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

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostom244of the ass revealed to them? Because this was a great thing also. But observe the wisdom of theEvangelist, how he is not ashamed to parade their former ignorance. That it was written they knew,that it was written of Him they knew not. For it would have offended them if He being a King wereabout to suffer such things, and be so betrayed. Besides, they could not at once have taken in theknowledge of the Kingdom of which He spake; for another Evangelist saith, that they thought thewords were spoken of a kingdom of this world. ( Matt. xx. 21 .)Ver. 17 . “But the multitude bare witness that He had raised Lazarus.” 1872For so many would not have been suddenly changed, unless they had believed in the miracle.Ver. 19 . “The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing?behold, the world is gone after Him.”Now this seems to me to be said by those who felt rightly, but had not courage to speak boldly,and who then would restrain the others by pointing to the result, as though they were attemptingimpossibilities. Here again they call the multitude “the world.” For Scripture is wont to call by thename “world” both the creation, and those who live in wickedness; the one, when It saith, “Whobringeth out His world 1873 by number” ( Isa. xl. 26 ); the other when It saith, “The world hatethnot 1874 you, but Me it hateth.” ( c. vii. 7 .) And these things it is necessary to know exactly, thatwe may not through the signification of words afford a handle to the heretics.Ver. 20 . “And there were certain of the Greeks that came up to worship at the Feast.”Being now near to become proselytes, they were at 1875 the Feast. When therefore the reportconcerning Him was imparted to them, they say,Ver. 21 . “We would see Jesus.” 1876Philip gives place to Andrew as being before him, and communicates the matter to him. Butneither doth he at once act with authority; for he had heard that saying, “Go not into the way of theGentiles” ( Matt. x. 5 ): therefore having communicated with the disciple, he refers the matter tohis Master. For they both spoke to Him. But what saith He?Ver. 23, 24 . “The hour is come, that the Son of Man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I sayunto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone.”What is, “The hour is come”? He had said, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles,” (thus cuttingaway all excuse of ignorance from the Jews,) and had restrained the disciples. When therefore theJews continued disobedient, and the others desired to come to Him, “Now,” saith He, “it is time toproceed to My Passion, since all things are fulfilled. For if we were to continue to wait for thosewho are disobedient and not admit these who even desire to come, this would be unbefitting ourtender care.” Since then He was about to allow the disciples to go to the Gentiles after theCrucifixion, and beheld them springing on before, He said, “It is time to proceed to the Cross.” ForHe would not allow them to go sooner, that it might be for a testimony unto them. 1877 Until that bytheir deeds the Jews rejected Him, until they crucified Him, He said not, “Go and make disciples1872Ver. 17, 18 . “ The people therefore that was with Him when He called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him fromthe dead, bare record. For this cause the people also met Him, for that they heard that He had done this miracle. ” N.T.1873E.V. “ host. ”1874“ cannot hate, ” N.T.1875perhaps, “ went to, ” ᾔ εσαν , conj. for ἦ σαν1876Ver. 21, 22 . “ The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida in Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, wewould see Jesus. Philip cometh and telleth Andrew, and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. ” N.T.1877i.e. to the Jews.369