The opening of John’s Gospel presents a profound and unexpected narrative: the infinite Creator God of the universe, immutable and all-powerful, willingly entered our flawed and mortal world, stepping outside the perfection of Eden to dwell among us. This act of divine humility sets the stage for understanding a central question of Christian faith: why did Jesus, the Son of God, have to die?
We learn that God “tabernacled,” or made his home among humanity, by becoming human in Jesus (John 1:14). This deliberate choice to be with us meant God also embraced the human experience of death. In essence, one fundamental reason Jesus died is because death is the shared reality of humanity.
The early chapters of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible reveal that returning to God and the eternal life symbolized by the Garden requires confronting death. The cherubim and flaming sword guarding the Garden represent the barrier erected by our own definitions of good and evil, which ultimately lead to mortality. Through the sacrificial system of the tabernacle and temple, God communicated his intention to restore relationship and life through the concept of death being overcome.
Now, in Jesus, God fully becomes human and undergoes that very death. The Apostle Paul explains in 2 Corinthians 5:21 that Jesus was “made to be sin for us,” despite being sinless himself. Jesus took upon himself the pain and mortality of corrupted human nature, a condition shared by all, even though he was without sin. This reveals a core meaning of the cross: it is God willingly laying down his own human life out of love, for our benefit and redemption.
In Christ, God meets us in our exiled state, outside the Garden, and through death, he transcends the deadly barrier guarded by the cherubim and sword, paving the way back to divine presence. At the very moment of Jesus’ death on the cross in Jerusalem, the temple veil, richly embroidered with cherubim and separating humanity from the Holy of Holies, was torn in two from top to bottom. This dramatic event symbolized the restoration of access to God’s presence, made possible through Jesus’ sacrifice. In this sense, Jesus dies to reopen the path for humanity to return to God (John 10:9-10, 17:20-23).
Furthermore, Jesus’ resurrection as a human being unveils a profound truth about death itself. We have understandably perceived death as the definitive end of life, but Jesus’ resurrection challenges this assumption. His rising from the dead signifies that we are truly his family, destined to share in resurrection life. His death and resurrection together proclaim: “The finality of death that you fear is an illusion! Embrace love for God’s way of life instead of being controlled by the fear of death!”
Fear of death is portrayed as a deceptive force, akin to the serpent’s lies, leading us to hoard and protect ourselves rather than live generously. This fear fuels conflict, division, and the creation of instruments of violence. Living outside the Garden, this self-protective, fear-driven instinct is deeply ingrained. It seems inescapable. However, Jesus’ death serves to demonstrate that death is temporary, not ultimate. Another vital reason Jesus died is to reveal this very truth. By paying attention to Jesus, his path of love gradually diminishes the grip of death’s fear on our lives.
We are empowered to choose forgiveness and love over hatred and judgment. We can begin to bless instead of curse, to transform our instruments of violence into tools of life and growth, mirroring the vision of Isaiah 2:1-4. Jesus demonstrates that death is undeniably tragic, but it is not the end. Our lives gain strength and purpose when we dedicate them to learning and living out his way of love and community.
