The Old Testament and Atonement

In the OT sacrificial system, the worshipper himself would kill the animal used for the sacrifice. First they would bring the animal near, indicating their desire to be made clean and worship. Next they would firmly place their hand on the animal’s head indicating their connection to that animal. (Some scholars think that this act is a symbol of the transference of sin from the person to the animal).

Then the worshipper would kill the animal by slitting its throat. This was a symbol indicating the need for the severest punishment, death, for cleansing. By performing the act himself the worshipper connected himself to the truth that he deserved death, just as the animal was receiving. He also revealed that it is through blood that life comes (See Lev. 17:11).

Some of the implications of this process of justification were that sin would be seen as a very serious offense. Blood had to be shed. It allowed the worshippers to know exactly how to become pure before God. There was no questioning the method of cleansing. It allowed the worshipper to commune directly with God. It gave the worshippers the chance to sacrifice something of their own for God (the life of the animal and the cost to buy the animal.)

Atonement is secure when life is surrendered, released, set free for a new function…. When a sacrifice was offered, we should see it as a killing of the animal in place of the worshipper and the manipulation of the blood as the ritual presentation to God of the evidence that a death has taken place to atone for sin.

When the New Testaments refer to the death of Christ as a sacrifice, we should not understand them to be making some far-fetched identification of his blood with his life. Rather they are solemnly referring to the significance of his death.