Simply put, Christ had to be placed on the Cross by the Law of God. God had said in the Law of Moses,
Deut. 21:22-23
"And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:
His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance."
The Cross was punishment for the vilest of crimes. If Christ were to pay the sin debt of man He would have to die as a perfect sacrifice in the most horrible way, for the most horrible of sin committed by man. The Law demanded it. He could not be stoned to death, or thrust through with sword or spear, etc, to redeem man of his sin the Cross was a necessity. In fact, it was a legal necessity.
When the religious leaders of Israel (the Sanhedrin) screamed out at Pilate that Jesus must be crucified, they had no idea they were fulfilling prophecy.
God had shown Abraham that redemption could only be brought about by the death of the Redeemer (Gen. 22:1-14). Moses was shown exactly how this death would be carried out, it would be on a Cross (Num. 21:6-9). Jesus told Nicodemus the type of death He must die when quoting this experience of the children of Israel in the wilderness so long before.
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up (lifted up on a Cross):" Then He said,
"That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:14-15)
The Cross was an absolute necessity!
This was arranged by thoughts from the commentary of Kenneth Wuest.
Deut. 21:22-23
"And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:
His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance."
The Cross was punishment for the vilest of crimes. If Christ were to pay the sin debt of man He would have to die as a perfect sacrifice in the most horrible way, for the most horrible of sin committed by man. The Law demanded it. He could not be stoned to death, or thrust through with sword or spear, etc, to redeem man of his sin the Cross was a necessity. In fact, it was a legal necessity.
When the religious leaders of Israel (the Sanhedrin) screamed out at Pilate that Jesus must be crucified, they had no idea they were fulfilling prophecy.
God had shown Abraham that redemption could only be brought about by the death of the Redeemer (Gen. 22:1-14). Moses was shown exactly how this death would be carried out, it would be on a Cross (Num. 21:6-9). Jesus told Nicodemus the type of death He must die when quoting this experience of the children of Israel in the wilderness so long before.
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up (lifted up on a Cross):" Then He said,
"That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:14-15)
The Cross was an absolute necessity!
This was arranged by thoughts from the commentary of Kenneth Wuest.
