What are the benefits of sexual reproduction compared to asexual reproduction?

In terms of benefits, it depends what you mean by benefits. Sexual reproduction produces far more genetic diversity amongst a population and broadens the gene pool so to speak. Therefore there is less chance that a disease or disaster would eradicate an entire population (if asexual production took place the entire population may be the same genetically) as per the principles of natural selection. So the main advantage of sexual reproduction is genetic diversity. Hope that helps