Podcast Summary: Christ With Coffee On Ice
Host: Ally Yost
Episode: "Why Did Jesus Have to Die"
Date: September 20, 2024
Overview of the Episode
In this heartfelt and vulnerable episode, Ally Yost delves deeply into the central question of Christianity: "Why did Jesus have to die?" With characteristic rawness, hope, and encouragement, she unpacks the scriptural and spiritual significance of Jesus’s death. Ally facilitates communion, discusses the meaning of the gospel, explores the Old and New Testament context, and reflects on the implications of free will—all while fostering a communal spirit among listeners, encouraging gratitude, and urging practical steps in sharing the gospel.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Opening Reflections and Communion (00:00–12:45)
- Ally openly shares her nervousness and reverence in approaching this weighty topic, stating:
“It’s probably the most important topic when it comes to our existence here on Earth, and it’s one that could be spoken about for… infinity and beyond.” (01:50)
- She emphasizes seeking God’s guidance for each episode, wanting to be obedient to what she believes God wants shared.
- The significance of communion: Ally invites listeners to join her in taking communion as a special act of gratitude and remembrance for Jesus’s sacrifice.
- She offers a prayer over the episode and communion, asking God for clarity and open hearts:
“I cannot do this alone. I cannot find the words by myself. God, I need you to communicate this…” (06:00)
What is the Gospel? (12:45–19:40)
- Definition: The word gospel comes from the Greek ‘euangelion’ meaning “good news”.
- The gospel is the message that Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection brought the reign of God to earth, offering salvation from judgement.
- The gospel is unique because it is both a message and a living example through Jesus.
- Jesus’s dual nature as fully man and fully God allows Him to be the ultimate sacrifice and the perfect expression of God’s love.
“He willingly came here knowing his ultimate job was to make all the wrongs of the world, all of our sins, and make it right by him taking the death that honestly we all deserved.” (15:30)
Why Did Jesus Have to Die? (19:40–41:40)
- Origin of sin: Traces necessity for Jesus’s sacrifice back to Adam and Eve’s fall in Genesis. Sin entered humanity through their disobedience, leading to separation from God.
- Old Testament sacrifices: Animal sacrifices were part of atonement practices, but they didn’t entirely remove guilt or shame, nor did they grant full access to God’s presence.
“People were actually still dealing with guilt of their mistakes and their sin. They weren’t fully freed from it.” (22:10)
- Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice:
- Jesus’s death replaces continual sacrifices, covering sin and shame once and for all.
- His crucifixion—painful and public—exposes and covers not just sin but its shame.
- Quote:
“He covered not only with his death, our sin, but the shame that comes with it too, in the way that he was crucified.” (24:20)
Access to God: Veil Torn (Special Note) (30:00–34:30)
- Before Jesus, only priests could enter God’s presence—and only once per year—because of God’s holiness.
- Jesus’s death literally and spiritually tore the veil separating humanity from God, granting all believers direct access through the Holy Spirit.
“We all have the ability to access the spirit of God through Christ Jesus … That alone should be enough gratitude for us to be like, wow, God, I am never going to take for granted the opportunity of just being able to be in your presence whenever I want.” (33:50)
- Ally reminds listeners how extraordinary this access is compared to ancient times.
The Problem of Sin and the Purpose of Sacrifice (41:40–51:20)
- Human beings are fundamentally separated from God by sin, incapable of returning to Him on their own.
- Scripture required that sacrifices for sin be “spotless”, symbolizing purity—fulfilled perfectly in Jesus, the “Spotless Lamb”.
“Even the most perfect, blemish-free animal that was sacrificed was not enough for our sins. It wasn’t working. And so God said, okay, then I will give my literal, one and only Son, who is blameless, who is spotless, who is perfect.” (47:50)
The Depth of God’s Love (51:20–55:50)
- Jesus’s sacrifice was an act of pure love, not condemnation.
- By dying once for all, Jesus covers all sin—past, present, future:
“Every single sin that’s ever been committed or will be committed in the world was covered with one thing. And that was the punishment that Jesus took on the cross.” (54:20)
- Resurrection demonstrates God’s triumph over death and the offer of eternal life.
