorious criminal? Good in comparison to the way God wants us to live?

We can understand how God wants us to live by studying the way Jesus Christ on earth – a life marked by selflessness, forgiveness and freedom from materialism. When we think about they way Jesus lived we pretty soon realise that we don’t meet God’s standards. As hard as we may try, without God’s help, we’re set adrift on a sea of meaninglessness, blown off course by the actions of others, tossed on waves of fear and uncertainty.

Becoming God's friend...

God loves us unconditionally. Like any good parent, he hates to see us messing up our lives and harming ourselves. He came to earth in Jesus Christ so that we can be reconciled with him.

Through his death on the cross, Jesus suffered the separation from God on our behalf – rescuing us and setting us free from the consequences of our sins. That’s why Jesus’ death is good news for Christians. It demonstrates God’s inexhaustible love for the human race.