Ascension and Sacrifice: The Return of the Risen Son

Many modern interpreters assume that Levitical sacrifice involves slaughtering animals on altars, focuses on what offerers give up, and involves abstract notions of moral satisfaction. These ideas do not align with the cultural knowledge of Second Temple Jews who would know that no animals are killed on any altars in Levitical sacrifice. Moreover, for them the conceptual center of sacrifice rested on giving a gift to God, not on what an offerer gives up. The gift moves from an offerer, to a...