The Sacrifice of Jesus: Its Impact and Meaning in the World

Nothing was the same after the sacrifice of Jesus to God, as change was constant and the sacrifice was an ongoing part of the process.

The Western Christian Perspective

The New Testament contains many accounts of why God sent Jesus Christ to the world. In John 3:16, it states that God sent His Son 'that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.' From this perspective, since the times mentioned in the Old Testament until the times when Jesus was sent and died, there were obvious changes in how people recognized the existence of God and acknowledged the need for salvation. Jesus was sent to redeem mankind from sins, but this does not mean that sins can be committed repeatedly. We must be held accountable for our actions and be punished for our sins.

The Eastern Orthodox Perspective

From the Eastern Orthodox perspective, the conception of the sacrifice and its meaning differ significantly from the Western Christian model, which historically has been a forensic juridical model. Here, the focus is more therapeutic than a courtroom drama.

Man's Separation from God

The Eastern Orthodox view of the human condition is that the essential problem is not guilt before God, but rather a separation from God. Mankind has fallen from what they were created to be, with hearts dead and minds scattered, hiding from mortality by burying themselves in pleasures and distractions. This has led to a further debasement of the soul, leaving man sick unto death.

The Incarnation and Resurrection of Christ

Jesus became man to assume all that man is and to suffer all that a man can suffer, culminating in a brutal and ignominious death. In death, He defeated death for all humanity, becoming the first fruits of the resurrection. By His descent into hell, Christ accomplished the transformation of every point of human nature assumed into its source of healing.

St. John Chrysostom's Teachings

St. John Chrysostom emphasizes the redemption through the vine analogy. Just as the branch is grafted into the life-giving vine, so too are we grafted into Christ. This process transforms us and enables us to bear fruit, reflecting the divine image we were created to fulfill.

The Ransom Payment and Self-Sacrifice

According to the Eastern Orthodox perspective, Christ's sacrifice is not about paying a ransom to another entity but rather fulfilling what humanity was meant to accomplish. The concept of paying a ransom to hell or the grave is over-reading the text. Instead, Christ's sacrifice was about what was necessary in Himself to save humanity, rather than a payment of divine blood to another entity, which would be ridiculous and repugnant.

The Eternal Salvation

Christ fulfilled all that was given to humanity to fulfill. By making His divinized humanity our own, He opened the way for us to fulfill our purpose as bearers of God. Through His incarnation, death, resurrection, and ascension, God became accessible to us in a transformative way that heals and transforms our souls.

Conclusion

The sacrifice of Jesus had a profound impact on the world, not just as a legal transaction or forensic replacement, but as a healing of the broken relationship between humanity and God. From the Eastern Orthodox perspective, it highlights the therapeutic nature of Christ's work, leading us toward a full realization of our divine potential.