How Jesus was a Sacrifice & Offering!

What is the significance of his blood?

The next topic we will address in the continuing study of 2 Corinthians 5:21 is the offering and sacrifice of Jesus. Whether we translate "hamartias" as "sin" or "sin-offering" in that verse, it is still important to understand that the New Testament 1st century writers described Jesus as an offering and sacrifice, and that his blood corresponded to the blood of the sacrifices in Leviticus 16, which the high priest offered once per year on the day of atonement.

In the first article, we discussed how Jesus is the sin-offering for sins, but he is also the sacrifice. The Greek word for sacrifice is "θυσία", "thysia"in English, and is given the Strong's Greek index # of 2378 (G2378).

Here is an example from Luke 2:22-24

22 Now when the days of her [Mary's] purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him [Jesus] to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord
23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),
24 and to offer a sacrifice (G2378) according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

Exodus 29:41-42

And the other lamb you shall offer at twilight; and you shall offer with it the grain offering and the drink offering, as in the morning sacrifice (G2378), for a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD. This shall be a continual sacrifice (G2378) throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the Lord, where I will meet you to speak with you.

Greek words for offering

There are also 2 Greek words for offering (in general), a noun and a verb, προσφορά, "prosphora" in English, and is given Strong's Greek Concordance # of 4376 (G4376), and prospherō, (verb - to offer) G4374.

Here are some examples in the New Testament that talk of the sacrifice and offering of Jesus:

Ephesians 5:1-2"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as "Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering (prosphoran G4376) and a sacrifice (thysian G2378) to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."

Hebrews 5:1 "For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer (prosphere G4376) both gifts and sacrifices (thysiais G2378)  for sins."

Hebrews 7:27 "[Jesus] who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up (anaphero - G399) sacrifices (G2378), first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He [Jesus] did once when He offered up (anaphero - G399) Himself"

Hebrews 8:3 "For every high priest is appointed to offer (G4374) both gifts and sacrifices (G2378). Therefore it is necessary that this One [Jesus] also have something to offer. (G4374)"

Hebrews 9:6-9 "6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered (G4374) for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance;  the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.  It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices (G2378) are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience."

In Hebrews 9:11-14, the writer explains how Jesus came as the High Priest of a tabernacle not made with hands, a greater and more complete tabernacle - and that he entered the most holy place - not with blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.

13 "For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,
14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered (G4374) Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? "

Hebrews 9:23-28
"23 Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices (G2378) than these. 24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 not that He should offer (G4374) Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— 26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice (G2378) of Himself. 27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered (G4374) once to bear (take away) (G399) the sins of many."

Hebrews 10:1
For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices (G2378), which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.

Hebrews 10:5
Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:
“Sacrifice (G2378) and offering (G4376) You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me"

Hebrews 10:8
Previously saying, “Sacrifice (G2378) and offering (G4376), burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law)

Hebrews 10:10 “By that will we have been sanctified through the offering (G4376) of the body of Jesus Christ once.

Hebrews 10:11-12,14
11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering (G4376) repeatedly the same sacrifices (G2378), which can never take away sins.
12 But this Man, after He had offered (G4374) one sacrifice (G2378) for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God…
14 For by one offering (G4376) He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

Hebrews 10:17-18 “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”  Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering (G4376) for sin.

Hebrews 10:26-27 "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice (G2378) for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment

This long list of verses show just how often Jesus is referred to as an offering and a sacrifice, which are very much related to - and a fulfillment of - the offerings and sacrifices of the Old Testament.

Another word related to the word for sacrifice:

The root of that Greek word, "thysia" (G2378)" meaning "sacrifice", is the word "thyo" (G2380), which is also used in reference to the sacrifice of Jesus.

Mark 14:12
Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed/sacrificed (G2380) the Passover (lamb), His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?”

Acts 10:13
"And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill (G2380) and eat"

1 Corinthians 5:7
Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed (G2380).

Christ Jesus, was a sacrifice and offering, fulfilling and ending the Old Testament, 1st covenant practice of animal sacrifices for sin. I hope that by looking over these verses, especially the explanation given by the writer of Hebrews, that one can understand how those animal sacrifices never took away sin - but the offering and sacrifice of Jesus did take away sin - and still does, if we walk in the light as he in the light.

The blood of Jesus, the sacrifice:

His blood, (Greek: "aima", prounounced "hah'-ee-mah", G129), which was shed for us during his sacrifice, is a part of our new life as his followers, it washes us and redeems us and cleanses our conscience.

Matthew 26:28 "For this is My blood (G129) of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."

Acts 20:28 “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood (G129)."

1 Corinthians 11:25 “In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood (G129). This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

Ephesians 1:7 "In Him we have redemption through His blood (G129), the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His favor."

Hebrews 9:7 “But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood (G129), which he offered (G4374) for himself (Exodus 30:10, Leviticus 16:11) and for the people’s sins (Leviticus 16:15) committed in ignorance.

Hebrews 9:12 “Not with the blood (G129)of goats and calves (Leviticus 16:14-15), but with His own blood (G129) He entered the Most Holy Place (Leviticus 16:2) once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

Hebrews 9:13 “For if the blood (G129)of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,

Hebrews 9:14 “how much more shall the blood (G129) of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered (G4374) Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

1 Peter 1:18-19" “you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood (G129) of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

Hebrews 13:11-12 “For the bodies of those animals, whose blood (G129)is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp *(Leviticus 16:27). Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood (G129), suffered outside the gate.

1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood (G129)of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Revelation 1:5 “and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood (G129).

Conclusion: Jesus gave himself as a sacrifice and offering, his blood taking away sin that the blood of bulls and goats could never do - in his one-time sacrifice. Praise God!

Related articles:

Did Jesus become sin? 2 Cor. 5:21
Did Jesus "bear" our sins? Or take them away?
Jesus: the sinless and spotless sacrifice