God must have someone to die for the sins of man. Abraham was to offer his son Isaac as a burnt sacrifice on Mount Moriah. Abraham has a knife. Isaac can see the wood, fire and knife but where is the sacrifice? God will provide himself a sacrifice. Isaac was a willing, obedient sacrifice just like Jesus. Isaac submits to his father.

The ram is caught in the thicket. He is crowned with thorns! The ram is a substitute and symbolises Christ taking our place. The Passover lamb is an example of the substitute. In Bethlehem the shepherds looked after the Passover lambs. At the Passover the religious leaders are looking for fault in the lambs. The same examination is applied to God’s lamb – Jesus. They can find no fault in Him so they fabricate a reason. Only a perfect lamb could be sacrificed!

Barabbas was an insurrectionist, thief and murderer. Pilate offered to let Jesus or Barabbas go free. The crowd want Barabbas. Jesus loses an election. They want Jesus crucified. Jesus took the place of Barabbas on the cross. The cross was made for Barabbas but Jesus took his place and Barabbas was set free. Christ died instead of me!

Passion means feeling and emotion. Jesus was in agony. The very blood of Jesus was dripping on the ground. This can happen in times of great stress. Jesus was in a battle with his own humanity. He realises what he must face. There is a cup that Jesus must drink from. The cup contains the sins of mankind. It is a bitter cup. Once Jesus drinks the cup God the Father will have to treat him as a sinner. God’s wrath would fall upon him.

Jesus is whipped and put through mock trials and then attacked by the soldiers in a series of games. They led Jesus with his cross along the way of sorrows to the very same place where God provided a lamb for Abraham. Jesus is crucified and the pain and agony is intense. It was the worst form of death that man could find. Jesus went through it for us. See Isaiah 53:1-7.

It is over. it is finished. Jesus will never face the cross again. It is not once upon a time. It is once for all time! The debt has been paid in full. This is why I believe in the eternal security of the true believer.

If there had been another way than the cross then God would have done it. Jesus died for you that you might be saved. That is “Why the cross”. It was necessary for our salvation.