The real reason Jesus died for your sins

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

It is nothing short of amazing that the Son of God left his home in Heaven and came to live on earth with sinful men and women. What is often overlooked, however, is why He did it.

To those people who know the story, the obvious answer to why Jesus lived on earth is so that he could tell the world about His Father’s love for them by sending His son to die for their sins. But even this question asks the question why? Why would the Father send his son to die for the sins of the world?

Contrary to what is often taught in Sunday school, Jesus’ life on earth, and his subsequent death on the cross, was less about the salvation of mankind, and more about restoring things to their rightful order. An explanation is in order.

To make man the focal point of Jesus’ mission would be to violate the first commandment to have no other God’s before the God of Heaven. But it’s not about you and me. The focal point of Jesus’ mission was, and still is to this day, to bring glory to his Father by taking away the sins of mankind, thus restoring the relationship that his Father had with his creation at the beginning of time.

So why was it important for Jesus to dwell with man before dying on the cross for their sins?

In the original language of John 1:14 the word dwell also meant tabernacle. While John uses the word as a verb, the Tabernacle was originally a large portable tent that God instructed the nation of Israel to build as a place for Him to dwell among the people.

John’s use of this word as a verb places an emphasis on the fact that God wants to live in the presence of His people and wants His people to see Him. One of Jesus’ many titles is Immanuel, which means God with us.

From these examples it is plain to see that from the beginning of time God has wanted you and me to live in His presence, and bring glory to His name. It was that way in Genesis when he made man. It was that way when He gave Moses the Law and commanded the Tabernacle to be built, and it was that way when He sent His only begotten Son into the World to die for the sins of the world. It will also be that way when the children of God go live with Him in Heaven. Only then it will be face to face, and eternal.

I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am (John 14:2b-3).