Have you seen the movie produced by Mel Gibson, The Passion of the Christ? I have. It is a very moving portrayal of Jesus as the Son of God, Who died to pay for the penalty of sins we committed. The movie chronicles the last twelve hours of Jesus’ life here on earth as recorded in the Gospels of the Bible. I found the movie to be well made and accurate of it’s portrayal of the crucifixion of Jesus. I would recommend the movie to everyone who is curious about Christianity, that has God reaching down to save man, as opposed to religions who have man working to be "good enough" for God.

To answer the question of "WHY", I have been reading a book by Pastor John Piper titled "The Passion of Jesus Christ." In this book the author gives fifty reasons why Jesus suffered and died. Each reason is supported by Bible verses and is expounded on by the author, who is a Baptist pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN. I would like to take you through four of these reasons:

1. Jesus suffered and died to absorb the wrath of God. Because God is just and sin that we commit demands punishment, God saw fit that His Son Jesus would endure that punishment for those who believe in Him. God did not choose to overlook our sin, or dismiss our sin, but demanded that the sin be punished. And so it was as God the Father in His righteousness poured out His wrath on His Son, while He was on the cross.

2. Jesus suffered and died for the forgiveness of our sin. We need to remember that God not only is the judge of our sin, hence Jesus received wrath as seen under point 1, but He is also the victim (it is He whom we sin against), whom we need to seek forgiveness. He gives us this forgiveness through the blood of the Lamb, namely Jesus. Jesus said at the Last Supper "this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Matt 26:28

3. Jesus suffered and died to give eternal life to all who believe in Him. We all hope that one day when we die we will be whisked away to heaven to live with God for eternity. That is what Jesus has provided for us IF we believe in Him. But what if we don’t believe? Jesus said that those who don’t believe will go away into eternal punishment. (Matt 25:46)

4. Jesus suffered and died to take away our condemnation. The Apostle Paul asks this question in Romans 8:34, "Who is to condemn us? Christ Jesus is the one who died - more than that, was raised, who is at the right hand of God -interceding for us." If we have Jesus, the Lord and Giver of life, who sits at the right hand of God the Father, interceding on our behalf, no one can condemn us. What great comfort we have when we call upon the name of Jesus.