Why Did Jesus Die?
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: John 1-12: Come, See, Live!
John 11:45-57 (ESV)
45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 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.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 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.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.
54 Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples.
55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. 56 They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.
Sermon Outline
Why did Jesus die?
1. The Human Perspective
vv45, 48 “Many… believed in him”; “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.”
vv50 “do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.”
vv53, 57 “from that day on they made plans to put him to death”; “…so that they might arrest him”
2. God’s Perspective
v54 “Jesus therefore no longer walked openly…”
vv55-56 “Now the Passover… was at hand… ‘What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?’”
vv51-52 “…being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die… not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
Prayer of Confession
Our merciful Father, though we had rejected you, you have invited us to return. We draw near to you acknowledging our need and our faults. We have been sinned against, and we have sinned. We have participated in the corrupt ways of our world. We have been unjust in our actions towards others. We have justified our wrongdoing. We have caused harm. Our good deeds are insufficient. Declaring that one should die for all was an injustice, but we thank you for suffering the death we deserve and for granting us the life we don’t deserve. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
Why did Jesus die? What is your understanding? What aspect of why Jesus died is most compelling or helpful for you?
Why do people have an instinct for revenge and punishment?
Are Christians supposed to let people take advantage of them or not intervene when others are being wronged? What principles direct upright actions when someone does wrong?
What are ways you reject God? What do you blame God for?
What does it say about God that God is willing to take the hostility of the people rejecting Him in order to extend grace to those same people?
What is revealed at the cross that helps us with our current hostilities? What do we need to see, know or experience to receive help and change?
How is the church called to share in the work of gathering God’s scattered children? What is the task of the church throughout the ages in regards being a family who are reconciled to God?