1.28 Waarom moest Jezus zo’n gruwelijke dood sterven?

Jesus freely offered his life as an expiatory sacrifice, that is, he made reparation for our sins with the full obedience of his love unto death. This love “to the end” (John 13:1) of the Son of God reconciled all of humanity with the Father. The paschal sacrifice of Christ, therefore, redeems humanity in a way that is unique, perfect, and definitive; and it opens up for them communion with God. [CCCC 122]

The Cross on which Jesus, although innocent, was cruelly executed is the place of utmost degradation and abandonment. Christ, our Redeemer, chose the Cross so as to bear the guilt of the world and to suffer the pain of the world. So he brought the world back home to God by his perfect love.    

God could not show his love more forcibly than by allowing himself in the person of the son to be nailed to the Cross for us. Crucifixion was the most shameful and most horrible method of execution in antiquity. It was forbidden to crucify roman citizens, whatever crimes they were guilty of. Thereby God entered into the most abysmal sufferings of mankind. since then, no one can say “God does not know what I’m suffering.” [Youcat 101]

By calling his disciples to take up their cross and follow him Jesus desires to associate with his redeeming sacrifice those who are to be its first beneficiaries. [CCCC 123]

Christians should not seek suffering, but when they are confronted with unavoidable suffering, it can become meaningful for them if they unite their sufferings with the sufferings of Christ: “Christ …suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps” (1 Pet 2:21).  

Jesus said, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mk 8:34). Christians have the task of alleviating suffering in the world. Nevertheless, there will still be suffering. In faith we can accept our own suffering and share the suffering of others. In this way human suffering becomes united with the redeeming love of Christ and thus part of the divine power that changes the world for the better. [Youcat 102]

When Jesus calls himself “God’s only-begotten Son”(or “only Son”, Jn 3:16) and Peter and others bear witness to this, the expression means that of all men only Jesus is more than a man and stands in a unique relationship to God, his Father.  

In many passages of the New Testament (Jn 1:14,18; 1 Jn 4:9; Heb 1:2, and so on) Jesus is called “son”. At his Baptism and his Transfiguration, the voice from heaven calls Jesus “my beloved son”. Jesus discloses to his disciples his unique relationship to his heavenly Father: “All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows the son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the son and any one to whom the son chooses to reveal him” (Mt 11:27). The fact that Jesus Christ really is God’s son comes to light at the resurrection. [Youcat 74]