Yes — Jesus chose to suffer crucifixion because He loved mankind and willingly gave Himself to settle the sin problem and purchase salvation.
Les Feldick teaches that Christ had to die to settle the sin problem, but He could have rejected that path; He did not, because of His motivating love (Clip2). Les also stresses that this was no ordinary crucifixion — the Creator God Himself was on the cross bearing the sin of the whole human race and receiving God's wrath (Clips1, 3).
Philippians 2:5-8 — This passage directly describes Christ's voluntary self-humbling and obedience to the death of the cross.
2 Corinthians 5:21 — This verse explains the substitutionary reason for Christ's death: He became sin for us.
Romans 15:3 — This verse shows that Christ did not please Himself but bore the reproaches aimed at God.
Scripture presents the cross as a deliberate act of humility and love. Philippians 2:5-8 says that Christ, being in the form of God, made Himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant, and humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 2 Corinthians 5:21 shows the exchange: God made Him who knew no sin to become sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Romans 15:3 adds that Christ did not please Himself but bore the reproaches that were aimed at God. Together these verses show that His death was a voluntary, substitutionary sacrifice — not an accident or a defeat.
Les Feldick consistently teaches that Christ chose crucifixion because He loved mankind. In Clip2 he says, "Why did Christ die? Because He loved mankind. He had to die in order to settle the sin problem, but He could have rejected it. He could have said, 'No,' but He didn't." In Clip4 he repeats that the holy, sinless God of creation became flesh and died on a Roman cross simply because He loved mankind. Les also emphasizes in Clip3 that this was not just another crucifixion; the One on the cross was the Creator God Himself, and God poured out all His wrath for the sin of the whole human race on Him. Les points out that the crucifixion itself was awful and a curse, not the beautiful image we often make it (Clip1). He also sees a reason in the method of death itself: a person cannot crucify himself, so being crucified with Christ is entirely a work of God on our behalf (Clip5). Finally, he stresses the deep personal nature of the sacrifice — Christ did not just die for humanity as an umbrella; He died for every individual, and if you were the only person on earth, He still would have gone through the work of the cross (Clip6).
No. In Clip2, Les Feldick explains that Christ had to die to settle the sin problem, but He could have rejected that path. He could have said no, but He did not, and He chose the cross out of His motivating love for mankind. Clip4 reinforces that the Creator God willingly walked the streets of Palestine and then suffered a Roman cross simply because He loved mankind.
Les offers one practical reason: a person cannot crucify himself. Since our identification with Christ involves being crucified with Him, the cross is a picture that this death work is something we cannot accomplish — it is totally, wholly, and completely a work of God on our behalf (Clip5). He also emphasizes that the uniqueness of this particular crucifixion is not the physical method alone but the identity of the One dying: the Creator God Himself, bearing the sin of all humanity and receiving God's wrath (Clips1, 3).
No. In Clip6, Les says that if you had been the only person on earth, Christ would still have gone through the work of the cross. The sacrifice was personal, not just a blanket over the human race. Christ died for every individual.
Clip7 reminds us that before He even reached the cross, Jesus endured scourgings that made His back like hamburger, a crown of thorns pushed on His head, and His beard ripped out with flesh. Mary's last picture of her Son on the cross was awful. In Clip1, Les says the crucifixion was not beautiful; it was a curse because God laid the sin of the whole human race on Him.
The Servant Humility of Christ
Les begins with the Hebrew servant analogy and moves to Christ, showing that although Jesus was truly God, He took the form of a servant — setting the stage for His voluntary path to the cross.
The Awful Curse of the Cross
Les reminds listeners that the crucifixion was not beautiful but a curse, because God laid on Him the sins of the whole human race.
Christ's Voluntary Love
Les directly answers the question: Christ died because He loved mankind and chose to go to the cross even though He could have said no.
The Creator on the Cross
The cross was unique because the Creator God Himself took on human flesh, and on that cross God judged all the sin of the human race.
Love as the Only Motive
Les says the only reason the holy, sinless God became flesh and died on a Roman cross was because He loved mankind.
Crucifixion as God's Work
Les sees a reason for crucifixion itself: no one can crucify himself, so our death with Christ is entirely a work of God, not our own doing.
A Personal Sacrifice
Christ did not merely die for humanity as a group; He died for each individual, and He would have done it even if you were the only person on earth.
The Horrors Before the Cross
Before the cross itself, Jesus endured scourgings, a crown of thorns, and His beard pulled out — showing the extent of what He willingly took upon Himself.
Philippians 2:5-8: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
This is the central passage showing Christ's deliberate self-humbling and obedience to crucifixion.
2 Corinthians 5:21: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
This explains the substitutionary reason Christ had to die: He became sin for us.
Romans 15:3: For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
This shows that Christ's suffering was not for His own benefit but for the sins of others.
Yes. Les Feldick says Christ had to die to settle the sin problem, but He could have rejected the path. He chose the cross out of love for mankind (Clip2).
Les points to Hebrews 13 and describes the actual crucifixion as awful, not beautiful. It was a curse because God laid on Jesus the sins of the whole human race (Clip1).
No. Les says Christ did not put the human race under an umbrella; He died for every individual. Even if you were the only person on earth, Christ would still have gone through the work of the cross (Clip6).
Watch the Teaching: Did Adam Sin Out of Love? The Hebrew Servant Explained