For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-- but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us...."For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life....In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace[.]

Romans 5:7-8, John 3:16, Ephesians 1:7

For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-- but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us...."For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life....In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace[.] Romans 5:7-8, John 3:16, Ephesians 1:7

As I continue my preparation to lead worship at the Gardens and The Lodge on Sunday 30MAR (pausing on my study of the last four books of the OT using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume), I march forward in my use of DesiringGod.com's 40-day devotional Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die.  Today in an effort to catch up and read as much as possible as part of my 30MAR preparation, I am going to "triple-down" by reading three entries of the devotional.  These three entries look at the following three reasons why Jesus came to die:

3. To learn obedience and be perfected: The devotion shares that although Christ was divine He was also the incarnate Son of God and took on human form.  Yet even as a man, He was sinless and perfectly obedient, despite how he shared all of the "temptations and appetites and physical weaknesses" experienced by all of humanity. We are then referred to Hebrews 5:8 and 2:10 where the devotion describes how Jesus learned obedience through what he suffered."  The trials and suffering Jesus experienced did not make Him more perfect or obedient, yet it did "gradually fulfill...the perfect righteousness that he had to have in order to save us....If the Son of God had gone from incarnation to the cross without a life of temptation and pain to test his righteousness and his love, he would not be a suitable Savior for fallen man. His suffering not only absorbed the wrath of God. It also fulfilled his true humanity and made him able to call us brothers and sisters (Hebrews 2:17)."

4. To achieve His own resurrection from the dead: The commentary shares that "the Bible says he was raised not just after the blood-shedding, but by it." We are referred to Hebrews 13:20.  The devotion continues: Through Christ's death "the righteousness of God was completely vindicated. All that was left to accomplish was the public declaration of God’s endorsement [emphasis added]. This he gave by raising Jesus from the dead....If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then his death was a failure, God did not vindicate his sin-bearing achievement, and we are still in our sins."  See also 1 Corinthians 15:17.

5. To show the wealth of God's love and grace for sinners: The devotion describes how believers should view the measure of God's love: first by "the degree of his sacrifice," and second by "the degree of [our] unworthiness." Christ is described as not just our Savior but also as the One who "conquered the Romans, and brought peace and security to Israel....indeed [He is] king of the world (Isaiah 9:6-7)."  This context is important because it further emphasizes the great sacrifice Christ made on the cross: "it becomes clear that the sacrifice the Father and the Son made was indescribably great—even infinite, when you consider the distance between the divine and the human. But God chose to make this sacrifice to save us."  The devotion then shares how God's love increases all the more when we "consider our unworthiness."  We are undeserving of salvation due to our sin and condemned to death (Romans 6:23). God's grace and love is so great for us!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an incredible and awesome God who knows everything that I experience and can not only empathize with my circumstances, but equip me to overcome anything about my circumstances.  You also died and rose so that I am no longer dead in my sins.  Thank You Jesus.  You also died (and rose) as proof of Your love and grace for me.  Thank You Father God and Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and grace.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.