Jesus Christ's sacrifice stands as a supreme victory, not a defeat. He held His head up until the end, bowing it only when He gave up His spirit, having finished perfectly what the Father had given Him to do. His death, after living a completely sinless life, fulfilled the sin offering, while His complete devotion to the Father up to His death fulfilled the burnt offering. He served humanity to the utmost, satisfying the meaning of the grain offering, and poured Himself out as a drink offering. His death reconciled God and men, making harmony and fellowship possible, as pictured by the peace offering. Though marred beyond recognition, with His bones countable, Jesus Christ remained unbroken, embodying an unbroken body. Through the Passover, we unite with Jesus Christ in a sacrificial meal, partaking of the bread and wine as acts of communion, indicating sharing, participation, and fellowship. The bread, broken for sharing, remains one bread, symbolizing that we are part of one unbroken body, Christ's body, which is not divided. When Jesus spoke of bread in relation to His flesh, He presented it as a symbol of life, not death. He described Himself as the bread of life, the living bread that came down from heaven, giving life to the world so that whoever eats of it will not die but have eternal life. The bread, representing His flesh, is living, pointing to a living body. While aspects of the Passover picture death, such as the wine representing shed blood and the lamb that had to die, the bread symbolizes life—the life He gave through sinless, devoted service so the world can have life. Eating the bread at Passover symbolizes taking in and being joined to His sinless life, not a dead or broken body. We are saved by His life, accepted into God's presence on the basis of Christ's sinless flesh, and we must eat this living bread to continue our connection to our Savior and to others who partake of it.

As God leads us through conversion, He challenges our concept of Him, sharpening our mental image of His character and nature. Searching the Scriptures is paramount, for they testify of the Father and the Son, clarifying our vision of Them. Yet, some find it difficult to accept the harsh reality of Jesus Christ's sacrifice, a resistance that causes us to overlook one of His major works. It is often easier to hurry past challenging verses than to let their meaning sink in, but without accepting this facet of His sacrifice, we miss a significant part of what He did. In the Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 53, the Lord the Father laid our iniquities on the Messiah, just as the high priest laid hands on the azazel in Leviticus 16, confessing over it all the iniquities of Israel. Isaiah describes the physical trauma He endured—stricken, smitten by God, afflicted, wounded, bruised, chastised, and scourged. Justification results from the Messiah bearing iniquities, and He bore the sins of many, fulfilling this role as if it were already done when the prophecy was given. Christ bore our sins while on the tree, in His own body, not as an abstract legal pronouncement but with real-life application and recorded fulfillment. During hours of extreme suffering, He experienced shame, reproach, anguish, piercing, crushing, bruising, smiting, grief, and other terrible effects of sin. Though His crucifixion does not remove the pain or shame of our sins, He intercedes as our Mediator, having borne the full chastening we deserve. We receive mediated chastening, not more than we can bear, to continue the sanctification process. God's merciful chastening yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness, offset by the chastening Christ received in our stead. Healing comes from Christ's stripes, encompassing both physical and spiritual restoration, with spiritual healing being infinitely more important. This spiritual healing turns us from straying like sheep to the Shepherd, addressing our spiritual condition. Despite reluctance to view the Son of God as representing sin, God the Father made Christ to be sin, fulfilling the dreadful role of the azazel. Christ became a curse for us, bearing our iniquities as He hung on the tree. Christ's sacrifice took place outside the gate, unlike typical sin offerings killed at the tabernacle. Like the azazel, led outside the camp after becoming sin, He was led away and suffered for hours, bearing our sins in His body. He felt every second of becoming sin and a curse, enduring all the chastening so that we might have life with Him. God's mercy provides a way for us to be healed and reconciled to Him, through the Messiah's terrible yet necessary role.

