Jesus did many things. He healed the sick, he calmed the storm, he told parables, he taught with authority. But out of everything that he did, it was his death on a bloody cross that is of first importance. Why did Jesus have to die? Was it really necessary?

At his crucifixion Jesus was mocked. They said that Jesus claimed to be someone special, yet he couldn’t even save himself from being killed! They put a sign above his head ridiculing him: JESUS KING OF THE JEWS (John 19:19). They didn’t really believe that he was the king. They were expecting their coming king to be powerful and mighty. Jesus looked too weak to be a mighty king.

Yet Jesus said of himself that he’s “the good shepherd and the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Although Pilate, Herod, Judas, the Chief Priests, the Teachers of the Law and the Crowd were all responsible for their role in the execution of Jesus; Jesus WILLINGLY died. That’s why he came.

The final words of Jesus recording by John give an indication of why he died: “It is finished” (John 19:30). Jesus came to FINISH a work. Jesus came as the king who would rule, but also as the king who would suffer. “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). All people are described as sheep who have gone away from God and sinned (iniquity) against him. These words from Isaiah were written 700 years prior to Jesus’ death on the cross, yet they are describing the work of Jesus that took place on the cross. When Jesus died, he died in the place of sinners. Jesus was innocent of sin, yet he took upon himself the penalty for our sin.

The work that Jesus finished on the cross is the work of being a SAVIOUR. At the cross, Jesus deals with our sin completely. His death makes it possible for people to be saved from the penalty of their own sin, and saved back into a relationship with God.

“It is finished” means at least 2 things:

1. Jesus death is enough. He’s done it all. It’s not about what we do. There is nothing you can do to save yourself from your sin. Jesus does it all. Completely.
2. We just need to believe. To believe is to trust that when Jesus died on the cross he did it for your sin, in your place. To believe is trust that only Jesus can save you.

Is Jesus YOUR Saviour? Are you trusting in him or something else? Are you trying to do stuff to save yourself? Stop trying – start trusting.

Filed under: Jesus, saviour+king