Why did Jesus have to die? He had the power to forgive before the cross

Why did Jesus have to die if he had the power to forgive before He died?

Jesus forgave sins before the cross
I was reading Matthew 9 about the paralyzed man, Jesus saw their faith and told the man his sins were forgiven and to get up! Then the man rose up and went to his house.

It’s a story I’ve read over and over throughout the years, but this time I had questions.

First how did Jesus see their faith ? Is it something you can feel like sadness or love? I’ve felt those emotions through other people, but to see faith?

And the bigger question I had ..wait a minute….

Could Jesus already forgive? I know he forgave, I read all the stories, but now it hit me differently.

 I thought He died on the cross to forgive us.

I wrote the question down in my Bible like I normally do, because most of the time I eventually find the answer and come back to it with scripture to calm my curious self. 

Why did Jesus have to die if all he had to do was say I forgive you and sins were forgiven?

We have redemption through his blood, even forgiveness of sins Col 1:14

So I momentarily thought, why did he need to die if he already had the power to forgive us?  Why did he need to die like this if he already had the power to forgive? Isn’t that what the cross is about -Just forgiving us? 

The second I asked this in my mind and wrote down the question (I always write my questions in the Bible ) — my mind was flooded with scripture that answered my question .

His death was much more than forgiveness
He broke through a barrier that existed and that trapped His people with no way out … In fact, I was reading in Isaiah , the verse was referring to Lucifer (Is 14). It said he was not releasing the captive, he refused to let them go. There were also women hunting souls and trapping them and trapping them in sadness. I may have gone a bit off topic here because I’ve been deep in study about cages, traps, bonds, captivity and snares in the bible, but Jesus came for this reason: to release the captives , to open the prisons, to bring people out of darkness, out of dungeons, to break away their chains.

And we’re not talking about the dead- we’re talking about the living.

Although I don’t have all the answers because something beyond amazing was going on in the Spiritual world -this is what we know :

His death on the cross accomplished amazing triumphs :

• He conquered death-
• He put to shame the demonic realm.
• He fulfilled prophecy
• He began a new way. a new covenant
• He made a way for us to go to the Father 
• Saved Sinners 1 TIm 2:15
• He gave us access to the Throne – the Holy of Holies, the Secret Place of the Most High
• He gave us the Holy Spirit , whom the Father sent in the name of Jesus John 7: 38-39
• He made a way for His Spirit to live in us, to guide us, comfort us, lead us 
• He sealed us for salvation
• He covered us in His protective Grace
• He made us partakers  of the inheritance of the saints in light
• He delivered us from the power of darkness and translates us into the kingdom of His dear Son
• He made peace through the blood of the cross to reconcile all things to himself on earth or in heaven
• We are buried with Him in baptism and risen with him through the faith
• He blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, and nailed it to this cross
• He made a public show of principalities and powers triumphing over them
• He made your life hidden in Him – protected and sealed for eternity
• That through His death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil and deliver those in bondage through fear of death all their life
• He freed those in bondage and captivity
• He obtained eternal redemption for us
• He became the mediator of the new covenant
• We have been planted together in the likeness of his death, and we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection, knowing that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed and no longer serve sin. Romans 6
• He delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of His Son Col 1:14 in whom we have redemption through His blood and forgiveness of sins
• He reconciled all things to Himself whether on earth o in heaven, having made peace through the blood of the cross
• He wiped away the handwriting of requirements that was against us Col 2:14 and nailed it to the cross
• That He might be crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God might taste death for everyone- being made a little lower than the angels and suffering in death
• He became the Captain of our Salvation, perfect through suffering – bringing many sons to glory Heb 2
• He broke down the middle wall of partition between us and making peace reconciling us both to God in one body by the cross and having slain the enemy
• He gave us access by one Spirit to the Father
• He went to proclaim to the Spirits in Prison- being dead to flesh but alive in Spirit, I think He preached to every Spirit since the days of Noah. Some versions debate whether He preached or proclaimed . There is debate whether or not a second chance was given, but He led captivity captive, He disarmed rulers..
• He made a way for us to be with him eternally
• He made a way we can serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear, as we receive a kingdom that cannot be moved or shaken
• He, our Shepherd, became our Passover Lamb, without blemish or spot
• He cleansed us from all our sins by His blood
• He is the first begotten of the dead, the prince of the kings of the earth.
• He became the chief cornerstone, in whom we are built together and grow into a holy Temple for a habitation of God
• He grafted Gentiles into the people of God – now heirs of Abraham by faith, children of the promise, as we cry out Abba Abba Romans 11:17-18, Gal3:7,3:29.Eph 3:6, Eph 2:12-19.
• He became our intercessor- He lives to make intercession for the uttermost and able to save them who come to God through Him Heb 8:25
• He set us free! If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed!
• He made a way to release the prisoners who had been held in captivity , before this Satan refused to free them(Isaiah)
• He died once for all of us – paying the price for all our sins 
• He disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross (see eph 6, Col2:15) 
• The spiritual powers lost their weapons 
• He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
• He gave His life as a ransom for us Mt 20
• He did this to present every man perfect in Him 
• He shed His blood for many for the remission of sins
• To present us perfect and blameless before Him Col 1
• He redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us – He came under God”s righteous judgement for sin, putting aside His shame for the joy and glory that lay ahead for Him Gal 3, Heb 12
• His blood made us- and still makes us – overcomers rev 12
• He poured out His soul into death Is 53
• He made intercession for transgressors 
• He brought us peace -The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him(Isaiah 53:5)

