{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/203/2030871.htm","path":"chr/ecf/203/2030871.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/203/2030871.htm","text":"22. It is related that when Pilate would fain have released Him all the people cried out, \u201cCrucify Him, Crucify Him!\u201d 3321 This also the Prophet Jeremiah foretells, saying, in the person of the Lord Himself, \u201cMy inheritance is become to Me as a lion in the forest. He hath uttered his voice against Me, wherefore I have hated it. And therefore (saith He) I have forsaken and left My house.\u201d 3322 And again in another place, \u201cAgainst whom have ye opened your mouth, and against whom have ye let loose your tongues?\u201d 3323 When He stood before His judge, it is written that \u201cHe held His peace.\u201d 3324 Many Scriptures testify of this. In the Psalms it is written, \u201cI became as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.\u201d 3325 And again, \u201cI was as a deaf man, and heard not, and as one that is dumb and openeth not his mouth.\u201d And again another Prophet saith, \u201cAs a lamb before her shearer, so He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His judgment was taken away.\u201d 3326 It is written that there was put on Him a crown of thorns. Of this hear in the Canticles the voice of God the Father marvelling at the iniquity of Jerusalem in the insult done to His Son: \u201cGo forth and see, ye daughters of Jerusalem, the crown wherewith His mother hath crowned Him.\u201d 3327 Moreover, of the thorns another Prophet makes mention: \u201cI looked that she should bring forth grapes, and she brought forth thorns, and instead of righteousness a cry.\u201d 3328 But that thou mayest know the secrets of the mystery, it behoved Him, Who came to take away the sins of the world, to free the earth also from the curse, which it had received through the sin of the first man, when the Lord said \u201cCursed be the earth in thy labours: thorns: and thistles shall it bring forth to thee.\u201d 3329 For this cause, therefore, is Jesus crowned with thorns, that first sentence of condemnation might be remitted. He is led to the cross, and the life of the whole word is suspended on the wood of which it is made. I would point out how this also is confirmed by testimony from the Prophets. You find Jeremiah speaking of it thus, \u201cCome and let us cast wood into His bread, and crush Him out of the land of the living.\u201d 3330 And again, Moses, mourning over them, says, \u201cThy life shall be suspended before thine eyes, and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt not believe thy life.\u201d 3331 But we must pass on, for already we are exceeding our proposed measure of brevity, and are lengthening out our \u201cshort word\u201d by a long dissertation. Yet we will add a few words more, lest we should seem altogether to have passed over what we undertook.","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Ser. II, Vol. III: Life a...","type":"page"}