For those with ears to hear, listen and understand.

…God sent God, the Word, among us. He sent him to save us through persuasion rather than violence, for there is no violence in God. He sent him to call us rather than to accuse us; he sent him to love rather than to judge.

Who of us would ever have expected these things?

He took on himself the burden of our iniquities, and he gave his own Son as a ransom for us. Where except in his justice could we find that with which to cover our sins! By whom could we be justified—we who are wicked and ungodly—except by the only Son of God! What a wondrous exchange, unsearchable operation, and unexpected benefits! The crime of a large number is covered over by the justice of a single just one!

What a wondrous exchange, unsearchable operation, and unexpected benefits! The crime of a large number is covered over by the justice of a single just one!

In the past, he first convinced our nature of its inability to obtain life. Now he has shown us the Savior capable of saving even what was impossible to save. In these two ways, he willed to lead us to trust in his goodness, to esteem him as our nourisher, Father, teacher, counsellor, healer, and our wisdom, light, honor, glory, power, and life.

— From The Letter to Diognetus [c. 124]