Week 3 – Why did Jesus Have to Die?

1 Corinthians 1:18 NLT

The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.

1) LOVE HOLDS NOTHING BACK

NO RESERVES

John 1:1-3 NLT

In the beginning, the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.

John 1:14 NLT

The Word became human and made his home among us…”

Philippians 2:6-7

Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.

2) LOVE REFUSES TO TURN BACK

NO RETREAT

Luke 9:51 NLT

51 As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

The cross was a DECISION.

Luke 22:41-44

41 He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” … 44 He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.

1 John 4:9-10 NLT

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Matthew 26:53 ESV

10 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?

John 10:18 NLT

No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again…

3) LOVE EMBRACES THE SACRIFICE

NO REGRETS

Hebrews 12:2 NCV

Let us look only to Jesus, … He suffered death on the cross. But he accepted the shame as if it were nothing because of the joy that God put before him. …