Why did Jesus have to die?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Jesus had to die to fulfill Old Testament prophecies and to provide the only acceptable sacrifice for sin, as required by God's law. His death and resurrection are central to the gospel, reconciling humanity to God and establishing the New Covenant. Though religious leaders plotted against Him out of fear, pride, and jealousy, and Roman authorities yielded to political pressure, Jesus’s death was ultimately God's plan for salvation. Every group involved had their reasons—Pharisees, Sadducees, Pilate, and Judas—but God used even their sin to accomplish His redemptive purpose. Through Christ’s sacrifice, we are freed from God’s wrath and offered eternal life by faith.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Bible is clear why Jesus had to die the way He did. He had to be whipped and remain silent and die on a cross (tree) in order to fulfill prophecy (see our article for more). He had to shed His blood because "it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life" (Leviticus 17:11 [NIV]).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The death of Jesus and His subsequent resurrection are at the heart of the Bible's message. The Bible describes these events as "of first importance" (1 Corinthians 15:3).
• Without the death of Christ, there is no gospel; His cross truly is the crux of our faith. Jesus's death atones for our sins and reconciles us with God (Romans 5:10).
• The cross fulfills the righteous requirement of the Law and establishes the New Covenant (Mark 14:24).
• While there were divine reasons for Jesus’s death, there were also human reasons why He had to die. The Pharisees viewed Jesus as a threat to their authority, teachings, and influence because He exposed their hypocrisy and offered true freedom to the people (Matthew 23:1–36; Matthew 11:28). Though they believed He was blaspheming by claiming to be God (John 10:33), they feared public backlash if they killed Him themselves (Luke 20:19; Matthew 21:46). To preserve their power, they sought political grounds for His death, so Rome could carry it out (John 18:31; Luke 23:1–2). Jesus was crucified, not just because of religious conflict, but because His truth disrupted the status quo (John 11:47–50). Ultimately, His death fulfilled God’s plan for salvation (Isaiah 53:5–6; Acts 2:23), though it was driven by human fear and pride.
• The Sadducees, wealthy and politically powerful, feared that Jesus’s growing influence could spark unrest and provoke a Roman crackdown, threatening their privileged positions (John 11:47–48). Though more aligned with Greek culture and less concerned with religious purity than the Pharisees, they cooperated in seeking Jesus’s death to preserve national stability and their control (Matthew 26:3–5). As key members of the Sanhedrin, they prioritized political survival over truth (Acts 5:17–18). Jesus’s popularity with the people and His authority challenged their fragile balance with Rome. To prevent rebellion and maintain their status, they joined in plotting His death (Mark 14:1).
• The Roman leaders in Palestine, like Pilate, were tasked with maintaining peace, facing harsh consequences from Caesar if unrest broke out (John 19:12). When the crowds hailed Jesus as a king during His triumphal entry (Luke 19:38–40), the Pharisees, backed by the Sadducees, used this as grounds to accuse Him of political rebellion (Luke 23:1–2). Judas, likely disillusioned by Jesus’s refusal to actually lead a revolt, betrayed Him (Mark 14:10). Although Pilate recognized Jesus’s innocence (Luke 23:4; Mark 15:10), he gave in to pressure from the mob stirred by the religious leaders (Mark 15:11–15). Fearing a riot and political fallout, Pilate condemned Jesus to death, despite knowing the charges were false.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

God works in history. He works in the context of people and personalities and politics to teach us, correct us, and act on our behalf. In the time of Christ, the social milieu included super-legalistic Pharisees, power-hungry Sadducees, favor-seeking Herodians, Jewish priests, and Roman rulers maintaining a precarious order. In all of their history together, these groups may have agreed on only one thing: Jesus had to die.

The Pharisees wanted Jesus dead because He pointed out their sin and undermined their influence. Judas wanted Jesus dead because He was not the political champion Judas had hoped for. The Sadducees wanted Jesus dead to ensure the stability of their political position. Pilate didn't want Jesus dead, but he feared a riot. God used all of this to get His Son to the cross to die for our sins. Ultimately, it wasn't Jews or Romans or Pilate or Judas who put Jesus on the cross; it was greed, fear, jealousy and selfishness. However, all this fit into God’s plan for Jesus to die for our salvation.

Jesus died because of sin, and through His death, He justified us and saved us from God's wrath (Romans 5:9). "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree'" (Galatians 3:13). Jesus died, so you wouldn’t have to bear the eternal consequences of sin and death. All who trust in Jesus’s death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins are forgiven and will not experience the second death.

UNDERSTAND

• Jesus had to die to fulfill prophecy and to provide the only acceptable sacrifice for sin.
• Jesus had to die to reconcile us to God.
• Though religious leaders and Roman authorities sought His death for political and personal reasons, God used their actions to bring about salvation.

REFLECT

• How does knowing that Jesus died specifically for your sin shape the way you view your relationship with God?
• In what areas are you tempted to hold onto pride, fear, or self-interest—the very attitudes that led people to reject Jesus?
• What would it look like to live with deeper gratitude for Jesus’s death on the cross?

ENGAGE

• What do the different human motives behind Jesus’s death reveal about the condition of the human heart?
• What do we learn about God’s character and sovereignty in the death of Christ, although humans killed Jesus?
• How can we better understand and communicate the connection between Old Testament prophecy and Jesus's crucifixion?