Why did Jesus have to die on the Cross?

“Why did Jesus have to die on the Cross?” If he was the Son of God and all powerful, why did he not show that power by coming down from the cross and avoiding death?  There have been many books written on this theme, and I have but a few minutes. So let me tell you the story of a four year old child newly arrived in Auschwitz. He has somehow been separated from his mother. He stands alone, tearful and frightened. Ahead a soldier separates out those who will live and those will die –the old, the young and the sick are sent straight to the gas chambers and so the little boy is pushed to the left –with those who are to die. His mother meanwhile is in another group.

She has been sent to the right – she is to live. But she is frantically looking for her little boy. Suddenly she catches the sound of his crying, and sees him alone headed uncertainly towards the gas chamber door. At once ignoring the guard, she rushes towards her child. And before anyone can stop her, she has reached him and is holding his hand. “Don’t worry” she says – “I’ll stay with you”. So, gripping each other’s’ hands, they enter the gas chamber together. “Don’t worry, I’ll stay with you”

Why did Jesus die on the cross?

Why did he not use his power to escape –because he would not desert his children in the hour of their need. His love simply knows no limits. There is nowhere we can go –no depths of sin or sorrow or heartache or death –where he will not hold our hand and be with us.

-Be gentle and ready to forgive; never hold grudges. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others…Colossians 3:13

-I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what is he is calling you to do…Eph. 1:17-18

Question

Should we again break Thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations?  Ezra 9:14

The sacrifice, especially the evening sacrifice, was a type of the blessed Lamb of God, who in the evening of the world, was to take away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Ezra's address is a penitent confession of sin, the sin of his people. But let this be the comfort of true penitents, that though their sins reach to the heavens, God's mercy is in the heavens. Ezra, speaking of sin, speaks as one much ashamed. Holy shame is as necessary in true repentance as holy sorrow. Ezra speaks as much amazed.

The discoveries of guilt cause amazement; the more we think of sin, the worse it looks. Say, God be merciful to me sinner. Ezra speaks as one much afraid. There is not a surer or saddler presage of ruin, than turning to sin, after great judgments, and great deliverances. Everyone in the church of God has to wonder that he has not wearied out the Lord's patience, and brought destruction upon himself. What then must be the case of the ungodly? But though the true penitent has nothing to plead in his own behalf, the heavenly Advocate pleads most powerfully for him.