Christians: A Question

[Zen Badger]

If you look at the theological literature there are a number of ways of looking at it. Typically you see something along the lines of Jesus willingly suffering death in order to effect some sort of change in the fate of humanity because of the "joy set before him" and because there is, "no greater love than to lay down your life for a friend." (Two verses usually used to describe the reason.) Academically speaking the most honest answer would be something akin to, "don't know" since there are such a variety of opinions in modern theology. The only real consensus is that Jesus acted voluntarily and with love in order to restore something amiss with creation. Beyond that there are an infinite number of metaphors people use to describe it and conclusions drawn from it. The use of the word "sacrafice" isn't even agreed upon. There's a great deal of subtlety in the various positions, I feel I could be more helpful if you were more specific about what it is you wanted to know. I know I'm being a tad vague here but asking a theologian that question is like asking, "what is the meaning of everything?" It is a very good question though.

I hope you can answer this question then.

Wherein lies the sacrifice? When jesus got nailed to a tree he knew that he was destined to go straight to heaven to sit by gods side.

So as far as I can see it wasn't much of a sacrifice at all.

No... let me rephrase that, there was no sacrifice, period.

A sacrifice is something you give up knowing that this is the cost you bear for some greater outcome.

But there was no giving up of anything on Jc's part.

It's like giving up your flat in Bolton to go live in a Mansion in Monte Carlo.

Now if jesus had given up his place in heaven to take the place of some one in hell. That would've been a sacrifice.

So far all the christians on this forum have signally failed to answer this question, maybe you can.