{"id":51776,"date":"2020-07-17T22:21:52","date_gmt":"2020-07-17T19:21:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=51776"},"modified":"2025-06-30T23:23:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T20:23:23","slug":"is-jesus-god-and-if-he-is-why-did-he-die","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2020\/07\/17\/is-jesus-god-and-if-he-is-why-did-he-die\/","title":{"rendered":"IS JESUS GOD? AND IF HE IS, WHY DID HE DIE?"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is a question many people\u2014including some Christians\u2014ask:<\/span><\/p>\n

If Jesus is truly God, how could He die?<\/strong><\/p>\n

To answer this, we must understand what the Bible teaches about who Jesus is and why He came to earth.<\/p>\n

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1. Is Jesus God?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Yes, Jesus is fully God. The Bible affirms that God took on human nature<\/strong> and appeared in the world in the person of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n

1 Timothy 3:16\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cAnd without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh<\/strong>, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Jesus didn\u2019t stop being God when He came to earth\u2014He added humanity<\/strong> to His divine nature. He became both fully God and fully man<\/strong> (theological term: hypostatic union<\/em>). But while on earth, He did not come to demand worship or display heavenly glory. Instead, He came to fulfill a mission of redemption<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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2. Why Did God Become Man?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Jesus came to earth not to seek His own glory but to redeem sinful humanity<\/strong>. He humbled Himself so that we could be saved.<\/p>\n

Philippians 2:6\u20138\u00a0<\/strong>
\n“…who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
\nbut made Himself of no reputation<\/strong>, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
\nAnd being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here, the phrase \u201cmade Himself of no reputation\u201d<\/em> means that Jesus voluntarily laid aside His heavenly privileges<\/strong>. He didn\u2019t cease to be God; He simply chose not to use His divine powers for His own benefit while on earth.<\/p>\n

This is known in theology as kenosis<\/strong>\u2014the self-emptying of Jesus\u2019 divine privileges (from the Greek word in Philippians 2:7: eken\u014dsen<\/em>).<\/p>\n

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3. An Illustration: The Police Officer<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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<\/strong> a police officer, but now he blends in. He doesn\u2019t use his official powers because he\u2019s not acting in that role at that moment.<\/p>\n

Jesus did the same: He didn\u2019t stop being God\u2014He just chose to live among us as one of us.<\/p>\n

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4. Why Did Jesus Die Then?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Because He became truly human<\/strong>, Jesus experienced hunger, tiredness, sorrow\u2014and eventually death. But His death was not a defeat<\/strong>. It was part of the mission: to save us by taking our place<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Romans 5:8\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cBut God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

His death wasn\u2019t forced. He gave up His life willingly<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

John 10:17\u201318\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cTherefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.
\nNo 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<\/strong>\u2026\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

At the cross, He committed His spirit into the Father\u2019s hands:<\/p>\n

Luke 23:46\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cAnd when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, \u2018Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.\u2019 Having said this, He breathed His last.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Even Pilate was surprised that Jesus died so quickly (see Mark 15:44<\/strong>), because death didn\u2019t conquer Jesus\u2014He chose the moment to surrender His spirit<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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5. The Greatest Miracle: He Rose Again by His Own Power<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The most powerful miracle is not avoiding death, but having the authority to die and then rise again<\/strong>. Jesus did just that\u2014He took back His life by His own divine power.<\/p>\n

John 11:25\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cI am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

No other prophet or religious figure in history has ever made such a claim and proven it<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This proves not only His divinity but also His victory over sin and death.<\/p>\n

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6. Is Jesus Still God After Dying?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Yes. His death doesn\u2019t make Him less divine\u2014it reveals His love, humility, and saving power<\/strong>. Only the true God<\/strong> could die for the sins of the world and then rise again.<\/p>\n

Colossians 2:9\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cFor in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Unlike powerless idols or pagan gods, Jesus Christ<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

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7. He Will Come Again in Glory<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Jesus is not done. One day He will return\u2014and everyone will recognize Him.<\/p>\n

Revelation 1:7\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cBehold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him<\/strong>…\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Philippians 2:10\u201311\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201c\u2026that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow\u2026 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord\u2026\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Some will be surprised, because they were misled into thinking He wasn\u2019t coming back. But the Bible says:<\/p>\n

2 Peter 3:9\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Jesus is patient\u2014giving us time to turn to Him and be saved.<\/p>\n

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Conclusion: Why Did Jesus Die? Because He Loves Us.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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\u2014it was the greatest act of love and power<\/strong> ever shown.<\/p>\n

John 15:13\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cGreater love has no one than this, than to lay down one\u2019s life for his friends.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He gave His life for you\u2014and invites you to believe in Him, follow Him, and be saved.<\/p>\n

(The Lord is coming!)<\/strong>
\nMay God help us to know Him more and prepare for His return.<\/p>\n