Preparations
“And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.” John 17:19 ESV
Consecrate – “The language is equally appropriate to the preparation of a priest and the preparation of a sacrifice; it is therefore doubly appropriate to Christ.”[1] Barrett’s comment about the Greek word hagiazo is now so commonplace that we hardly register any question about it. Erickson nods approvingly when he notes that the verb hagiazo is “a term common in sacrificial contexts.”[2] “His death was a sacrifice typified by the Old Testament sacrificial system.”[3] We could quote many others. Everyone seems to recognize that Yeshua speaks about His death in Old Testament sacrificial terms. But then how is it possible to ignore that fact that His death does not meet the requirements of an Old Testament sacrifice? Are we so intent on fitting the death of Yeshua into our Christian paradigm that we are willing to overlook its complete misfit with everything about a sacrifice that any Jew would have known? The Christian theologians are right. Yeshua’s death is described as an atoning sacrifice. But it certainly doesn’t fit the Levitical system. If it is a sacrifice, it must be a sacrifice of another order.
It’s worth noting that this verb (hagiazo) is used twice in Yeshua’s statement. It is the same verb translated “may be sanctified.” Yeshua consecrates himself in order that his disciples may be consecrated, or He sanctifies Himself so that they may be sanctified. Recognizing that the action is the same for both parties helps us remove the idea that Yeshua does something radically different than what is expected of his disciples. What He does is also something that they will do.
But this means that Yeshua cannot have the cross in mind because He is not expecting all His disciples to also be crucified as sacrifices for sin. Hagiazo is about entering into a state of holiness (cf. Isaiah 5:16, Ezekiel 36:23, Exodus 19:10). It is an act of dedication to God’s absolute standard of holiness. The etymology of the word makes it clear that it is to be understood within the framework of religious practice and ritual. In rabbinic Judaism, this word is used to describe those who keep Torah and who separate themselves from pagan practices. Paul’s use of the term helps us see what Yeshua intends. In Romans 12:1, Paul uses the noun form (hagios) to describe the believer as a “living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.” Yeshua must mean that His disciples are to be separated, set aside for God, living examples of perfect practice within the religious community. They don’t need to die on the cross but they do need to die to self.
Here’s the point for our present inquiry: the focus of Yeshua’s own remark and the use of the word in both the Tanakh and the apostolic writings is on death, not forgiveness. The emphasis is on the violent separation from worldly ways, a process akin to dying. The point is the death of the sacrifice. We may recognize that Yeshua’s death had different effects and implications than the “consecration” of His disciples, but the point is that in this final hour of prayer, Yeshua doesn’t speak of dying for the forgiveness of the world’s sin. He speaks of dying as a process that brings about holiness. And since He clearly intends His disciples to go through this process, it hardly seems possible to read the text as if He expected everyone who followed Him to literally be nailed to a cross. What Yeshua has in mind must be consistent with the ritual practice found in the Tanakh, perhaps deepened, perhaps extended, but certainly not incompatible, otherwise no Jew of His time would have understood how hagiazo could be connected to the cult (the religious practice).
What does this mean for us? It means that Yeshua expects us to be hagios, holy. But that word doesn’t stand on its own. To be holy is to be in conformity with the holy God – and for the audiences of Yeshua, Paul, Peter and John, that means to reach the standard of the Tanakh, to be obedient to its teachings. Yeshua consecrated Himself in order for us to be able to do the same. He acted as priest. He brought His followers into the presence of the Holy God, He interceded – with the intention that they might also become holy.
So, how’s that working out in your life? Does hagiazo describe you?
Topical Index: hagiazo, hagios, holy, consecrate, sanctify, John 17:19, Romans 12:1
The Christian theologians are right. Yeshua’s death is described as an atoning sacrifice. But it certainly doesn’t fit the Levitical system. If it is a sacrifice, it must be a sacrifice of another order.
I have listened to Rico Cortes’ teaching on the red heiffer sacrifice. Yeshua fit the sacrificial requirements to a T. If not, he is not the Messiah. I respectfully disagree completely with the above statement.
I agree Lori,
A new red heifer was sacrificed on the Day of Atonement outside the camp/gate on the Mount of Olives when the ashes of sanctification and cleansing ran out. A normal bull was used in between. The two goats, one sacrificed & the other set free, was also a part of the Day of Atonement doings.
