Why did Jesus die?
WHY DID JESUS DIE?
According to Christian doctrine, Jesus willingly died to atone for the sins of mankind. This is the way Jesus’ disappointed followers explained away the terrible defeat and punishment that was the crucifixion.
Many thinking persons can no longer accept this explanation, especially when certain Scriptural truths are taken into account.
Did Jesus die for the sins of others? According to the Hebrew Scripture, «Whoever sins against me, him (only) will I blot out of My book: «Exodus 32:33. And again in Ezekiel 18:4, «Behold all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul that sins, IT (alone) shall die!» YHVH, the righteous judge states in no uncertain terms: «But every one shall die for his OWN INIQUITY!» Jeremiah 31:30. We are thus forced to conclude that Jesus died for his OWN iniquity! He died to atone for his own sins, and NOT for the sin of mankind. What was Jesus’ sin? «And when a (would-be) prophet is enticed and speaks a word (prophesies), I, YHVH, have enticed that prophet and I will stretch out my hand upon him and will destroy him from the midst of My people, Israel!» Ezekiel 14:9. Did Jesus ever prophesy falsely? In the tenth chapter of Matthew we see Jesus speaking to his twelve disciples (including Judas, who was to betray him), sending them forth to proclaim that «the Kingdom of Heaven is AT HAND!» (verse 7), and that these very disciples would witness his triumphant return, before they had time to visit all the cities of Israel! In the twenty fourth chapter of this same book we find Jesus describing signs and wonders that are to occur «at the time of the end», to these very same disciples. In verse thirty four Jesus states: «Verily I say to you, this generation shall not pass till ALL these things be fulfilled!» Many Christian commentators attempt to explain that he was referring to some «future» generation. But the text is clear. Jesus was speaking to «THIS Generation», the generation of his own disciples! To be convinced that Jesus’ followers, including the apostle Paul, believed and understood this as meaning their immediate lifetime, we read in Hebrews 10:37; «For yet a little while, and he (Jesus) that is coming will come and will NOT DELAY!» And again in Revelation, chapter one; «to show to his servants things which must SHORTLY come to pass! ……. for the time is AT HAND!» (verses 1-3). In the sixteenth chapter of Matthew, Jesus tells his twelve disciples: «the son of man will come in the glory of his father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his deeds! Truly I say to you, there are some standing HERE that won’t taste of death till they SEE the son of man coming in his Kingdom!» (verse 28). Now, it is an undeniable fact that that generation and the generation of Paul and the Revelator have died and PASSED centuries ago. And Jesus and the Kingdom never materialized! Thus, «when a prophet speaks in the name of YHVH, if the matter never occurs, it is a matter which YHVH did NOT speak of; the prophet has said it presumptuously; you shall NOT fear him!» Deuteronomy 19:22.
In Deuteronomy 13, we read: «If there arise in your midst a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a miracle, and the sign or miracle, really happens, about which he spoke, and he says to you: «let us go after other gods which you have not known, and let us serve them!» You shall not obey the words of that prophet or that dreamer; for YHVH your Almighty is putting you to proof, to know whether you love YHVH your Almighty with ALL your heart and soul……. And that prophet or dreamer shall be PUT TO DEATH!» Did Jesus call Israel to the worship of a god or gods other than YHVH? «For a good thing we don’t stone you but for blasphemy, because you, although you are a man, make yourself god!» John 10:33. «Let this opinion be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who, being in the form of God, though it not robbery to be EQUAL with God!» Philippians 2:5-6.
«God was manifest in the flesh (Jesus)!» First Timothy 3:16.
«He that has seen me has seen the Father!» John 14:9.
Thus, Jesus, the god OTHER THAN YHVH the Sole Creator, fulfilled in his career and actions that which is written in Jeremiah 10:11; «The gods that have not made the heavens and earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens!»
In Ezekiel we read a remarkable parallel to the gospel tale of Jesus’ death! Although Ezekiel speaks of the «prince of Tyre», the similarities are amazing: «Will you still persist in saying to him that slays you ‘I am god’? But you are man and NOT god, in the hand of them that defile you! You shall die the deaths of the UNCIRCUMCISED by the hands of STRANGERS; for I have spoken, says ADONAY YHVH! Chap. 28:9-10. Could it be that Jesus’ career was a repetition of the histories of earlier would-be gods who came to a similar end?
It is clear, at any rate, that Scriptural truth casts a radically different light on the significance and cause of Jesus’ death. What does this mean for you?! Have you been serving a false god other than YHVH, the One and Only Creator, Saviour and King?
COME TO YHVH, TODAY!
Distributed By: Mordecai Alfandari Jerusalem, Israel Additional information on request.