SUPPER IN BETHANY The previous chapter closed on a depressing picture. The Jewish leaders began a dangerous war against the Lord Jesus Christ. Together with the scribes, they believed that the Lord had betrayed the Sanhedrin. However, we find in this chapter that there are faithful believers who will witness for the truth. They will glorify the Lord and witness for Him in spite of an overwhelming atmosphere of hate and hostility. The testimony of such believers glorifies the Lord on all levels: on the personal level- as in the case of the sister of Lazarus; and on the communal level- as displayed during the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem. Moreover, the heavens witness to Him; and so do the Old Testament prophets; some leaders; and finally the Lord testifies for Himself. 1- Anointing the Lord’s Feet with Spikenard Chapter 12: 1-11 2- The Lord’s Entry into Jerusalem 12 -19 3- The Greeks Honor the Lord Jesus Christ 20 - 26 4- The Heavens Glorify the Lord Jesus Christ 27 - 36 5- The Prophets testify to His Glory 37 - 41 6- Some Leaders Witness to His Glory 42 - 43 7- The Lord Witnesses for Himself 44 - 50 1 - Anointing the Lord’s Feet with Spikenard ‘Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, Where Lazarus was which had been dead, Whom He raised from the dead.’ [1] After the Lord had raised Lazarus from the dead, He went to make a friendly visit to his home. It was six days before the feast of the Passover. The home in Bethany was close to Jerusalem, and the Lord’s visit seemed to be a preparation for the celebrations of the feast. The Lord wants us to prepare ourselves for spiritual events. Another factor was that the hour of His crucifixion was drawing near and so He went to Bethany as He knew they would set up their nets to catch Him. He could have escaped and destroyed their nets. However, He had come specifically to offer Himself on our behalf and as a living sacrifice of love. It was a friendly visit to the home of Mary and Martha whom he loved greatly. He knew that He would be physically separated from them soon. Therefore this was a farewell visit which would be marked by His love and comforting words. Such farewell words would provide support on the day of His trial which was drawing near. https://coptic-treasures.com/ Finally, the Lord had also come to Bethany, after having raised Lazarus, in order to follow up the effects of His deed. It is as though He had come to water what He had planted, and to sanctify it so that it would yield adequate fruit. The Lord came on the Jewish Sabbath and the feast of the Passover was to be celebrated six days later. Now was the time when each family would choose the lamb which they were going to offer on the day of the Feast. They had to isolate the lamb in a shed for five days and then offer it as a sacrifice on the sixth day which would mark the day of the Passover Feast. Now, here was the Lord who is the true Passover and the Lamb of God. He had come of Himself in order to isolate Himself. He delivered Himself into the hands of His loved ones. They would anoint Him with spikenard and tears on the day following His arrival. Voluntarily, He dedicated His life to be a sacrificial offering on behalf of the whole world. After His visit to Bethany, the Lord He would enter into Jerusalem on the day that would be marked as the Christian Sabbath day (Palm Sunday). ‘There they made him a supper; And Martha served: But Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.’ [2] The family offered thanksgiving in a practical manner. The Lord was the One who had raised the head of the family from the dead. They made dinner and each of the three members of the family played a different role. Lazarus sat among those who were gathered around the Lord and he witnessed for the One who had granted Him life. Martha served, while Mary proclaimed her love by anointing the Lord’s feet. Some scholars believe that this was the same event that took place in the house of Simon the Leper (Matt24:6). Others believe that these were two separate events. The dinner here takes place in the house of Lazarus and his sisters. The fact that Martha was serving proves that point. The dinner mentioned in the Gospel of St Matthew took place on the third day of the Passover week, whereas this dinner occurred six days before the Feast. The two occasions may have occurred in Bethany: during the first dinner, Mary used about one measure of the spikenard; while she used all the spikenard she had on the second occasion (Mk 14:3). Martha served at the table to express her great appreciation. She considered it to be an honor to serve the Lord in any manner she could. Previously, the Lord had compared her service to that of her sister Mary who had been sitting at His feet. In spite of that, she did not quit the service she did. But Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him’ [2]…the presence of Lazarus testified to the resurrection that the Lord had granted him. He sat down to confirm that the Lord had truly restored him to life. * The Lord was eager to visit the person He had raised from the dead. He wished to rejoice on account of the gift of a renewed life. Similarly, the Lord comes to the meal that the Church prepares for Him to celebrate the One who has risen and is now sitting on high1. St Ambrose 1 Concerning Repentance, 2:7:60 https://coptic-treasures.com/ * It is clear that the dinner was held in Martha’s home as those who loved the Lord received Him in their homes. The Evangelist tells us that ‘Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him’ as this proves the reality of his being restored to life. After so many days Lazarus was there, actually alive and eating with those present2 St John Chrysostom * Every time that the Lord raised someone from the dead, He asked for food to be offered to that person. In this manner, no one would imagine that the event is an imaginary one. For this reason, after Lazarus had been raised, he is reported to be present at the table and sharing a meal with the Lord3. St Jerome ‘Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, And anointed the feet of Jesus, And wiped his feet with her hair: And the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. [3] ‘The pound’: a Greek and Roman measure equivalent to about 200 Drahmas. ‘Nardine’/ spikenard: a kind of expensive fragrance that people of the ancient world competed to possess. It is mentioned in the Book of the Song of Solomon (1:12; 4:13, 14). The quality of its purity indicated that no wax or resin was added to turn it into a cream. Mary expressed her love by pouring a pound of pure and costly oil, rubbing the Lord’s feet with it and drying it with her hair. Consequently, the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. She had offered the most valuable thing she owned in order to honor the Lord. With great love, she anointed His feet. It was common to anoint the head but she did not do that. Surely some oil must have run over the Lord’s clothes as she poured a whole pound of it. She is like the human soul who speaks to her Bridegroom and King and says: “While the king sits at his table, my spikenard sends forth its fragrance” (Sg of Sol. 1:12) Mary had poured the fragrance of her love and its smell continues to fill the House of the Lord across all generations. The Father smells it as it carries the sweet smell of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Cor 2:15). We, the believers, smell the fragrance after so many centuries and desire to offer our whole life as a sweet fragrance of love to Him who has loved us first. * Martha served. This fact indicates that the meal was served in her house…Mary did not serve for she was a disciple. On this occasion she acted spiritually and not as though she had been called to serve. Moreover, she did not offer her services to all the guests in general. She honored the Holy one solely. She approached Him as her God and not as a person. Consequently, she 2 Hom. on St John, 65:2 3 Against Jovinianus, 2;17 https://coptic-treasures.com/ anointed His feet and wiped them with her hair. She did those things as she believed in Him and in that her concept was different from many others4. St John Chrysostom * The spikenard is a symbol for righteousness. It weighed one pound. However, it was a rare and costly fragrance. In the Greek language the word ‘faith’ has its origin in the word ‘faith’ and is synonymous to it. One prays to act righteously for ‘the just shall live by faith’ (Rom 1:17). Wipe the feet of Jesus…in other words, walk in the Lord’s footsteps to reap the fruit of a righteous life. Wipe His feet with your hair: offer whatever you have which exceeds your needs and give it to the poor. In this manner, you will be wiping the Lord’s feet. Hair seems to be an unnecessary addition to the body, therefore present something that is in excess. Even though it exceeds your needs, yet it will be of value when offered at the Lord’s feet. It could be that the Lord’s feet on earth are needy; or could He be talking about something other than the members of His body when He says: “Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me” (Matt 25:40? Therefore offer whatever exceeds your needs; and yet you will be offering what would be welcome to His feet5. * ‘…And the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment’ [3]: The world is filled with the fragrance of the Lord’s personal reputation of righteousness; for a good reputation is like a refreshing fragrant smell. Those who walk in wickedness and bear the name of Christ actually bring dishonor to His name. We are told that because of such people ‘the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles’ (Rom 2:24). If through the wicked people are led to blaspheme against the Lord, then it is through the righteousness that the name of God is honored. Listen to the Apostle when he says: “For we are the fragrance of Christ in every place.” In the Song of Solomon, we find these words: ‘Because of the fragrance of your good ointments your name is as ointment poured out’ (Sg of Sol 1:3). St Augustine * This fragrance is not different than the one which the bride used and whose fragrance reached the bridegroom: ‘While the king sits at his table, my spikenard sends forth its fragrance’ (Sg of Sol 1:12). The Gospel mentions that when the oil was poured over the Lord its fragrant smell filled the house where the meal was being served. It appears that the woman who had poured the oil had predicted the mystery of Christ’s death. The Lord proclaimed the act she had done by saying: “For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial…” (Matt 26:12). 4 Hom 65. PG 59:391 5 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate50:6 https://coptic-treasures.com/ The Home which became filled with the sweet odor is symbolic of the whole creation and the whole world for “…wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman has done, be told for a memorial of her.” The fragrance of her act would spread as the Gospel is being preached ‘for a memorial to her.’ In the Song of Solomon, we are told that the smell of spikenard spreads out from the bridegroom to his bride. In the Gospel too we are told that the sweet smell of the Lord filled the whole house. That sweet fragrance will fill the whole Body of the Church everywhere all over the world6. St Gregory of Nicea ‘Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, Who would betray Him, said…’ [4] * As the sweet smelling aroma of the Lord spread, it brought to some the breath of life, whereas it brought the smell of death to others (2 Cor 2:14-16). This sweet smell became the smell of death for Judas. St Augustine * [in a speech addressed to the emperor, Theodosius wrote the following:] ‘Therefore, O emperor, I address my words not only to you but they also are about you. Notice how God seeks to judge severely. Therefore as much as you have been glorified, it is fitting that you accordingly submit to your Creator. It is written: ‘when the Lord your God brings you into a strange land, and you eat and drink of the fruit of others, do not say: ‘Because of my strength and righteousness I have received this’; for it is the merciful Lord who has granted you these things.’ Therefore to show your love for His Body (that is, for His Church) offer water for His feet and kiss them. In this manner you will forgive those who have fallen and committed sin. Besides, you will have corrected and comforted them through your love for peace. Pour oil over His feet so that the whole house where the Lord Jesus Christ sits becomes filled with your sweet odor. Then will all those sitting there enjoy your fragrance. In other words, honor the humiliated. Then will the angels rejoice because they have been pardoned because they rejoice when one sinner repents (Lk 15:10). Moreover, the apostles rejoice, and the prophets are filled with gladness7. St Ambrose “Why was this fragrance not sold for three hundred dinarii, And given to the poor?”[5] In the middle of this heavenly scene where the sweet aroma of the Lord attracted all hearts towards the heavens, there was the stench of persistent greed, treason, and betrayal that came from the heart of a disciple who seemed to belong to the Lord’s party. His heart could not tolerate the sweet smell of the Lord which grants life: it became the aroma of death to death (1 Cor 2:16). 6 Song of Solomon: St Gregory of Nicea. Translated into Arabic by Dr George Nawar: Sermon 3 7 St Ambrose: 50:26 https://coptic-treasures.com/ The woman’s deed made Judas uncomfortable as he considered it was an act of squandering a big sum of money. He calculated that the value of the spikenard was about three hundred denarii. It could have been spent on the poor. He was unable to comprehend the invaluable price of love which cannot be calculated. Judas was a disciple who preached the good News; yet he did not love the spirit of preaching and of love. For him, preaching became his official career and job. It did not bear the sweet smell of love which fills the ‘Church’ which the ‘House of God.’ By seeming to care for the poor, Judas had found the excuse that would enable him to attack that act of love. The devil too transforms himself to appear as an angel of light. He used human wisdom to calculate the service of the poor versus the proclamation of love to the Lord Jesus Christ. All the while, he concealed in his depths his greed and love of money for he was a thief and stole from the treasury box. That traitor could not tolerate that act of love. How could Mary pour fragrance that could have been sold for three hundred denarii? Yet he was able to sell his Master for thirty pieces of silver. She put three hundred denarii under the Lord’s feet and considered this as nothing. As for Judas, he put his Master under thirty pieces of silver and considered his Master as nothing when measured by that trivial amount. ‘This he said, not that he cared for the poor; But because he was a thief, And had the bag, And he used to take what was put in it.’ [6] Some scholars explain that the name ‘Iscariot’ means ‘bearer of the money box.’ Judas had no feelings for the poor had he did not care about them. The ministry for the poor was only an opportunity for him to steal the money. Why did the Lord trust him with the money box? Rather, He could have given that task to Peter or John who were trustworthy. It could be that Judas sought to get the job and attained what he wanted. It could be that the Lord permitted that to happen so that he would have no financial need that would drive him to sell his Master. Throughout generations, the Church continues to have a very small number of sanctified members who lay and offer all their possessions at the Lord’s feet. As a result, the sweet aroma of the Lord who lives within their hearts fills the whole Church. The Church also includes those who hide behind formalities and money boxes in order to steal what belongs rightfully to the Lord, and to sell Him for the price of a slave. However, the Lord does not expose them for He gives them the chance to examine their depths, discover their wickedness and renew their lives by repentance. Then they would go back to their Savior. * The Lord was very patient with Judas who was a devil, a thief, and a traitor. He permitted him to be accepted among the innocent disciples. These faithful ones knew that such an https://coptic-treasures.com/ honor was a reward for loving Him (that is, being united with the Body and Blood of the Lord)8. * Watch and learn how this Judas had not become corrupt only when he accepted the bribe to betray His Master to the Jews…he did not perish at only that moment. Actually, he was evil and a thief from the time he became a follower of the Lord. He followed Him physically but not sincerely. He became the twelfth disciple; yet he had no share in the apostolic blessing…and when he died, another was appointed so that the number of apostles was then met9. * He is the One that angels serve… so why did He have a money box? He intended to demonstrate clearly that His Church would be obligated in the future to have a money depository. Why did the Lord delegate a thief to hold that responsible job other than to teach the Church to be longsuffering towards thieves? Nevertheless, the one who has the habit of stealing the money box did not hesitate to deliver his Master for the sake of money10. St Augustine * The Love of money is a terrible issue. It corrupts the ears and eyes; and transforms a human being into something worse than a savage beast. It strips a person from his conscience and of any ideals of friendship, brotherhood, or thoughts of personal salvation. His greed attracts him away from all that as it becomes like a fierce woman who subjugates all those she captures… Greed transformed Gehazi into a leper instead of being a disciple and prophet. It destroyed Ananias and Saphira with him; and it turned Judas into a traitor. Greed corrupted the Jewish leaders…it caused hundreds of wars, and filled the streets with blood and the cities with wailing and mourning11. St John Chrysostom ‘Then said Jesus, “Let her alone: she has kept this for the day of my burial”.’ [7] Judas condemned her, and considered that Mary had acted unwisely. He judged that she had wasted money on something useless; and the money could have gone to the poor. In contrast, the Lord proclaimed that she had performed a sublime prophetic as she had predicted His burial 8 Letters, 43 9 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate 50:10 10 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate 50:11 11 Homilies on St John, 65:3 https://coptic-treasures.com/ and the rituals involved. Through her love, she could perceive the Lord’s sufferings, His death, and His burial; and her deed proclaimed the sweet aroma of redemption. We have never heard of someone whose body was anointed and prepared for burial while he was still alive. Yet the Lord considered the spikenard as burial material for His body which would not see corruption. He had delivered His Body as a sacrifice and a spiritual food when He instituted the Eucharist on Holy Thursday. On that day, and as he willingly offered his Body, He acknowledged the procedure for His burial. In this manner, the Lord confirmed His free and holy will to accept death and burial for the sake of the world, thereby granting us the power and joy of His resurrection * The Lord indicated the motive for Mary’s act when He said: “Let her alone: she has kept this for the day of my burial” St John Chrysostom * Note, dear ones, that the Lord did not say: ‘You speak those words because you are a thief.’ He knew Judas was a thief; yet the Lord tolerated him and did not condemn him. In this manner the Lord sets the example for us to show tolerance towards evil people within the Church12. St Augustine “For the poor you have with you always; But Me you do not have always.” [8] These words carried a hidden significance and they referred to two acts. On the one hand, there was a purpose hidden behind Judas’ pretense of loving the poor. While claiming to help them, He was delivering His Master to death in a horrible deed of betrayal. On the other hand, there was the amazing act of Mary. She embraced and honored the Body that had been delivered up to die. She gave Him the costly spikenard which was the most precious thing she had. The Lord secretly admonished Judas because he claimed to love the poor. He then turned to Mary and praised her because she seized upon an opportunity that would not recur for ‘Me you do not have always.’ Mary prepared the Body of the Lord for burial while He was still alive. Therefore she was praised by the Lord Himself. Nicodemus and Joseph prepared the Body after His death. They were honored too, though this is not comparable to the honor given to Mary. She had offered one pound of precious oil, while they offered hundreds of pounds. Nevertheless, the first offering to the living Body was far more superior to the second one. Mary continues to invite us today to anoint the living Body of the Lord Jesus Christ. We can do so by serving His members: the poor, the suffering, those who have been banished, and those who have no one to look after them. Indeed, God has said: “You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land,” (Deut 15:11). Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea invite us to honor the Lord’s Body by honoring the members who have passed away, i.e. the saints and martyrs. 12 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate 50:11 https://coptic-treasures.com/ It is unwarranted to carry out one task at the expense of another. Our love for the poor should be in harmony with our love for the saints who are still alive. Through prayer and constant thanksgiving, these saints express love towards God as well as towards all mankind. * The Lord Jesus Christ sought to limit the evil in Judas. He did so by treating him with great humility. By not speaking about His knowledge that Judas stole from the money box, the Lord made a statement that would become an obstacle to the wicked desire of Judas. Moreover, the Lord’s words would strip Judas of any form of self defense13. St John Chrysostom When we speak about His divine presence with us, the Lord Jesus Christ is with us constantly. When we speak about His physical presence, He is the One who told His disciples: “Me you do not have always”, [8]. St Augustine ‘Then people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: And they came not for Jesus' sake only, But that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.’ [9] Many of the Jews had heard about Lazarus being raised from the dead. It was the talk of the whole city. Therefore people came not to see the Lord but to see the one who had been raised from the dead. They did not come to hear the Lord, but they came to see and verify the story about the one resurrected from the dead. These people had come to honor Him rather than to arrest Him or report Him to the authorities. Some had come to confirm their faith in Him by listening about the miracle of the resurrection from the mouth of Lazarus himself. Others had been driven to come out of curiosity. How could a person arise from the dead, what had he seen when he was dead, and what news can he tell about the other world? During these days of feasting, Lazarus became an amazing center of attention for many wanted to see and hear him. ‘But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;’ [10] St Jerome wrote a letter to Marcella in which he praises Blaesilla, the daughter of Paula, whose husband had passed away seven months after their marriage. She then suffered from a dangerous disease. This drove her to have faith and she dedicated all her energy towards serving the Lord. This caused a tide of strong attacks against her. St Jerome considered her to be the new Lazarus because she enjoyed what was similar to being resurrected from the dead. * Her previous life had been characterized by a kind of carelessness. She was bound by the ropes of wealth and she seemed to be like a dead person lying in the grave of this world. However, the Lord was greatly disturbed and troubled spiritually and cried: “Blaesilla, come forth.” She arose at His call, came out, and sat and ate with the Lord (Jn 12:2).The Jews angrily threatened her and demanded that she be put to death because the Lord had raised her from the dead (Jn12:10).She 13 Hom. 65 PG 59:391-392 https://coptic-treasures.com/ was content as the apostles offer glory to God. Blaesilla realized that she was indebted with her life to the One who had restored life to her. She could now embrace the feet of the One whom she had feared as a Judge just a short while ago…what greater comfort could she find to help her face the words of her opponents…these seemed lighter than smoke?14 St Jerome * Did not the Lord have the power to raise those who had been killed since He had the power to raise those who were dead? (In other words, could He have raised himself when the Jews sought to kill Him)? When you were plotting a violent death for Lazarus, were you disarming the Lord of His power? If you thought that those who had died a natural death were different from those who had been murdered, than just stop and think again. The Lord went through both these situations: He raised Lazarus who had died a natural death, and He raised Himself after having been murdered15. St Augustine ‘Because on account of Him, many of the Jews went away, And believed on Jesus.’ [11] As more hearts were fired up with the desire to see the Lord Jesus Christ, and as faith in Him increased, so did the jealousy of the chief priests become more intense. They consulted together; and could find no other means to solve the situation other than by killing Him. They exerted every effort to distort His image before the crowds so that they would abandon Him. Their attempts were futile due to the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. There could be no better proof that the Lord Jesus Christ was the Messiah than raising someone from the dead. The Lord had granted Lazarus life because He is real Life. 2-The Lord’s Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem ‘The next day a great multitude had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem’ [12], ‘Took branches of palm trees, And went forth to meet him, And cried out: “Hosanna: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!” [13] The palm tree branches are symbols of victory. That is why Cicero who had won many trophies was called ‘the man of many palm branches.’ The Lord overcame the powers of darkness through His death. That is why He was worthy to have bearers of palm branches pave His way. 14 Letter 38:2 15 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate 50:14 https://coptic-treasures.com/ Besides, carrying palm branches played an important role during the Feast of Dedication. It was a sign of rejoicing. Similarly, the Lord is our reason to celebrate- He is our Feast as He brings joy to our hearts. King Solomon states that the soul loved by her bridegroom- who is the Lord Jesus Christis similar to a palm tree: “I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of its branches…” (Sg of Sol: 7:8). Coptic (Egyptian) Christians observe the tradition to compete in buying palm branches, weaving, and decorating them with flowers. They often place a specially cooked loaf (Korban) in the shape of a Cross as part of the work. All this has the purpose of expressing the joy of the soul as she prepares to receive her victorious Bridegroom. It indicates a heart that is glad because of her heavenly King, the Savior of souls from all corruption. Many people continue to preserve the woven palm branches from one Palm Sunday until the next Palm Sunday is celebrated. This indicates the continued expression of welcome to the King within the hearts, as well as within the family inside their home. The people shouted words of welcome taken from Psalms 118:25-26. This reveals how the people’s welcome was in harmony with the spirit of the Holy Bible. It was the result of their perception that He was the awaited Messiah; whereas the religious leaders were struck with spiritual blindness. Although He came as a poor person lacking glory, yet the crowds welcomed Him as a King and Savior of Israel. They perceived that He was the righteous King who came in the name of the Lord (Ps 2:6). They accepted His kingdom wholeheartedly, and they expressed their feelings by shouting “Hosanna!” or ‘Hoshaana’ which means ‘He has redeemed us.’ The crowds opened their hearts to receive the Lord of glory, and they seemed to sing with the Psalmist, saying: “Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in: the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle” (Ps 24:7, 8). Palm tree branches are also a symbol of praise and a sign of victory. The Lord came to conquer death by dying. With the power of His Cross He defeated the prince of death. The word that the crowds used to cheer the Lord was ‘Hosanna.’ Some writers who know the Hebrew language believe that the word indicates a positive state of mind. This is similar to our use of certain expressions. For example, to indicate grief, we say “How sad”; to indicate joy, we say “Ha!’ surprise-“Wonderful”; and astonishment- “Oh.” ‘Hosanna’ belongs to that same class of words and cannot be translated into Latin or Greek. There are many such expressions, like: “He who tells his brother ‘Rakka’” as this is a tool of astonishment and expresses anger16. * “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!” [13]. 