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"Why would an 'all-powerful' Messiah have to die?" |
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Q:
Dear Mr. Nadler: |
A: Dear Al, I appreciated the question you posed. In other words, how could Jesus have all that power (as is claimed by Christians) and then merely die without making the world into “an Eden.” Thus, you imply, he must not have had the “so called power” after all . First of all, the fact is people did flock to him (John 6:14-15). Dr. Louis Goldberg, former Professor of Jewish Studies at Moody College, taught that according to biblical and historical sources, at least 1/3 of the Jewish people living in Judea at that time came to faith in Jesus. His miracle working power was so obvious and well known that the Talmud attempts to discredit Him, and states that He was a “deceiver” and a “magician”, since they could not deny his influence or the reality of people who had been healed. The purpose of Yeshua’s power was to demonstrate his divine character (by using his power for the good of others) and to validate who he is: Messiah, the Son of God. What He declared about Himself, “I am the resurrection and the life”, he proved. He could raise the dead, and did! In light of these facts one would reasonably ask, “So if Yeshua had the power to heal, then why did He die?” The problem with our world is spiritual (ie, internal: see Jeremiah 17:9 & Matthew 15:19), the root cause being sin. Having Eden didn't help the first time, for it was in Eden, an absolutely perfect environment, where sin began. A Holy God has declared, “All have sinned and fall short” of the mark, that “our sin separates us from God”, and ultimately will leave us in an eternal mess. But God also loves us and has provided in Messiah our needed atonement. Messiah's death demonstrates the love God has for us. |
The Scriptures are abundantly clear on these two points: Messiah did have the power, and He did have to die. Biblically speaking, as grievous as it may be to us, our death is not really the greatest problem; what comes after death is. Therefore, all of us are actually in great need for what Yeshua has provided: forgiveness for our sins and eternal life with God. For the Scriptures warn us, “it is appointed unto man once to die and then comes the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). God doesn’t want to perpetuate us in our fallen, sinful state, but has provided something far better: a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26), a new life (Psalm 51), and one day a New Heavens and a New Earth (Isaiah 66:17-25). Don’t miss what God has for you. Sam |
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