He was offered because it was his own will, and he opened not his mouth: he shall be led as a sheep to the slaughter, and shall be dumb as a lamb before his shearer, and he shall not open his mouth.
Augustine of Hippo
Because he has come hidden, our God, that is, Christ, will come manifest. "And he will not keep silence." What does it mean, "will not keep silence"? Because he had first kept silence. When did he keep silence? He was judged in order that there might be fulfilled that which the prophet had also predicted: "As a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before his shearer, without voice, so he opened not his mouth." Therefore, if he were unwilling to suffer, he would not suffer. If he did not suffer, his blood would not be poured forth. If his blood would not be poured forth, the world would not be redeemed.
Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.