Son of Man is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister. [Matt. 20;28] much as to say, according to the commentary of Cornelius à Lapide, "I have conducted Myself, and still conduct Myself, so as to show how I would willingly listen to all as the servant of all."
Hence Jesus Christ, says St. Bernard, at the close of life, was not content to take the form of a simple servant, in order to be at the command of others, but even of a wicked servant, in order to be punished as such, and so to pay off that punishment which was due us as the servants of Hell in chastisement of our sins. "Taking not only the form of a servant, that He might obey, but of a wicked servant that He might be chastised, and so pay the penalty of the servant's sin."
Behold, finally, says St. Gregory of Nyssa, how the Lord of all submits as an obedient subject to the unjust sentence of Pilate, and to the hands of His executioners, who barbarously torture and crucify Him. "The Lord all is obedient to the sentence of the judge, the king of all does not disdain to feel the hand of the executioners." St. Peter had said as much before: He delivered Himself to him that judged Him unjustly. [1 Peter 2:23] And, like a servant, He is resigned to punishment, as if He had well deserved it: When He was reviled, He did not revile; and when He suffered, He threatened not. [Ibid.] Thus did our God
