To the Jew First: No Human Sacrifice

Another common Jewish objection to the claims of Christianity is that the Mosaic Law prohibits human sacrifice. Thus, Jesus' death on the cross cannot be the sacrifice Christians claim it is. In order to qualify as the atonement for mankind's sins, Jesus must have perfectly upheld the Law, as New Testament authors readily admit. Yet, sacrificing a human, Jewish unbelievers argue, violates the very Law He is claimed to have perfectly upheld, thus disqualifying Him as the Messiah.

How can the Christian respond to this argument? Is it true that the Law prohibits human sacrifice, and thus that Jesus' death on the cross cannot atone for man's sins? (I would like to point readers to the Jews for Jesus website and the resources it lists under, "Was Jesus' death a violation of the commandment against human sacrifice?" My post below is mostly a repackaging of those resources for consumption by my readers.)