[Rudder]

you'd have to wonder how smart God really is. Right?

Well, I have always thought there was much more to Christ's ordeal (i.e., that he was more than a stand-in) than what you have told me, but I wasn't sure of my interpretation. I thank you for responding to my question, but, although I'm not at all sure, still I think there's more to Christ than his being a mere whipping boy for humanity.

[AmericaUnited]

Yes, here's the short answer. I'll let Jesus speak for himself.

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. "

It's also best if you read the what,why,when yourself directly also.

[a history buff]

If you read Genesis, you'll soon read of man's first sin and the fruit of that forbidden tree, that is of original sin, which sundered humankind from its creator, and - so Christian theology - closed heaven off, until Christ came, and by dying, ransomed humankind and redeemed our sinfulness, allowing us to make peace with our creator.