Why was Jesus's death on the cross a success?

Answer 1

What makes you think it was a failure? Jesus was born for that very purpose - his mission was clear - that he should die as a sacrifice for sin and on the third day rise again. Jesus made this very clear on numerous occasions throughout his ministry recorded throughout the gospels.

Put simply, the Cross was necessary for the once-and-for-all forgiveness of sin. Since humans first decided to go their own way and not rely on God, the relationship between us and God was broken. Sin caused this rift as God, being perfect, could not come into contact with our sin. In the Old Testament they tried to atone for their sins by sacrificing animals like lambs. This had limited effect as atonement had to be repeated over and over. Instead, God hiimself, in human form, needed to be the 'lamb' of sacrifice. Jesus was that 'Lamb of God' who had to sacrifice himself so that forgiveness - through his name - could be obtained for ever. The relationship between God and humans could be restored. However, as Jesus was God in human form he could not stay dead, but rose again on the Sunday after the Friday of the crucifixion.

There may be some confusion about the words Jesus used on the cross that leads to the misunderstanding of the question: 'My God, My God,why have you forsaken me', and 'It is finished'. The first comes from one of the psalms, and that was the moment when God (as Father) turned himself away from Jesus for the first time in Jesus' ministry, as he took the sins of everyone on his shoulders. Jesus, taking those sins, could not be gazed on by a perfect Father, and so for the first time, he was alone. The second phrase 'It is finished' was not the cry of anguish of a dying man.The original Greek word used is better translated now into a triumphant: "it is accomplished!!" - in other words Jesus knew his mission and his whole purpose (apart from the resurrection and ascension) had succeeded and was now over.

So far from being a 'failure' the cross was the triumphant culmination of the mission of this God-man Jesus - a mission that still affects us even today.

----_Everything_above_is_true.">---- Everything above is true.However, for some people of Jesus' time His death was a failure. For those looking for a political Messiah, a savior that would become King over the Jews and conquer Rome, Jesus' death ended all their hope. Many believe this was the motive behind Judas' betrayal of Christ, who saw Jesus' death coming and became distraught. To this day most Jews are still looking for a Messiah to establish His kingdom on earth and rule as King.

The irony is that this hope will come about by the same Jesus that was crucified 2,000 years ago. Scripture says that everyone alive at the time will see Jesus coming on the clouds. The Jews specifically will mourn terribly with the knowledge that along with so many of the Old Testament prophets, their Messiah was also killed rather than being accepted for who He was. At the time of His coming He will establish Jerusalem as His capital, and will rule over earth and heaven and all the remaining promises to His people, the Jews, will be finally fulfilled. Christ had defeated sin, death and the grave on the Cross for those who would trust in Him. Forgiveness comes to the believer through what He did on the Cross: "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision (lack of separation from wrong doing) of your flesh, hath he quickened (made alive) together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances (the Law) that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross." Colossians 2:13,14.

As a believer, one has gained the victory over sin and death though the Cross of Christ: "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:54-57

Christ did not stay on the Cross, nor in the grave, but He arose and lives forevermore.

This was indicated back in Genesis 3:15, where the seed of woman (the virgin born Christ) would bruise the Serpent's head (Satan's), but Satan would bruise Christ's heal (temporarily in death). Regarding the "seed" of woman, man has the seed, but Christ was sent into the womb of Mary, born without sin.

Since Christ was without sin, He could pay for our sins. The scripture says, " For He (God) hath made Him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." 2 Corinthians 5:21. This was the purpose and the victory of the Cross of Christ. His Resurrection sealed the victory.

Answer 2

The actual death of Jesus was a failure for the people who wanted him dead. It did not accomplish the purposes for which it was intended, namely ending his teaching. His subsequent resurrection was the spark that powered the spread of Christianity.