Jesus was a blood sacrifice
Many Christians do not understand the purpose of the crucifixion.
The crucifixion required a genuine 100% real human of our kind to reconcile mankind with God, by paying as a human for the sins of mankind.
For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.-- 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 (ESV)
| God | Jesus | Blood sacrifice requirements |
|---|---|---|
| God is Spirit (John 4:24), not human (Numbers 23:19). | Jesus is human (John 1:30, 8:39-40; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22). | Blood is required for atonement (Leviticus 17:11). |
| God is unchangeable (Malachi 3:6). | Jesus was born (Matthew 1:18), died (Romans 5:6,8), resurrected (Acts 2:24,32) and got exalted (Acts 2:33, 5:31). | A blood sacrifice should die (Deuteronomy 21:21-23). |
| God is invincible (1 Timothy 1:17). | Jesus was vulnerable and suffered (Acts 3:18, 17:3, 26:23). | A sacrifice require a loss of something precious. |
| God is invisible (Colossians 1:15). | Jesus was seen (1 John 1:1). | A visible sign is required to confirm the new covenant. |
| God is Holy (Isaiah 6:3). | Jesus took the sin upon himself (1 Peter 2:24) and was cursed (Galatians 3:13). | Holy and cursed sin do not mix. |
It were a humans who that trespassed, not God. Therefore, a human life (blood) was required to pay for sin.
Many belief that it was God that died on the cross. Technically the Almighty God could potentially do anything, but that would either mean that He had to trick us, by pretending to suffer and die, or violate His own commands and principles. Neither are acceptable to God's character.
Despite that we rebelled, God still demonstrated His love by making a "sacrifice" for us.
By definition, a "sacrifice" means to give up something valuable. However, God is the Creator. What could He possibly give up that He simply could not just be recreated afterward which would disqualify the concept of a sacrifice?
Therefore, God have up His only-begotten son in whom He was well pleased, who were distinct, who had a freewill, who voluntarily choose to obey Him until death, who God loved dearly. It must have been very hard for God to see His son suffer and to forsake him.
By doing this, God established a new covenant with His son so that we too can live in righteousness with Him. This was not some clever new idea of Jesus. It was prophesied millennia ago by various prophets.
Therefore, Jesus is our way, truth and life to God, his Father.