Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/728

 He had  taken  the  sins  of  all  men  upon  Him,  in  order  to  make  satisfaction for  them  to  the  divine  justice. He took  upon  Himself  the  curse which rested  on  mankind,  in  order  to  bring  to  all  men  that  blessing which Almighty  God  promised  to  Abraham,  when  He  said:  “In  thee shall all  the  nations  of  the  earth  be  blessed”  (Old  Test.  IX).



The vicarious  Satisfaction  of  Jesus  Christ.  The  divine  plan  of salvation  is  visibly  presented  to  our  understanding  by  the  rejection  of our  Lord  in  favour  of  Barabbas,  whereby  the  Innocent  suffered  for  the guilty. We sinful  men  are  so  many  Barabbasses,  for  we  have  robbed God of  His  honour,  and  have  deserved  death. But the  Incarnate  Son of God  has  taken  our  sins  upon  Himself,  and  has  made  satisfaction  for them to  the  divine  justice  as  our  representative,  in  order  that  we  might be freed  from  guilt,  and  delivered  from  everlasting  death.

Our Blessed  Lord  was  scourged  for  us.  The  scourging  was  a terrible torture to  our  Lord  Jesus. The very  fact  of  being  stripped  of  His clothes and  exposed  to  the  gaze  and  laughter  of  the  rough  soldiers was an  untold  shame  and  pain  to  the  Most  Pure. Then followed  the countless blows  of  the  cruel  scourges. Our Divine  Lord’s  tender  Body was covered  with  wounds  and  bruises,  and  the  Precious  Blood  flowed  on to  the  ground. But He  uttered  no  complaint; no  cry  of  pain  crossed His lips. He was  silent,  He  endured  and  prayed,  offering  each  stroke to His  Heavenly  Father  in  satisfaction  for  our  sins. Our Lord  suffered this chastisement  especially  to  make  satisfaction  for  all  our  sins  against purity and  chastity. How grievous  and  shameful  must  sins  against  the sixth Commandment  be,  if  Jesus  had  to  expiate  them  so  terribly!