During the Passover season, our minds are more forcibly focused on the importance of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to our salvation. This time of the year, if properly used, purges the fog of forgetfulness that accumulates throughout the year. Do we hold the sacrifice of Jesus Christ freshly in mind throughout the entire year to remind ourselves to honor it each day? It is Christ's sacrifice that forgives our sins, opens the way into God's presence, and pays the way for us to have a relationship with the Father and Son. How good are we at honoring and protecting the value of what that sacrifice purchased? Despite the value and durability of gold and silver to a human, they cannot even begin to pay the redemption price from sin's consequences. Only the sacrificed blood of the perfect Creator God's life can do so. Faith in that blood's value can have everlasting, imperishable consequences. Our daily struggle to come out of sin will keep its value in mind by reminding us of why we are doing as we do and will also bring honor to the name of God by giving a good witness to the world. When we strive to avoid sin, we keep in mind the perfect, sinless example of our Lord Jesus Christ. If we truly desire to be in His image, it cannot but help us to emulate His sinless behavior as closely as possible. He is always the example we hold before us.

Jesus Christ's sacrifice stands as a profound act of divine purpose, fulfilling the need for a sinless being, both human and divine, to pay for mankind's sins. At the moment of His birth, He became exalted to a role He had not held before, serving as the New Covenant High Priest. Throughout His ministry, He performed this role, already qualified as God, without needing to prove Himself further. His death and resurrection completed the prophecy, establishing Him as the ultimate sacrifice, akin to the unblemished animal offerings, yet surpassing them as both God and man. Hebrews 1:3 clearly states that He provided purification for sins by Himself, with no other being—animal, man, or angel—involved. This act of atonement places a significant claim on mankind's conduct, opening the door to God's offer of salvation to those He calls. Despite this, many remain unmoved, lacking faith in the guarantee of His sacrifice, which is backed by the authority of the Father. Sin continues to prevail as mankind often disregards the profound opportunity His sacrifice presents for a transformed life. His exaltation to the right side of the Father in heaven, following His resurrection by the Father's power, further underscores His role in Their unified plan to shape mankind in Their image. Yet, faith in this sacrifice remains underutilized, as many fail to seek His help in producing fruit that glorifies God. Mankind, as a whole, often shows little concern for engaging with Him through prayer, missing the vital connection to the One who holds the power to save and desires to do so for all eternity.

Jesus Christ's sacrifice holds profound significance, revealing the richness of God's Word through multiple facets and implications. His death, while often viewed solely as the payment for sin, encompasses far more when seen through the various sacrifices outlined in Scripture. God planned and willed this sacrifice before the foundation of the world, and though it fulfills the sin offering, it also embodies other types of offerings, each with distinct purposes beyond the payment for sin. Scripture frequently pictures Jesus as a lamb, symbolizing quiet, accepting submission even in suffering, yet the specific role of a lamb varies depending on the context of the sacrifice. The annual observance of Passover by dedicated followers commemorates His death, yet it is not solely about sin or its payment. Instead, Passover symbolizes the fellowship and peaceful abundance now available with God through His covenant, sealed by Christ's sacrifice late on Passover day. The Day of Atonement, in contrast, focuses on the complete cleansing from sin through His work alone, with no role for the adversary in the removal of sin. Christ's death, occurring late in the afternoon of the fourteenth of Abib, did not align precisely with the timing of the Passover lambs or the Day of Atonement, but rather with the sealing of a covenant, demonstrating His role as the covenant victim alongside His role as the ultimate sin offering. His sacrifice thus serves multiple purposes, initiating the New Covenant and acting as a divine pledge of loyalty to those who partake in it.

