- The simplest expression of this in the New Testamenet is contained in 1 Cor.15:3:”Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scripture”.
- The oldest explanation is set out in Lk.18:31. Jesus realised the time for His death had come and so He set Himself to go to Jerusalem to fulfil God’s will: “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem and everything that is written of the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished
- The New Testament uses various metaphors to describe Jesus’death:
- JESUS’ DEATH WAS A BATTLE: Jesus saw the whole of His life as a battle with the powers of evil (Lk.11:21f.).St. Paul also regarded the cross as the final and decisive struggle. Despite Jesus’ apparent defeat the struggle resulted in a complete victory (Col.2:8-15).
- JESUS’ DEATH WAS AN EXAMPLE: Both St. Paul and John say that on the cross Jesus revealed God’s love: Romans 5:8: “What proves God’s love for us is that Christ died for us while we were yet sinners”; 1 John 4:10: “God’s love for us when he sent his Son to be the sacrifice that takes away our sins”. They both suggest that we ought to be challenged to share such sufferings ourselves.In 1 Pet 2:21 we have “because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps”.
- JESUS’ DEATH WAS A SACRIFICE: It was natural for Jewish people to use the picture of animal sacrifice. Sacrificial language is used in connection with His death throughout the New Testameent. John the Baptist exclaimed when he saw Jesus: “Behold the lamb of God” (Jn.1:29); St. Paul speaks of “Christ our Passover lamb” (1 Cor.5:7); Peter speaks of Jesus as “like a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Pet.1:19).
- JESUS’ DEATH WAS A RANSOM: Jesus explicitly said that His intention was to be a ransom (Mk.10:45). The ransom was the price paid to set a slave free. Throughout the NT it is emphasised Christians are the property of God. They have been “ransomed from futile ways” (1 Pet.1:18); ” you are not your own; you were bought with a price so glorify
God in your body” (1 Cor. 6:19-20). - JESUS DIED IN OUR PLACE: In 1 Pet.2:24 we are told that Jesus “bore our sins in his body”, In 1 Pet.3:18 that “had died once for sins”.
- PENANCE: The Cross cannot be looked at in isolation. It is very much associated wiith Penance:
Mt.3:2, 4:17; Acts 2:38; Jn.20:21 and Joel 2:12f.
(With acknowledgements to Dr. J. Drane)