The death of a mere man, a prophet, would not be enough to pay for the sins of the world. God the Son's death as a sacrificial lamb would be. Hence He was called by John the Baptist "The Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world". Psalm 49 says: "No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him- the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough- that he should live on forever and not see decay". Yet Jesus says in the New Testament that he gives his life "as a ransom for many". How can He give His life as a ransom for anyone if He was only a man?