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In viewing the history of sacrifice in the scripture, he came to the conclusion that God was weaning Israel away from animal sacrifice.

Yes, absolutely. So He trumped the very idea of animal sacrifice, and left us with a symbolic (so to speak) alternative sacrifice. We can now worship without the mess or smell.

So He trumped the very idea of animal sacrifice, and left us with a symbolic (so to speak) alternative sacrifice.

So to speak -- meaning that it was not "symbolic" at all. The answer to animal sacrifice was not to "trump" it with the sacrifice of a God-man, but rather to replace it with repentance and prayer.

Return, O Israel, unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast stumbled in thine iniquity.
Take with you words, and return unto the LORD; say unto Him: 'Forgive all iniquity, and accept that which is good; so will we render for bullocks the offering of our lips. (Hosea 14:2-3)