The Lord dies instead of the servant;In place of the debtors, the Faithful One;
The Physician dies for the good of the patient;
The Shepherd rescues His sheep;
The King dies for the sins of His subjects;
The Peace-maker for the warriors;
The Creator dies for His creation;
God Himself wins man's salvation!
What now should the servant, debtor,
The sick one, the sheep, the nation, the multitude do?
What should the creatures, mankind do?
In love extol his Redeemer!
(Johann Gerhard, An Explanation of the History of the Suffering and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ, p. 15)
reminds me of the quote that introduced me to the then layman Lehmann (now brother in the office). He had used it as a part of his signature on a post on Lutheran Liturgy Forum, and I emailed him thanks for providing me with material to use for my ascension sermon:
ReplyDeleteMan's maker was made man that He, Ruler of the stars, might nurse at His mother's breast; that the Bread might hunger, the Fountain thirst, the Light sleep, the Way be tired on its journey; that the Truth might be accused of false witness, the Teacher be beaten with whips, the Foundation be suspended on wood; that Strength might grow weak; that the Healer might be wounded; that Life might die.
Augustine of Hippo, Sermons 191.1