ucifixion of Jesus. It is
the only intimation of the time of His death that the Creed contains. It
states that He was born, and that His mother was the Virgin Mary, and
beyond this reference to Pilate there is no intimation as to the time of
the nativity or the death. Bishop Pearson writes:--"As the Son of God,
by His deliberate counsel, was sent into the world to die in the fulness
of time, so it concerns the Church to know the time in which He died.
And because the ancient custom of the world was to make computations by
the governors, and refer their historical relations to the respective
times of their government, therefore, that we might be properly assured
of the actions of our Saviour which He did, and of His sufferings,--that
is the actions which others did to Him,--the present governor is named
in that form of speech which is proper to such historical or
chronological narrations when we affirm that He suffered under Pontius
Pilate."[082] From stating the birth of Christ, the Creed passes by what
at first sight may seem an abrupt transition to His suffering,
crucifixion, and death. There is no reference to His life or works,
though these differed so widely from those of ordinary men. The reason
seems to be that the end for which He came into the world was to suffer
and die. Although He spake as never man spake, and did the works no
other man did, it was not in the first place to teach or to work
miracles that He emptied Himself of His glory and came to earth, but in
order to suffer and die in the room and stead of sinners. Others had
been prophets and teachers, others had worked miracles, others had done
good in their day and generation, but none save Jesus had come in his
own name or wielded power so marvellous as His. No one could share with
Him the work of suffering and dying for sinners. He was lifted up that
He might draw all men unto Him. "He suffered the just for the unjust,
that he might bring us to God."[083] On the cross He tasted death for
every man, and made a sacrificial atonement for the sins of the world.
"He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our
iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his
stripes we are healed."[084] His dying was the leading thought and
purpose of His life. Those who were with Him fixed their eyes on His
greatness as manifested in His wisdom and miracles, and looked for His
setting up a kingdom of this world, but He Himself from the ver