Written by Rev. Nicholas Davelaar
Published in the Courier of Russellville, Arkansas

It’s been observed that millions saw the apple fall, but Isaac Newton was the one who asked why. That question—why—was a critical step toward understanding gravity.

That question—why—remains a critical step toward understanding, as the teachers in our midst will testify. And that’s true not only for gravity, but also the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Why did Jesus suffer and die? We have ample evidence that he did suffer and die, not only in the Bible, but also in other ancient sources, some of them written by people we would call hostile witnesses. The question is not whether he suffered and died—the question is why.

We sometimes hear people say that Jesus died to show sinners God’s love for them. And that’s all they say. But is that all? That seems too steep a price merely for a Valentine’s card.

Why did Jesus suffer and die? What did Jesus say? In Mark 10:45 we hear him explain that he came to “give his life as a ransom for many.” Similarly, in John 10:11 we hear him declare that he came to lay down his life for his sheep.

Why was that necessary? It was necessary because we by nature are God’s enemies, objects of his wrath. We could be reconciled to God only by the death of his Son in our place, “the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God,” in the words of 1 Peter 3:18.

So, yes, Jesus certainly did suffer and die out of love, but that love had a purpose: to pay the wages due his people for their sin and give them a new life, a life of fellowship with the God of heaven and earth (to rephrase Romans 6:23).

The story is told of a man in Nashville, shortly after the end of the War between the States. He looked out of place: a man in farm clothes, kneeling at a gravestone in a soldiers’ cemetery, writing something.

An observer came up and asked, “Is that the grave of your son?”

The farmer replied, “No, I have seven children, all of them young, and a wife on my poor farm in Illinois. I was drafted and, despite the great hardship it would cause, I was required to join the Army. But on the morning I was to depart this man, my neighbor’s older son, came over and offered to take my place in the war.”

The observer solemnly asked, “What is that you are writing on his grave?”

The farmer replied, “I am writing, ‘He died for me.’”

Can you say that about Jesus? Is that your testimony, your joy?

Think about that.

For further study, read John 10:11-18, 27-30.​

Written by Rev. Nicholas Davelaar
Published in the Courier of Russellville, Arkansas

We are a nation of do-it-yourselfers, and we’re proud of it. We might not be able to do everything for ourselves, but that doesn’t mean we won’t try.

For instance, one time something went wrong with our electric oven. The range was still working, but the stove suddenly didn’t.

Did I call a repairman? No way! As the saying goes, fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

Needless to say, my wife was pleasantly surprised when this fool not only avoided electrocution, but also got the job done. Unfortunately for her, she now has a husband who likes to think he can repair most anything.

For better or worse, I’m not the only one. We may differ on the projects we dare to undertake, but by and large we are all do-it-yourselfers.

This do-it-yourself tendency can be a good thing, but sometimes it isn’t. Most notably, it isn’t when it comes to our relationship with the holy God of heaven and earth.

I remember a conversation I once had with a young lady who attended our church once every two or three months. She had been in a serious car accident, but surprisingly walked away with only some minor back pain.

During the course of our conversation, I asked her what she believed would have happened to her if she had died. She responded as I suspect most people in the River Valley might: she said she would go to heaven.

I then asked her why. She matter-of-factly explained to me that she believed she was a good person and tried to do what was right.

Do you know what that is? Do-it-yourself salvation. The way of salvation according to a person who likes to think he or she can do anything, even earn God’s favor. The way of salvation according to a person who thinks a savior or mediator is unnecessary. Or, if necessary, only to get a person back on the right track from time to time.

The Bible presents a very different way of salvation.

Indeed, according to the Bible our do-it-yourself confidence and skills are irrelevant when it comes to our relationship with God. Ephesians 2 teaches that we are by nature dead in transgressions and sins, by nature children of wrath.

Thus the good news of the Bible is the proclamation of the coming of someone who is able to deliver us from our transgressions and sins and reconcile us to God. This someone is Jesus.

To all us do-it-yourself saviors, the declaration of God’s Word is that “there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all” (1 Timothy 2:5-6).

Are you trusting in him? Will you trust in him today?

Or are you determined to keep trying to do this yourself?

Think about that.

For further study, read Ephesians 2:1-10.