Why was the death of Jesus necessary? It has always been God’s dream from the beginning to be in relationship with us. Take that even further. God’s dream was not just to be in a simple relationship with us, but His dream was to be in union with us so that he could share with us all that He is and all that He has. This staggering dream compelled God with the relentless determination to make it become a reality. Jesus himself said, “I came that you might have life and have it more abundantly.” Christ did not come and die just so we would be forgiven and go to heaven one day. He came that the life lived in heaven in union with the triune God could be ours as a first fruit while we are still here on earth. He came and died and rose again that in his death, resurrection, and ascension the fallen self could be shed and the new creature (the new self) could be raised and seated in heavenly places in Christ infused with His resurrection life and power enjoying all that the triune God has to offer. Being “saved” and miserable at the same time is unimaginable to God. We weren’t primarily saved from something; we were saved for something. The very words “eternal life” means “the age to come” kind of life lived now by Christ through us. God relentless determination to bless us with union With him was going to happen regardless of the cost. In John 3:16, the Greek word translated “perish” actually means “ruined, spoiled.” Without understanding, let me quote John 3:16. “For God SO LOVED the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not live a life that is ruined or spoiled, but have the age to come kind of life in Chris,” that God dreamed for us to experience since before time. Mankind’s destiny has always been the extravagantly blessed life of being in union with God in Christ, and God refused to live with the thought that sin could ruin that dream for us.
This is what makes sin so hideous. As I’m sure you know, the word “sin” literally means to “miss the mark,” and the “mark” is the abundant life spent in union with God through Christ. To trade the experience of that life even for a moment for a taste of Esau’s porridge is the tragic horror of the enemy’s deception.