On Pascha, sermon by St. Melito of Sardis (d. 180)

"One of the greatest sermons ever written is titled On Pascha (Easter), written by Melito of Sardis in just the second century. In the sermon Melito asks us to recognize that from the beginning God has been working through the failures of humanity to complete His plan for us in Christ. Here is a brief excerpt of this beautiful sermon. . ." from Pastor Thomas Cowell, St. John's Lutheran, Burt, Iowa, Newsletter March-April 2019. https://www.stjohnsburt.org/uploads/8/5/6/4/85643360/messenger_mar_apr_2019.pdf

69. This is the Pascha of our salvation:
this is the one who in many people endured many things.
This is the one who was murdered in Abel,
tied up in Isaac,
exiled in Jacob,
sold in Joseph,
exposed in Moses,
slaughtered in the lamb,
hunted down in David,
dishonored in the prophets.
70. This is the one made flesh in a virgin,
who was hanged on a tree,
who was buried in the earth,
who was raised from the dead,
who was exalted to the heights of heaven.
71. This is the lamb slain,
this is the speechless lamb,
this is the one born of Mary the fair ewe,
this is the one taken from the flock,
and led to slaughter.
Who was sacrificed in the evening,
and buried at night;
who was not broken on the tree,
who was not undone in the earth,
who rose from the dead and resurrected humankind from the grave below. […]

To read more of this glorious sermon, which continues, see the link above:

103. “So come all families of people,
adulterated with sin, and receive forgiveness of sins.
For I am your freedom.
I am the Passover of salvation,
I am the lamb slaughtered for you
I am your ransom,
I am your life,
I am your light,
I am your salvation,
I am your resurrection,
I am your King.
I shall raise you up by my right hand,
I will lead you to the heights of heaven,
there shall I show you the everlasting father.”

(Melito of Sardis, On Pascha, trans. Alistair Stewart-Sykes (Crestwood, New York: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2001).