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

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostom323to comfort them. Since then it was likely that the disciples on hearing these things would either notbelieve the woman, or, believing, would grieve that He had not deemed them worthy of the vision,though He promised to meet them in Galilee; in order that they might not by dwelling on this beunsettled, 2549 He let not a single day pass, but having brought them to a state of longing, by theirknowledge that He was risen, and by what they heard from the woman, when they were thirstingto see Him, and were greatly afraid, (which thing itself especially made their yearning greater,) Hethen, when it was evening, presented 2550 Himself before them, and that very marvelously. 2551 Andwhy did He appear in the “evening”? Because it was probable that they would then especially bevery fearful. But the marvel was, why they did not suppose Him to be an apparition; for He entered,“when the doors were shut,” and suddenly. The chief cause was, that the woman beforehand hadwrought great faith in them; besides, He showed His countenance to them clear and mild. He camenot by day, in order that all might be collected together. For great was the amazement; for neitherdid He knock at the door but all at once stood in the midst, and showed His side and His hands. 2552At the same time also by His Voice He smoothed their tossing thought, by saying,Ver. 19 . “Peace be unto you.”That is, “Be not troubled”; at the same time reminding them of the word which He spake tothem before the Crucifixion, “My peace I leave 2553 unto you” ( c. xiv. 27 ); and again, “In me yehave 2554 peace, but” “in the world ye shall have tribulation.” ( c. xvi. 33 .)Ver. 20 . “Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord.”Seest thou the words issuing in deeds? For what He said before the Crucifixion, that “I will seeyou again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you” ( c. xvi. 22 ), thisHe now 2555 accomplished in deed; but all these things led them to a most exact faith. For since theyhad a truceless war with the Jews, He continually repeated the, “Peace be unto you,” 2556 givingthem, to counterbalance the war, the consolation. And so this was the first word that He spake tothem after the Resurrection, (wherefore also Paul continually saith, “Grace be unto you and peace,”)and to women He giveth good tidings of joy, 2557 because that sex was in sorrow, and had receivedthis as the first curse. Therefore He giveth good tidings suitable respectively, to men, peace, becauseof their war; joy to women, because of their sorrow. Then having put away all painful things, Hetelleth of the successes 2558 of the Cross, and these were the “peace.” “Since then all hindranceshave been removed,” He saith, “and I have made My 2559 victory glorious, and all hath beenachieved,” (then He saith afterwards,)Ver. 21 . “As My Father hath sent Me, so send I you.”2549or, “ distracted. ”2550al. “ presents. ”2551Ver. 19 . “ Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the discipleswere assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst. ” N.T.2552Ver. 20 . “ And when He had so said, He showed unto them His hands and His side. ”2553“ give. ”2554“ that in Me ye might have, ” N.T.2555al. “ this therefore He. ”2556Ver. 21 . “ Then said Jesus to them again, Peace, ” &c.2557Matt. xxviii. 9 . “ Jesus met them (the women) saying, Rejoice. ” G. T. Χαίρετε . E.V. “ All hail. ”2558or, “ perfect actions, ” κατορθώματα2559al. “ all hindrances had been removed, and He had made His. ”486