The sacrifice of the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, stands infinitely greater and more efficacious than any human sacrifice. There is no comparison to the magnitude of Their act. The blood of bulls and goats under the Old Covenant could not remove sin, as their value was lesser than that of a human life. A greater sacrifice was needed, one that could not only cover sin but completely pay for and remove it. This required a sacrifice of unmatched worth, found only in the life of the Creator God who became flesh as Jesus Christ. His value was sufficient to pay for the sins of all mankind and still hold worth beyond that, allowing Him to die and be raised again to life as the source of life for us. In the atonement ritual, the sin offering of the goat, representing Christ, was killed, and its blood covered the sins of the people, cleansing and sanctifying them. This offering was carried outside the camp, mirroring how Jesus Christ was crucified outside the city of Jerusalem, identifying Him with this act of atonement. As the High Priest, He performs all the atoning work, placing the guilt on the Azazel goat and ensuring the cleansing through His blood. His dual work not only pays for sin but also bears it away, removing it completely so that no taint of guilt remains, fostering trust and reconciliation between mankind and God. The Father's sacrifice in sending His Son into the world as Savior was as poignant as the Son's. The Father endured the agony of watching His only companion suffer and die, experiencing separation during the three days and nights in the tomb. There was risk in this act, as Jesus Christ, though unlikely to sin, faced constant temptation in human form, a state of weakness He had not experienced before. Both Father and Son anticipated this sacrifice from before the foundation of the world, living with the weight of this potential loss for millennia, a testament to the depth of Their commitment. The blood of Jesus Christ, precious beyond measure, encapsulates His life, a life the Father willingly gave up for mankind despite Their eternal companionship. Jesus Christ emptied Himself of His glory, becoming human, enduring every stage of life from conception to death, facing myriad temptations without sinning, and ultimately giving His life's blood in cruel agony and shame. His sacrifice extended beyond the colossal act of crucifixion to daily selflessness, exhausting Himself in healing and teaching, forgoing comforts, and suffering ridicule to serve others. This great sacrifice was made to redeem mankind from lawless deeds and to purify a special people for Himself, not just to cover sins but to make them holy as children of God. It was an act of pure, selfless love, driven by outgoing concern for humanity's eternal good, aiming to bring unity with God. Through His sacrifice, Jesus Christ also judged the world and cast out the ruler of this world, proving Himself immeasurably stronger, ensuring that when He returns, His victory will be complete.

Jesus Christ's sacrifice stands as a profound fulfillment of spiritual realities, transcending the physical rites given to Israel. He observed the Passover with His disciples at the beginning of the 14th day of Abib, just after sunset, sharing bread, wine, and the act of footwashing, emphasizing humble service and forgiveness. However, His death occurred later, during the daylight hours of the 14th, around 3:00 pm, on the preparation day for the first day of Unleavened Bread. As our Passover Lamb, His sinless blood was shed on Passover day, yet not at the time the lambs were traditionally slain, nor in exact accordance with the original instructions, such as being roasted in fire or having His blood smeared on doorposts. His crucifixion did not align with the morning or evening sacrifices, nor with specific holy days like the Day of Atonement, though His sacrifice is described in imagery related to that day. He entered the heavenly Temple as our High Priest, fulfilling all sacrificial requirements spiritually, in a manner determined by the Father and the Son, satisfying God's plan and sense of justice. His one sacrifice, planned from the foundation of the world, encompassed the requirements of Passover, Atonement, and all other offerings, though the timing of His death did not correspond to any specific holy day or commanded sacrifice. Through His example, He set the pattern for observing Passover with bread and wine in remembrance of Him, while His death in the afternoon of the 14th draws attention to a momentous purpose beyond merely being the Passover Lamb.

Christians cannot be self-indulgent, as getting for ourselves opposes the way of God, which is the way of love and outgoing concern. Selfishness turns Christianity on its head, mocking the sacrifices that form its foundation and the freely given grace of God that makes it possible. It begins with God the Father, who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. As the great Sovereign of the universe, the Father set the supreme example by sacrificing what He loved most, that the world through Him might be saved. His Son followed in the same way. The One who became Jesus Christ did not cling to His power, glory, and equality with God, but humbled Himself to be incarnated as a lowly servant, a human being. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself further and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. He declared He would sacrifice His flesh, His precious life, for the life of the world. To cover the sins of those who would believe in Him and provide access to the Father, Christ, in faith, was willing to give up everything.

