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

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostom305no reason to tremble, but rather to rejoice and be glad, that leaving this perishable life we go to onefar better and brighter, and which hath no end. Which Christ teaching by His actions, goeth to HisPassion, not by constraint and necessity, but willingly. “These things,” it saith, “Jesus spake, anddeparted ‘beyond the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which He entered, and Hisdisciples.’”Ver. 2 . “Judas also, which betrayed Him, knew the place; for Jesus ofttimes resorted thitherwith His disciples.”He journeyeth at midnight, and crosseth a river, and hasteth to come to a place known to thetraitor, lessening the labor to those who plotted against Him, and freeing them from all trouble; andshoweth to the disciples that He came willingly to the action, (a thing which was most of all sufficientto comfort them,) and placeth Himself in the garden as in a prison.“These things spake Jesus unto them.” “What sayest thou? 2386 Surely He was speaking withthe Father, surely He was praying. Why then dost thou not say that, ‘having ceased from the prayer,’He came there?” Because it was not prayer, but a speech made on account of the disciples. “Andthe disciples entered into the garden.” He had so freed them from fear that they no longer resisted,but entered with Him into the garden. But how came Judas there, or whence had he gained hisinformation when he came? It is evident from this circumstance, that Jesus generally 2387 passed thenight out of doors. 2388 For had He been in the habit of spending it at home, Judas would not havecome to the desert, but to the house, expecting there to find Him asleep. And lest, hearing of a“garden,” thou shouldest think that Jesus hid Himself, it addeth, that “Judas knew the place”; andnot simply so, 2389 but that He “often resorted thither with His disciples.” For ofttimes He was withthem apart, conversing on necessary matters, and such as it was not permitted to others to hear.And He did this especially in mountains and gardens, seeking a place free from disturbance, thattheir attention might not be distracted from listening.Ver. 3 . “Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the Chief Priests andPharisees, cometh thither with lanterns, and torches, and weapons.”And these men had often at other times sent to seize Him, but had not been able; whence it isplain, that at this time He voluntarily surrendered Himself. And how did they persuade the band?They were soldiers, 2390 who had made it their practice to do anything for money.Ver. 4 . “Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth, and said,Whom seek ye?”That is, He did not wait to learn this from their coming, but spake and acted without confusion,as knowing all these things. “But why come they with weapons, when about to seize Him?” Theyfeared His followers, and for this reason they came upon Him late at night. “And He went forth,and said unto them, Whom seek ye?”Ver. 5 . “They answered Him, Jesus of Nazareth.” 23912386addressed to St. John.2387τὰ πολλὰ2388ἔ ξω2389or, “ not once, but often, ” &c.2390στρατιῶται , mercenaries.2391Ver. 5, 6 . “ They answered Him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I Am. And Judas also which betrayed Himstood with them. As soon then as He had said unto them, I Am, they went backward, and fell to the ground. ” N.T.459