The choosing between Jesus/Yeshua and Barabbas, who was to die & who was to be set free, was a fulfillment of the Day of Atonement as well. FYI: Barabbas = Son of the Father whose name was also Jesus/Yeshua.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barabbas
I’m not sure what you are disagreeing with since your comment doesn’t say, but even if Rico Cortes has identified the atonement as a model example of the red heifer, that doesn’t mean that the atonement took place on the cross. The cross just doesn’t fit there either.
I am disagreeing with the statement that Yeshua’s sacrifice does not fit the Levitical order. Maybe we are not talking about the same thing. The lamb that was slain on Passover in the temple had to meet certain requirements as did the red heiffer sacrifice. Yeshua went through the same steps as was necessary for those sacrifices. What are you trying to say? The cross doesnt fit where?
Thanks for clarifying. Yeshua’s sacrifice might fit the required steps in the heavenly Temple on the heavenly altar, but it clearly does not fit the events prior to or on the cross. There is no kosher slaughter, no spotless Lamb, no Levitical priest, no altar, no Temple involved at all. What steps did Yeshua go through prior to the execution on the cross that would allow you to say he fit the Levitical system, or any other system of sacrifice that we are given instructions about in the Scripture. We know that he could not even enter the Holy of Holies since he was from the tribe of Judah, so where must this sacrifice take place. Certainly not on earth.
Well, the Levitical priesthood/temple services were a type and shadow on earth of the heavenly temple for sure. Yeshua was referred to as the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. He was the spotless lamb, the ram caught in the thicket on the temple mount. He was inspected before pilot and others for 4 days before his crucifiction just as the lambs were kept and inspected prior to sacrifice. He was declared to have no fault in him. He ascended to Heaven and placed his blood on the alter. There are many other similarties that I cannot recall right now off the top of my head. Would have to relisten to the teaching. I do believe he fulfilled all there was required, however. He is a priest forever after the order of Melchizideck though not a Levite and no, he did not enter the temple on earth, which I repeat was a type and shadow of what was to come.
I am tracking with you about the moral purity, but you must agree that on the cross he cannot have been physically spotless as required by the Levitical sacrifices. Furthermore, what verse says that he ascended to heaven and put his blood on the heavenly alter? Are you sure you haven’t added that verse? Are types and shadows not REAL? There is a lot of presupposition here. Ask yourself how a first century Jew would see the cross? As as altar?
I think most people accept that Christ’s sacrifice was unique in many ways – so whatever didn’t fit the levitical system just isn’t surprising.
What is interesting – is the switch in emphasis from passively being forgiven, to actively seeking righteous living and death to self.
What’s really interesting is that MOST people in the first century would not have accepted our explanation of the cross and Christ’a sacrifice. They were Jews. They knew better. Apparently after 20 centuries of re-education, we don’t.
In the Jewish ritual, there was a recurring need for a blood sacrifice in the Temple as a precursor to Jesus freely offering his body to God as a Living sacrifice, atoning for the sins of all Mankind, Past, Present and Future until the Time is up as God determines.
Only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies once a year and pray for forgiveness of his own sins and the sins of the Nation. Jesus, our High Priest, did this once and for all and all Time. It is written Love covers a multitude of sins.
While the Church sees itself as saved sinners, and the rest being infidels or unsaved sinners, the fundamental is we are still sinners and will be sinners all the Days of our lives. It is our genuine, sincere desire to repent of our wrong headed ways, growing in the Love of God through Christ and our fellow human beings, both believers and atheists, Christ died for equally as much as he offered himself for me on the cross. God knows the secret thoughts, desires and intentions in every heart. People can fool others and themselves, but no one can fool God.
Who does Christ speak of by these words? “You hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
This people draws nigh unto me with their mouth, and honours me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
He’s not talking to atheists by these words. He’s talking to us – we who claim to believe and act as Christ is.
The Scriptures inspire us to want to be at the Marriage Feast of The Lamb. On that invitation, the Scriptures also record how Jesus saw everyone wants the uppermost seats at that feast. His parable must be taken to heart. He tells us to start at the lowest place, at the bottom, and as we grow in the harmony and Joy of service and union with God and each other, God invites us to come on up.
Jesus emphasizes this reality even further by this story;
And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.
Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshiping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
And he said to her, What do you want? She said to him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on your right hand, and the other on the left, in your kingdom.
But Jesus answered and said, You know not what you ask. Are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say to him, We are able.
And he said to them, You shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, You know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Thus says the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that you build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
For all those things have my hand made, and those things have been, says the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at my word.
Isaiah 66
Hello Skip, I would ask you a question; Why don’t you give us a bible (a new translation) so we can read the Word in it’s correct form or should I say function?
I have decided to donate $10.00 a month to your ministry. I really enjoy reading your material every morning.
