How have the martyrs despised death, having peace with God by Jesus
Christ, scorning the most cruel torments that men and hell could
devise and invent! but Jesus Christ could not do so, as he was a
sacrifice for sin; he died for us, he was made a curse for us. O, my
brethren, Christ died many deaths at once; he made his grave with
the wicked, and with the rich in his death.

It was because of sin, the sin that was put into the death he died,
and the curse of God that was due to sin, that that death was so
bitter to Jesus Christ; it is Christ that died. The apostle speaks
as if never any died but Christ; nor indeed did there, so wonderful
a death as he. Death, considered simply as a deprivation of natural
life, could not have these effects in a person personally more
righteous than an angel; yea, even carnal wicked men, not awakened
in their conscience, how securely they can die! It must therefore he
concluded that the sorrows and agony of Jesus Christ came from a
higher cause, even from the curse of God that was now approaching
for sin.

At last they condemn him to death, even to the death of the cross,
where they hang him up by wounds made through his hands and feet,
between the earth and the heavens; where he hanged for the space of
six hours. No God yet appears for his help. While he hangs there
some rail at him, others wag their heads, others tauntingly say, "He
saved others, himself he cannot save." Some divide his raiment,
casting lots for his raiment before his face; others mockingly hid
him come down from the cross; and when he desires succor, they give
him vinegar to drink. No God yet appears for his help.

Now the earth quakes, the rocks are rent, the sun becomes black, and