What Did Jesus Die For?

Tomorrow is Good Friday. A day that for me typically involves a great deal of contemplation and thanksgiving. It is the day that Jesus died on the cross. I have spent this week thinking about that event and it's implications. What I have been asking myself is why? Why do all this, why go through it all. Ultimately I know the answer to that question, but I think that answer has become blurred for so many people.

If we were to look at what churches do and derive an answer of why Jesus died from our actions, then I think that "why" would be answered very differently. Answers could sound like this:

Jesus died so we could meet in fancy buildings
Jesus died so we could create cheesy patronizing slogans for t-shirts, bumper stickers, and alliterated sermons
Jesus died so we could argue about music styles
Jesus died so we could go protest for our pet causes and change laws that suit our political interest
Jesus died so we could vote the right way
Jesus died so we could have denominations, then when we don't like the ones we are in, make a new ones
Jesus died so we could write self help books in his name
Jesus died so we could manipulate people for selfish ends
Jesus died so we could be great leaders and write books about we do it
Jesus died so we could get rich
Jesus died so we could build empires

I could go on and on. However, lest you think that I am just pointing the finger at everyone else, I have been guilty of stuff like this in the past. I am still a work in progress.

Historically, things were not much different in the world that Jesus stepped into. There were empires, religious institutions, political problems, class envy, selfish people, etc. It all had different names but those people dealt with the same problems we face today. What I love about Jesus is that he came into the world with a radically different agenda.

Jesus came to:
provide forgiveness of sins
preach the good news to the poor
proclaim freedom to those captive to sin
help the spiritually blind recover their sight
to heal the sick
to show us the way back to God and announce that way as open for everyone

As I prepare for another Easter weekend to come I find myself compelled to reaffirm that the agenda that Jesus is my agenda. That his priorities are really my priorities, that my life look more and more like his. As you head into Easter weekend, take some time to look at your life and reaffirm your devotion to Jesus and his plan for your life. The radical, God pursuing lifestyle that he has called you to live is far better than the alternatives we create.