Bob Hale
St Joseph, MO
Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I am not capable of such a task. It’s all I can do to look at one word at at time.
Derek Leman recently wrote a book titled “Yeshua Our Atonement” that I would recommend on this subject, especially for someone like me who comes from many years of church teaching and only in the last few years has discovered more about the context and meaning of the Biblical writings. Here is a link to one of his recent blog posts that gives sort of a preview of his thinking:
http://www.derekleman.com/musings/is-the-sacrifice-of-messiah-literal
Hi Mel,
Derek Leman’s argument seems a bit preposterous to me
The implied reader of his text is under the illusion that Jesus was literally sacrificed by the Romans?
And then Leman argues that the sacrifice of Jesus is a metaphor
Seems to me that Jesus literally sacrifices himself for God’s sake and the sake of his community
One of my favorite movies on this theme is Gone Baby Gone (2007)
Where the hero, Casey Affleck (who is a cop), sacrifices everything he loves
To do what he thinks is the right thing to do
I agree that Yeshua literally sacrifices himself. That isn’t at issue. The issue is WHERE?
I agree that Yeshua literally sacrifices himself. That isn’t at issue. The issue is WHERE?
Really? If not the cross, (the tslav- the execution stake), then where?
And what are these words? ~ this is the New Covenant in My blood? ~ spoken when?
and what about these words? ~ without the shedding of blood is no remission of sins ~
No virgin birth- No spotless Lamb- ( Having “examined” the Lamb, I find no fault in Him either!) – no sinless Sacrifice- no atonement for sin. How do we know the Sacrifice of the Messiah was acceptable unto YHWH? After three days, He was resurrected and now ~ ever lives to make intercession for us ~ The gospel (good news) includes the death, burial (and lest we forget) the resurrection of our Savior. The cross was (and is) absolutely necessary to atone for “all” the sins of the world- God had to die. This was not plan “B”, but was in the mind of God (the ONE who knows the end from the beginning) from the time He first spoke and said, “let there be..”
The Messiah was meant to die. ~ For this cause, came I into the world ~ For what cause? ~ To save His people from their sins- to pay (in full) the sin-debt that we (all) owe. ~ And as many as received Him (as the propitiating sacrificial Atonement- ) to them gave He the authority to become the sons (and daughters) of God, – even to them who believe in His Name. ~ (John 1.12)
Now help me out here.. (please). I’ll admit, or confess- I am deeply troubled by this. so someone, please.. -help a brother out ..
There are over three hundred scriptures to confirm Yeshua of Nazareth, (Jesus who is the Christ) to be exactly-precisely what and Who He claimed to be- God, the Son. And yet, to this very day- He is still ~ despised and rejected by men ~ My question is why? Why has blindness in part happened to Israel and why do many of the Jewish people reject this Man, the second Adam, as their Savior, Master and Shepherd/King? The Jews require a sign? (if this doesn’t say something to someone!) – a sign was posted (in three languages) above His head saying (hello to all)- “This is Yeshua (Jesus) King of the Jews”.- Here’s your sign.
If you are tired of the load of your sin,
Let Jesus come into your heart;
If you desire a new life to begin,
Let Jesus come into your heart.
Just now, your doubtings give o’er;
Just now, reject Him no more;
Just now, throw open the door;
Let Jesus come into your heart.
If ’tis for purity now that you sigh,
Let Jesus come into your heart;
Fountains for cleansing are flowing near by,
Let Jesus come into your heart.
If there’s a tempest your voice cannot still,
Let Jesus come into your heart;
If there’s a void this world never can fill,
Let Jesus come into your heart.
Just now, your doubtings give o’er;
Just now, reject Him no more;
Just now, throw open the door;
Let Jesus come into your heart.
~ But those that received Him, to them He gave authority to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name ~ (John 1.12)
~ Sirs, what must I do to be saved? ~
(Salvation is not “do” – it is “done!) Finished, final- full and complete. Paid for in full. Jesus paid it all- all to Him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain- He washed it white as snow.
~ Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool ~
(Isaiah 1.18)
~ And he said, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb ~ (Revelation 7.14)
Made them white – how? Friends- made them white in the blood of the Lamb!
Hallelujah for the cross!
I shall forever life mine eyes to Calvary,
to view the cross where Jesus died for me,
how marvelous the grace that caught my falling soul;
He looked beyond my fault and saw my need.
~ Healthy people don’t need a doctor–sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners ~ (Mark 2.17)
Sinners only- welcome here.
