Reflections on the Sacrificial Death of Jesus Christ: Daily Readings for Lent

The sacrificial nature of Jesus' crucifixion stands at the core of the Christian faith, and it serves as a focal point for the forty days of Lent. The essential meaning of his death as a victim of sacrifice is widely recognized, but there is more to the sacrificial representation than many realize. Jesus is not, for example, described in the New Testament only as a Passover lamb. That type of lamb sacrifice had nothing to do with addressing sin. His sacrifice involved concepts beyond Passover. Jesus and his early followers drew upon Jewish Scriptures to describe his death in light of several other Israelite practices and traditions, such as Day of Atonement rituals, guilt-sacrifice, and more. In this book, Tatlock draws upon his understanding of ancient sacrifice to explain the complex portrayal of the crucifixion in the New Testament. He shares about his personal challenges and insights in a series of daily reflections for the Lenten season or for any other time of the year.

Jason R. Tatlock is Professor of History at Georgia Southern University, Armstrong Campus. He is the editor of The Middle East: Its History and Culture (2012). His other publications center on human rights and human sacrifice. He appeared in and served as the historical consultant for a Discovery Channel series on human sacrifice known as Blood for the Gods (2009).