role Jesus undertakes to intercede on our behalf before the court of heaven. The title “propitiation” points to his becoming, by his sacrifice on the cross, the payment required to satisfy the damages caused by our sins and to quench the just wrath of God aroused by those sins. The word “propitiation” comes from the Latin word for “favor” (compare the English word “propitious”). Our sins justly deserve God’s wrath, but Jesus’ sacrifice provided the payment to satisfy heaven’s justice. With God’s