Good Friday: Did Jesus Have to Die?

After Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1–44), the die was cast. The Rubicon crossed. No turning back.

The Jewish religious leaders gathered, devising the plot to kill Jesus.

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did [raised Lazarus], believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.

John 11:45–53

“. . . if we let him . . . ,” as if power rested in the hands of Jesus’ enemies.

“. . . our place and our nation . . . ,” as if the fate of their nation depended on them.

” . . . it is better for you . . . ,” as if Caiaphas could get rid of Jesus and end Jesus’ influence among the people.

The words spoken by Caiaphas, high priest, supreme religious ruler at that precise moment in history, may be the most ironic words ever spoken by a man.

For all his self-importance and leadership position, Caiaphas sought by the unlawful execution of Jesus to save himself and the religious hierarchy he then ruled.

Caiaphas also prophesied the destruction of the nation of Israel, including its temple, which occurred in 70 A.D.

Jesus had to die.

Not only did Jesus die for the people, Jesus died for people yet to be born, like you and me.

The book of 1 Peter, chapter one, outlines the plan of God “foreknown from the foundation of the world,” speaking of the precious blood of Christ shed like a spotless lamb for sacrifice, a sacrificial system that goes all the way back to the book of Genesis.

Why? So that all mankind throughout all ages could see God’s provision for their own salvation accomplished “once for all” [1] in the death of Jesus.

Appointment with Death and Judgment––Hebrew 9:27

Some time later Caiaphas died. Jerusalem fell. Israel the nation lost its prominence and religious preeminence among world nations for centuries that followed.

All these people and events died and fell to footnotes in the story of Jesus.

While the world continues to spin around the words of seemingly important people in high places, the Bible focuses on one unchanging truth:

“All flesh is like grass

    and all its glory like the flower of grass.

The grass withers,

    and the flower falls,

 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

1 Peter 1:24–25, quoting Isaiah 40:6

You see, the Bible tells One story––His Story. The salvation story emanates from the death of Jesus on the Cross.

Did Jesus Die for You?

While Catholics portray Jesus on the Cross, suffering and dying, Protestants look to the emblem of an empty cross.

What makes Good Friday good is that the story of Jesus doesn’t end at the Cross.

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

1 Corinthians 15:12–19

On Easter Sunday, Resurrection Day, people may hunt eggs, enjoy family dinners, and even attend church services. Like Caiaphas, though, people may not realize the significance of words they say or the meaning behind words preserved in the Bible.

Throughout all human history, each and every day––not only on Easter––people have borne witness to the life-giving power of God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Testimonies continue to go out to all the earth, constant and immutable as the sun also rises. [1]

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

C.S. Lewis

May grace and peace be multiplied to you (1 Peter 1:2).

[1] Romans 6:10

[2] Psalm 19

(revised from earlier post, April 2, 2021)