The first three segments of this series, attempted to cover the deity, humanity, and virgin birth of our Savior.  We move next to the death of Jesus Christ – and not an ordinary death by many means. 

THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST IS MENTIONED MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED TWENTY TIMES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT – AND SPOKEN OF FREQUENTLY BY OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS.

The death of Jesus Christ was vicarious. Matt. 20:28 – Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.  He was God’s chosen substitute for sinners. 2 Cor. 5:21 – For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. While Christ was suffering on the cross, He was made sin for the sinner.  Only by faith in Him – are we made righteous – not with our own righteousness – but with His.

Christ died a natural death – meaning that His soul and His Spirit were separated from His body.  

John 19:31-37 –

³¹ The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

³² Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with Him.

³³ But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, they brake not His legs:

³⁴ But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

³⁵ And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.

³⁶ For these things were done, that the Scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of Him shall not be broken.

³⁷ And again another Scripture saith, They shall look on Him whom they pierced.

As much as Christ’s death was natural, it was also unnatural.  Rom. 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  His death was unnatural in that He was sinless – undeserving of death.  He had not “earned” death.  1 Pet.2:22 – Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth.  Before He could die – He had to be made sin for us. Therefore – His death was unnatural.

His death was natural, unnatural, and also – preternatural.  Meaning that God foreknew His death – it was not an afterthought – it was forethought!   Rev. 13:8 – And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship Him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

And, the best for last, His death was supernatural. 

John 10:17-18 –¹⁷  Therefore doth my Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again. ¹⁸ No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. (supernaturally) I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. (supernaturally) This commandment have I received of My Father.  

ONLY GOD IN HUMAN FORM COULD DIE A VICARIOUS, NATURAL, UNNATURAL, PRETERNATURAL, AND SUPERNATURAL DEATH

PHILIPPIANS 2:8-11

King James Version (KJV)

⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

⁹ Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:

¹⁰ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

¹¹ And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Please see our apologetics page for the first three articles in this study series.