There are many reasons why the Lord Jesus died; but before speaking of them, let me tell you that as far as He Himself was concerned there was no reason why He should have died. He was the Prince of Life. Death is the judgment of God—the wages of sin; but the Lord Jesus was sinless and holy, and therefore He had no need to die. But He did die, and we rightly ask, "Why?"
One reason the Bible gives for Christ's death is "our sins"—"Christ died for our sins." They could not have been put away otherwise. Christ offered Himself as the great sacrifice for sin and died for us, and His blood cleanseth from all sin.
Another reason for Christ's death is that we may know how much God loves us. "God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Wonderful as were the ways of Jesus on earth, nothing less than His death for us fully showed how much God loved us.
The Lord Jesus also died that He might "gather together in one the children of God.” He wanted all those who love Him, who are His, to be one—not divided, but marked by love and unity, as He said, "one flock and one shepherd."
A fourth reason is given as we read of Him, Who died for us that,... we should live together with Him." These are blessed words indeed—"live with Him." When Jesus comes again and takes those who are His to be "with Him" in heaven, we shall have a full answer to the question, "Why did Jesus die?”
M. W. B.