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, died a most horrible death on a stauros or cross, enduring unimaginable suffering for our sake. He faced crucifixion, a gruesome form of execution reserved for slaves and the worst criminals in His time, a method so painful and gory that death often lingered for days. As a substitutionary sacrifice, He had to die by execution to pay the penalty for our sins, a penalty that could not be fulfilled by a natural death but required the shedding of blood for remission. His death, pronounced by Pilate, was not due to any guilt of His own, for He was sinless, but to bear the death penalty our sins deserved. God allowed His Son to suffer crucifixion, a shameful way to die, reserved for those considered the scum of the earth, to depict the shame brought on by our sins. Crucified between two robbers, Jesus endured humiliation, exposed naked to spectators, including His mother and others, adding to the disgrace He bore for us. His shameful death underscores the shame of sin, teaching us to be ashamed of our transgressions, as sin brings dishonor to us and our families. Through His sacrifice, He endured both the physical torment and the profound humiliation of crucifixion to cover the horrors of our sins.

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ stands as a profound act, unparalleled in its significance. Jesus of Nazareth, the only begotten Son of God, was crucified as a sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. He is the propitiation, the appeasing force, through which we can enter into God's presence. God, the righteous Judge of all mankind, provided Jesus Christ to pay the incalculable price for sin. At Passover, the focus centers on Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God, slain for the sins of the world, a human sacrifice of the most sublime quality. The cup at Passover symbolizes the blood Jesus spilled in sacrificing His life, sealing God's agreement of salvation with us. Through the blood of Christ, He certifies His promise to justify us in preparation for salvation. Such a monumental sacrifice must be fittingly remembered, for if Passover becomes a mere ritual, it loses its significance, and Christ is not truly honored with understanding and appreciation. The purpose of Passover is to grasp the point of Christ's death, and failing to comprehend its meaning makes us more likely to treat His death unworthily. Understanding Christ's sacrifice properly determines the quality of our observance of Passover. To prevent taking it carelessly, we must examine ourselves, discerning the Lord's body, contrasting our spiritual and moral failures with the perfect glory of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who lived without committing even one sin. The focus at Passover is not on ourselves but on the payment for our sins, the means by which we are forgiven, concentrating on the most elementary precepts of our salvation, especially on the part Jesus Christ plays in it. The value of Christ's sacrifice is immeasurable, as only the sacrifice of the sinless God-Man, Jesus Christ, could meet the qualifications to pay for all sin. God designed this payment for sin to be so profound that the heirs of salvation, out of overwhelming gratitude, would drive themselves from sin. The theme of Passover is the awesome cost of salvation, manifested in the sinless sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose sinlessness was not mechanical but filled with sympathy, empathy, compassion, kindness, and concern for the helpless slaves of sin. Passover forces us to focus on our weakness and Christ's strength, our need and His abundance, our sinfulness and His perfection, our sentence of death and His offer of life. The Bible sees sacrifice as the holy act, the very essence of love, for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son in sacrifice. The sacrifice of the sinless God-Man, Jesus Christ, has the power to cleanse from sin, establishing a New Covenant based on an intimate personal relationship with our Creator. Gratitude, worship, and obedience are the only appropriate responses to such a sacrificial gift as the body of Jesus Christ, for there is no other acceptable sacrifice for sin that will allow us to continue living.

