Understanding Why: Part I

So often we hear phrases like “Well, I believe that Jesus died and came back to life, but it doesn’t really mean anything.” Or, “Yes I know Jesus died and came back to life and I believe that it happened with all my heart.” Some of you may not be saying it but you are absolutely thinking it. You believe that Jesus died and was resurrected and yet in reality, you do not get it. Simply believing that Jesus was the Son of God who was crucified and raised from the dead doesn’t mean anything unless you understand why. Even the demons believe that. You have to know why Jesus came, died, and was resurrected.

On the road to Emmaus, Jesus appears to some travelers after he has been raised from the dead. They are prevented from recognizing him and begin to talk with him. The men say how they really had hoped that Jesus was the one to redeem Israel, and yet he was killed, so how could that be true? This is Jesus’ response:

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

-   Luke 24:25-27

Side note: the Gospel story does not begin in the New Testament. There is a reason that the Bible has two parts. What did Jesus do? He started at the very beginning and showed them the beauty of the full Gospel story through “all the Scriptures”. What else does he say? “Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” What Jesus is saying here is “Seriously? You guys don’t get it? Don’t you realize why the Messiah had to die and then enter his glory?” (That’s my paraphrase) We need to not only understand that the story of Jesus death and resurrection is true, we must also understand why Jesus died and was resurrected. If you do not truly understand why it was necessary for Jesus to come and die for our sin, then you do not know the true Gospel.

(Part II will explain the why?)