Why was Jesus killed if He really didn’t do anything wrong, and how does His death show us God’s love?
Odds are, if you’ve set foot inside the doors of a church, you’ve seen a cross and at least heard about Jesus dying. It is, after all, kind of a foundational story to the Christian faith, and a point often mentioned in the invitation to follow Jesus.
But maybe you don’t know all the details. Or maybe you’re hearing about the death of Jesus, right now, for the first time ever. Either way, this is a great place to start. The point of this article is to help you understand the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion and explain why Christians believe His death is the clearest picture of God’s love.
Where Is the Death of Jesus in the Bible?
The death of Jesus and the events leading up to it are found in Matthew 26-27, Mark 14-15, Luke 22-23, and John 18-19.
A Summary of Jesus’ Death on the Cross
- Jesus is betrayed by Judas Iscariot, one of His 12 disciples, and arrested by Roman soldiers in the Garden of Gethsemane.
- The Jewish high priests question Jesus, then beat, spit on, and mock Him.
- Jesus is brought before Pilate, the Roman governor over the region. Jesus is beaten again, forced to wear a crown of thorns, and sentenced to death.
- Jesus is forced to carry His cross to where He will be crucified and is nailed to the cross by His hands and feet.
- Soldiers strip Jesus bare and divide His clothes among themselves.
- Jesus willingly gives up His life, and soldiers pierce His side with a spear to confirm His death.
- Jesus is taken down from the cross by Joseph of Arimathea and placed in a tomb by Joseph and Nicodemus.
The Main Point of the Crucifixion Bible Story
The death of Jesus shows us what God is like. He doesn’t back away from our mess. He enters into it to bring us back to life.
What Does the Death of Jesus Teach Us?
1. The Death of Jesus Shows God’s Love for Us
The sacrifice of Jesus is the ultimate expression of God’s love for us, because even though He Himself lived perfectly, without sin, He died for our sins.
What is sin? Sin is anything we do that harms us or others or pulls us away from God.
We were created to love God and people. When we sin by failing to do that, it separates us from our Creator. No matter how hard we try, we can’t repair our relationship with God on our own. So God sent Jesus. In the greatest expression of His love, Jesus willingly died to cover our sin and make a way for us to be close to God again.
When Jesus died, He took on Himself all the damage caused by our sin: our guilt, our separation from God, and even death itself. When we trust in Jesus, we don’t have to fear death or carry the guilt of our sins anymore.
What does this mean for you? You don’t have to fix yourself to come close to God. Jesus made the way for you.
2. The Cross Shows Us How to Love Others
Jesus responded to violence with forgiveness.
Jesus responded to violence with forgiveness. While on the cross, He asked God to forgive the people who crucified Him. Following Jesus means learning to love like He does.
This can start with simple, everyday actions like these:
- Forgiving someone who let you down
- Choosing kindness when you’re feeling impatient
- Reaching out to support a friend or neighbor who could use your help
What does this mean for you? The small, hard moments in your day become opportunities to practice the kind of radical love Jesus showed us.
Common Questions About the Death of Jesus
Why did the Pharisees and other religious leaders hate Jesus?
Jesus spoke and acted with God’s authority, which made some religious leaders jealous. They also saw Him as a threat to the stability they were trying to preserve under Roman rule.
Did Jesus really live a perfect life?
Yes. Jesus was tempted by sin like you and me, but never gave in to temptation. He never failed to love God or love others in a way that honored God.
Why did Jesus have to die?
You don’t have to be a Christian to see how sin leads to death. When we live in ways that damage us or others, something dies—our peace, our relationships, and even who we’re becoming.
The Bible talks about it too. Romans puts it plainly: Sin leads to death. That’s why this story of Jesus matters. Instead of leaving us in the cycle of loss and separation, God came to rescue us. Jesus took our place, carried the full weight of our sin and its consequences, and opened the way to new life with Him. (Because, spoiler alert: He didn’t stay dead!)
Reflect or Discuss
- What part of this story stands out the most and why?
- How does this story change the way you understand God’s love for you?
- How can you live your life today in a way that shows God’s love to someone else?