The death that is being spoken of here is eternal seperation from God. When Adam and Eve sin, they did not experience physical death right then, but God put them out of the garden and did not walk with them anymore. But in his Love and mercy for us he gave them/us a way to be right, we just have to accept the free gift.
Why does sin bring seperation from God? Because God is not only loving and merciful, he is also just and holy. He cannot be in the prescene of or look upon sin. He cannot tolerate sin in any form or degree. You find this out by reading his word:) Why do you think Jesus said on the cross "Father why hast thou forsaken me." It was because Jesus had become sin. His becoming sin was also the worst part of his death to him, not the pain and suffering of the crucifixtion, but having to become sin.
We should all just be glad that this just and holy God loved us enough to give us a way out of being seperated from him, and truly amazed and grateful that he did it by HIS OWN SON. That is a love that is hard to imagine for me, being a mother. I could not let my son die for a bunch of slime balls, like God did for us. Could you?
Becky
This was also an act of love and mercy. Gen 3:22 shows that God did not want man to be seperated for him eternally, or live forever with the curse, so he put them out of the garden lest they eat of the fruit of the tree of life and live forever. Which under the circumstances they were in would have been terrible.
Becky
Another explanation offered is that he was reciting a psalm as prayer (remember?), and that his hearers would know it by its first line.
In this case it is Psalm 22, which is quite interesting to read with this in mind.
I'm not sure I can answer your question. But one thing I do know. Mary did. Mary let Her Son die for a bunch of slimeballs. This is precisely why Catholics honor her so.