Why Did Jesus Have to Die? A Hard but Honest Christian Answer

Even as a Christian committed to defending the faith, I find this question emotionally difficult: Why did Jesus have to die? The answers you find online often sound too rehearsed. I’ve struggled with them, too.

But let’s ask—what would the alternative be?

If God created the heavens and the earth with a word (Gen 1:1), couldn't He simply say, “Let there be salvation for all”, and it would be done? Sounds easy. But would that really work?

Imagine a world where even the worst of humanity—murderers, rapists, traffickers—automatically receive forgiveness without any repentance, without justice, without change. That kind of “salvation” would be meaningless. It would be unjust. It would mock the suffering of victims and remove any need for righteousness or redemption.

So, what did God do?

From the earliest biblical times, the principle was laid down: without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins (Lev 17:11; Heb 9:22). In the Old Testament, God required a perfect, spotless lamb for sin offerings. These were not symbolic gestures—they pointed to something deeper.

That deeper fulfillment came when God Himself entered history as Jesus—the Lamb of God (John 1:29). He chose to offer Himself, once and for all, as the final sacrifice for sin (Isa 53:5; Heb 10:10). No more animal offerings. No more rituals. Just one name to call upon—Jesus—and a heart willing to repent and follow Him (Rom 10:13).

Now, on a lighter note—imagine needing to buy a lamb every time you sinned. That’s a lot of lambs! Jesus paid the ultimate cost so we wouldn’t have to. That’s grace.

So, is there any real alternative to Jesus’ death for our salvation? I can’t think of one that satisfies both justice and mercy. Can you?

If not, maybe it’s time to stop trying to find an easier way—and simply thank Him for the one way He gave us.

That’s the best explanation I’ve been able to arrive at after much thought. But if you believe there is a better alternative—one that truly accounts for both justice and forgiveness—what would that be? And more importantly, how would it work?

I’d genuinely love to hear what you think.