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

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostomin order to show a superiority.” Yet this was not to show a superiority, 1811 but to humble Himselfgreatly, and to show Himself as having nothing more than man. For to pray is not proper to God,nor to the sharer of the Throne. Seest thou then that He came to this 1812 from no other cause thantheir unbelief? Observe at least that the action beareth witness to His authority.“He called, and the dead man came forth wrapped.” 1813 Then that the matter might not seem tobe an appearance, (for his coming forth bound did not seem to be less marvelous than hisresurrection,) Jesus commanded to loose him, in order that having touched and having been nearhim, they might see that it was really he. And He saith,“Let him go.”Seest thou His freedom from boastfulness? He doth not lead him on, nor bid him go about 1814with Him, lest He should seem to any to be showing him; so well knew He how to observemoderation.When the sign had been wrought, some wondered, others went and told it to the Pharisees. 1815What then did they? When they ought to have been astonished and to have admired Him, they tookcounsel to kill Him who had raised the dead. What folly! They thought to give up to death Himwho had overcome death in the bodies of others.Ver. 47 . “And they said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.”They still call Him “man,” these who had received such proof of His divinity. “What do we?”They ought to have believed, and served, and bowed down to Him, and no longer to have deemedHim a man.Ver. 48 . “If we let him thus alone, the Romans will come, 1816 and will take away both ournation and city.” 1817What is it which they counsel to do? 1818 They wish to stir up the people, as though theythemselves would be in danger on suspicion of establishing a kingdom. “For if,” saith one of them,“the Romans learn 1819 that this Man is leading the multitudes, they will suspect us, 1820 and willcome and destroy our city.” Wherefore, tell me? Did He teach revolt? Did He not permit you togive tribute to Cæsar? Did not ye wish to make Him a king, and He fly from you? Did He not follow1821a mean and unpretending 1822 life, having neither house nor anything else of the kind? Theytherefore said this, not from any such expectation, but from malice. Yet it so fell out contrary totheir expectation, and the Romans took their nation and city when they had slain Christ. For the1811i.e. a mere superiority of the Father.1812i.e. to use prayer.1813Ver. 44 . “ And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound aboutwith a napkin. ” N.T. “ Jesus saith unto them, Loose him. ” N.T.1814al. “ walk. ”1815Ver. 45–47 . “ Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on Him.But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. Then gathered the Chief Priestsand Pharisees a council. ” N.T.1816al. “ are coming. ”1817N.T. “ All men will believe on Him, and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. ”1818al. “ which they mean to say? ”1819al. “ see. ”1820al. “ us about a kingdom. ”1821al. “ exhibit. ”1822al. “ plain. ”359