Only-begotten’s human suffering as pattern; we cry in him

To those justified by faith: “Become imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ,” and the inspired Peter: “For what credit is it if, sinning and being struck, you endure? But if, doing good and suffering, you endure, this is grace with God; because Christ also died for you, leaving you a pattern so that you might follow his tracks.” So the Only-begotten, having likeness toward us, became an aim: to suffer humanly, and to teach those known to him in what manner one must meet the assaults of trials, and what sort those persecuted for piety toward God ought to be.

He rather persuades us to strain toward prayers and to make unceasing entreaty toward God; he teaches these things, having brought petitions and entreaties in the days of his flesh to the one able to save him from death. For he was approaching with a strong cry and entreaty as one who had become as we are, yet he was heard as Son by nature and truly, not disregarded: “For I,” he says, “knew that you always hear me.” For so that he might also prepare our prayers to become acceptable, he himself again begins the matter. Therefore we were in him, as in a second firstfruit of the race—we who pray with a strong cry and not without tears, and entreat that death’s power be abolished.