He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his
mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep
before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.--Isaiah
liii. 7.
It is scarcely possible not to see that it is Jesus who is here
held forth to our view. Who so oppressed and afflicted as he? Who
so patient under insult and tyrannical cruelty? Who so silent
under the voice of calumny? What lamb so patient under the hand of
the destroyer? He did not resist, he did not oppose; yea, he did
not even attempt to vindicate his conduct; but, with meekness,
gentleness, and cheerfulness did he hear, bear, and suffer, all
that malice could devise, or cruelty inflict. Although he bore
their unjust treatment without murmuring, yet his was not the
tame submission of one insensible of wrong, or incapable of
resistance.[85]
[85] Matthew xxvi. 53.
Under the law, the lamb intended as a sacrifice was first taken
to the door of the tabernacle, that the priest might have any
opportunity to discover if it was free from blemish;[86] and Jesus
the Lamb of God was not offered as a sacrifice without being first
brought bound before the High Priest. But he, blinded by prejudice
and passion, neglected to perform this part of his office. Yet this
spotless lamb was not led forth for slaughter, before his purity
had been attested; and, though the Priest refused to do it, Herod
and Pilate gave their testimony to the fact, that in him they could
find no fault. He was perfectly free from spot or blemish. He alone
is the Lamb whose sacrifice can benefit either Jew or Gentile. It
would be easy to shew, that all other sacrifices were but typical of
this Lamb, viewed as slain from the foundation of the world; but, as
it is more connected with type than prophecy, it would be improper
here.
[86] Leviticus ix. 3. 5.