Why did Jesus die for us?
Why did Jesus die for us? What was Jesus getting out of it? Remember, he already had a community of joy, glory, and love. He didn't need us. So what benefit did he derive from this? Not a thing. And that means that when he came into the world and died on the cross to deal with our sins, he was circling and serving us. "I have given them the glory that you gave me" (John 17). He began to do with us what he had been doing with the Father and the Spirit from all eternity. He centers upon us, loving us without benefit to himself. (emphasis mine)
Tim Keller in The Reason for God
When I read this it hit home. In my limited understanding, I've always pictured God getting some benefit out of us. For instance, the Westminster catechism describes the main purpose for human existence is to glorify God. In my mind that means that God's benefit is being glorified by us. Or the fact that the biblical story is about God redeeming a people for himself. In my mind that means that God's benefit is getting a people for his own possession (this is, in part, very biblical by the way).
The problem with these statements is that I have been finding an intrinsic value in myself and other Christians. How is this a problem? In a subtle way I've been believing that God's love is, in part, a self serving love. As if He's getting something out of the deal. Oh, the arrogance of that statement!
The realization that Jesus already had the perfect community of joy, glory, and love means that he needed nothing. This also means that His sacrifice was one of pure love and in no way self serving.
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3 comments:
Hey Matt,
Interesting thought and although I agree that Jesus did come to serve us, I don't agree with what Tim Keller had to say. I would say that if God DID center on us without benefit to Himself, He would be contradicting Himself. For us, when we focus on ourselves it is self serving, but God is not held to our standard. For God NOT to focus on Himself (including Christ and the Holy Spirt) would be the greatest evil possible. I go back to Colossians 1:15-20 which states that "He is the firstborn over all creation...all things have been created through Him and FOR Him...so that in everything HE might have the supremacy". God choose to create us and to show Himself to us SO THAT He might be glorified..so that there would be others to see His greatness and His glory. Just my thoughts..what do you think?
Jon
Jon,
This is always a danger in using a quote... one pulls it out of context and expects everyone to get the same idea out of it.
The idea I was trying to get across is that God was (and is) complete in Himself. Within the Trinity was complete glory, joy, and love. He didn't lack in any of these areas. So to say that we were created for His glory can leave you with the idea that we somehow increase His glory. That's not true. While we are created FOR Him and His glory, we don't increase it. There was nothing lacking... Would you agree with this?
This is great discussion....God simply doesn't need us but rather, we need Him. Love you Matt, Mom
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