Chapter CI.—Christ refers all things to the Father
“Then what follows of the Psalm is this, in which He says: ‘Our fathers trusted in Thee;
they trusted, and Thou didst deliver them. They cried unto Thee, and were not confounded.
But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people;’ which show
that He admits them to be His fathers, who trusted in God and were saved by Him, who
also were the fathers of the Virgin, by whom He was born and became man; and He foretells
that He shall be saved by the same God, but boasts not in accomplishing anything through
His own will or might. For when on earth He acted in the very same manner, and answered
to one who addressed Him as ‘Good Master:’ ‘Why callest thou me good? One is good, my
Father who is in heaven.’571 But when He says, ‘I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of
men, and despised of the people,’ He prophesied the things which do exist, and which happen
to Him. For we who believe on Him are everywhere a reproach, ‘despised of the people;’
for, rejected and dishonoured by your nation, He suffered those indignities which you
planned against Him. And the following: ‘All they that see me laughed me to scorn; they
spake with the lips, they shook the head: He trusted in the Lord; let Him deliver him, since
he desires Him;’ this likewise He foretold should happen to Him. For they that saw Him
crucified shook their heads each one of them, and distorted their lips, and twisting their
noses to each other,572 they spake in mockery the words which are recorded in the memoirs
of His apostles: ‘He said he was the Son of God: let him come down; let God save him.’
571 Luke xviii. 18 f.
572 The text is corrupt, and the meaning doubtful. Otto translates: naribus inter se certantes.
Chapter CI.—Christ refers all things to the Father
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Chapter CI.—Christ refers all things to the Father