John 3:16, was it truly a sacrifice?

Question

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Why do Christians put so much emphasis on this verse? Was he not created to die for the world's sins? How big of a sacrifice was it really? Wasn't Jesus going straight back to heaven to be with God? I guess what I'm asking is if Jesus was going back to heaven to be with God, then why do Christians think God made such a sacrifice?

I know this sounds rude, but I am honestly just wanting to know your opinions on this.

Mainworry, fortunately, it is not for you to say who belongs in heaven.

Answer 1

Because God in his nature doesn't suffer pain and mortality like we do. Jesus was totally human, meaning he suffered pain, lost friends, was betrayed, etc etc etc, and ultimately died. God tasted what its like to be moral, and regardless of the fact that he rose from the dead, death still hurts. The big sacrifice though is leaving the security of heaving and going to a place where people think they have power over you, and where if they punch you - it hurts. That is the sacrifice.

Answer 2

Jesus didn't have much of a choice, huh? Fulfilling a divine purpose lays on the pressure a little thick, dontcha think? I mean, if you think of it in the way that the scripture ACTUALLY puts it, that God volunteered Jesus for the job and that Jesus just went along for the ride, powerless to interfere with the chain of events foreseen and ordained by his "heavenly" father, then HE didn't make a sacrifice at all... and additionally, since Jesus is just an extension of God (that whole Trilogy thing), it's not like it was such a big deal. God belongs in heaven, so he gets shot straight back into heaven. No mystery there. Death > heaven. What's a bit of fleshy suffering to a DEITY?

Answer 3

Well, I understand where you're coming from, but you have to understand that it was quite the sacrifice. Even though, yes, Jesus would return to heaven, the Father still knew the pain, torture, and agony his Son would go through. Any parent could tell you that would be a tremendous sacrifice. Jesus left a throne in a place that was absolutely glorious, to become something as lowly as we are. That's a pretty significant sacrifice.

Answer 4

Well first of all Jesus was created yes to die for our sins however he was part man and spirit and the man felt the same things we feel and I don't know about you but watching my son being beat to death literally and nailed to a cross would be a pretty heavy sacrifice the ultimate and not only that He did it for us not Himself he did it so we could have life and I thank him. You know it is sad that we just don't get it. Who do people think created us?Aliens ? Evolution? Whatever! I hope that we are all ready to be judged by the Lord almighty one day for our beliefs because they are trully selfish.I know their is a God and noone can tell me otherwise, and I'm not crazy I just know in my heart the truth and I pray for this nation.

Answer 5

ok, first of all, Jesus was not created to die for our sins. Second of all, think of the one person you love most of all (if you have someone), then, think of somebody that has done something so incredably bad that he/she deserves to die. Now, even if you knew that your loved one would come back. Would you send him/her to suffer (and I mean suffer) and go through all the agony Jesus went thru for all that time, to save that one person? I don't think you would. The beauty of it is, that if only ONE person was the one that needed redeption, Jesus would've still done it. AND He didn't just come to die for us (which He did as a human, he didn't have any "powers" or "special things" as many people think) He also came here to show us His love and that only He brings us hope. You should think about that. And before turning your back on Jesus, think of how HIS back looked when He was crucified.

Answer 6

If you were God, used to living in heaven, and you had to come down to earth for 33 years, take up residence in one of the most backward and messed up parts of the world, be constantly pursued by the forces of evil, be hated and betrayed by your own people, and finally, brutally killed, what would you call it?

A vacation?!?

Answer 7

well have you been beating and bruised..Have you been spit on was you hung on a cross and put there to die..I can't understand how you could not see that as a big sacrifice..The Isrealites had to offer lambs up for sins,,but when Jesus died on the cross they no longer had to do that because Jesus died for everyone..Do you relieze how many sins are out there,billions and billions of people He died for..That to me is the most important scripture,,God loved us so much,,He gave His only son...for us..

Answer 8

I'm not even going to address what Christ did for us, because if you truly feel that way, you do not belong in heaven.

But understand what, (believeth in him) truly means. It means you believe He is God, creator of all things, a Savior, a righteous and fair God, a loving God, a Father Who wants our love, a God Who wants no one to perish, a God that wrote us a letter called the Bible, and a God Who paid the price so we can be with Him.

(believeth in him) means so much more than just believing there was a Jesus Christ.

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Answer 9

You are right, the Crucified One knew there is life after death. He chose to become a symbol of this knowledge. Sacrifice means; to make sacred.----------------This guy above me is a little distracting...

Answer 10

I still find it shocking that they / we all destroyed him, someone so perfect ..

I still feel punished by it.

I still feel so much sadness that I can weep as if it happened today.

I still cannot accept the way we are today but I understand it.