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In the Epistle commonly ascribed to the great Apostle,
amongst other points of doctrine, the thesis of the re
demption of mankind by the shedding of blood is set
forth. Only at this price could man be redeemed.
It is by the death of his deliverer that he will be restored
to the life of grace. For this shedding of blood the chief
reasons are : 1st. the sinner by his sin willed to do away
with God, therefore, he deserves in his turn to be de
stroyed by divine justice which demands his blood; 2nd.
God has formally declared this in the Old Law, in which
He prescribed the shedding of the blood of the goat or
calf offered in sacrifice to Him, and He commanded that
once a year the High Priest should present himself in
the Holy of holies with his hands stained with the blood
of the victims. The blood shed for the salvation of
the world must be the blood of a God. Undoubtedly
every man, as the punishment due to his sins, must
suffer death, but this loss of life does not suffice to
satisfy divine justice nor to atone for an infinite offence.
The Man-God by His death could alone, pay our
debt.
In the Gospel for this day Jesus affirms His perfect
sinlessness. This assertion increased the fury and hatred
of the Jews. They accused Him of blasphemy and wanted
to stone Him. Before long Caiphas the high-priest
will repeat this accusation. Thus the storm gathers which
in a few days will culminate in the deicide.
Jesus hid from the wrath of His enemies not because
He feared death, but to await the day and the hour ap
pointed by His heavenly Father. By allowing them to
bind His hands, to lead Him before the different tribu
nals, and finally to nail Him to the Cross, He would
show us that His sacrifice was entirely voluntary.
The Collect implores the Lord to look favorably