“In light of temple practice and these extraordinary texts, it is not difficult to see why the first Christians reached for sacrificial language when attempting to explain the significance of Jesus’ terrible death. They saw an innocent man, their sinless Lord, indeed someone who, even in the midst of the agony of crucifixion, uttered not a curse but a blessing on those who were killing him, taking upon himself a thoroughly undeserved punishment. Like the lamb of sacrifice, they thought, his blood was being poured out as a substitute for our blood; like the scapegoat, he was being driven into the wilderness to die, as by rights we should.”