Why Free Will Matters (55:50–1:06:00)
- Addressing, “Why did God allow the possibility of sin?”: Free will is essential for genuine love.
- Without the option for wrongdoing, love would be robotic; choosing God is meaningful because it is a choice.
“There is so much more beauty in [love] rather than if it was the only option … free will is actually so beautiful because that’s actually what makes love love.” (1:02:30)
- Sin was not part of God's original plan but entered through choice; yet God redeems this through Christ.
Why Only Jesus? (1:06:00–1:13:00)
- Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life”—the only path to true restoration with God.
- Freedom and transformation found only in Jesus is “not just belief, it’s truth, because of the proof.”
“The only reason that Jesus is very much real today … is because we see it today. We see evidence of the name of Jesus holding so much power that people actually receive physical healing to this day.” (1:10:10)
- Testimonies and the transformation of believers are cited as undeniable evidence.
Recap: What Was Accomplished Through Jesus’s Death (1:13:00–1:16:30)
- Immediate, continual access to God’s presence.
- Cancellation of sin, guilt, and shame.
- A new example of God’s love and how to love others.
- The opportunity for eternal life and freedom.
- Ally emphasizes gratitude and encourages listeners to see the value in Jesus’s sacrifice.
Removing Guilt and Embracing Joy (1:16:30–1:22:30)
- Ally addresses feelings of unworthiness or guilt that can arise when reflecting on Jesus’s death.
“He wants freedom for us. He says, no, I did this so that you could receive freedom, not more guilt.” (1:17:10)
- Jesus’s sacrifice was personal—done for each individual joyfully:
“He did it willingly because he knew that in that short amount of suffering … it was going to restore all of his kids, give us all freedom, and we get to live in eternity with him. So yeah, it was worth it.” (1:21:10)
- Calls for continual gratitude and the sharing of the gospel as celebration of this “good news”.
Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments
- “I can say that because I’ve felt it and I’ve seen it in my own life, my own heart. Like, the way that I speak, the way that I operate, the way that I treat others is so different now because of the name of Jesus.” — Ally Yost (1:11:40)
- “The presence of God, the Holy Spirit is accessible to us at all times … we all have the ability to access the spirit of God through Christ Jesus.” — Ally Yost (33:30)
- “God did not send Jesus to be this perfect man to put us to shame and make us feel guilty, but to give us a physical representation in human form of how to live and for us to actually be saved through him.” (51:40)
- “He did it so that we could live with him for all of eternity … it wasn’t to condemn us. It was to save us from our sin and give us freedom, which is why the gospel is actually good news.” (1:20:40)
- “Can we do something cool today? Can we show somebody how cool Jesus is? … Why don’t we share a little fun fact that we learned today with somebody? Let’s spread his love. Let’s spread his encouragement, his patience, his kindness.” (1:22:00)
Timeline of Important Segments
- 00:00–12:45 — Introduction, openness about nervousness, setting intention, prayer, and communion
- 12:45–19:40 — Defining the gospel and Jesus’s mission
- 19:40–34:30 — The reason for Jesus’s death, Old Testament sacrifices, the veil torn
- 41:40–51:20 — Nature of sin, Jesus as the “Spotless Lamb”, reconciliation with God
- 51:20–55:50 — Love of God shown through the cross and resurrection
- 55:50–1:06:00 — Free will and why God allows choice
- 1:06:00–1:13:00 — Why only Jesus brings true freedom; evidence in testimonies
- 1:13:00–1:16:30 — Recap and the meaning of Jesus’s death
- 1:16:30–1:22:30 — Letting go of guilt, embracing joy, and spreading the gospel
Final Thoughts
Ally closes the episode with warmth and encouragement, inviting listeners to remain grateful, share what they've learned, and remember that Jesus’s sacrifice was an act of love and joy rather than condemnation. The episode serves as both a theological exploration and a practical call to live out and share the transformative message of Jesus.
Actionable Takeaway:
“Can we show somebody how cool Jesus is? … Let’s spread his love.” (1:22:00)
For anyone who ever wondered “Why did Jesus have to die?”, this episode offers clarity, depth, and a heartfelt invitation to know and experience the freedom and love found in Christ.