Why Jesus Died

When followers of Jesus sought to care for the body of Jesus, Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus died so early in the process.  Scripture teaches us not only why He died so early but also why He died so willingly.

Mark 15:40-47

40 There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.41 When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.

42 And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath,43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead.45 And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph.46 And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

  • Jesus died earlier than expected due to the extreme abuse by His enemies and the traumatic separation from His Father.
  • Skeptics seek to disprove Jesus’ death on the cross or His resurrection from the tomb.
  • Scripture reveals the remarkable ways that Jesus’ death fulfilled Old Testament prophecies.
  • Jesus didn’t offer a complete sacrifice so you could experience a halfway redemption.
  • Jesus died willingly so that you could be forgiven completely.