How can we imitate the crucified Christ?

The apostle says that He “bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness” (1 Pet. 2:24). St. Ambrose says, “he who dies to sin lives to God; do you live to Him Who spared not His own Son, that in His body He might crucify our passions. For Christ died for us, that we might live in His revived Body. Therefore not our life but our guilt died in Him … That wood of the cross is, then, as it were a kind of ship of our salvation.”⁴⁸³ He again says, “Who will not learn to forgive, when persecuted, seeing that Christ, even on the Cross, prayed for them that persecuted Him? See you not that

477 St. Athanasius of Alexandria, On the Incarnation 24.2 (PP 44A:99).

478 St. Athanasius of Alexandria, On the Incarnation 23.1 (PP 44A:101).

479 St. Athanasius of Alexandria, On the Incarnation 25.2 (PP 44A:103).

480 St. Athanasius of Alexandria, On the Incarnation 25.3 (PP 44A:103–105).

481 St. Athanasius of Alexandria, On the Incarnation 24.3 (PP 44A:103).

482 See Tertullian, An Answer to the Jews 10 (ANF 3:164–167).

483 St. Ambrose of Milan, On the Holy Spirit 1.9.109–110 (NPNF II/10:108).

those weaknesses, as you please to call them, of Christ’s are your strength? (2 Cor. 12:9, 13:4; 1 Pet. 2:24, 4:13).”⁴⁸⁴