It was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and die because only such a bloody death on the cross melts our pride and destroys our efforts at self-help and self-salvation. It’s only when you and I are brought to our knees, when we take the attitude of that tax collector in Jesus’ story who couldn’t even look up, but just began to pound his chest and say, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner” that we receive God’s grace and forgiveness. We must let all our self-help and self-salvation go in order to find grace for ourselves.
