What do you believe is the most important question that can be asked?

Today in our post-secular culture, people might ask, “How does man become god?” Which actually is the same question Adam and Eve were tempted with in the Garden. With AI technology and the hyper focus on health span, this question is becoming more popular among both scientists and mystics. But most people in modern secular culture might answer, “Is there a God?” But that could be a non-starter, simply because as Romans 1:18-20 makes clear there is more than enough evidence in the world for the existence of God. And universally throughout history few people have wrestled with that question, because it is a universal human experience to believe the basic idea that there is a God out there. To get stuck on the question of whether or not there is a God, might reveal a heart that is not truly seeking the truth – back to Romans 1. So, what would be the most important question to ask? I would propose, “Who is God?”

Now we can go a little deeper and ask, “What is the most important question a Christian can ask? This would be a great exercise with friends around the table, and to also explain why we chose our question. I propose that the most important question a Christian can ask is, “Why did Jesus have to suffer and die for us?” In exploring this question we have to deal with some of the most important truths of the Christian faith and some of the toughest issues related to suffering and evil in the world. In diving into this question we get to the foundation of what makes possible an intimate relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And finally, in pursuing this question we can make better sense of what Jesus’ call to discipleship looks like.

Many believers never have taken the time to truly dig deep into the core of the Gospel and wrestle with this question of why Jesus had to die for us.

Yes, we take the glorious mystery of the Gospel by faith, but we can miss the power of the Gospel in our lives when we miss the depth of the reason for the Gospel in our lives.

Early Jewish theologians believed that the suffering of the righteous could atone for sinners. This idea is found especially in Job and throughout the Psalms and Prophets especially in Isaiah 53. But we know that there is no one who is wholly righteous, who can perfectly and eternally atone for sinners. Ecclesiastes 7:20 says, “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” And Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  However, there is One who has lived life perfectly without sin. A great divine injustice has occurred. A cosmic scandal, where Jesus, the Son of God, suffered and died willingly for the sins of the world. Because of his perfect life and righteousness, death had no hold on Him and God raised Him to life.

In light of the Old Testament principle of the righteous suffering for sinners, how much more does the death of sinless perfect Jesus atone eternally for sinners?

Some have missed and are still missing this kingdom principle of the righteous suffering for sinners. John the Baptist missed this principle when he was in prison and sent some of his disciples to ask Jesus if He was truly the One. John, like so many others was expecting a more political Messiah who would judge the Romans and reign in the golden age. John’s own death served a redemptive purpose in preparing the way for the “lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Here briefly are three key aspects of Jesus’ suffering and death and how exploring them can strengthen and empower our experience with the truth of the Gospel in our lives.

1. Jesus’ Redemptive Suffering in His Perfect Sacrifice

Hebrews 7:26-27

“For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.”

When sin entered the world so did death. Not just physical death, but spiritual death, which is separation from God. And separation from God means being in darkness outside the realm of the kingdom of light. The kingdom of darkness has a ruler, Satan, who has power over everything bound by sin and death. The scriptures tell us that life is in the blood. We can see this principle throughout the scriptures. God was the first to make a blood sacrifice when He killed animals to cover Adam and Eve’s sin and shame. In this act we can see the biblical principle that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins and a precursor to the whole sacrificial system. But the scriptures also tell us that the blood of bulls and goats can never take away sin. So, we can see in this first sacrifice a beautiful picture of God’s grace and love in providing a sacrifice for Adam and Eve which is a future picture of His ultimate sacrifice in sending His Son. Since God can never look over sin, and since Satan has dominion over sin and death the only way God’s righteousness could be satisfied and Satan’s chains broken is for a person to live perfectly and die perfectly. This is what Jesus did and why He rose from the dead, because death nor sin had a hold over Him. And the Gospel has this at its core that anyone who is in Christ also is set free from the power of sin and death.

The sacrificial system that was given to the Israelites was inadequate for permanently defeating the power of sin and death. And this they knew. It is often misunderstood that they were trying to earn their salvation by works when in reality they were faithfully obeying God’s Law. And this Law was pointing them by faith toward the Messiah who could save them. So, Jesus’ sacrifice and priestly ministry is something far different than the earthly priesthood and sacrificial system. It does not replace it. It fulfills it. Jesus never told the Jews to stop obeying Torah! He told them though to worship Him as the Messiah and high priest in the temple in heaven.

Jesus’ perfect suffering, death and resurrection allowed Him to enter the heavenly temple in the presence of God to ultimately satisfy the righteousness of God and His perfect justice. It also broke Satan’s legal hold on sinners and silenced his voice of accusation against sinners. No earthly priesthood in an earthly temple could accomplish this. Only One who could enter the heavenly temple could accomplish this. Jesus is at the right hand of God interceding for us.  We are to come boldly before Him by the power of His blood to defeat the power of the enemy and lay hold of the Spirit filled abundant life.

2. Jesus’ Redemptive Suffering in His Perfect Life

Hebrews 4:15

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

Let’s step back now, building upon what Jesus has accomplished for us through His suffering and sacrifice and work in the heavenly temple and discuss what His suffering on earth means for us.

Jesus says there is no greater love than to lay one’s life down for another. Why is this? Because the shedding of blood willingly pictures for us Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice of shedding His blood so we can be saved into relationship with God. The big spiritual principle to lay hold of here is that any suffering that is willingly endured out of obedience to God can be redemptive in other people’s lives. God uses this suffering and love to move people’s hearts closer to Him. Jesus calls His followers to just that. This is what is behind the idea of His call to discipleship when He says in Matthew 16:24, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Picking up our cross is identifying with Jesus and His suffering for the world.

We can see this spiritual principle in Paul’s life and words when he tells the Colossians in Colossians 1:24, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.” Here we can see that believer’s suffering helps sanctify and equip the church.

Paul tells of this principle of redemptive suffering as key to a believer’s identity and purpose in Romans 8:16-17, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”

Righteous suffering not only refines us, but it brings redemption to the lost, and maturity to the Church, and judgment to the church. 1 Peter 4:12-19 states,

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God…Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”

This idea of redemptive suffering is also at the very core of a man’s charge to “love his wife like Christ loved the church.” It is at the very core of how parent’s are to love and raise their children. It take redemptive suffering to raise godly children.

3. Jesus’ Redemptive Suffering in Conquering All Evil Powers

Hebrews 2:14-15

“That through death the Messiah might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.”

We have already touched on this principle a bit in the first point. Jesus’ suffering and death have broken the legal bonds that Satan had over us because of unforgiven sin. Paul encourages the Colossians in Colossians 1:13-14, “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Do we take the time to realize what Jesus has done for us in the spiritual realm – Oh what freedom and joy!

Paul goes on to encourage the Church in Colossians 2:13-15, ”And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”

Not only did Jesus rip up our record of sin that bond us to Satan and the domain of darkness, but He disarmed all dark spiritual powers ability to reign over the children of God. This has huge implications for walking in freedom today and redemptive suffering for others in seeing them set free. Revelation 12:11 encourages us, “And they have conquered him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”

Finally, we have to be careful with this idea of redemptive suffering. We are not to ever pursue suffering or become an ascetic who inflicts themselves with suffering and removes themselves from normal life. We are to draw near to God and to understand more deeply Jesus’ love and suffering for us and the joy set before Him.  We are to live joyful lives willing to suffer when God calls us to, but always with the joy set before us of eternal life with God and His children.