Was The Cross Really Necessary?

God put forward [Christ Jesus] as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.   Romans 3:25, ESV

God chose Jesus as the one on whom his wrath would fall, satisfying the requirements of God’s justice. That’s what propitiation means. God’s relentless opposition to all that destroys us was poured out on the Lord Jesus Christ when he died on the cross.

Some would question whether this was really necessary. Jesus himself raised the question in Gethsemane: “If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me” (Matthew 26:39). Jesus was saying, “If there is any other way for people to be saved besides your wrath being poured out on me, then let’s not do this. But if it’s the only way, let your will be done.”

And so it was: “[God] did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all” (Romans 8:32). Notice the phrase “gave him up.” God took his hand off his Son. He let Christ fall. He dropped him for you. That’s why Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matthew 27:46).

Jesus lived a perfect life. The reason God’s wrath was poured out on him was that “God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21). God found a way of separating the sins he hates from the people he loves by laying them on Jesus. Jesus endured our punishment.

If I were to drop a glass vase, it would fall as it was overwhelmed by the force of gravity. But the vase would not have to be destroyed, because having dropped it from my right hand, I could catch it a few feet from the ground with my left. Giving the crystal vase up to the power of gravity would lead to its destruction, but by catching it, I could deliver it from that same power.

That’s what God does for us in Christ. He offers to save those who otherwise would fall to their destruction. Jesus Christ went to the lowest point so he could lift you up. You can call out to God, even as you’re conscious of the power of sinful and shameful desires and foolish thinking. You can ask him to save you.

For further reading, see Romans 3