the suffering christ 766 all this is for our sake! For this is what the Teacher of the world, writing to the Romans, very strongly affirms and testifies: “Jesus our Lord [...] was put to death for our trespasses” (Rom 4:25). “Christ loved us and gave [H]imself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Eph 5:2). Let a secular story give a pale illustration to a sacred deed. To prove his faithfulness to his friend (who was) in an extreme situation, a certain philosopher, went to jail in his stead so that the latter could settle his last affairs. But the tyrant (Dionysius the Sicilian, as Valerius Maximus11 relates) granted him leave from jail on the condition that the hostage would be executed unless he would return at the time allotted for the punishment. The day arrived on which the deadly decree of the tyrant had to be carried out. They went to prison to get the victim for death, and since the guilty one was not present, the guarantor was led out to be killed for his most trusted friend. Do you think he shuddered at the sight of the executioners? Not at all. Do you think he regretted his promised faithfulness? Not in the least. Indeed, the most steadfast (friend) would go forth to the undeserved punishment, even to his own death, unless the other, who was sentenced to death, would not hasten back, having settled his affairs, and thus would halt the tyrant, filling him with admiration — and his friend with joy — for such a heroic act, and earning freedom for himself on account of such a close friendship. The ancient world is astounded at such a splendid deed, but not I; it admires the remarkable friendship of Damon and Pythias, but not I. Indeed, why should I admire a philosopher who goes to prison for another philosopher, by whom he didn’t doubt he would be released from those (chains)? Rather, I admire, and exceedingly admire, the Son of God who was willingly encircled by chains for man, for sinful, ungrateful man, stained with every sort of crime. And further, [these were] the chains from which He was not disentangled and in no way released — but was 11 Cf. Momigliano, Arnaldo, Valerio Massimo (Valerius Maximus), EI XXXIV, 917-918.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mw==