Lenten Studies 2025 SAMPLE by Youthworks

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WHY DID JESUS COME TO DIE?

DAVID MULREADY

STUDIES FOR LENT & OTHER TIMES

An imprint of Anglican Youthworks

Published October 2024

This book is copyright. Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism and review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this book may be reproduced by any process without the express permission of the publisher.

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ISBN: 978–1–922866–18–9

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Managing editor: Rachel Macdonald

Theological editor: Harriet Connor

Cover and internal design: Rachel Aitken

This book is dedicated to the church family of All Saints ANeW, New Lambton, to whom Maureen and I have belonged since 2020— where the Bible is faithfully taught; our leaders humbly model the Christian life; and where church members care for one another and seek to reach the lost with the gospel.

Introduction

The suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is central to the Christian faith. The Bible tells us that God came from heaven to earth in the person of Jesus and lived in the Middle East for about 33 years. He exercised public ministry for about three of those years—then was arrested, tortured and died a terrible, unjust death. He was buried and then was raised by God from the dead. After 40 days of appearances to his disciples, he ascended back to heaven to wait for his coming return to earth as the judge of all. So it’s not surprising that many Christians and some enquiring about Christianity ask, ‘Why did Jesus come to die? Why did God save us in this way?’

When researching the books of the New Testament, it’s not difficult to find over 50 statements that respond to this question. The answer that emerges is the theme of these 40 daily reflections.

The studies are divided into 15 reasons that form the answer, each lasting between one and ten days, and every day has a next step you could take in response. There are also sets of questions after every seven days that are useful for private reflection or group discussion.

While some of these truths may seem too ‘basic’ to those who have been in the faith for a while, there is an opportunity to grow in maturity in Christ when we are willing to humbly sit and consider the real depth of what the Father, Son and Spirit have done for us. Devoting your time and mind to the cornerstones of our faith will only strengthen your love of and relationship with God, either in the Lenten period leading to Easter or any season in the year.

I trust that your time in God’s word will be fruitful.

David Mulready Arcadia Vale, NSW

DAY 1

JESUS CAME TO DIE AS AN ACT OF OBEDIENCE TO HIS HEAVENLY FATHER

Romans 5:19

For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

We all know what the word ‘obedience’ means. From our earliest years we are expected to obey our parents, our teachers, the police and others in authority.

On my 17th birthday, I passed my driving test by learning the road rules and was given my driver’s licence. To keep that licence, I must obey those rules. From observing our older grandchildren, the earning of a licence is a much more complicated process these days, but as some P-plate drivers race past us on the road, weaving in and out of traffic, that doesn’t seem to have always improved the obedience part.

The Lord Jesus was obedient to his earthly parents. Luke tells us that ‘he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them’ (Luke 2:51). Jesus’ death is tied up with obedience to his heavenly Father–more of that in a moment.

Jesus’ death is related to our sin. The Apostle Paul explains that no-one is right before God because ‘all have sinned’ (Romans 3:23). The only way that people can be made right with God is through the sacrifice of God’s Son. Abraham was made right with God through faith, and all who trust in the Lord as Abraham did are accepted by God through his grace and mercy (Romans 4:1–16). How does this grace and mercy make us right with God?

As we look at our verse for today, we read about two men. One was disobedient to God, and through his disobedience ‘many were made sinners’. Here Paul is writing about Adam. The other man to whom Paul refers is Jesus. It was through Jesus’ obedience to the Father, living the perfect life without

sin, and submitting to death on a cross, that Jesus made it possible for us to be ‘made righteous’. We are counted without sin because Jesus took the punishment that our sin deserved. Jesus came from the Father to die on the cross. His earthly ministry was only for three years. During this period he taught his disciples and prepared them for the time when he would no longer be with them physically. He showed them who he was by the miraculous signs he performed. He frequently told the disciples that he would be killed and rise again—but they were slow to understand.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, we find Jesus in prayer, wrestling with the enormity of what lay ahead. He even prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup [of suffering] from me; yet not my will, but yours be done’ (Luke 22:42). Luke also records that Jesus was ‘in anguish’ during this prayer: ‘he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground’ (Luke 22:44). Jesus was focused. He wanted to glorify the Father by obeying him in everything, even by dying in the place of sinners, counted as one of them. Jesus knew that his obedience would mean the salvation of humanity, according to his Father’s will.

Here then is the first reason Jesus came to die: as an act of obedience to his heavenly Father. We’ll think more about this over the next two days.

ACTION

Write out Romans 5:19 and put it in a place you’ll see it. Memorise and think about it.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending the Lord Jesus to die for us, to pay the punishment that our sins deserve. We recognise that Jesus’ death was an act of obedience to you. Thank you for his costly submission to your good plans for the world. Amen.