Christ for Jews: Chapter 7 - The Atonement and the Sacrifice of Jesus

The concept of atonement holds a profound place in Jewish tradition, deeply rooted in the teachings of the Torah and the practices observed during Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. This chapter explores how Jesus’ death is the ultimate sacrifice for sin, drawing connections to the rich themes of atonement that are integral to both faiths. In doing so, we hope to present Jesus as the Lamb of God, whose sacrifice invites a transformative understanding of forgiveness and reconciliation with God.

The Jewish Understanding of Atonement

In Judaism, atonement is a vital aspect of spiritual life, serving as a means of restoring the relationship between God and humanity. Central to this process is the acknowledgment of sin and the sincere intent to repent. The Torah outlines various offerings and sacrifices, particularly during Yom Kippur, which are intended to atone for the transgressions of the people.

In Leviticus 16, the ritual of Yom Kippur is described in detail. One significant aspect is the ritual of the scapegoat, as described in Leviticus 16:10:

“But the goat on which the lot for the scapegoat fell shall be presented alive before Yahweh, to make atonement upon it, to send it out into the wilderness as the scapegoat” ( Leviticus 16:10).

This act symbolizes the transfer of the sins of the people onto the goat, which is then sent away, removing the sins from the community. The scapegoat represents the cleansing and forgiveness that comes from atonement, emphasizing God’s desire for reconciliation. The annual rituals on Yom Kippur, performed by the high priest in the Holy of Holies, embodied the intersection between divine mercy and justice.

The Temple in Jerusalem was the center of this sacrificial system, where the relationship between the divine and the human was mediated through blood sacrifices. These sacrifices were not only a means to cleanse but also a demonstration of faith and trust in God’s provision and His covenantal promises to Israel.

Jesus and the Ultimate Sacrifice

Jesus is the fulfillment of the sacrificial system established in the Torah. His death on the cross serves as the ultimate and final sacrifice for the sins of humanity, transcending the need for the ongoing animal sacrifices that characterized the Jewish faith of the time. This interpretation of Jesus’ death as the culmination of the Jewish system of atonement transforms how forgiveness and reconciliation with God are understood.

This perspective finds resonance in the prophetic words of Isaiah 53, which speak of the Suffering Servant:

Surely our griefs He Himself bore,

And our sorrows He carried.

Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,

Smitten of God and afflicted.

But He was pierced through for our transgressions,

He was crushed for our iniquities.

The chastening for our peace fell upon Him,

And by His wounds, we are healed”(Isaiah 53:3–5).

This passage is a clear foreshadowing of Jesus’ sacrificial death. Jesus is the unblemished Lamb of God, a perfect sacrifice that fulfills the atonement requirements of the Torah while surpassing them in scope and significance. This sacrificial image is deeply tied to the language of John the Baptist, who in John 1:29 declares Jesus as: “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” ( John 1:29).

In this declaration, Jesus’ mission is revealed as one that embodies the essence of atonement: the removal of sin and the reconciliation of humanity with God.

Yom Kippur and Jesus’ Sacrifice

Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, provides a powerful backdrop for understanding Jesus’ sacrifice within Christian theology. On this day, Jews engage in fasting, prayer, and reflection, seeking forgiveness for their sins and reconciliation with God. The themes of repentance, atonement, and divine mercy resonate deeply within this sacred time, and for Christians, these themes find ultimate expression in the sacrificial death of Jesus.

The book of Hebrews in the New Testament draws direct parallels between the Yom Kippur rituals and Jesus’ role as the High Priest who offers His blood as a perfect, once-for-all sacrifice. Hebrews 9:11-12 states:

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy places once for all, having obtained eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:11-12).

Here, the imagery of the Temple’s high priest entering the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur is connected to Jesus’ self-sacrifice. Jesus’ offering does not merely cover sins temporarily, as with the blood of animals, but offers eternal redemption. His sacrificial death is seen as both the fulfillment and the transcendence of the Yom Kippur rituals, symbolizing the ultimate atonement.

The Father’s Love in Offering His Son

At the heart of the Christian doctrine of atonement is the love of God the Father. John 3:16 powerfully articulates this love:

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16).

This act of divine love reflects both the gravity of sin and the depth of God’s desire for reconciliation with humanity. The Father’s willingness to give His only Son as a sacrifice underscores a profound theological truth: God’s justice and mercy meet at the cross. The sacrificial love of the Father is central to the atonement. Jesus willingly offering Himself on behalf of humanity embodies God’s ultimate plan for reconciliation.

Jesus, as the Lamb of God, is seen as the ultimate expression of divine love—a love that does not simply overlook sin but addresses it through the giving of His life. Through this selfless act, Jesus opens the door for all to enter into a relationship with God, not through works or repeated sacrifices, but through faith in the completed work of Christ.

A Personal Invitation to Embrace Forgiveness

As we reflect on the themes of atonement and sacrifice, I invite you to consider the implications of Jesus’ death for your spiritual journey. How does the idea of a perfect sacrifice resonate with your understanding of forgiveness? Can the teachings of Jesus inspire you to embrace the values of compassion, love, and reconciliation in your life?

In presenting Jesus as the Lamb of God, Christians extend an invitation to partake in the grace and forgiveness that His sacrifice offers. This is not merely a theological assertion but a heartfelt invitation to experience the transformative power of divine love. Atonement is not just about removing guilt or sin but about restoring broken relationships, first and foremost, with God and, by extension, with others.

Conclusion

The Jewish understanding of atonement provides a rich foundation for engaging with the belief in Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice for sin. By drawing on themes from Yom Kippur, the sacrificial system, and the prophetic tradition, we see how Jesus’ death fulfills the deep yearning for reconciliation found within both faiths.

This chapter invites you to reflect on the profound significance of atonement in your spiritual life and consider the invitation to embrace faith in God through Christ. For Christians, through the sacrifice of Jesus, there is a pathway to forgiveness, renewal, and a deeper relationship with God. His sacrifice is not just a historical event but an ongoing invitation to live in the transformative power of divine grace.