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ stands as the central focus of salvation and the essence of Passover. At this time of year, the emphasis is on Him as the sacrificed Lamb of God, slain for the sins of the whole world. His blood, symbolized by the cup during the Passover service, seals God's agreement of salvation with His people, certifying His promise through the ultimate sacrifice. This act provides powerful evidence of God's seriousness and offers the means to forgive the debt of sin, a payment we owe due to our transgressions. The value of Christ's sacrifice is immeasurable, described as precious, a term reflecting the high honor placed upon His blood. This sacrifice was foreordained before the foundation of the world, purposefully planned by God as the means of redemption for humanity. It is not merely a historical event to remember, but a profound act whose significance must be deeply considered to avoid treating it unworthily. To partake in Passover without discerning the Lord's body is to risk sharing in the guilt of those who crucified Him. Passover is a time to focus on the payment for sin through Christ's sacrifice, rather than on personal failings. It is an opportunity for self-examination, not to wallow in guilt, but to build a deep, respectful appreciation for the sinless, spotless Lamb who makes deliverance possible. His death and resurrection form the foundation of faith, offering hope for the future through God's pledge of glorification. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ is the singular, unique means by which a relationship with God, fellowship with others, and spiritual liberty through forgiveness are made possible. Without it, there is no hope; with it, every dream of being in the Kingdom of God becomes attainable. The awesome cost of salvation is manifested in His sinless life given with full understanding, intense temptation, and profound compassion for the eternal welfare of all, motivating a deep sense of gratitude and a desire to depart from sin. This sacrifice surpasses all others, establishing a New Covenant based on an unparalleled personal relationship with the Creator. Unlike animal sacrifices, which failed to inspire obedience, the death of Christ—a human life of infinite value—evokes a powerful response of gratitude, worship, and obedience. His offering of His body as a gift to accomplish God's will cleanses from sin, revealing the very essence of love and the towering injustice that such a One should die for the unworthy, driving a revulsion for sin combined with thanksgiving.

Jesus Christ's sacrifice stands as a profound act of redemption, not merely substitutionary but also representative. He did not just take our place in death, but preceded us as the archegos, one who goes before, showing the way of life we must follow to be in His image and prepared for the Kingdom of God. His sacrifice began with a voluntary relinquishment of the power, glory, and privileges of His divine office, risking all by becoming human, facing the possibility of sin and loss. Every step He took was with the acute awareness of consigning Himself to a terrible death, a burden carried with perfect clarity of mind and understanding of the ramifications of His actions. This sacrifice encompassed being subject to place and time, serving as the Messenger of the covenant, mankind's sinless Savior, and preparing as our High Priest through suffering. He learned and was completed for this role by experiencing life as a human, enduring suffering to be trained for a position He had never held before. His life was a living sacrifice, a whole burnt offering to God, lived in a manner that was a sweet-smelling savor, pleasing to God, not merely through His crucifixion but through the quality and love in which He walked. Through His death, Jesus Christ provided access to God, breaking down barriers that neither those far off nor near could cross before. His crucifixion tore the veil of the temple, symbolizing the opening of access to the Father, allowing us to draw near through Him as our High Priest. He continually intercedes for us, making our spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God despite their imperfections, ensuring we can come boldly to the throne of grace for mercy and help in time of need. As our forerunner, He entered the Holy of Holies, anchoring our hope and preparing us to function as a priesthood in the Kingdom of God. His example calls us to follow in His steps, to live as He lived, which inevitably involves suffering. This suffering, whether from resisting temptation, serving others, facing persecution, or even a martyr's death, aligns us with the fellowship of His experiences, transforming us into living sacrifices dedicated wholly to God under His guidance as our great High Priest.

