by Ester yusufu | 17 July 2020 08:46 pm07
This is a question many people—including some Christians—ask:
If Jesus is truly God, how could He die?
To answer this, we must understand what the Bible teaches about who Jesus is and why He came to earth.
Yes, Jesus is fully God. The Bible affirms that God took on human nature and appeared in the world in the person of Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 3:16
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.”
Jesus didn’t stop being God when He came to earth—He added humanity to His divine nature. He became both fully God and fully man (theological term: hypostatic union). But while on earth, He did not come to demand worship or display heavenly glory. Instead, He came to fulfill a mission of redemption.
Jesus came to earth not to seek His own glory but to redeem sinful humanity. He humbled Himself so that we could be saved.
Philippians 2:6–8
“…who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
Here, the phrase “made Himself of no reputation” means that Jesus voluntarily laid aside His heavenly privileges. He didn’t cease to be God; He simply chose not to use His divine powers for His own benefit while on earth.
This is known in theology as kenosis—the self-emptying of Jesus’ divine privileges (from the Greek word in Philippians 2:7: ekenōsen).
Think of a traffic officer. In uniform, he has authority to control traffic. But if he changes into civilian clothes and goes to the market, he still is a police officer, but now he blends in. He doesn’t use his official powers because he’s not acting in that role at that moment.
Jesus did the same: He didn’t stop being God—He just chose to live among us as one of us.
Because He became truly human, Jesus experienced hunger, tiredness, sorrow—and eventually death. But His death was not a defeat. It was part of the mission: to save us by taking our place.
Romans 5:8
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
His death wasn’t forced. He gave up His life willingly:
John 10:17–18
“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.
No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again…”
At the cross, He committed His spirit into the Father’s hands:
Luke 23:46
“And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, ‘Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed His last.”
Even Pilate was surprised that Jesus died so quickly (see Mark 15:44), because death didn’t conquer Jesus—He chose the moment to surrender His spirit.
The most powerful miracle is not avoiding death, but having the authority to die and then rise again. Jesus did just that—He took back His life by His own divine power.
John 11:25
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”
No other prophet or religious figure in history has ever made such a claim and proven it.
This proves not only His divinity but also His victory over sin and death.
Yes. His death doesn’t make Him less divine—it reveals His love, humility, and saving power. Only the true God could die for the sins of the world and then rise again.
Colossians 2:9
“For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”
Unlike powerless idols or pagan gods, Jesus Christ has real authority. He forgave sins, calmed storms, raised the dead, and Himself rose from the dead. No other prophet in history did these things.
Jesus is not done. One day He will return—and everyone will recognize Him.
Revelation 1:7
“Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him…”
Philippians 2:10–11
“…that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord…”
Some will be surprised, because they were misled into thinking He wasn’t coming back. But the Bible says:
2 Peter 3:9
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise… but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
Jesus is patient—giving us time to turn to Him and be saved.
Jesus is both God and Savior. He became human, lived a perfect life, died for our sins, and rose again in power. His death was not weakness—it was the greatest act of love and power ever shown.
John 15:13
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
He gave His life for you—and invites you to believe in Him, follow Him, and be saved.
(The Lord is coming!)
May God help us to know Him more and prepare for His return.
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