~ And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto Heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a (the) sinner ~ (Luke 18.13)
(Ask and you will receive..)- What did this sinful man ask for? – and what did He receive? Did God answer this man’s prayer?
May we (all) hear more about the tslav of the Messiah.. the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
When God says, “whosoever will”- does this include “both”- the Jew and the Gentile? When God says, (in His Book)- for “all” have sinned.. does this include the (both) Jew and the Gentile? “both” the male and the female?
~ What do the scriptures say? ~ And He died for “ALL,” (both Jew and Gentile) that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again ~ (2 Corinthians 5.15)
Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.
O Jesus, LORD and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.
Living for Jesus Who died in my place,
Bearing on Calv’ry my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading and give Him my all.
Living for Jesus, wherever I am,
Doing each duty in His holy Name;
Willing to suffer affliction and loss,
Deeming each trial a part of my cross.
Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.
O Jesus, LORD and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.
(Thomas O. Chisholm, 1917)
“They don’t need to die on the cross but they do need to die to self.”
“If not the cross, (the tslav- the execution stake), then where?”
Hi Carl,
When I think of Jesus, I tend to think of Job, who also sacrifices everything for God
At the beginning of Job, we are introduced to God up in His Heavenly Court
God is accompanied by His “buddy,” Ha Satan, and the Sons of God
Jesus refers to himself primarily as Son of Man as I recall
But Jesus also refers to himself as Son of God
I’m thinking that if Jesus is a Son of God, then he was up there with God in eternity
And I can imagine that much in the same way that God challenges Ha Satan
To test Job
God asks Jesus if he wants to sacrifice himself as the suffering servant
To be the model for humanity as the Son of Man
So in a sense sacrifice was the purpose of his life from beginning to end
“They don’t need to die on the cross but they do need to die to self.”
Hmmm
I like to think of “dying to the self” as becoming one with nothing
The need to make two “things” one to enter the Kingdom
Because I am something, but God is nothing
We were taught by the Master to make the two wills one
And “thy will be done” is perfectly logical IMO
I’ve been looking at this whole issue a bit more closely, trying to tie the ends together with what’s been discussed and I’ve noticed some “patterns” that lead along the same lines as Skip has been writing on. Though it’s certainly not solidified in my mind as of yet, there are some considerations that I would like to share with you if permitted.
The first is the phrase, “order of Melchezick(?)” I know that it refers to king of righteous(ness) and that he was King of peace (salem) but what I was neglecting to do was to look at the circumstances surrounding his “appearing” to Abram, which was the recue of Lot and the destruction of the 4 kings. Perhaps, it can be seen clearer by a comparison of the two “different” orders.
The Levitical priesthood operates primarily on a redemtion through covering or “atonement”. The innocent for the guilty, so to speak. ((btw, forgive me for “broadbrushing” here, I do understand that it’s “a bit more complicated” than that, I state it this way to be brief). In opposition to that, Abram didn’t redeem Lot by offering something in his place but rather delivered him by attacking the king(s) and therefore destroying the evil at it’s source, and I might add, he did it on the kings own “turf”, ie; “he pursued as far as dan, on the “left” of Damascus”. (right on the border of his territory, where he would have “entered” the land) That would bring Yeshua’s statement to Nicodemus into focus concerning the “serpent on the stick”. Deliverance recieved, not by atonement, but rather by addressing the very thing that was causing the people to die. One might consider that this is exactly in line with what is stated about the sacrifice of the Messiah, He became a curse for us……He bore our sins in his body……he died in order to conquer the last enemy…..death itself by His resurrection from the dead. Along those lines, it would seem that the sacrifice of a different order, by a High Priest of a different order was made, not to atone, but rather to conquer by defeating an enemy at it very source.
Again these are only thoughts concerning linking patterns. I’m not nessecarily “pushing” theology on anyone. I’m only sharing what I’ve discovered and would appreciate (deeply) any others thoughts concerning this issue, contrary or otherwise.
YHWH bless you and keep you…….
Balaam has a knowledge of the true God, the God of Israel, not of some vague, demonic spiritual connection (such as the specific mention of the LORD in Numbers 22:8).
How he came to know the true God is unclear; he is (in this regard) like Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18) and Jethro (Exodus 18), men who were not Israelites, but came to some knowledge of the true God.
Hi Robert,
I remember Rabbi Gorelik mentioning Melchizedek, when lecturing on Numbers 22
At the time I was more amused by the Donkey that belonged to Balaam
But throughout the Bible there does seem to be quite a lot of synchronicity
Between the priestly order of Melchizedek and the Son of Man