How do we know Jesus was a substitute for His people?

The biblical narrative emphasizes that Christ was apprehended and crucified as a substitute for His chosen people. This is not just a historical account, but it conveys a profound theological truth: Jesus, as God incarnate, took upon Himself the sins of those whom God has chosen to save. For instance, in John 15, Jesus states that He chose His disciples, highlighting the sovereign initiative of God in salvation. The necessity of His substitutionary atonement is rooted in the understanding that humanity is sinful and deserving of condemnation, yet Christ bore that condemnation on the cross, showcasing God's mercy and grace toward the unlovely and undeserving.