16 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate, 51:2 https://coptic-treasures.com/ We get a better meaning of the words “…in the name of the Lord” when we realize the implication to be ‘… in the name of the Lord God.” It is also appropriate to understand that He comes in His own name for He is the Lord17. * What kind of intellectual dilemma must the Jewish leaders have suffered as they heard such great crowds proclaiming that the Lord Jesus Christ was their King! But what Honor does the Lord receive by being king of Israel? What is the great thing for the Lord of Eternity to become king over mankind? The Lord’s reign over Israel is not intended for the collection of a tribute, or for the exchange of swords among soldiers, or to defeat His enemies in a declared war. Actually, He is King of Israel as He rules with kingly power over their inner natures; as He plans their eternal concerns; and as He attracts those who have faith, hope, and love to focus on Him and His divine kingdom. Being the Son of God and equal to Him, His act is one of humiliation that does not involve any elevation or grandness. He is the Word and by Him things were made. He willingly became the King of Israel. It is an act of tenderness and does involve any addition of power. Indeed, the One whom they called the King of Israel on earth is called the King of angels in heaven18. St Augustine ‘Then Jesus, when he had found a young donkey, Sat on it; as it is written, [14]. The Lord was used to walking when going from one place to another. However, He was now riding on a donkey with astonishing humility. He was not riding like king Solomon- in a carriage (Sg of Sol 3:9-10) decorated with ‘pillars of silver, supports of gold, and covered with purple.’ The Lord’s glory was not a materialistic one. Since His kingdom was not of this world, He did not carry any appearance of grandness. He ‘sat on it’: we are not told that ‘He rode it’ as the Evangelist wished to underline the Lord’s status as He sits on the throne. What is briefly reported in this passage has been reported with elaboration by the other three evangelists (Matt 21:1-16; Mk 11:1-11; Lk 19:29-48). “Fear not, daughter of Zion: Behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.” [15] The prophet asks the daughter of Zion to look up and see her humble and meek King who fills her life with the joy of victory. Therefore he invites her to rejoice and be glad for her King has come to tear away her fear and anxiety. The prophecy of the prophet Zechariah has been fulfilled: ‘Rejoice greatly (do not fear), O daughter of Zion; … behold, your King is coming to you: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on a donkey, and upon a colt the foal of a donkey’ (Zech 9:9). He did not come to take revenge of His enemies- Jews or Romans. Rather, He came so that His heavenly peace and sublime glory may fill them. This is what St Luke expressed in these words: ‘Peace in heaven and glory in the highest’ (Lk 19:38). St Augustine comments on that and says: 17 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate,51:3 18 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate 51:4 https://coptic-treasures.com/ * She was told ‘Fear not…’ as she would get to know the One whom she would glorify now. She was encouraged to dismiss fear for He had come to suffer. By pouring His Blood, He will erase your sins, and restore you to life. Concerning the colt who had never had someone sit on him before (according to the other evangelists), that was a reference to the Gentiles who had rejected the law of the Lord. As for the donkey…he was a symbol of His people, who came from Israel, and submitted to learn about the manger of their Master19. St Augustine “Fear not, daughter of Zion…” for most of those who ruled over the Jews were cruel and unjust. They delivered the people to their enemies and put a ransom to stimulate their attackers…this was not the case with that humble One. It was evident as He rode on a donkey, and did not lead an army as He entered the city. He just sat on a donkey20. St John Chrysostom ‘His disciples did not understand these things at the first: But when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him, And that they had done these things to him.’ [16] The disciples were unable to comprehend the real implications of the unfolding events and what they entailed. They could not see how the prophecies of the Old Testament were being fulfilled. It was only after the Lord was glorified upon His resurrection that He opened their hearts with love and their minds with the spirit of knowledge. Only then did they realize how they had been granted the joy of the new covenant, and which the prophets had longed for in the old times. The Evangelist reports this observation about the disciples to indicate their disability to understand that these events fulfilled the prophecies. He states that they remained in this state until the Lord was glorified through His crucifixion and resurrection. Then they understood. Before that, they were like young children who acted without understanding the context of the events unfolding around them. As soon as they reached a stage of maturity, they were able to perceive the divine mystery which lay behind these events. They finally realized that this was God’s plan for salvation * Do you notice how the disciples did not know most of the prophecies about the Lord Jesus Christ as He had not revealed these to them? Moreover, they did not understand His words: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,” (Jn 2:19). In another Gospel, we are told that: “…this saying was hidden from them” (Lk 18:34); and they did not know that He would rise from the dead… Note the philosophy of St John the Evangelist and how he did not shrink away from revealing how the minds of the disciples were dim at first. St John Chrysostom 19 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate51:5 20 Hom 66. PG 59:395-396 https://coptic-treasures.com/ * St John was not ashamed to admit the ignorance of the disciples. Later on, he reveals their knowledge. However, he was not concerned with honoring people for he preached to glorify the Spirit. St Cyril the Great People have held different perspectives concerning this unique procession: 1-The Lord Jesus Christ viewed it through the Cross and considered it to be a procession of glory. The hour had come for the Son of Man to be glorified by offering Himself as the Passover Lamb sacrificed on behalf of the world. Then He would carry believers over from slavery to Satan into the heavenly Canaan. 2- The people of the Old Testament looked on this procession wile they were in hell and found it to convey the fulfillment of the symbols and the prophecies. The time had come which they had so longingly anticipated for years. They had awaited the One who would carry them into Paradise and bringing them heavenly treasures. 3- The disciples watched the procession but understood nothing! They experienced a condition of great confusion! 4- The chief priests and the Pharisees watched and saw the procession as a great threat. It would cause utter destruction to their position and personal desires. 5- The crowds conceived the procession as a herald to a new age, for that One had come who would free them from the Roman occupation and grant them temporal glory! 6- Finally, the heavenly hosts watched the procession with amazement at the humility of the incarnated Word of God. The One who owned heaven and earth sat on a donkey and was being proclaimed by weak human beings…what were the implications of His humility and His love for mankind?! ‘Therefore the people that were with him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb, And raised him from the dead, bore witness.’ [17] The reason why all these crowds had come out to meet Him was the miracle He did when He raised Lazarus from the dead. At the same time, it was an opportunity to speak about this miracle, Therefore many got attracted to Him. This increased the envy of the Pharisees all the more. They lost all hope of restricting the Lord’s popularity and power. They could find no other solution to get rid of Him but to kill Him. The Lord had preached often, and had done countless miracles; yet raising Lazarus from the dead attracted the crowds to Him. Nothing could overwhelm and destroy a person like death; and nothing could bring a person more joy like the resurrection from death. * Many had resisted being converted immediately until they believed in this miracle21. St John Chrysostom 21 Homilies on St John, 66:2 https://coptic-treasures.com/ ‘For this cause the people also met him, Because they had heard that he had done this sign, [Jn 12:19] The Pharisees therefore said among themselves: “You see that you are accomplishing nothing? Look, the world has gone after him.” [19] At this time, all the fears of the religious leaders became real. The chief priests and Pharisees felt especially threatened as matters seemed to slip beyond their control. Indeed, all the people had joined together in a procession that shook the city. On the hand, the Pharisees were faced with the reality of their inadequacy “…you are accomplishing nothing…” [19]. On the other hand, they felt that the whole world had gone and followed the Lord. In this context, the reference is made to the Jewish world- that is every one had become attracted to Him just as a disciple would be. Therefore the Pharisees felt that any further delay in getting rid of Him constituted a danger that would be hard to remedy. * The Pharisees were referring to the crowds when they said: “…the world has gone after him.” The Holy Bible usually uses the expression ‘the world’ to refer to the creation and to those who walk wickedly. The Lord had told His disciples: “The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil,” (Jn 7:7) St John Chrysostom 3- The Greeks Honor the Lord Jesus Christ ‘Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast.’ [20] Some pagan converts, who were Greeks, desired to see the Lord Jesus Christ. This incident could have taken place a day or two after the Lord had come into the city for the Lord had spent the first day doing general services. Some scholars believe that these were Jews who had been dispersed and had adhered to the Hellenic culture and were therefore called Greeks, like for example Cornelius and the eunuch of Kadago. Besides, the Jews accepted some Gentiles who were naturally inclines to worship God yet were not familiar with the law of Moses and the prophets. At the same time, there were Gentiles who respected righteous Jewish people and allowed them to worship while they lived among them. They even allowed them to attend their religious gatherings within the established limits. Such Gentiles were the ones whom the Jews considered to be foreigners. Other scholars believe that these pagans were Gentiles. They note that the Jews in older times had allowed some Gentiles to travel to the temple during the feasts. It is as though they foretold the destruction of the veil that separated the Gentiles from the Jews through the power of the Lord Jesus Christ. These Gentiles used to come to the temple to worship without eating the Passover. At the Lord’s birth, He attracted the magi from the east. They worshipped Him and offered gifts. They also witnessed for Him in one way or other in the royal palace and among the priests and high priests. When He was crucified, He attracted the Greeks from the west who for the pleasure of seeing Him. It appears that the Lord had come to bring together the east and the west so that all may become one fold under one shepherd. By His birth and death, He opened the https://coptic-treasures.com/ way of faith to the Gentiles so that all may enjoy Him. The Macedonian man became entitled to appear to the apostle Paul in a dream and cry out: “Come over…and help us” (Acts 16:9). These Greeks did not participate in the procession that took place when the Lord made His entry into Jerusalem. It could be that only the Jews were allowed. However, they were able to find out how to participate spiritually as they proclaimed their sincere desire to see Him. It was as though they joined in their own language and shouted with the Jews, “Hosanna (Redeem us) in the highest”! Although there was a great crowd around the Lord Jesus Christ, these Greeks did not lose their hope of fulfilling their heart’s desire and wish to see Him. * They were potential converts (i.e. accepting the Jewish faith) and therefore had come to the feast and requested “…to see Jesus”22, [21]. St John Chrysostom ‘Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, And asked him, saying, “Sir, we would see Jesus”’, [21]. Some writers believe that these Greeks knew Philip, and that they lived close by in Bethsaida- the Gentile area of Galilee. They had probably attended some of the Lord’s gatherings and had seen Philip sitting next to Him. Their message to Philip conveyed their special appreciation of the Lord and their eagerness to meet and speak with Him separately. They had come to the feast, yet they were not impressed with the grandness of the temple, or with the great throngs coming for the feast. Moreover, they had not come to see the wonders and miracles that the Lord did. All they wanted was to have Him for themselves as they yearned to see Him and speak with Him. Sadly enough, during the Christian feasts- especially during the big feasts of Easter and Christmas- many Christians are so preoccupied with the preparations for the feast that they do not yearn to see the Lord Jesus Christ and to meet personally with Him. Some scholars believe that these people came from Phoenicia or from Syria. They were probably inhabitants of the Decapolis which is close to the Pool of Genasereth and Bethsaida. * Note how the sought to kill Him, whereas the Gentiles sought to see Him. Nevertheless, there were also Jewish people who shouted: “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!” We find in the crowd some who belonged to the circumcised as well as others who belonged to the uncircumcised. This is like two walls in a house, each having a different 22 Homilies on St John, 66:2 https://coptic-treasures.com/ direction. Yet they meet and exchange the kiss of peace and share the one faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us therefore listen to the voice of the Cornerstone: “The hour has come that the Son of Man be glorified” [23]. Some may think that the Lord was referring to Himself and that He would be glorified as the Gentiles wanted to see Him. But that is not the case for the Lord was actually referring to His vision of the Gentiles. They were going to come into the faith from all nations. This would occur after His suffering and resurrection. The apostle accordingly says: “that hardening in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in,” (Rom 11:20). When the Greeks came to see Him, the Lord seized the occasion to announce the future fullness of the Gentile. They would believe after His hour had come; and when He Himself would be glorified in heaven, then the Gentiles would come into the faith23. St Augustine ‘Philip came and told Andrew: And in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.’ [22] It is so wonderful when servants work together! They both came to the Lord to present to Him the souls that yearned to know Him. Philip probably debated with Andrew what they should do. He had often heard the Lord say that He had come to save the lost sheep of Israel. Together they agreed to bring the matter to the Lord. * Philip went to Andrew as he was his senior. He presented the matter to him and did not act with authority as he had read: ‘Do not go into the way of the Gentiles,’ (Matt 10:5).That is why he spoke and sought the advice of the disciple, then brought the matter to the Lord24. St John Chrysostom ‘But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.” [23] St John Chrysostom states that the Lord had previously told the disciples: “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles” (Matt 10:5). However, as the hour of the crucifixion drew nearer, the door to the Gentiles would be opened and the time for preaching to the Gentiles had come. The Lord accepted to see them. His words that “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified”, are intended to encourage the Gentiles to come and get acquainted with Him. The Lord saw that the fields were white and ready for the harvest. It is a moment of glory for Him as the doors of His Church were opened to receive all mankind. It happened as a reaction to the Jews who had rejected Him and had departed from the fold of believers. The Lord’s vision would be fulfilled through His death and resurrection. It would be like a mustard seed placed in the earth to bring much fruit. 23 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate 51:8 24 Homilies on St John, 66:2 https://coptic-treasures.com/ The disciples and apostles were the first Jews to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. These Greeks were the first Gentiles to believe in Him after the Cross tore the veil which separated heaven from earth- and the Jews from the Gentiles. It was necessary for the Lord to be glorified through His death and resurrection in order to establish His glorious Church consisting of Jews and Gentiles. His love obligated Him to die. In order to redeem the world which had been destroyed by corruption, it was necessary to wash it from sin, sanctify it, and glorify it in heaven. These are the many mustard seeds and the harvest of His redeeming act. The hour had come and no one would ever comprehend the depth and mystery of that time except God alone. This was the hour of glory to the Father as well as to the Son. Three years had gone by while the Lord was performing His wonderful deeds and preaching to the crowds. Now the time had come when the seed would fall into the earth, get buried, and die. The time of the winepress had come. The prophet Isaiah had a vision of it earlier and he had heard the Lord’s words: “I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with Me” (Is 63:3). The hour had come when the Lord would stretch out His arms on the Cross and accomplish the reconciliation between the Father and mankind. Moreover, He would embrace the Jews and Gentiles together as members of His one Body. * Do you want to be convinced that He willingly suffered? Others do not know what will happen to them and they therefore die involuntarily. However, the Lord had foreknowledge and said: “The Son of Man will be delivered and crucified.” Do you know why? Why did that ‘Friend of Man’ not prevent death? In order to prevent the whole world from being destroyed by sin. “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed…and they will condemn Him to death.” So ‘He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem’ (Matt 20:18; Lk 19:38). Do you really want to know how the Cross brought glory to the Lord Jesus Christ? Listen to His words and not our words. As Judas the traitor was about to betray the Lord of the house, he sat at His table and drank of the cup of His grace which grants salvation. He then left to shed the innocent Blood: ‘Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his head against me,’ (Ps 41:9). Judas was still holding in his hands the gift of His grace when he planned to betray the Lord and receive a price for delivering Him to death…As soon as he heard the Lord’s words, “You have said it”, he went out (Matt 26:25). Then the Lord said: ““The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.” That indicates, my beloved one, how the Cross came to stand for the glory due to the Lord. Isaiah was not ashamed of being hacked in pieces. Would the Lord be ashamed of dying on behalf of the world?! “Now the Son of Man is glorified” (Jan 33:32). This did not mean that He was without glory previously. In fact, He had been crowned with the glory due to Him even before the creation of the world (Jn17:5). He has been eternally glorified for He is God. Now He would be glorified as He suffers patiently. https://coptic-treasures.com/ The Lord was not forced to offer His life up. Moreover, He was not obligated to accept death but voluntarily accepted it. Listen to His words: “I have power to lay it down, and I have power that I may take it up again,” (Jn 10:18).In other words: ‘I deliver Myself willingly to My enemies; otherwise this would not have occurred. The Lord came with a plan that He put down Himself in order to suffer. He was pleased with that noble deed, and smiled at His crown of glory while taking pride in bringing salvation to mankind. He was not ashamed of the Cross for it was intended to be the salvation of this world. He was not an ordinary man- in fact, He was the incarnated God25. St Cyril of Jerusalem “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, It remains alone: But if it dies, it produces much grain...” [24] However much the world progresses, it is still unable to comprehend the mystery of harvesting much produce from one mustard seed; or how the harvest gets transformed into flesh, blood, and bones of a human body and of animals. Similarly, the mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection, which constitute the foundation upon which the glorious Church is built, will remain to be an incomprehensible mystery to mankind. The Greeks had come to see the Lord. Why did the Lord tell them the parable of the grain of wheat? He intended to underline that they could not see Him as He is unless He would come over to them by way of His death and resurrection. He would then enter their world, and would carry them in Him. He is the Way that would attract their hearts to Him. He would carry them over so that they would speak through Him and cross over with Him into the Father’s embrace. They would become ‘of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones,’ (Eph 5:30). * If you wondered what the Lord meant when He said: “…unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain…” our explanation would be as follows: The Lord was speaking about His crucifixion. It is as though He was saying: ‘This is what will happen with the grain: it will die and then it will bear much fruit. If this happens to seeds, then it is much more appropriate and essential for this to happen with Me.’ However, the disciples were unable to comprehend the words of the Lord. * Our present life is beautiful and full of pleasure. However, this not true for everyone, and it is only valid for those who cling to it. Therefore, if someone looked up at the heavens and perceived the beauty there, he would hate this life and disregard it immediately. This is because the beauty of any object attracts someone who has not seen something more beautiful than it. However, when something better appears, that person will hate the earlier object. Therefore if we choose to look up and see the beauty and sublimity of the Kingdom up there, then we shall liberate ourselves of our present bonds…for our present emotional inclinations are a form of bondage straps…Listen to these words: ‘If you are unable to tolerate my death bravely, or rather, if you do not die, then you will attain nothing’26. 25 Essay 13:6 26 Homilies on St John: 67:1 https://coptic-treasures.com/ St John Chrysostom The grain of wheat became a rare object in the field of Judas for it had died there. In contrast, the oil overflowed like streams in the house of the pagan widow27. St Jerome “He who loves his life shall lose it; And he who hates his life in this world shall keep it for eternal life.” [25] A person who loves himself more than he loves the Lord Jesus Christ, or who loves his temporal life more than his eternal glory destroys himself. In contrast, a person would surely enjoy eternal life if he destroys himself like the grain of wheat; glorifies the Lord and shares His suffering and death. The Lord’s death has changed the meaning and values of death. It has also altered our view of life. Death has become a requirement that is necessary to the promotion of a full and fruitful life. Where there is no death, there is no real life. When a person buries the ego, the Lord who is ‘life’ proclaims Himself in him. When a person seeks ‘himself’ then the Lord does not find a place for Him within. Consequently, that person loses the Source of his life. A new life in the Lord Jesus Christ becomes evident in anyone who dies to his old life and crucifies the world. Such a person experiences the warranty of eternal life. * If you asked: ‘How does someone who loves his life destroy it?’ Our answer would be: ‘Whoever indulges in the lusts of the soul and allows her to cross over the appropriate limits represents such a person who loves his soul and destroys it. That is why Wisdom warns us and says: “Don’t be controlled by your lust, keep your passions in check. If you allow yourself to satisfy every desire, you will be a joke to your enemies’ (Sirach 18:30, 31). This is because lusts obstruct the path that leads the soul to virtue. The Lord’s words: “…he who hates his life in this world shall keep it for eternal life” carry the same meaning. If you asked: ‘What does ‘he who hates his life’ imply? We would answer: ‘It is someone who neither submits to life nor obeys it when it commands him to do evil deeds. The Lord did not say: ‘He who does not submit to it’; rather He said: “he who hates his life.’ Just as we find ourselves unable to tolerate hearing the voice or seeing the face of someone we do not like, so we need to step away immediately from our soul if she commands us to disobey God’s commandments. St John Chrysostom * If you love, then be ready to suffer loss. If you wish to attain life in the Lord Jesus Christ, then do not fear to die for His sake28. 27 Letter 54: 16 28 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate 51:10 https://coptic-treasures.com/ St Augustine This is surely a deep and strange proclamation. It defines the degree to which a person loves his life to the extent of wanting to destroy it. Moreover, this would drive him to hate his life in order to preserve it! If you love your life in a sinful manner, then you truly hate it. However, if you love your love in a righteous manner, then you actually love it even though you hate it. O, how happy are those who despise their lives and so preserve it: for their love does not result in the destruction of their life29. St Augustine “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; And where I am, there my servant shall be also: If anyone serves Me, him will My Father honor.” [26] First, the Lord presented a new meaning for death and life in the light of His Crucifixion, death, and resurrection. Now, He presents to us a new meaning for service and the ministry. Being a minister does not involve the mere offering services to others. It implies achieving union with the true and unique Servant- the Lord Jesus Christ- and joining and following Him on the road to Gethsemane. When someone desires to serve and witness for the Lord, the first step he needs to take is to follow Him. That means he needs to become a disciple, learn, obey, and walk with the Lord on the path of the crucifixion and burial. As a result, he would arise and produce much fruit. May a minister/servant forsake worldly pleasures as he focuses on eternal happiness. May he get to be united with the Eternal One and so receive eternal glory from the Holy Father Himself. Having this new meaning gives a minister the reward for his services. Indeed, he finds himself in the company of His Lord- sharing in His suffering as well as in His joy. Truly, whoever enjoys fellowship with the Lord, and devotes his life to witness for Him, is honored by Him in ways neither he nor others can ever imagine: ‘Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever,’ (Daniel 12:3). The Lord also says: “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me may be with me where I am” (Jn17:24). As he serves, a servant finds the unique opportunity to speak with the true Servant- the Lord Jesus Christ. On his way and during a minister’s service, the Lord reveals Himself and the Father and so grants His servant divine knowledge. Anyone who preserves the honor of God and works through Him, the same is honored by God Himself: “…he who waits on his master will be honored” (Prov. 27:18). By saying this parable, the Lord intended to lead the Greeks, who had come to see Him, to focus and adopt His view of working for His Kingdom. His words reveal the glory which is prepared for those who work in His vineyard. In this manner, He transforms the beautiful yearning to see Him into a serious task. By working for His kingdom, they would be enabled to see Him in His eternal glory. At the same time they would enjoy this glorious fellowship. 29 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate 51:10 https://coptic-treasures.com/ * The Lord was speaking about death and the requirements made on those who followed Him. They had to work, and to follow up those they served constantly… “If any man desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matt16:24). In other words, He says: ‘Be always prepared for dangers, for death, and for departure from this world.’ Having stated the difficulties of serving Him, the Lord presents the rewards. What kind of rewards are they? ‘Being His disciples, and being there- wherever He may be found, and underlining that the resurrection always follows death30. * But where is the Lord Jesus Christ? He is in the heavens. Therefore may we transport our souls and minds to the heavens even before we the resurrection. Why does the Lord indicate that the person who serves the Lord Jesus ‘… him will My Father honor; rather than saying ‘I will honor him’? The reason is that the disciples had not yet attained the correct concept concerning the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, they did comprehend deeply all that concerned the Father31. St John Chrysostom * What honor could be greater for the adopted son than to be in the company of the only begotten Son? It is true that he does not attain the rank of a deity, yet he becomes a partner in eternity?!32 * The Lord wishes us to understand that those who serve Him should not be seeking their own interests. Rather, they should be seeking to serve and please Him (Phil2:21). He seems to be stating the following: “He who does not follow Me does not serve Me.” This is the implication of the words “Let him follow Me.” It means: Let him walk along My path and not in his own way. In another passage, it is written: “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1John 2:6)33. * Everyone is a minister of the Lord just as the Lord is a minister Himself. By serving in His footsteps, a servant will be greatly honored by the Father who will grant him fellowship with the Son. Consequently, such a minister’s joy will be complete for evermore34. * My brothers, when you hear that “Where I am, there My servant will be also” do not think that this applies to good priests and bishops only. Rather, it is intended to encourage you also to serve the Lord within your own means: by living uprightly, by offering donations, by preaching in His name and spreading His teachings as much as possible …35 St Augustine 4- The Heavens Glorify the Lord Jesus Christ 30 Hom 67. PG 59:401 31 Hom 67. PG 59:401 32 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate 51:11 33 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate 51:12 34 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate 51:12 35 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate 51:13 https://coptic-treasures.com/ “Now is my soul troubled; And what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour: But for this purpose I came to this hour.” [27] The Lord spoke about the need for Him to suffer and to die. As the Son of Man, He lifted His heart and said: “Now My soul is troubled”[27]. Indeed, these are strange words coming from the Lord especially after the disciples had witnessed Gentile strangers seeking to meet Him. Then they heard Him say “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.” However, because He had truly become incarnated, it was natural that His soul got troubled in the face of all that cloud of suffering that enveloped Him. He probably saw through that cloud the sins of all humanity. It appeared before Him so that He would carry them upon His shoulders; and offer Himself as a burnt sacrifice and redemption for our sins. While the Lord comforted His disciples, and told them “Let not your hearts be troubled” (Jn 14:1), yet He says “Now My heart is troubled” [27]. His troubled heart releases our hearts from being troubled: His pains constitute the mystery of our eternal peace. By His own will and pleasure, the Lord carried the burden of our sins. In spite of His joy, it was inevitable that His heart got troubled due to the immensity of our sins. He carried the weight of our weakness in order to grant us a Spirit of power. His troubled heart is the expression of holy sadness that generates joy in the hearts of believers. It gives joy to the Father as it reconciles Him with mankind. It causes angels to rejoice as well. His heart got troubled as He entered the narrow path leading to the Cross. In this manner, we are enabled to share in His pain and enter with Him into the heavenly glory. His pains would endure for an hour and it had now come, and then they would pass away. These would be replaced by eternity which is infinite. Some scholars explain that the Greek word used indicates anxiety rather than fear36. The Lord’s words to the Father reveal the joy He finds in carrying the Cross. He says: “…for this purpose I came to this hour…” [27]. In order to carry us to a life of submission and humility, He cries: “Father, save Me from this hour…,” [27]. * These words do not reflect His divinity. Rather, they reflect His human nature which rejects death and holds on to this present life. In this manner, the Lord underlined that He was not exempt from human suffering. He revealed that holding on to this present life is not a sin, just as hunger and the need for sleep do not constitute failings. The Lord had a body that was untainted by sin, yet it was not released from natural physical needs. That was the wisdom for giving Him a body. St John Chrysostom * The Lord took the form of human weakness in order to teach us, that when we are sad or troubled, to say: “…O, my Father, …not as I will, but as You will…,” (Matt 26:39). In this 36 Leon Morris, p. 450 https://coptic-treasures.com/ manner, a person is transformed from being human to being divine as he prefers to do the Father’s will rather than his own37. St Augustine "Father, glorify thy name.” Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” [28] The incarnate Son submitted to the Father’s will by offering Himself as a sacrifice. The Father proclaimed His acceptance through the resurrection which is also brings glory to the Father. At this point the Lord indicates the link between death and glory (the resurrection). Although His soul is troubled, He does not ask that this sentence of death be removed. Indeed, the passage into the resurrection brings a reciprocated glory: the glory of the Son and the glory of the Father. The Lord refers to God Himself as well as to all His characteristics by using the words ‘Your Name.’ The Father Himself is glorified, as well as His wisdom, mercy, love, holiness, righteousness, etc…All that is achieved through the redeeming act of the Lord. The Voice of the Father is heard saying: “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again,” [28]. It is as though He was saying: ‘I have achieved My plan through You. I have sent You to be atonement for the sins of the world. I have executed justice which will never be void of My love and mercy. You have completed My work. That is why You offer Your Blood on the Cross, and I accept it as a sacrifice of love. Your death and resurrection glorify Me and fulfill My mission towards My beloved: Man. I have glorified You and will glorify You at Your death and at Your resurrection.’ The Lord Jesus Christ was glorified through His teachings, His loving deeds, and the wonders and miracles He did. He was glorified when He was tempted in the wilderness when the angels later appeared and served Him. He was glorified at His baptism when the Voice of the Father was heard bearing witness for Him, and when the Holy Spirit appeared in the form of a dove (Mk 9:7). At the time of the transfiguration, He was glorified as He appeared with Elijah and Moses and spoke about His ‘decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem’ (Lk 9:31). He would be glorified through the astonishing events that were going to take place during His arrest, judgment, and crucifixion. He would be glorified by His resurrection, ascension, and the granting of the Holy Spirit to His disciples. He will ultimately be glorified through his disciples who would successfully preach and spread His Gospel throughout the whole world. * The words of the Father: “I have glorified it and will glorify it again” may lead you to wonder: ‘Where is His glory?’ Our response is: ‘The Lord has been glorified throughout the previous ages; and He will be glorified after His resurrection.’ St John Chrysostom * Although they could not accept the gift of Truth, yet they involuntarily recognized Him. In their ignorance, they spoke mysterious words and this resulted in great testimonials from the Son 37 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate 52:3 https://coptic-treasures.com/ and the Father. In the Book of Job we read: “…the thunder of His power who can understand…’ (Job 26:14; LXX).38 St Ambrose * “…and I will glorify it again,” [28] when the Lord will arise after His death. Then death will have no authority over Him. Indeed, when He ascends into the heavens as God, His glory will cover the whole earth39. St Augustine 'The people therefore who stood by, and heard it, Said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.’ [29] Some scholars note that the Voice used a language known to the Jews but not to the Greeks. Consequently, the Jews said that an angel had spoken to Him; whereas the others thought that it had thundered. In St John’s book ‘The Revelation’ the voice of one of the living creatures is likened to thunder (Rev 6:1). * You might ask: ‘How could they imagine such a thing?’ Our answer would be: ‘It could be that the Voice could not be identified; or could have occurred too quickly. This could have been a challenge to those who were physically slow, while others were able to hear the Voice clearly. St John Chrysostom Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, But for your sakes’ [30]. The Lord did not need the Voice from heaven to encourage Him. The Voice had come for the sake of those present and so that they would believe that the Father had sent Him. This would sustain the disciples during the Lord’s sufferings and keep them from stumbling. They would find comfort in that Voice just as It filled the Lord with joy. The Voice could have come for the sake of the Greeks who had come to se Him. They had not seen His deeds and miracles. They had just heard about them. Therefore the Voice from heaven was intended to witness for the Lord in their presence. What did the Father recommend to His Son? To offer eternal life to mankind. This was something no other being in heaven or on earth could do. * It is as though He was saying: ‘This Voice was not intended to inform Me of something I did not know. Indeed, I know all the hidden matters known to My Father. Truly, this Voice came for 38 Of the Holy Spirit, Book 2:6:55 39 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate 52:4 https://coptic-treasures.com/ you.’ The Lord then led them to ask Him what the Voice had said. However, they were so astonished that they did not ask. St Augustine * Just as the Voice uttered by God was not intended for the Lord but rather directed to those present; similarly, the Lord’s soul was troubled on account of those present and not on account of His own situation40. St Augustine “Now is the judgment of this world: Now shall the ruler of this world be cast out.” [31] * This is the Voice of the Father whom the Son knows and comprehends His depths. The Voice had come to proclaim the judgment of this evil world, the defeat of the devil- ‘the ruler of this world’-and his eviction after being stripped of all power. Satan loses all his sphere of influence as believers proclaim their victory in the arena of battle. Satan exits in great weakness and utter defeat after having won many rounds earlier. That is how Satan loses in his struggle with the Lord Jesus Christ. His defeat continues as he wrestles with believers who are members in the victorious body of the Lord. St John writes in the certitude of faith and says: “I have written to you young men because you are strong, and the Word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one,” (1John 2:14). He also says: “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world- our faith” (1Jn 5:4). Those who enjoy the redeeming act of God also sing praises and say: “Now salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of His Christ have come; for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; and they did not love their lives to the death,” (Rev 12:10-11). Through the Cross all those things, which human beings plotted against the Lord Jesus Christ and all what Satan devised in an attempt to get rid of Him, ended in the defeat of evil and the destruction of Satan’s power. The ruler of this wicked world cannot stand before the Ruler of life. The apostle says appropriately: “But you denied the Holy One, and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, and of which we are witnesses,” (Acts 3:14-15). St Paul also says about the Lord Jesus Christ: “…that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,” (Heb 2:14). The Lord spoke with the certainty of being victorious over death. He knew that His death would restore the light of knowledge to many souls and liberate them from the bonds of Satan. Note that the word ‘judgment ‘is not used wit a definite article. This is because the Lord was not referring to the final judgment. Rather, He was referring to the judgment that would begin with 40 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate 52:5 https://coptic-treasures.com/ His redeeming act. Simeon the elder prophetically says: “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel; and for a sign which will be spoken against” (Lk 2:34). * If you wonder: ‘What does glory mean?’ Our answer is: According to the Lord Jesus Christ, it is that “…now the ruler of this world will be cast out.” * What do the words ‘the judgment of this world’ imply? According to the Lord: “It will be a condemnation and disaster.” How and in what manner? Satan had killed the first Man as he led him to sin and so was condemned as a criminal. However, there is no sin in the Lord Jesus Christ. So why was delivered to die? Why was the mind of Judas set on destroying the Lord? Why then is the world to be condemned through the person of the Lord? In the court of justice, the charge against Satan will be: ‘Well, you caused the death of all mankind as they have all been found guilty of sin, but why have you killed the Lord Jesus Christ? Is that not due to your wrong doing? Therefore the whole world will be avenged through Him41. St John Chrysostom * Speaking about the judgment that was about to take place, the Lord says these words: “Now is the judgment of this world”; whereas the final judgment would be withheld until the time when the living and the dead would be judged. That is why Satan has taken hold of mankind and possesses them since they have been charged of sin. Therefore all mankind stand as criminals waiting to be condemned. He rules over the hearts of unbelievers, deceives, and enslaves them. He tempts them to forsake the Creator and worship the created. However, thousands of believers, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, have become liberated from the power of Satan. Through the Lord’s death, His resurrection, and the Blood He has poured for the remission of sins, believers have become united into His body. As a result they have become followers of the Head. This is what the Lord intended when He spoke about the ‘judgment.’ This is the true distinction. It indicates the separation of those who belong to Him and therefore have become liberated from Satan. * Now the Lord informs us of what He knew: after His sufferings and glorification. Many of the Gentiles spread throughout the world would become believers. Satan had ruled over their hearts but they would reject and cast him out. Through faith they would renounce Satan42. St Augustine “And if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” [32] Satan will be cast out and thrown into hell. In this manner, He would lose the kingdom he had set up among mankind on earth. While the Lord ascends above the earth through the Cross, the 41 Hom 67: PG 59:403 42 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate 52:6 https://coptic-treasures.com/ enemy descends. The Lord ascends through the Cross in order to enable His followers to ascend with Him into heaven. We have previously stated that St John the Evangelist looks up to the Cross as a means of elevation (3:14; 8:28) since it is the crowning glory of the Lord. Here the Lord attributes to Himself the task of drawing “…all peoples to (Himself).” In another passage, the Lord attributes this to the Father (Jn 6:44). He draws the soul through the attraction of love and not by forceful subjugation or violence. Accordingly Hosea says: “I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love, I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them,” (Hosea 11:4). The souls that were estranged from Him could not tolerate meeting with Him due to their darkness. Now it became possible for them to enjoy His light and be attracted to Him. He would be lifted up to heaven and would attract the souls of those who love Him to join and share the heavenly joys with Him. The Lord uses the expression ‘all peoples’ to stress the efficiency of the Cross in attracting the heavenly and earthly members to join into one Body. The Blood poured on the Cross would reconcile them all to Him. All will be united in the Lord Jesus Christ. We read that: ‘…all things (will be reconciled) to Himself…having made peace through the Blood of His Cross,’ (Col 1:20). The ultimate Plan is to “gather together into one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth…in Him,’ (Eph 1:10). Moreover, the Lord underlines His attraction to all mankind- Jews and Gentiles- yet He does not seek to attract any against their wishes or through forceful subjugation. * This means that the Lord attracts those who believe even if they are of the Gentiles. He says that He will ‘draw all peoples.’ It is as though these were being arrested by a tyrant and were unable to come to the Lord on their own. These peoples seem unable to escape from the hands of the tyrant who holds them. In another passage, they are considered ‘exiles’ as the Lord says: ‘…how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man…,’ (Matt 12:29). He spoke these words to confirm His power, and to indicate here that those attracted Him are the same as those whom he had considered earlier as being exiled. St John Chrysostom * The Lord Jesus Christ had become a curse on our account in order to redeem us from the curse of the Law. Then why does it amaze us that He submits to the Father on our account too? Accordingly, He wishes us to submit to the Father, and according to His holy words: “…No one comes to the Father except through Me,” (Jn 14:6). He also says: “And I, if I am Lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself,” (Jn 12:32). The Lord is perceived to have submitted to the Father when His believers are taken into account; for all believers- and indeed all https://coptic-treasures.com/ mankind- are considered members of His Body. However, He is considered as insubordinate when unbelievers are taken into account; for they are members of His Body, yet they do not submit to faith43. St Jerome “This He said, signifying by what death He would die,” [33]. The Lord Jesus Christ was lifted up upon the Cross and the whole world looked upon Him. Hanging there between heaven and earth, He was seen as someone who deserved such punishment. The crowds had heard His sermons and seen the thousands of miracles He had made; yet few remained loyal to Him and remained as His disciples. However, once He was crucified He attracted the whole world to Him. Many became believers and continued to love Him loyally. ‘The people answered Him: “ We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever, And how can You say: ‘the Son of Man must be lifted up?’ Who is the Son of Man?”[33] The people of Israel expected something different than what the Lord proclaimed. They had heard the Voice from heaven, and the words of grace that he had spoken with His mouth; yet they could not believe that He would ascend, or in other words that he would die. They would not believe even though the Old Testament had foretold His death, still He was the Priest for evermore (Ps 110:4); and the eternal King ( Ps 89:29). In the Book of Daniel, we are told about the Lord that: “…to Him was given domain and glory and kingdom. That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed,” (Daniel 7:13, 14). In the Book of Ezekial, we read the following: ‘David, My servant, shall be king over them forever,’ (Ezek 37:25).The people remembered the words about His immortality; yet they forgot the prophecies concerning His death, and how He would sacrifice Himself to die (Is 53:12), and how His feet and hands would be pierced. “Who is this Son of Man?” [34]They did not ask this question in order to find out His identity. Rather, it reflected their belief that He was the Messiah, the priest and the eternal king. Now they were surprised to learn that He would die. They became doubtful because He proclaimed that His death was imperative. * They knew that the Messiah would be eternal and would possess eternal life. Had they not also read, in the same context, about His suffering and resurrection in many other passages in the Holy Bible? Isaiah the prophet places the two issues side by side, and says: ‘He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep 43 Letter 55:5 https://coptic-treasures.com/ before His shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth,’ (IS 53:7). David also links the two issues in the second Psalm as well as in many other passages. Moreover, Jacob- the father of the holy fathers, revealed His sufferings and resurrection, and at the same stated that: ‘He bows down, He lies down like a lion; and as a lion, who shall rouse Him?’ (Gen 49:9). Nevertheless, the Jewish leaders imagined that they could silence Him and prove that He was not the Messiah. They would use the same issue – that the Messiah would reign eternally- to make their point. Notice how they handled the matter craftily. They did not say: ‘We have heard from the law that the Christ will not suffer or be crucified.’ Rather they said the following: “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever….” Yet what they said did not constitute any real objection since the Lord’s suffering did not obstruct His immortality. That is why we believe that they understood many matters which they claimed to be suspicious; and which they intentionally chose to handle deceitfully. Therefore they asked: “Who is this Son of Man?” They said so slyly and the implication was: ‘We ask you not to believe that we say this about you. Do not think that we oppose You due to any enmity between us. Rather, we do not know about whom You are speaking. We are just expressing our opinion44. St John Chrysostom Then Jesus said unto them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while ye have the light, Lest darkness overtake you, For he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.” [34] The Lord indicated that His death was temporary through His words: “Yet a little while is the light with you….” It is like the sun whose light does not end but just gets hidden for a while and then shines again. His words to the Jews to “…Walk while ye have the light lest darkness overtake you …” are intended to motivate them to believe in Him. He also told them that “…he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.” How many things had the Jews done up till that moment without being aware of their deeds. They seemed as someone walking in the darkness. They thought they were on the right path whereas they were walking in the opposite direction: they observed the Sabbath and protected the law; they avoided certain foods yet they did not know the right path to take45. “While you have the light, believe in the light,” [36]: What was the time frame that the Lord was indicating? Was He referring to the present life as a whole; or was He referring only to the time before His death? We believe He meant both for many came to believe in Him even after His death. On account of His inexpressible love for mankind, He uttered these words to encourage people to believe46. 44 Homilies on St John, 68:1 45 Hom on St John, 68:1 46 Hom. 68 PG 59:405 https://coptic-treasures.com/ St John Chrysostom “While ye have light, believe in the light, That you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, And departed, and was hidden of them. [36] The Lord was concerned with their salvation, therefore He asked them to be preoccupied with their inner depths. This would enable them to walk in the light as long as they had the light, and avoid becoming sons of darkness. Rather than engage with them in worthless arguments, the Lord directed them to issues that would lead them to salvation and growth. He asked them to enjoy the light since He had become incarnated and dwelled among them. Consequently, He would carry them into the eternal heavenly light. Our life consists of few opportunities which may not come again. Therefore it is appropriate to capitalize on every chance that comes our way to live in fellowship with the Lord. Our Gospel is the light that enlightens the soul. Anyone who rejects its light stumbles into darkness. As for those who enjoy its light, they become children of the light (Lk 16:8; Eph 5:8); and of the sons of daylight (1 Thes 5:5). The Lord warned them that they would yearn to see just one of the days of the Son of Man but would not be able to see Him ( Lk 17:22). He also told them that the kingdom of God would be taken away from them and given to the Gentiles (Matt 21:43). * “While ye have light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” In other words, ‘that you may become My sons.’ Note that the Evangelist had reported from the beginning of his Gospel that those who believe ‘were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God,’ (Jn1:13). Here the Lord said that He was the One who gave birth to them. He intended to make them realize that the deeds of the Father and the Son were one and the same47. * St John the apostle reports that the Lord Jesus Christ ‘departed, and was hidden of them.’ If you asked: “What was the Lord’s intention by being ‘hidden of them’? They neither carried stones nor blasphemed against Him as they had done before. So why did He disappear?” Our answer would be: “The Lord knew how much their hearts were filled with anger and rebellion. He did not wait for that anger to be vented into the sphere of action, but He disappeared to calm their evil. St John Chrysostom The Lord concluded by giving them advice to seize the opportunity of His presence so that His light would shine and dispel their darkness. He explained that time was short and the period left before His departure was very near. He then disappeared to avoid entering into further arguments, and to provide them with the chance to think seriously about their attitude towards Him. 47 Homilies on St John, 68:1 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 5- The Prophets Testify to His Glory ‘But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him.’ [37] St John the Evangelist presents the testimony of Isaiah the prophet for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ; and the Jew’s rejection of Him because ‘they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.’[43] The Evangelist tells us that that the Lord ‘had done so many signs before them’ [37], yet in spite of that ‘they did not believe in Him.’ On the contrary, the Lord’s deeds drove them to be envious and to resist Him. They had not only heard about His miracles, but He had done these ‘before’ them. The Lord had not acted secretly but openly and there were many witnesses. Nevertheless they did not believe for their inner eyes were struck with blindness, and their lusts had hardened and corrupted their hearts. ‘That the word of Isaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” [38] The prophecy of Isaiah was therefore fulfilled as the Jews did not believe the prophetic testimonies and divine proclamations. Moreover, they rejected the ‘arm of the Lord’ which was revealed in His power, authority, and miracles48. St Augustine ‘Therefore they could not believe, because Isaias said again, [39] St John the Evangelist reveals the condition of the Jews who were characterized by stubbornness and opposition towards God and His prophets. Ever since they lived in Egypt, and even when they left that land and traveled through the wilderness, they rebelled against Moses and Aaron. They did not spare one prophet, and as Elijah the prophet told the Lord God: “…for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword; I alone am left; and they seek to take my life…,” (1Kgs 19:10). St Stephen the Martyr said: “You stiff necked and uncircumcised in hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, as your fathers did so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold to coming of the Just One, of whom you have now become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels, and have not kept it” (Acts 7:51-52). An endless chain of rebellion against the work of God, and a constant persecution of prophets have blinded their inner sights and disabled them from seeing. Their hearts had become hardened and they could no longer enjoy the blessing of faith! 48 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate 53:2 https://coptic-treasures.com/ * Note, once more, that the words ‘for’ and ‘said’ do not refer to reason for the lack of faith but they do refer to the situation itself. Isaiah did not say that this was the reason for their unbelief. Rather, he said these words because they did not wish to believe. Therefore why has the Evangelist not say this, rather than show that their lack of faith was due to the prophecy and not that the prophecy sprang from their lack of faith? St John chose to deal with the subject in a positive manner, therefore he wrote: “Therefore they could not believe, because Isaias said again” [39]. He wished to underline the lack of error in the divine Word in many varied ways; and that what Isaiah had predicted earlier had become fulfilled and had not fallen away49. * ‘Therefore they could not believe’ was used to replace ‘They did not want to believe.’ Do not be astonished…he did not say that it was impossible for them to be virtuous; but that due to their unwillingness they lost the capacity to believe50. St John Chrysostom * In defense of free will, no one would venture to deprive us of praying and asking God to ‘lead us not into temptation.’ However, no one denies the role of the will and ventures to make excuses for sinfulness. Let us turn to God attentively as He issues His commandments and offers His support. In both cases He informs us of our commitment to obey and His support as we apply them. Some become ever so lofty and vain due to an exaggerated sense of confidence in their own will; while others stumble into negligence due to an exaggerated sense of lack of confidence. The first group says: ‘Why do we ask God and not strive ourselves to conquer temptation since we are capable of everything?’ The second group says: ‘Why do we need to struggle to live righteously when it is all in God’s hands?”… On the one hand, we need to thank God for the power He grants us. On the other hand, we need to pray that our limited power does not fail us completely. This is similar to faith that works through love (Gal5:6). God grants every person a certain measure, so that we should boast about God and not about ourselves51. * No wonder they were unable to believe: they had so much pride in their own will. This led them to ignore the righteousness of God and seek their own righteousness. The apostle comments about them saying that they ‘have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God’ (Romans 10:3).They were proud of their power rather than of their faith, and so they fell against the stumbling Stone. That explains why the expression ‘they could not believe’ is used, while the implication is that they did not want to believe. In the same manner, we are told the following about the Lord our God: ‘If we are faithless, He remains faithful, He cannot deny Himself (2 Tim 2:13). This has been said about the Almighty One: ‘He cannot…’52. 49 Homilies on St John, 68:2 50 Hom 68. PG 59:406 51 St Augustine: on the Gospel of St John, tractate 53:8 52 St Augustine: on the Gospel of St John, tractate 53:9 https://coptic-treasures.com/ * These Jews ‘could not believe.’ It did not mean that these people could not change into better people; but that as long as their thoughts continued along that path then they would be unable to believe. As a result, they were blind and hardened in their hearts: by denying their need for divine help, they could not get help53. St Augustine “He has blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; Lest they should see with their eyes, And understand with their heart, Lest they should turn so that I should heal them.”[40] They could not believe because they did not want to believe. They neither asked God for His help nor for His grace to support them. Therefore the grace of God did not open their eyes to see the truth and to enjoy salvation. This is the meaning of the words: “He has blinded their eyes…” Their resistance damaged their inner vision and they were not granted healing from the Physician of the heart and body. They became similar to those whose eyes God had blinded. Their persistence and lack of desire to enjoy the truth disabled them from attaining the living faith. This is the subject of Isaiah 6:9, where the reference could be about the judgment that would be pronounced upon them as a nation. * Consider how the sun dazzles the weak sighted. It is not due to its normal nature. This also applies to those who are inattentive to God’s words. In the case of Pharaoh, we are told that God hardened his heart. Similarly, all those who continue to resist God’s Word will be in that same condition This is the style of the Holy Bible: it is written: ‘God gave them over to a debased mind’ (Romans 1:28)…The Bible does not present God as the One who inflicts such conditions, but reveals that these happen through the evil in others. The Bible intends the hearer to be in great fear as the Word says: ‘God hardened’ and ‘gave them over.’ In order to underline that God does not deliver or forsake us unless we want it to be so, we need to hear what the holy Word says: ‘But your iniquities have separated you from your God.’ (IS 59:2 LXX). Hosea says: ‘Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children,’ (Hosea 4:6 LXX). The Lord Himself said: “How often have I wanted to gather your children…but you were not willing?” (Lk 13:34) Having known this, may we exert every effort not to abandon God. Indeed, let us be greatly concerned about our own souls, and love one another. May we not amputate our members, for this is the action of mad men. As we see them in wicked situations may we deal with them all the more gently54. St John Chrysostom ‘These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of him. [41] 53 St Augustine: on the Gospel of St John, tractate 53:10 54 Homilies on St John, 68:2-3 https://coptic-treasures.com/ Isaiah the prophet said these words when he saw the Lord’s glory. He spoke about the Lord when He saw Him seated on a high throne and His train filled the temple. The glory that Isaiah saw was the glory of Jehovah. In this context, St John the Evangelist said that this was the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ as he perceived Him to be Jehovah. In the Aramaic translation, it is written: ‘My eyes have seen ‘Shakinnah’ the Lord (Is 6:5). As ‘Shakinnah’ denotes the divine light or the divine presence, then what Isaiah saw was the light or the brilliance of God: the rays of His glory and the image of His essence (Heb1:3). * If you asked: ‘Whose glory did Isaiah see?’ Our answer would be: ‘He saw the glory of the Father.’ You might say: ‘Then how does Isaiah speak about the glory of the Father, while John the Evangelist speaks about the glory of the Son, and while Paul the apostle speaks about the glory of the Spirit?’ Our answer would be: ‘They were not like those concerned with the hypostatic (compound) nature. By speaking in this manner, they intended to clarify one essence or rank present in them. As proof of that, the features of the Father are identical to those of the Son, and those of the Son are identical to those of the Spirit. St John Chrysostom * What Isaiah saw was not God as He really is but it was a symbolic means that was within the scope of the prophet’s vision and comprehension. Moses had also had a vision of God, but in spite of that we find him telling Him: “Now therefore I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You,” (Ex 33:13); for Moses had not seen God as He really is… “Beloved , now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is,’ (1Jn 3:2)55. St Augustine 6- Some Leaders Witness to His Glory ‘Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in him; But because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, Lest they should be put out of the synagogue’: [42] Some of the leaders, like Nicodemus for example, believed in Him (Jn3). They considered Him to be a teacher sent by God. Joseph of Arimathea is another such example, and he was the one who later went to Pontius Pilate to take the Holy Body. He received the blessing of burying the body in his own newly built grave. There were also many others who believed in their hearts but did not dare to proclaim their faith publicly. We will discuss the Sanhedrin as the end of this chapter God willing. Elijah thought that he was the only one who worshipped God. He did not realize that there thousands of people who had not bowed to any idol; but God saw them whereas they were unknown to men. This happens in every generation: there are a few undisclosed faithful ones who are esteemed by God but not by men. 55 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate 52:12 https://coptic-treasures.com/ ‘For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.’ [43] Some did not proclaim their faith as they feared losing their temporary honor. That was due to their love of receiving honor from people more than seeking the glory of God. The Lord Jesus Christ therefore told them: How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only? * These were the Lord’s words: “How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only?” (Jn 5:44). In this sense they could really be considered as slaves and not as rulers; since they had strayed away from the faith and followed their lust for vain glory. St John Chrysostom 7-The Lord Witnesses for Himself Then Jesus cried and said, “He who believes on Me, believes not on me, But in Him who sent me.” [44] This was the final point which the Lord made in the sermon directed to those wicked ones who persisted in their lack of faith. It is the continuation of the sermon that was interrupted in verse 37. The Lord cried out loudly to underline His great zeal for their salvation. In this situation, the Lord confirms His mysterious unity with the Father: anyone who believes in the Son believes in the Father who sent Him. He who sees the Son also sees the Father as well; and he who honors the Son honors the Father too. * The expression “believes not” implies that belief is not limited to the physical form or to the limits of the person seen by the eyes. The Lord here indicates our need to believe that He was not a mere human being. It is vital for us to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as being both God and man (at the same time). St Ambrose * It is as though the Lord was saying: ‘Why are you afraid of believing in Me? Having faith in Me is transmitted through Me to the Father. In the same manner, your denial of Me affects Him too. Note how the Lord uses every means to clarify that there is no difference in the Essence56. St John Chrysostom * Honoring the Father includes honoring the Father, and this does not diminish His divinity57. * Now, when the Lord says: “He who believes on Me, believes not on me, 56 Hom 60.PG 59: 408-409 57 Sermon on N.T. Lessons, 90:5 https://coptic-treasures.com/ But in Him who sent me” [44], what can we understand other than that He appeared as a person to mankind whereas He remained being the Invisible since He was God? So that no one would imagine that He was nothing more than that which they saw, the Lord indicates the need to believe in Him as being equal to the Father in rank and in character…for he who believes in the Father needs to believe that He is the Son; and he who believes in the Father needs to believe that He has a Son. In such a manner, he who believes in the Father needs to believe in the Son58. St Augustine “And he that sees Me sees Him who sent Me.” [45] * What does all this mean? Does it mean that God has a body? This is impossible! The vision that the Lord is speaking about is in no way associated with the body. Vision here implies mental vision and the Lord indicates that His essence is the same as that of the Father. Here the Lord proclaims fellowship in one and the same Essence59. St John Chrysostom * The Lord said these words [44] so that no one would believe that He was a mere person, that is, that he was just the Son of Man. In the next words [45] He intended everyone to believe that He was equal to the Father... The Lord Jesus Christ sent out His apostles…yet it was impossible for any one of them to say: “He who believes on Me, believes not on me, but in Him who sent me.” This is because there was no basis to validate the words: ‘believes on Me.’ We believe the apostle though we do not believe in him. This is because there is no apostle who can redeem sinners. However, we do believe in Him who does redeem sinners and this ‘faith is accounted for righteousness,’ (Romans 4:5). The apostle may say: ‘Any one who accepts me accepts Him who has sent me’; or he may say: ‘Any one who hears me, hears Him who sent me.’ Indeed, the Lord says: “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me,” (Matt 10:40. That is how the Master is honored through the servant, and the Father through the Son. As a result the Father is honored in the Son and the Lord in the servant. Truly, the only begotten Son has rightly said: “…you believe in God, believe also in Me,” (Jn 14:1). Here He also said: “He who believes on Me, believes not on me, but in Him who sent me.” The Lord did not intend to divert the faith of those who believe in Him. However, He does not want a believer to be confined to the status of a slave while having faith in Him. Every one who believes in the Father immediately believes in the Son for without Him the Father would not exist as a Father. In this manner a person achieves belief by equating the Son with Father. This would agree with the words: “…he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.”60 [45] St Augustine 58 St Augustine; On the Gospel of St John, tractate 54:2 59 Hom 69. PG 59:409 60 St Augustine; On the Gospel of St John, tractate54:3 https://coptic-treasures.com/ “I have come as a light into the world, That whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” [46] Before the Lord, the Sun of Righteousness, came into the world, everything was covered in darkness. By His coming, the darkness faded away. However, only those who possessed healthy eyes were able to see the Sun of Righteousness. He shone on all mankind so that believers could find in Him light and peace. With His light there would be no place for darkness in them; their fears and despair would end; and heavenly joy and hope in eternity would be granted. * In both the Old and New Testament, the Father bears the same name. The Lord Jesus Christ used that same name too. Therefore St Paul called Him ‘the Brightness’ (Heb 3:1). He learned to do so from the same sources. In this passage the Lord also revealed the strong relationship between Him and the Father, and how there does not exist any separation between them. This is evident when He said that believing in Him did not constitute believing in Him since it was passed or got transmitted into belief in the Father. He called Himself ‘the Light’ because He redeems sins and destroys mental darkness61. St John Chrysostom * How good is He who has lifted the earth up to the heavens?! Even the twinkling planets reflect His heavenly glory as in a mirror. The hosts of apostles, martyrs, and priests also shine as glorious planets and grant light to the world62. St Ambrose * The Lord did not say to His disciples: ‘You have come as a light to the world so that all who believe in you will not live in darkness.’ We believe that such a statement would have been impossible to accept for He is the One who gives them light. Light is an integral part of Him and therefore can never be isolated from His own self. Indeed, He is not vulnerable to change! Consequently, all the saints are lights and they have attained light through faith in Him63. St Augustine “And if anyone hears My words, and does not believe, I do not judge him: for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.” [47] The Lord Jesus Christ came to save the world and not to judge it. The words of the prophets who have prophesied concerning the Lord will condemn unbelievers. * Now is the time for mercy. Later, the time of judgment will come for it is written: ‘I will sing of mercy and justice to You, O Lord,’ (Ps 101:1)64. St Augustine “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, 61 Hom 69. PG 59:409 62 Of the Christian Faith, 2:2:24 63 St Augustine; On the Gospel of St John, tractate 54:4 64 St Augustine; On the Gospel of St John, tractate 54:5 https://coptic-treasures.com/ Has that which judges him: the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” [48] The Lord desires the salvation and not the condemnation of everybody. On the last day, His words will condemn unbelievers as these words will be a witness against their crimes. Every word that He has uttered, every kindness He has shown, and every gift He has granted will act as a witness against those who have disregarded them carelessly. * The words: “the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” [48], sufficiently proclaim that the Lord is Himself the Judge who will appear later on. It is He Himself who had spoken and proclaimed that. He is the One who has raised Himself to act as a door through which He can enter as a Shepherd to His sheep. Therefore those who have never heard His words will be judged in a manner that is different from those who have heard but disregarded them. In this context, the apostle says: ‘…for as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law; and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law,’ (Romans 2:12)65. St Augustine “For I have not spoken on My own authority; But the Father who sent me gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.” [49]. Being the Messiah, the Lord fulfilled the mission of salvation that He had received from the Father. He had to preach and fulfill that mission as the agent of the Father. All His deeds were done for God who has so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son on its account. The first Adam had failed in his mission. He had rebelled against God and was no longer fit to represent the heavenly One. Therefore the second Adam came filled with the spirit of obedience to fulfill the task delegated to Him: a task of God’s ultimate and divine love. In Him we are enabled to practice the obedience which we lacked due to our kinship with our father Adam. * The Lord surely spoke these words for their good…Do you not observe how He spoke with great humility in order to attract His hearers and silence those who came after them? That is the reason why He spoke in a manner appropriate to simple men. He knew that His words had no reference to His nature, and that they were fitting for weak hearers66. St John Chrysostom * Only the Son is the Word of God and His wisdom. In Him is found all the commandments of the Father and at no time did the Son not know them. This made it necessary for Him to acquire at a certain time what He had possessed earlier. What He received from the Father was that He was begotten and so He acquired them at His birth (the Immortal One)…the Father did not give 65 St Augustine; On the Gospel of St John, tractate 54:6 66 Hom 69:PG: 410 https://coptic-treasures.com/ the Son a commandment which He did not know. Rather, we believe that all the commandments of the Father are found in the wisdom of the Father, and the Word of the Son67. St Augustine “And I know that his commandment is everlasting life. Therefore, whatsoever I speak, Just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.” [50] * Since the Son Himself is everlasting life and He is God’s commandments, then what do these words convey other than: ‘I am God’s commandments’? Indeed, the Lord says: “Therefore, whatsoever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”[50] We should not interpret the words “…the Father has told Me” to mean that the Father uses words when He speaks solely to the Word; or to mean that the Word of God needs words to proceed from God. The Father spoke to the Son in the same manner that He gave birth to the Son. It is not like someone who knew one thing but lacked the other (lacked life). Since He is the Son…He is the Righteous One who gave birth to the Truth, so what can He say to the Truth? Truth that is so perfect has no need for additional truth. Therefore the Father spoke with the Truth for He gave birth to Him68. St Augustine * * * 67 St Augustine; On the Gospel of St John, tractate 54:7 68 St Augustine; On the Gospel of St John, tractate 54:8 https://coptic-treasures.com/ Addendum to Chapter Twelve The Council of the Sanhedrin In this Gospel we often read about the high priests and the Pharisees. However, we rarely read about the scribes. Here we wish to present a quick picture of the members of the Council of the Sanhedrin. The word ‘Sanhedrin’ is the Aramaic word for the Greek term ‘sunedrion’ which means ‘council’ or ‘gathering’ (legal). This council was considered the top authority in the high court of law in Jerusalem. At the time when the Lord Jesus Christ ministered, and when He was judged, this court was presided over by the high priest of Israel. Historic Setting The history of this Council dates back to the period of Greek dominion and rule. However, rabbinic scholars attempt to trace its formation back to the Council of the seventy elders which was established in the days of Moses (Numbers 11:16, 24). The first time this gathering was referred to as ‘geraousia’ occurred in the days of Eustachius the Great, 223-187 A.D. The Greek emperors granted freedom in matters pertaining to internal affairs to the local government. Therefore Israel governed itself internally through an aristocratic council of the elders (???.1Kgs.6:12; 2 Kgs 1:10, 11:27; 18). This council was headed by the chief priest who acquired the position by inheritance. When the Roman rule took over under Pompey, the chief priest retained his position as ‘ruler of the nation’69. This explains the presence of the council of the elders during these days. Gabinus implemented the division of the Jewish region into five districts or five councils70. In this manner, the council in Jerusalem was no longer sole arbitrator in the judicial court. 69 Josephus: Antiq. 20:10:1 70 Josephus: Antiq. 14:5:4 https://coptic-treasures.com/ After ten years, Caesar reinstated Hyrcanus II to his former position and the power of the council of Jerusalem became extended to the region of Galilee71. That was the first time for the council of Jerusalem to be called ‘the Sanhedrin.’ Herod began his reign by ordering the slaughter of all the members in the council of the Sanhedrin72. He then appointed members who were loyal to him. After the death of Herod and his son Archelaus, the authority of the Council became extensive. By the time the Lord began His ministry and during the age of the apostles, this Council became the high legislative court of justice. Undoubtedly, this role came to an end when Jerusalem was totally destroyed in the year 70 A.D. The Members of the Council 1-The Chief Priests: These were considered the aristocratic party in Jerusalem. It comprised former priests as well as current ones- such as Hannaniah the father-in- law of Jaffa and Caiaphas, as well as some other family members of their children. The office of the High Priests became diverted from its main role which was to handle only religious issues; for they used religion to veil their political ends. 2- The Sadducees: These were either called priests or elders. They were not priests in the religious sense and as indicated in the Books written by Moses. They were more like a judicial authority or party and they worked closely with the high priests. They harbored enmity towards the Pharisees which they tried to disguise. 3- The Pharisees: These considered themselves to be the guardians of the law and of Jewish traditions. They adhered to literal interpretations in an extreme manner, and they had immense authority in the local committees. They mixed among the crowds to arouse questions and arguments directed to the Lord Jesus Christ as they sought to accuse Him before the Sanhedrin. They would report how they believed the Lord had abused the law. 4- The Priests: They were scholars in the Law of Moses (Matt 22:35; Lk 7:30). They were called the teachers of the law or nomodidashalos (Lk 5:17, 34). This class began to appear after the days of Ezra the scribe who used to read the law (Neh. 6-10). 71 Josephus: Antiq. 14:8:3-5 72 Josephus: Antiq. 14:9:4 https://coptic-treasures.com/ The role of the scribes evolved to being teachers from being interpreters of the law and enforcing it. Therefore people were required to honor them more than parents since the children and the parents were obligated to honor their teachers. The Council of Jerusalem and the Local Councils According to Jewish customs, there were two types of councils or sunedria: the high Sanhedrin of Jerusalem which comprised seventy- one members, and the preparatory Sanhedrin found in the other countries. Each local council- preparatory Sanhedrin- consisted of twenty three members who were appointed by the high Sanhedrin. Based on the Mishna, the high Sanhedrin comprised seventy members including a president, vice president, and court guards as well. It is believed that membership continued for one’s lifetime. New members were appointed by current members or by a high political authority. The Authority of the Council In the days of the Lord Jesus Christ, the authority of the Council was confined to the twelve Jewish regions. Consequently, it was not possible to issue a judicial criminal sentence against the Lord as long as he dwelled in Galilee. It would only be possible when ever He would enter the boundaries of Judea. Legally, the Council had no authority over the Jews. However, local councils and the Jews in general- wherever they were- tended to obey the decisions of the high Council of Jerusalem. These local councils were not obligated to take their cases to that high Council unless they needed an opinion concerning issues specifically related to the law. The Meetings of the Council The local councils usually met on Monday and Thursday each week, excluding feast days and Saturdays. The Sanhedrin met in the place called Xystos or Xistus which is found on the east side within the house of the high priest. Legal Procedures https://coptic-treasures.com/ According to the Mishna, the members sat in a semi circle so that they could all see each other. Two court scribes sat before them, one on the right and one on the left side, and their task was to count the votes that would specifically indict or clear an accused person. Facing these scribes, educated students sat in three rows. Every accused had to appear in humble clothes to indicate his grief. In cases involving a death sentence, the process began with hearing those who pleaded innocent so that they could present their arguments. The students were not allowed to say one word against the accused. However, they could speak if they could find any point to his favor. Whereas those who presented accusations could also present issues to their benefit, those who presented arguments for innocence could not also present arguments against the accused. Voting began by the youngest of the members, though it sometimes began with the most important member. The vote for the innocence of a person was decided by a majority vote. The vote for the guilt of a person was decided by the majority vote plus two additional votes. It was illegal to issue a sentence on the same day of the trial; for it was necessary to discuss the case and then issue a verdict on the next day. The exception to that was made in a case where the accused had misled or deceived the public. Then it was possible to judge him on the same day or on the same night. Other than such a situation, it was forbidden to discuss a case deserving a death penalty on a Friday or the day before a feast day. These had to be postponed till after a Saturday or after feast days. The religious, civil, and criminal authority of the Council was restricted by the ruling foreign body in Israel. This differed from one period to the other and according to current ruler. When a person was led to his death, he would be announced by a forerunner proclaiming the verdict and saying: “This named person, son of such a named person, has been found to deserve death. Therefore if anyone wishes to contest the matter, let him come forward and proclaim that”73. The person sentenced to death was required to confess his crime so that he may have a share in the life to come. * * * 73 Sanhedrin 6:1 https://coptic-treasures.com/ Meditations Inspired by The Gospel of St John, Chapter Twelve Your Fragrance is the Mystery of My Life * Grant me to cross over and come to You In the company of Your beloved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, For wherever You go, You set up a joyful heavenly feast! With Mary, I pour pure spices at Your feet. It is not the work of my hands And I have not purchased it with my money… What I offer is the fruit of Your Holy Spirit! I pour out the spices and I smell its fragrance… Your fragrance has invaded my inner home and has filled my whole being. Your fragrance is the mystery of my life! * Truly, Judas the thief smelled it as a fragrance of death to death. Hence he lost love, for he did not comprehend anything but betrayal. He counted giving to be a loss; For the love of money blinded him. As for me, I smell and live by your fragrance… Allow me to join Mary and rub Your feet with my hair… Let me offer all that the world considers to be glorious to serve Your needy children The poor and needy stand before You, and I carry them and walk to You. By honoring them, I honor them, I give honor to Your hands. * With Martha, my hands stretch out to serve Your Body, For You receive in Your hands every offering made to Your brothers. Grant me to see Your hand working in and through me in all my actions. May Your hands embrace my whole being as I work tirelessly! * With Lazarus, I sit silently: My life, which You have resurrected, is a living testimony of Your love and glory. My silence is greater and more powerful than any word can express! * Here are the foreign Greeks seeking You: They could meet with You yet they could not rise up upon the Cross. How could we enjoy the divine Fruit unless we got buried? You arose, so resurrect us with You! * See how the heavens witness to You! You are the subject of all prophecies, You are the achiever of the Father’s will, You are the Savior of the world! The fragrance of Your Cross has filled heaven and earth… The Father joyfully received it, And the heavens hosts smelled it and comprehended its hidden mysteries. Mankind recognized Your fragrance and became angels… The fragrance of Your Cross is the mystery of my life!
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