How Can Jesus Take On The Sins of The World: and Why Does It Matter?

Introduction


In my previous posts "Did Jesus Really Suffer?" Arguing the Jesus’s sacrifice was more than 3 days of inconvenience and a infinite lowering of His power to reconcile man to God. And in "Can Finite Crimes Deserve Infinite Punishment?" Showing hell is firstly a place outside God's presence and secondly,  it's the logical consequence of the ultimate rejection of God's provision; God can not force you into His presence against your will.

In this post I will try to tackle why Jesus’s death is sufficient to save humanity.

The legal framework:

In law, in particular employment law, a manager('s) or a managing director can be legally liable for mistakes employees made in certain extreme cases, even if the manager('s) or managing director had no knowledge or direct involvement in the negligent acts perpetrated by the employee. The very fact they were in charge and responsible at the time can be enough to condemn them to prison and or fines. Sometimes known as vicarious liability or legal fictions where sometimes innocent third parties are liable for the crimes of others.

So it is silly to suggest we have no experience of individuals being responsible for the acts of another.

In the New Testament in particular, the Scripture is full of legal terminology;

Jesus as the advocate:

1 John 1:8-10 says “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” We are called to confess our sins to God and He will forgive us of our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness, if we are humble and recognise we are all sinners and not somehow worthy of forgiveness. He continues in the next verses 1 John 2:1–2 saying “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” The Greek for ‘advocate’ is παράκλητος/paraklétos, which means: (a) an advocate, intercessor, (b) a consoler, comforter, helper, (c) Paraclete. Additionally paráklētos (from 3844 /pará, "from close-beside" and 2564 /kaléō, "make a call") – properly, a legal advocate who makes the right judgment-call because close enough to the situation. 3875 /paráklētos ("advocate, advisor-helper") is the regular term in NT times of an attorney (lawyer) – i.e. someone giving evidence that stands up in court. The Greek for the word for ‘atoning sacrifice’ is ἱλασμός/hilasmos which means: a propitiation (of an angry god), atoning sacrifice. along with ἱλάσκομαι/hilaskomai which means: (a) I have mercy on, show favor to, (b)  with object of sins: I forgive, pardon.

Satan as the accuser:

See (Revelation 12:10 & John 8:44) Satan is described as the father of lies, a murder, and never holding to the truth. Satan lies and accuses us before God about all our mistakes.

Obviously, Satan isn’t co-equal with God, nor should it be assumed that Satan is somehow equivalent as a barrister accusing the guilty, where they have authority to do so! It seems from the context, it is more like a tattle-tell making trouble to bring others down to their level. And more specifically, it seems Satan is accusing believers in particular, not everyone. Nor should it be forgotten, Jesus our advocate isn't defending everyone, only those who believe.

Jesus’s sacrifice:

The idea that no greater love can be displayed that one gives up their life for their friends (John 15:12), the words of Jesus. But in (Romans 5:7-8) Paul contrasts this by Christ dying for us while we were His enemies, displaying greater love.

Isaiah 53:5 "He was pierced for our transgressions " and 2 Corinthians 5:21 "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us".Jesus, as the head of humanity (Romans 5:12-21), takes on the penalty for humanity's sins. His divine nature makes Him uniquely capable of bearing an infinite penalty, while His human nature allows Him to represent humanity.

Jesus as the perfect sacrificial lamb (symbolising the Judaic law of the innocent third party taking on the sins of the many to reconcile man to God. Leviticus 16) Jesus took on every injustice; every lie, lustful or angry thought, murder, adultery, rape and sexual abuse (Matthew 5), and took it on himself.

This means Jesus knows what it's like to be lied or slandered against, what it's like to be unjustly condemned for something they never did, without any redress, what it's like to be murdered or raped¹ or sexual abused² ³. Jesus bore it all and because He was God and perfect, death had no hold on Him. This means those who trust and believe in His redemptive act, can share in this new life.

It may be objected, how was Jesus being perfect, means death had no hold on Him? In Law it is required that an innocent person is set free as soon as they are known to be innocent by the legal system. As a result,  Jesus being wholly innocent of all crimes can walk free of the abandonment of God the Father's presence.

For victims, Jesus’ shared suffering offers comfort. He’s not a distant savior but one who knows their pain. For all, His sacrifice transforms lives, freeing us from sin’s grip and giving hope of eternal life (John 3:16). This isn’t a fleeting act but an eternal invitation to walk free from the courtroom, no longer condemned but redeemed.

Conclusion: An Invitation to Trust

In the cosmic courtroom, Jesus stands as our advocate and lamb, bearing our sins to satisfy justice and restore us to God. His sacrifice, far more than a brief suffering, embraces every human pain, offering redemption to all who trust Him. This matters because it mends our broken relationship with God, reveals His love, and empowers us to live with hope. Will you accept His defense, trusting in the one who bore it all for you?


References 


  1. https://medium.com/belover/the-case-that-jesus-was-raped-1eb16deb91eb
  2. Jayme R. Reaves and David Tombs. (2020).#MeToo Jesus: Naming Jesus as a victim of sexual abuse, Review & Expositor: Volume 117, Issue 2, May 2020, Pages 204-221, https://doi.org/10.1177/0034637320922898.
  3. Figueroa, R., & Tombs, D. (2020). Recognising Jesus as a Victim of Sexual Abuse: Responses from Sodalicio Survivors in Peru. Religion and Gender, 10(1), 57-75. https://doi.org/10.1163/18785417-01001003.

Comments

  1. Joe Barnes10 June 2025 at 12:29

    One of your shorter essays, but to my mind one of your best! I particularly was struck by your comparison to culpability of a manager who is responsible for the action of an employee (I had never considered this before) Although the objection ‘how can God take responsibility of the sin of humanity?’ Had never been an issue for me, I had heard ‘ in passing’ this objection. I thought this example was a very good answer.
    Well done, another excellent essay ><>

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