In this material world, full of sin, the wages of sin is death, and a sinful person's death pays for their transgressions but offers no hope of renewed life without divine intervention. Eternal life is a gift from God, made possible by His grace. Humanity, described as evil by Jesus Christ Himself, bears a burden of sin so vast that only a death of immense value could cover it. The only sufficient payment for all human sin is the death of the Creator Himself, whose worth is great enough to redeem every person for all time. However, the Creator, being spirit and eternal, is not human, presenting a challenge since the payment for sin must be in kind—human for human. This eternal, immortal Being had to voluntarily relinquish His glory and many divine prerogatives to be fashioned as a fleshly, material man. Yet, He needed to retain His divine personality, character, and wisdom to overcome human temptations. As a man, despite His holiness, He could die, and His shed blood could pay for the sins of the whole world, satisfying God's justice and enabling grace. Jesus Christ, made a little lower than the angels, suffered death to taste it for everyone, sharing in flesh and blood to destroy the power of death through His own death. He became like His brethren in all things to be a merciful and faithful High Priest, making propitiation for the sins of the people. He did not glorify Himself but was appointed by God, learning obedience through suffering and becoming the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. Through the offering of His body, prepared by God, humanity is sanctified once for all, and by His blood, a new and living way is consecrated for access to the Holiest. Jesus Christ, in the form of God, did not cling to equality with God but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men. He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to the point of death on the cross, shedding His blood to complete His task of redeeming mankind. Throughout His life as a fleshly human, He retained His essential personality and character as God, enabling Him to accomplish this work. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth, revealing the glory of the only begotten of the Father. Recognized as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, He was born of a woman through the Holy Spirit, named Jesus, meaning Savior, to save His people from their sins. Born under the law, He came to redeem those under the law, fulfilling prophecies from the beginning that the Savior would be the Seed of a woman, powerful and righteous enough to overcome sin. God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, and His precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish, redeemed humanity, not with corruptible things but through His death. Foreordained before the foundation of the world, He was manifest in the flesh for our benefit, visible, tangible, and mortal—attributes of a human being that allowed Him to die and be raised by God, restoring His glory. Every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, while those who deny this are not of God, undermining the plan of redemption. If He did not come in the flesh, His sacrifice would be of no effect, as only a human death could pay for human sin. Christ died for the ungodly while we were still sinners, demonstrating God's love, justifying us by His blood, reconciling us to God through His death, and saving us by His life. This finished work, accomplished through His body and blood, secures forgiveness and salvation, bringing great joy and appreciation for what He has done as both human and divine.

Jesus Christ's sacrifice stands as the profound foundation of His love for the church, embodying a practical and enduring commitment. He loved the church and gave Himself for her, establishing a covenant relationship through His atoning act. This sacrifice is not merely a historical event but the very basis of the church's existence, as He purchased her with His own blood, redeeming each member individually and collectively. His purpose in giving Himself was to sanctify and cleanse the church, making her worthy and preparing her to be presented as a glorious bride, without spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish. This act of love was carried out while the church was still in sin, demonstrating that His sacrifice was not based on her worthiness but on His unwavering commitment. He humbled Himself, taking on the form of a servant and becoming obedient even to death, for the sake of the church, thinking not of Himself but of her. Through His blood, He reconciled the church to God, delivering her from condemnation and setting her apart for His unique possession and purpose. His ongoing work continues as He sanctifies her, ensuring that she is transformed and prepared for the ultimate union with Him. The practical nature of this love serves as a model for human relationships, particularly in marriage, where husbands are called to emulate Christ's sacrificial love by giving of themselves for their wives. Just as Christ gave Himself for the church to make her holy, His sacrifice remains the source of life and power that sustains and purifies her throughout the journey of salvation.

Humanity is steeped in sin, a moral cesspool with no means of self-redemption. No human, flawed by sin, can pay the price for their own sins or those of another. Even the blood of animals cannot suffice to take away human sin, and angels, being of a different kind, cannot offer themselves as a sacrifice for mankind. Therefore, redemption must come from a higher being, one who is sinless and of greater value. The Creator God, known as the Word, voluntarily chose to become a man, live sinlessly among sinners, and pay the immense price for humanity's sins by offering Himself as a sacrifice. As Philippians 2:5-8 reveals, He did not cling to His divine form but humbled Himself, taking the form of a servant, becoming obedient to the point of death on the cross. Despite being surrounded by temptation and the influence of the ruler of this world, He maintained His righteousness for over thirty-three years, ultimately giving His life for those who sought to bring Him down. Romans 5:6-11 underscores this act of love, stating that while humanity was still without strength and steeped in sin, Christ died for the ungodly. His death reconciled enemies to God, justifying them through His blood and saving them from wrath. This supreme act of love was performed silently, as a sheep to the slaughter, without contention or plea for sympathy. He bore the sins of many, as Isaiah 53:4-12 describes, being wounded for transgressions, bruised for iniquities, and carrying the griefs and sorrows of all, thus making intercession for sinners. In the context of the Day of Atonement, He is the atoning sacrifice, the payment for sin. Leviticus 16 illustrates this through the two goats, together forming a singular sin offering—one slain to pay for sins with its blood, the other bearing the sins away into the wilderness. Both parts are fulfilled in Him, as He shed His blood in death and bore away human sin to the grave. Matthew 27:45-53 captures the moment of His cry, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" as the sins of the world were placed upon Him, causing a separation from the Father due to the weight of human guilt. His death tore the veil of the temple, opening access to God through His perfect sacrifice. Hebrews 9:11-15 and 10:11-17 affirm that He, as the High Priest, entered the most holy place with His own blood, obtaining eternal redemption once for all, unlike the repeated sacrifices of old that could never take away sins. By this one offering, He perfected those being sanctified, enabling their sins to be remembered no more. 1 Peter 2:24-25 further explains that He bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness and return to the Shepherd of our souls. This sacrifice obligates us to serve Him completely, as our lives are His, bought at the awesome price of His lifeblood. On the Day of Atonement, we humble ourselves and afflict our souls, recognizing the magnitude of what was done for us long before we were born. We are reminded of our frequent failures and our ongoing need for His sacrifice, striving to put on His mind and grow in His image. As Hebrews 13:20-21 prays, may the God of peace, who raised our Lord Jesus from the dead, work in us what is pleasing in His sight through Him, to whom be glory forever.

