with the scriptures.” In particular Jesus’ redemptive death fulfils Isaiah’s
prophecy of the suffering Servant. Indeed Jesus himself explained the
meaning of his life and death in the light of God’s suffering Servant. After
his Resurrection he gave this interpretation of the Scriptures to the disciples
at Emmaus, and then to the apostles.
No. 609:
By embracing in his human heart the Father’s love for
men, Jesus “loved them to the end,” for “greater love has no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for his friends.” In suffering and death his
humanity became the free and perfect instrument of his divine love which
desires the salvation of men. Indeed, out of love for his Father and for men,
whom the Father wants to save, Jesus freely accepted his Passion and
death: “No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own
accord.” Hence the sovereign freedom of God’s Son as he went out to his
death.
No. 617:
The Council of Trent emphasizes the unique character of
Christ’s sacrifice as “the source of eternal salvation” and teaches that “his
most holy Passion on the wood of the cross merited justification for us.”
And the Church venerates his cross as it sings: “Hail, O Cross, our only
hope.”
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