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

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostom316malice against Him even when crucified. 2480 “Yet what did this harm you? 2481 Nothing. For if Hewas a mortal and weak, and was about to become extinct, why did ye fear the letters asserting thatHe is the King of the Jews?” And what do they ask? “Say that ‘he said.’ For now it is an assertion,and a general sentence, but if ‘he said’ be added, the charge is shown to be one arising from hisown rashness and arrogance.” Still Pilate was not turned aside, but stood to his first decision. Andit is no little thing that is dispensed even from this circumstance, but the whole matter. For sincethe wood of the cross was buried, because no one was careful to take it up, inasmuch as fear waspressing, and the believers were hurrying to other urgent matters; and since it was in after times tobe sought for, and it was likely that the three crosses would lie together, in order that the Lord’smight not be unknown, it was made manifest to all, first by its lying in the middle, and then by thetitle. For those of the thieves had no titles.[2.] The soldiers parted the garments, but not the coat. 2482 See the prophecies in every instancefulfilled by their wickednesses; for this also had been predicted of old; yet there were three crucified,but the matters of the prophecies 2483 were fulfilled in Him. For why did they not this in the case ofthe others, but in His case only? Consider too, I pray you, the exactness of the prophecy. For theProphet saith not only, that they “parted,” but that they “did not part.” The rest therefore theydivided, the coat they divided not, but committed the matter to a decision by lot. And the, “Wovenfrom the top” ( ver. 23 ) is not put without a purpose; but some say that a figurative assertion isdeclared by it, that the Crucified was not simply man, but had also the Divinity from above. 2484Others say that the Evangelist describes the very form of the coat. 2485 For since in Palestine theyput together two strips of cloth and so weave their garments, John, to show that the coat was of thiskind, saith, “Woven from the top”; and to me he seems to say this, alluding to the poorness of thegarments, and that as in all other things, so in dress also, He followed a simple 2486 fashion.Ver. 24 . “These things the soldiers did.” But He on the Cross, committeth His mother to thedisciple, 2487 teaching us even to our last breath to show every care for our parents. When indeedshe unseasonably troubled Him, He said, “Woman, what have I to do with thee?” ( c. ii. 4 .) And,“Who is My mother?” ( Matt. xii. 48 .) But here He showeth much loving affection, and committethher to the disciple whom He loved. Again John conceals himself, in modesty; for had he desiredto boast, he would have also put in the cause for which he was loved, since probably it was somegreat and wonderful one. But wherefore doth He converse on nothing else with John, nor comfort2480Ver. 21, 22 . “ Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews, but that he said, I amKing of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written. ” N.T.2481to the Jews.2482Ver. 23, 24 . “ Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments, and made four parts, to everysoldier a part; and also His coat; now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore amongthemselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be, that the Scripture might be fulfilled which saith, Theyparted My raiment among them, and for My vesture they did cast lots. ” N.T.2483al. “ of the prophetical. ”2484or, “ from the first, ” ἄ νωθεν2485lit. “ little coat. ”2486λιτόν2487Ver. 25–27 . “ Now there stood by the Cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas,and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple standing by whom He loved, He saith unto Hismother, Woman, behold thy son. Then saith He to the disciple, Behold thy mother. And from that hour that disciple took herto his own home. ”475