Did Jesus Redeem Mankind? — Page 230
? 223 the hammer is about to fall- all these things tending to frighten him out of his wits, and he becomes fearfully panicstricken; as, otherwise, merely piercing of the flesh does not hurt so deeply as to become unbearable. In wars thousands of sword cuts are inflicted and flesh is lopped off but as the sword fall suddenly, it does not strike terror. But the nail has its terror, leaving one wondering as to what would happen next. Even if the flesh is cut off by a sword, one does not feel so much pain as is caused by a needle prick. For, one comes to realize it when the flesh has been lopped off. In fact, on many occasions if one finds the hone has been saved, instead of getting alarmed, one feels grateful to God. But as the doctor makes ready the syringe for injection, one feels as if the surgeon were going to slaughter him and becomes terror-stricken. No doubt what happened to the Messiah was a shockingly grievous thing mentally; but he did not suffer the real pain which results in human death. Since, however, he was of a delicate disposition, he could not bear even that much and fell into a swoon. As against this the thieves hung on his right and left cracked jokes with each other. In fact, one of them cast in his teeth, "if thou be Christ, save thyself and us. " But the other answering rebuked him, saying, 'Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man hath done nothing amiss' (St. Luke 23:39-40). Now they