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

NPNF (V1-14)St. ChrysostomAs though He had said, “Though we be confounded, though we be troubled, let us not fly fromdeath, since even now I though troubled do not speak of flying; for it behooveth to bear what iscoming on. I say not, Deliver Me from this hour,” but what?Ver. 28 . “Father, glorify Thy Name.”“Although My trouble urges Me to say this, 1900 yet I say the opposite, ‘Glorify Thy Name,’ thatis, Lead Me henceforth to the Cross”; which greatly shows His humanity, and a nature unwillingto die, but clinging to the present life, proving that He was not exempt from human feelings. Foras it is no blame to be hungry, or to sleep, so neither is it to desire the present life; and Christ indeedhad a body pure from sin, yet not free from natural wants, for then it would not have been a body.By these words also He taught something else. Of what kind is that? That if ever we be in agonyand dread, we even then start not back from that which is set before us; and by saying, 1901 “GlorifyThy Name” He showeth that He dieth for the truth calling the action, “glory to God.” And this fellout after the Crucifixion. The world was about to be converted, to acknowledge the Name of God,and to serve Him, not the Name of the Father only, but also that of the Son; yet still as to this Heis silent.“There came therefore a Voice from Heaven, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”When had He “glorified it”? By what had been done before; and “I will glorify it again” afterthe Cross. What then said Christ?Ver. 30 . 1902 “This Voice came not because of Me, but for your sakes.”They thought that it thundered, or that an Angel spake to Him. And how did they think this?Was not the voice clear and distinct? It was, but it quickly flew away from them as being of thegrosser sort, carnal and slothful. And some of them caught the sound only, 1903 others knew that thevoice was articulate, but what it meant, knew not. What saith Christ? “This Voice came not becauseof Me, but for your sakes.” Why said He this? He said it, setting Himself against what theycontinually asserted, that He was not of God. For He who was glorified by God, how was He notfrom that God whose name by Him was glorified? indeed for this purpose the Voice came. WhereforeHe saith Himself, “This Voice came not because of Me, but for your sakes,” “not that I may learnby it anything of which I am ignorant, (for I know all that belongeth to the Father,) but for yoursakes.” For when they said, “An Angel hath spoken unto Him,” or “It hath thundered,” and gavenot heed to Him, He saith, “it was for your sakes,” that even so ye might be led to enquire what thewords meant. But they, being excited, did not even so enquire, though they heard that the matterrelated to them. For to one who knew not wherefore it was uttered, the Voice naturally appearedindistinct. “The Voice came for your sakes.” Seest thou that these lowly circumstances take placeon their account, not as though the Son needeth help?Ver. 31 . “Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the prince of this world be cast down.”19041900i.e. “ Save Me, ” &c.1901Ben. omits “ and by saying. ”1902Ver. 29 omitted. “ The people therefore that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered; others said, An Angel spaketo Him. ”1903Ben. omits “ only. ”1904“ cast out, ” N.T.374