In a legal sense, our sins were laid upon Jesus Christ, and He paid the penalty for them according to the law, the prophecies, and the will of Almighty God. The wages of our sins is death, and our sinless Savior paid that penalty for us, summing up the greatest act of sacrifice ever made. However, fulfilling the legal aspect was only part of it, as looking at it solely from a legal perspective almost sanitizes Jesus Christ's great sacrifice. During His final hours, it is doubtful that Jesus Christ spent much time thinking of the many individual acts of human sin, even as they were laid upon Him. Instead, Scripture provides clues about His thoughts during His last day of physical life. Jesus Christ knew the travail of His soul and foresaw His suffering, understanding that it must occur during the Passover Day in the year referred to as AD 31, and that He must be dead and entombed as that day drew to its close. Knowing the limited time before His arrest and separation from His beloved Father, He filled His final moments of human freedom with close communication with His heavenly Parent in Gethsemane. Despite His welcome into Jerusalem six days prior, Jesus Christ knew He was despised and rejected, regarded as contemptible and worthless, even as the Eternal Lord and Creator of the universe. He was aware of the rejection by the world and knew that even His closest friends were spiritually weak, would stumble, forsake Him, and scatter. Worse still, He knew that one of them was in the process of betraying Him. As He arrived at Gethsemane after the Passover dinner, Jesus Christ suddenly became intensely sorrowful and profoundly distressed, experiencing a depth of sorrow exceeding that of any man before or since. His agony began even before physical pain was inflicted, as He prayed more earnestly, His sweat becoming like great drops of blood falling to the ground. The reasons for this agonizing sorrow likely included the despite and rejection by every generation of mankind, the betrayal and forsaking by His closest friends, and the dread of the approaching hours of physical torture and death. More painfully, He faced being cut off from His human brothers and sisters, whose sins caused His suffering, and from communication with His perfect, loving, and eternal Father, crying out in His final moments, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

Jesus Christ's sacrifice was foreordained before the foundation of the world. For thousands of years, countless animals were sacrificed as a shadow of what was to come, reminding us of our required daily living sacrifices. Jesus Christ, God the Son, came to earth to demonstrate God's way of sacrifice. His sacrifice is both substitutional and representative. First, His sacrifice is substitutional, a once-for-all, perfect offering for sin and trespass, which He made for us to open the door to our relationship with God, allowing God the Father and God the Son to dwell with us and fill us with Their enabling Spirit. Second, His living sacrifices while on earth are representative, serving as an example of the daily offerings we must make through our own living sacrifices. His sacrifice replaced the need for animal sacrifices, but the need for ongoing daily work of sacrifice remains, as those animal offerings were merely a shadow of what was to come.