A MARVELOUS thing is longsuffering; it places the soul as in a quiet harbor, fleeing it from tossings and evil spirits. And this everywhere Christ hath taught us, but especially now, when He is judged, and dragged, and led about ....
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th Century
But why was it that Pilate made the enquiry not in their presence, but apart, having gone into the judgment hall? He suspected something great respecting Him.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th Century
... concerning that of which Pilate most desired to hear, namely, His Kingdom, He answered, saying, "My Kingdom is not of this world." That is, "I am indeed a King, yet not such an one as thou suspectest, but far more glorious," ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th Century
But they cried out, "We have no king but Caesar." Of their own will they subjected themselves to punishment; therefore also God gave them up, because they were the first to cast themselves out from His providence and superintendence ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th Century
And why did they strive to kill Him in this manner? It was a shameful death. Fearing therefore lest there should afterwards be any remembrance of Him, they desired to bring Him to the accursed punishment, not knowing that truth is exalted by hindrances ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th Century
... the crown of thorns, the robe, the reed, the blows, the smiting on the cheek, the spittings, the irony. These things, if continually meditated on, are sufficient to take down all anger; and if we be mocked at, if we suffer injustice, let us still say, "The servant is not greater than his Lord" (c. xiii. 16).
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th Century
For on this account He bare all these things, in order that we might walk in His footsteps, and endure those mockings which disturb more than any other kind of reproach ... This let us also imitate; for nothing so much maketh God propitious as the loving enemies, and doing good to those who despitefully use us.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th Century
When a man insults thee, look not to him, but to the devil who moves him, and against him empty all thy wrath, but pity the man who is moved by him. For if lying is from the devil, to be angry without a cause is much more so ....
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th Century
For He went forth bearing the Cross as a trophy over the tyranny of death: and as conquerors do, so He bare upon His shoulders the symbol of victory ....
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th Century
They crucified Him too with thieves, in this also unintentionally fulfilling prophecy; for what they did for insult contributed to the truth, that thou mayest learn how great is its power, since the Prophet had foretold of old, that "He was numbered with the transgressors." (Isa. liii. 12.)
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th Century
... three were crucified, but Jesus alone was glorious, that thou mayest learn, that His power effected all ... but no one attributed anything of what was done to either of those others, but to Jesus only; so entirely was the plot of the devil rendered vain ... For even of these two, one was saved. He therefore did not insult the glory of the Cross, but contributed to it not a little ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th Century
"And Pilate wrote a title." At the same time requiting the Jews, and making a defense for Christ .... Pilate thus placed, as on a trophy, those letters, which utter a clear voice, and show forth His Victory, and proclaim His Kingdom, though not in its completeness.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th Century
And this he made manifest not in a single tongue, but in three languages; ... in order that none might be ignorant of the defense, he publicly recorded the madness of the Jews, in all the languages. For they bore malice against Him even when crucified ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th Century
But He on the Cross, committeth His mother to the disciple, teaching us even to our last breath to show every care for our parents .... But here He showeth much loving affection ... it was no little thing for him to be honored with such honor, and to receive the reward of steadfastness ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th Century
He did everything without being troubled, speaking with the disciple concerning His mother, fulfilling prophecies, holding forth good hopes to the thief .... Let us then not tremble at death.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th Century
Our soul hath by nature the love of life, but it lies with us either to loose the bands of nature, and make this desire weak; or else to tighten them, and make the desire more tyrannous ... But the women stood by the Cross, and the weaker sex then appeared the manlier(ver. 25); so entirely henceforth were all things transformed ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th Century
"But why made He no mention of any other woman, although another stood there?" To teach us to pay more than ordinary respect to our mothers. For as when parents oppose us on spiritual matters, we must not even own them, so when they do not hinder us, we ought to pay them all becoming respect ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th Century
For He was everywhere desirous to show, that this Death was of a new kind, if indeed the whole lay in the power of the Person dying, and death came not on the Body before He willed it; and He willed it after He had fulfilled all things ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th Century
Seest thou how strong a thing is truth? By means of the very things which are the objects of their zeal, prophecy is fulfilled ... For the soldiers when they came, brake the legs of the others, but not those of Christ. Yet these to gratify the Jews pierced His side with a spear, and now insulted the dead body ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th Century
Since there was a prophecy, saying, (from this circumstance, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced." (Ver. 37; Zech. xii. 10.) ... "A bone of Him shall not be broken." (Ex. xii. 46; Num. ix. 12.) ... With this too an ineffable mystery was accomplished.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th Century
For "there came forth water and blood." Not without a purpose ... did those founts come forth, but because by means of these two together the Church consisteth. And the initiated know it, being by water indeed regenerate, and nourished by the Blood and the Flesh.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th Century