Homilies on the Gospel of St. John and the Epistle to the Hebrews

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostom164words. And observe how by little and little He led them up to Himself. Here He saith that Himselfgiveth, not the Father; 1297 “The bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life ofthe world.”“But,” saith some one, “this doctrine was strange to them and unusual.” 1298 And yet John at anearlier period alluded to it by calling Him “Lamb.” ( c. i. 29 .) “But for all that, they knew it not.”I know they did not; nay, neither did the disciples understand. For if as yet they had no clearknowledge of the Resurrection, and so knew not what, “Destroy this Temple, and in three days Iwill raise it up” ( John ii. 19 ), might mean, much more would they be ignorant of what is saidhere. For these words were less clear than those. Since that prophets had raised men 1299 from thedead, they knew, even if the Scriptures have not spoken so clearly on the subject, but not one ofthem ever asserted that any man had eaten flesh. Still they obeyed, and followed Him, and confessedthat He had the words of eternal life. For this is a disciple’s part, not to be over-curious about theassertions of his teacher, but to hear and obey him, and to wait the proper time for the solution ofany difficulties. “How then,” saith some one, “was it that the contrary came to pass, and that thesemen ‘went back’?” It was by reason of their folly. For when questioning concerning the “how”comes in, there comes in with it unbelief. So Nicodemus was perplexed, saying, “How can a manenter into his mother’s womb?” So also these are confounded, saying,Ver. 52 . “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”If thou seekest to know the “how,” why askedst not thou this in the matter of the loaves, howHe extended five to so great a number? Because they then only thought of being satisfied, not ofseeing the miracle. “But,” saith some one, “their experience then taught them.” Then by reason ofthat experience these words ought to have been readily received. For to this end He wroughtbeforehand that strange miracle, that taught by it they might no longer disbelieve what should besaid by Him afterwards.[3.] Those men then at that time reaped no fruit from what was said, but we have enjoyed thebenefit in the very realities. Wherefore it is necessary to understand the marvel of the Mysteries,what it is, why it was given, and what is the profit of the action. We become one Body, and “membersof His flesh and of His bones.” ( Eph. v. 30 .) Let the initiated 1300 follow what I say. In order thenthat we may become this not by love only, but in very deed, let us be blended 1301 into that flesh.This is effected by the food which He hath freely given us, desiring to show the love which Hehath for us. On this account He hath mixed up Himself with us; He hath kneaded up 1302 His bodywith ours, that we might be a certain One Thing, 1303 like a body joined to a head. For this belongsto 1304 them who love strongly; this, for instance, Job implied, speaking of his servants, by whomhe was beloved so exceedingly, that they desired to cleave unto his flesh. For they said, to show1297al. “ And observe how He bound the disciples to Himself; for these are they who say, ‘ Thou hast the words of life,whither shall we depart? ’ but here He bringeth in Himself giving, not the Father. ”1298al. “‘ The bread which I will give. ’ But the multitudes not so, but contrariwise, ‘ This is a hard saying, ’ whereforethey go back. Yet it was no strange or unusual doctrine, for John, ” &c.1299or, “ risen. ”1300i.e. communicants.1301ἀ νακερασθῶμεν1302ἀ νέφυρε1303ἕ ν π1304al. “ is proof of. ”252