If Jesus’ death were simply a tragic event that ended the life of an ordinary man, then you would be right—it wouldn’t make much difference to us today.

But what if Jesus was more than a mere man? What if He was actually who the Bible says He is—the divine Son of God, sent from heaven to save us from our sins? What if His death wasn’t simply a tragic accident but part of God’s eternal plan to make possible our salvation? I think you’d agree that that would make all the difference.

And that is exactly what happened when Jesus died on the cross. Yes, from a human point of view Jesus’ death was simply another tragedy—but from God’s point of view it accomplished far more than we could ever imagine. The Bible puts it this way: “This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge” (Acts 2:23). In God’s plan, by His death on the cross Jesus became the full and final sacrifice for our sins.

Just as the men who signed our nation’s Declaration of Independence over 200 years ago accomplished something that is still with us, so—in a far greater way—what Jesus did on the cross 2,000 years ago is still with us. Why did He die? He died because God loves us and He wants us to spend eternity with Him in heaven. Don’t turn away from Him, but by faith ask Christ to come into your life today—and He will.