Listen to an expression so often repeated it has perhaps lost some of its meaning:
Jesus Died For Me!
Of course the sentiment of that statement is widely known and appreciated, but a study of the individual words may yield a deeper understanding.
JESUS: the Son of God; God in the flesh.
DIED: executed; capitally-punished
FOR: of varying definitions…
ME: the sinner who deserved to be executed.
The word “for” carries different usages in the English language.
One can use the word to mean “because of” (as in, “I went to jail for stealing”).
Another usage would be to say “instead of” (as in, “Will you mail this letter for me”).
The word could also be used to mean “in order to obtain” (as in, “I need you to go to the store for some bread”).
In what way did Jesus die “for” mankind? In every way!
Jesus died “because of” mankind (that is to say, because of our sins). Isaiah writes of the then-to-come Messiah:
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5
Man was once in fellowship with God. Not just Adam and Eve in the Garden, but all people are born perfect, pure and sinless in the sight of God. Because of Satan’s temptations, men—once perfect—have sinned and shattered the holy relationship once maintained with God. Instead of executing us for our sins, God extended mercy, in the form of Christ (who died because of “love”) in order to redeem man. Therefore the only reason Christ had to die is because of man. If we had not sinned, He would not have died.
That still does not answer the question: “How did God allow man to live after He promised death to him if he sinned?” The answer comes in the way Christ died “for” man. He died “instead of” man. In other words, He died so that man would not have to die. Isaiah explains it:
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:6
He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My righteous Servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities.
Isaiah 53:11
In order to perfectly satisfy His need for justice, God had to execute a perfect man for the sins of once-perfect men. The only way to perfectly satisfy the justice of God is for a perfect man to die. And as was the case with His Mercy, God Himself is the only One capable of performing the deed, so…
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
Aren’t you thankful Jesus died for you?
Aren’t you thankful Jesus died FOR you?
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