by Angela Moreno

I have a very curious mind and set out to understand why people believe what they do. Voodoo and Witchcraft- I’ve studied about them. Buddhism and Islam- I want to understand why they think and believe the way they do. Many Christians think it is ungodly to even read about these subjects, but how can I convince someone that following Jesus is right if I don’t understand what they whole-heartedly believe?

Even though I strive to understand the beliefs of other religions, the one area I am still struggling with is why people believe there is no God or that He is a mean and vengeful God, not a loving God. The concept of no God is a mystery to me.  Even Satan believes there is a God; Satan sees God on a daily basis accusing us of every sin we’ve ever committed.

While studying why people think this way, one question keeps coming up as “proof” against God and His loving ways: Why would a loving God kill His own Son?

For someone who questions the love of God to understand the why’s behind this, they have to understand that Jesus always had a choice.  He could have changed His mind at any time, but Jesus’ love for us was too strong and His devotion to God’s will was even stronger.

There is Biblical proof that Jesus was always at God’s side and was sent from Heaven to fulfill the prophecies of His sacrifice.  The verses support the Biblical proof of Jesus’s pre-existence before He came to earth as a man to die for our sins:

• John 17:5: Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.
• John 3:13: No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven.
• John 8:56-58: Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.” The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!” 
• Galatians 4:4-5: But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.
• Genesis 1:26: Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. 

These scriptures show us that Jesus always was. He resided in Heaven with His Father and was sent to the earth to fulfill His destiny, to save the world from their sins. Jesus always had a choice in the matter. Free-will is given to every person and was given even to the Angels. Remember Satan’s fall? He made the choice not to follow God.

At any given time, Jesus could have made the same choice that Satan made. Even Satan knew that Jesus could say “no” if He wanted to and call His Father to help Him at any given time: Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’ (Matthew 4:5-6).

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus cried out in anguish: “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. (Luke 22:42-43). And on the cross, the thief hanging next to Jesus also challenged to save Himself if He was who He said He was: One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” (Luke 23:39).

At any given time, Jesus could have said enough. In the Garden of Gethsemane, it seemed like He may have been close to calling it quits, but He still went through with the plan. Why? Because He loved us so much that He was willing to die for us so that we may spend eternity with God.

So my answer to those who believe God “killed” His own Son is that He didn’t kill His own Son. God’s Son, Jesus Christ, chose to die for us of His own free-will and always had a choice in the matter. This was a sacrifice of pure love not a mean Father “killing” His son.

Jesus said in John 15:13: There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Jesus laid down His life for His friends, that would be us. He did this of His own free-will. If He had to do it all over again, Jesus would do it again because He loves us so much that He wants to spend eternity with us. 

Don’t always believe everything you hear or read about God. Do your own research and use the scriptures to find your answers. The scriptures will always lead to the truth about God and who He is. God loves us and always wants the best for us.