Why Did Jesus Have to Die? Understanding the Wages of Sin and Sacrifice (Cruciformity Series)

Unpacking the deep narrative threads that make Jesus’s death not just inevitable, but essential to our human story, Mike and Tim dive into the costs of sin, how death is a consequence—not simply a punishment—and what Jesus’s crucifixion really reveals about God’s nature. This Good Friday reflection brings clarity to questions we’ve inherited or sidestepped: Why did Jesus have to die? Why that way? And what’s the deeper biblical thread connecting Eden, the tabernacle, and the cross?

Follow this continuing journey through the Cruciformity Series as we reframe our view of atonement theology through the lens of relational, embodied love rather than transactional debt. This episode traces the arc from Genesis to Jesus, highlighting scripture’s subversive beauty and its world-building wisdom that invites us to reimagine what it means to live—and die—in union with Christ.

Key Takeaways:
• Death as Consequence, Not Retribution – Sin introduces decay, loss, and exile from creation’s eternal purpose. Jesus, in true solidarity, embraces that outcome fully.
• The Bible's Moral Logic of Life and Death – From Eden through the temple system and culminating in Jesus, we’re always being invited to choose life.
• Crucifixion and the Unmasking of Empire – Jesus’s nonviolent death at the hands of imperial power exposes the futility of violence and reveals the upside-down power of God’s kingdom.
• Sacrificial Systems and Human Imagination – Why animal sacrifice wasn’t divine bloodlust, but a contextual, symbolic reminder of the corruption and gravity of sin.
• Jesus Enters the Realm of Death to Open Eden – The torn temple curtain and the resurrection signify access to the tree of life has been restored—no longer guarded, but freely given.

Resources Mentioned:
• Genesis 1–3 – The foundational story of life, choice, and consequence.
• 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – Paul’s “first importance” gospel creed, spotlighting Jesus’s death and resurrection.
• Leviticus 17 – “Life is in the blood”—understanding why sacrifices pointed to something deeper.
• Daniel 12 – A rare Old Testament glimpse of resurrection hope.
• Philippians 2 (Kenosis Hymn) – Cruciformity and Jesus’s descent through obedience and suffering.
• Rich Villodas (Twitter Reflection) – A poetic thread connecting Eden and the cross: Rich's post

Dive further:
• Catch up on past episodes in the Cruciformity Series for more foundational context.
• Check out our past deep dives on Genesis and sacrificial systems in the “Being Human” series.

Join the conversation and rediscover why Jesus’s death was not a cosmic transaction but the climactic expression of God’s love. Don’t forget to subscribe, write us a review, and share the Voxology Podcast with someone who’s asking deep questions about faith and identity.

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