Now Why Did You Say Jesus Died?

First things first, I’m not a preacher. I have never received any theological training and Lord knows I’m a sinner, but I do spend time thinking about things. I do understand that you may not agree with me and as always you should feel free to comment.

I have been in church all of my life. For years now I have heard that Jesus died for our sins. When you spend some time thinking about it, at a certain point you realize that is a true statement. We, as Christians, are saved from sin through the pain and suffering that Jesus endured on the cross. Maybe it was his actual blood that was spilled that washed us or maybe it was his utterance of forgive them for they know not what they do that covers us. Either way it goes, we all know that Jesus died for our sins.

For our sins…I wrestle with that a little. Actually a lot. Not because I don’t believe but because it is such an intangible sort of thing. When I push it a little further or push it down the wrong way I would also say that particular teaching can and has been abused to make everything alright. See if Jesus died for our sins, then what I have done or about to do is ok. Jesus has it covered. At this point I could go down the social path and point out a bunch of problems but I have another point here.

I believe that if we only focus on one reason for His dying then we have lost a valuable lesson. Probably the most valuable lesson in terms of humanity. We must remember that God allowed Himself to be shown in a form of spirituality and humanity that we could relate to. I believe that form was offered just as much for deeds as it was symbolism. Symbolism is so subjective and without proper training you could misunderstand much but I’m going to stretch out so here goes.

Along with dying for our sins, He also died for show. Not for the show that we talk about when showing off or wearing clothes to church, but to actually show us what we are capable of. If someone literally crucified us we would die. The pain, loss of blood, and the broken legs inflicted on those that lived would take anyone out of here. The piercing of the side with a spear and thorns would make us pass out. Science has revealed that maybe the juice used to give him drink had a somewhat suppressive effect but surely the effect wore off after a while. That death could only be categorized as the worst.

But can you honestly look at your life and say you have never been symbolically crucified? Have the words of others ever pierced your sides and made you bleed? Have the deeds of some or the hurt brought about by others ever nailed you to your cross? Has your head ever been adorned with thorns from bullying and words from those that have no empathy? I have been through that and if I continue to live will go through it again.

But the show gives me just as much hope and peace as the fact that He died for my sins. Believing in the show gives me strength to carry my cross up that hill. It gives me tough skin when I encounter nails. I believe it provides me tweezers and tools to remove the splinters from my back. I believe that it provides casts and shape when my legs are smashed by dream killers and agents of destruction. I believe that it gives me the strength to forgive others when they don’t know what they do. I believe the show reminds me that I will live again. It wasn’t just for my sins. The truth about it is, it was just as much for the example. Don’t miss all of the points focusing on one.

So tell me again…now why did Jesus die?