The central teaching of the Christian faith is that God’s justice required the sacrifice of His Son. It teaches that God’s mercy comes through sacrifice but Jesus teaches us that God desires mercy NOT sacrifice. God’s mercy is actually in opposition to the principle of sacrifice.

Christ, the innocent, was condemned to death because men didn’t understand the mercy of God.

But if you had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. Matthew 12:7

Christ is a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. When Melchizedek came to Abraham, he only brought bread, wine and blessing. There was no sacrifice. This is the Melchizedek priesthood.

But Abraham struggled in faith and so God condescended to allow sacrifice. Christ therefore mediates between what God desires and what man desires. God desires mercy, blessing, and love and man requires death, blood, and sacrifice.

Will we be reconciled to God’s mercy? Will we speak to the rock and stop striking it? Let us open our hearts to the glorious reality that our God is a God of mercy and NOT sacrifice.