Yeshua Our Atonement

Atonement is the mystery of God bringing union between himself and humanity, but also more, redeeming the entire cosmos. There is no one story that can contain the full meaning of atonement. From the purification theology of Leviticus, the Presence of God theme of the Hebrew Bible, glimmerings of a divine Messiah, priestly mysteries, and on to the death and glorification of Yeshua, atonement comes to us in metaphors and analogies. Torah itself is open-ended, pointing to an unspecified continuation, and the life, message, and identity of Yeshua are seen to be that continuation. To learn atonement is to penetrate the veil and realize the glories of what is to come.Derek Leman brings together the theology of Leviticus (based largely on the scholarship of Jacob Milgrom) and the meaning of Messiah's death (with attention to the writings of Scot McKnight). In a combination not found in any one place, Leman brings together Torah and Messiah around the great question, "Why atonement?" Far from being a mere theory about arcane, irrelevant matters, atonement is the heart of living in union with God and people.Derek Leman is a rabbi, writer, and speaker in Atlanta, Georgia. His blog at DerekLeman.com frequently addresses issues at the intersection of Judaism and Christianity.