The death of Jesus: God’s plan or failure? What Jesus says about His death?

QUESTION:

Why do you say that the Moonists deny the work of Jesus? They claim that Jesus brought the spiritual salvation (salvation) of mankind. “Moonists deny…” this is how you interpret their words out of ignorance. The OT prophets do not say that Jesus must die and that this is God’s plan, as you interpret it. God’s plan was for Jesus to be believed and known (John 6: 28-29). But no one believed Him. If He had been known and believed, no one would have crucified Him (1 Cor. 2:8). Of course, God foresaw that if the Israelites did not believe in Jesus (that was not in His plan, because He had their share of responsibility), then Jesus would have to walk the way of cross.

This comment was posted on the article written a year ago “The origin of the moon movement“. I want to remind you that the founder and leader of the Unification Church is Sun Myung Moon, who was born in North Korea on January 6, 1920. When he was 10, his parents converted to Christianity and joined a Presbyterian church. It is said that at the age of 16 he had a vision while praying in the mountains. In that vision, the Lord Jesus was shown to him, who asked him to finish the work that He (that is, Jesus) could not accomplish. That is, Jesus would have told him that no one but he was able to do this. After “Jesus” repeated this to him several times, Moon accepted the offer.

I have said that the Moonists deny the work done by the Lord Jesus because they say that the Lord Jesus did not finish His work.

In the article “The origin of the moon movement” I quoted some Bible texts that show that the Lord Jesus finished His work and I wrote another article “The death of Jesus was not a failure” in which I showed that the death of Jesus entered in God’s plan of salvation. Because discussions on this subject have started again, the Lord has put it into my heart to write a few articles on this subject, approaching it from different perspectives. In this article I want to see what the Lord Jesus Himself says about His death.

1. In John 10:17-18 Jesus says that death and resurrection are the commandment received from the Father: 

For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it back.  No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it back. This commandment I received from My Father.” (NASB)

2. In John 12:23-24, 27, 32-33 Jesus says that death is the purpose of His coming:

But Jesus answered them by saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.  Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit…

Now My soul has become troubled; and what am I to say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour…

 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.” Now He was saying this to indicate what kind of death He was going to die.(NASB)

3. In John 16:7 Jesus tells the disciples that His death is for their good.

But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I am leaving; for if I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. (NASB)

4. Luke 24:13-27. Jesus’ disciples believed that the Lord Jesus was “the One” who would deliver Israel. But the Lord Jesus began with Moses, and with all the prophets, and showed them that He was to die.

 And then He said to them, “You foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for Christ to suffer these things and to come into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the Prophets, He explained to them the things written about Himself in all the Scriptures. (Luke 24:25-27 NASB)

5. When he prays in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Lord Jesus says that His death is God’s will:

And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39 NASB)

He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass away unless I drink from it, Your will be done.” (Matthew 26:42 NASB)

And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. (Matthew 26:44 NASB)

Translated by Ina Croitoru