Barnabas, Epistle of Barnabas 5

The Lord endured the surrender of his flesh to corruption for this very purpose: that through the forgiveness of sins we might be cleansed — a cleansing that comes through the blood of his sprinkling (Isaiah 53:5). Scripture bears witness to him, addressing some things to Israel and others to us, and it says: “He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our sins; by his stripe we were healed. Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer” (Isaiah 53:5, 7). Therefore we owe the Lord immense gratitude, because he has revealed to us the past and made us wise in the present, and we are not without understanding about the future. Scripture also says: “The net is not spread in vain for the birds” — meaning that a person justly perishes who, having known the way of righteousness, turns himself onto the way of darkness. And yet, my brothers, consider: if the Lord endured suffering for our soul, though he is Lord of all the world — the one to whom God said at the foundation of the world, “Let us make man in our image and likeness” — how did he come to endure suffering at human hands? Learn this: the prophets, possessing the gift from him, prophesied about him. He himself endured, so that he might abolish death and demonstrate the resurrection from the dead; for it was necessary that he be revealed in the flesh. He did this to fulfill the promise to the fathers and, while preparing a new people for himself, to show on earth that he, having brought about the resurrection, will judge. He taught Israel to the very end, performing such great signs and wonders, and he loved them exceedingly. But when he chose his own apostles — those who would proclaim his gospel — they were men more lawless than any other sinners, so that he might prove he came not to call the righteous but sinners. Then he revealed himself as the Son of God. For if he had not come in the flesh, human beings would not have been saved by seeing him; they cannot even gaze at the sun, a work of his own hands, because they cannot endure its rays. Therefore the Son of God came in the flesh for this very reason: to bring to its climax the complete dealing with sins on behalf of those who persecuted his prophets to death. That is why he endured. God declares that the stroke upon his flesh comes from them: “When they strike their shepherd, then the sheep of the flock will be destroyed.” Yet he himself willed to suffer in this way, for it was necessary that he suffer on the wood. The prophet speaking of him says: “Spare my soul from the sword,” and “Pierce my flesh,” for the assemblies of the wicked have risen against me (Psalm 22:16). And again: “Behold, I have given my back to scourges and my cheeks to slaps; I have set my face like a flinty rock.”