Why did Jesus Christ leave heaven and come to earth? If you ask most Christians that question, the typical answer they will say is that he came to die on the cross. That answer is true. However, it does not answer the “why” question.
Why would Jesus come to earth to die on the cross? The average Christian would say that Jesus came to die on the cross for our sins.
Well, what does that mean? Why was He crucified? Why did He suffer? What has this to do with me? Who sent Jesus to His death?
John Piper in his book, Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die, attempts to answer those questions.
The summary of the book states, “the central issue of Jesus’ death is not the cause, but the meaning – God’s meaning.”
In this book, Piper has helped us to see from the New Testament, fifty purposes for Jesus coming to die. He helps us understand, “what did God achieve for sinners like us in sending His Son to die?”
I have read this book many times. It is not a “sit down and read this in an hour” book. It is more in-depth and contemplative. My family has read through this book as a family devotional for a couple of months before Good Friday.
Whatever way you choose to read this resource, you will not be disappointed. It is also an excellent resource to help the unsaved person understand who Jesus is and what He came here to accomplish. It is also an excellent resource for the Christian who wants to go deeper in their faith and gain help in their witnessing to others.
I highly recommend this book. I hope it will be a blessing to you as it has been to my family and me.
Blessings.
