For several years, one of my favorite hot air balloons at Centralia’s Balloon Fest has been the crimson colored “Lift High the Cross”. To see the shining cross lifted high in the sky emblazoned on the crimson back ground of this hot air balloon, always reminds me that our victory over sin, death, hell, and the grave is through the cross of Christ.

What would you say is the most important question of the 21st century? We would no doubt receive many opinions to that question. I personally believe that the most important question of the 21st century is “Why did Jesus Christ come to suffer and die?” The more one understands the answer to that question the more his/her life will be changed and empowered. Why did Jesus Christ come to suffer and die for me?

Multitudes are flocking to mega-churches to hear how they can be successful and prosper. I believe God wants us to be successful and to prosper. (Joshua 1; III John 2) But the early church did not focus on self, self-absorption, or self-fulfillment. Their passion was to love, please, and serve the One who suffered, bled, and died on the cross for them. What was the Apostle Paul’s motivation, purpose, power, and passion in life? “For the love of Christ constrains us because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them and rose again” (II Corinthians 5:14-15).

The more you understand why Jesus came to suffer and die for you, the more the love of Christ will constrain, control, and consume you. One day I was searching through a used book store for treasures. The Lord directed me to a book entitled The Passion of Jesus Christ by John Piper. In his book he gives “Fifty Reasons Why He Came to Die”. Actually as you read and study the Word of God, I’m sure there are more than 50 reasons. It will take all eternity to plumb the depths of “Why Jesus came to die”.

Mel Gibson produced the Movie “The Passion of the Christ”. Why was it so controversial? Jesus said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth I will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32). Many people hate the cross. Paul said, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us who are saved it is the power of God” (I Corinthians 1:18). Peter and John were thrown into jail for preaching the death and resurrection of Jesus. Peter declared, “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Why did Jesus Christ come to suffer and die? Why did Peter declare by the Holy Spirit that there is salvation in no other name besides Jesus? Space would not allow me to share 50 reasons why Christ suffered and died. But consider two reasons why Jesus went to the cross.

First – To show the wealth of God’s love and grace for sinners. The measure of God’s love for us is shown by two things. One is the degree of his sacrifice in saving us from the penalty of our sin. The other is the degree of unworthiness that we had when he saved us. When we consider the horrific death by crucifixion that Christ endured, we see that the sacrifice the Father and Son made was indescribably great – when you consider the distance between the divine and the human. But God chose to make this sacrifice for us to redeem and reconcile us unto Himself. “One will scarcely die for a righteous person – though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die – but God shows his love for us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:7-8).

Second – To absorb the wrath and judgment of God that we deserved. Because God is holy and just, He must judge sin and sinners. (Romans 6:23; Ezekiel 18:4) “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us – for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’” (Galatians 3:13). When Jesus willingly let himself be nailed to the cross, he absorbed the wrath and judgment of God that we deserved. (Isaiah 53) He paid the price. His blood became the propitiation for our sins. (Romans 3:25; I John 4:10)

Does the love of Christ constrain and consume you? Do you need victory over death, hell, and the grave? Do you need purpose and power? Lift high the cross. “BY this sign conquer.”

“For as many as received him gave he power to become sons of God. Even as many as believe on his name” (John 1:12).