And for the joy set before Him. He endured the shame. 

How Amazing is that! Sometimes we can take his death for granted… but He was a warrior for you – disarming and putting to shame the demonic realm of rulers and entities in high places . There’s just so much more here than we can imagine.

Yet in all this, you still need to be aware – there are traps and snares these demonic powers set for believers. Stay watchful, grounded and steadfast in your faith. Remember, scripture warns us that there no longer is any more sacrifice for willful, ongoing sins, and God is not mocked. Heb10, Gal 6

1- For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility… by setting aside in His flesh the law with its commands and regulations.(Ephesians 2:14–15)

2-For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.(Ephesians 2:18)

3-Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus…(Hebrews 10:19)

4-There is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.(Galatians 3:28)

5-You who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.(Ephesians 2:13)

6-Christ died for sins once and for all, the righteous for the unrighteous 1 Pet. 3:18

7-He gave his life as a ransom in the place of many Mark 10:45

8-Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (Galatians 3:13).

If this all sounds like foolishness, Scripture says that the message of the cross appears that way to those who are perishing. Yet,I know without a doubt that Christ died and rose again. How is your faith? Do you find yourself questioning it?

The world and the words around us, especially social media can become toxic and confusing. It’s important you guard your heart, soul, and mind to stay focused. Be in God’s word so you don’t fall back , backslide, fall from grace or become deceived by the foolishness and false teaching around us. Not everyone who says they are a Christian is a follower of Christ, be careful because the traps set for you are subtle and hidden. Please take time every day to be with God and in His Word.

I know I haven’t posted in a while but my notes and studies seem unending and are far too long to post! I have many pages and notes on traps and snares of enemy and other subjects I’m still working through. This question I posted today  just popped up yesterday and of course there are many more verses pertaining to this,(share if you have more!) This felt like just enought to post and share for now. Thank you to all my followers, and those around the world who stop by to read God’s word. May your eyes be enlightened, may your understanding be increased and may your grow each day in holiness and into the Image of Christ, Our Savior, Our Redeemer. God bless you!

Here’s a link to a previous post on a vision I had, I often remember these things and it increases my faith even more (scroll down to end of post): Joseph or Arimathea

When I survey the Wonderous Cross – Christ’s sacrifice for our sins

Why did Jesus have to die? This leads us deeper than forgiveness alone. Scripture reveals a Mighty Savior- our Great Redeemer -who not only forgives us of sin, but defeated powers, darkness, death; released captives; set us free; broke chains; broke open the prisons; set to shame the principalities; opened a way to eternal life and access to the throne of God – gasp! and there’s even more! The cross changed humanity, changed eternity, changed the world and He changes lives. He did it all on the cross – and He did it for you.