Our Redeemer and Maker, Who was Son of God before the ages, became Son of Man at the end of ages. Thus the One Who, through the power of His divinity, had created us to enjoy the happiness of everlasting life, might Himself restore us, through the weakness of our humanity, to recover the life we had lost.
St. Bede the Venerable
Homilies on the Gospels, 2.18. 7th Century. Taken from: Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Vol: John 1-10. Intervarsity Press, 2006, p. 126.
For since Nicodemus had said, "We know that Thou art a teacher come from God," on this very point He sets him right, all but saying, "Think Me not a teacher in such manner as were the many of the prophets who were of earth, for I have come from heaven (but) now. None of the prophets hath ascended up thither, but I dwell there."
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 27 on John 3, 4th Century
For not in heaven only is He, but everywhere, and He fills all things; but yet He speaks according to the infirmity of His hearer, desiring to lead him up little by little ... For after having spoken of the very great benefaction that had come to man by Baptism, He proceeds to mention another benefaction, which was the cause of this, and not inferior to it; namely, that by the Cross ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 27 on John 3, 4th Century
But wherefore did He not say plainly, "I am about to be crucified," instead of referring His hearers to the ancient type? First, that you may learn that old things are akin to new, and that the one are not alien to the other; next, that you may know that He came not unwillingly to His Passion; and ... you may learn that no harm arises to Him from the Fact, and that to many there springs from it salvation ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 27 on John 3, 4th Century
Now if the Jews, by looking to the brazen image of a serpent, escaped death, much rather will they who believe on the Crucified, with good reason enjoy a far greater benefit ... Seest thou the cause of the Crucifixion, and the salvation which is by it?
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 27 on John 3, 4th Century
Seest thou the relationship of the type to the reality? there the Jews escaped death, but the temporal, here believers the eternal; there the hanging serpent healed the bites of serpents, here the Crucified Jesus cured the wounds inflicted by the spiritual dragon; there he who looked with his bodily eyes was healed, here he who beholds with the eyes of his understanding put off all his sins;
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 27 on John 3, 4th Century
there that which hung was brass fashioned into the likeness of a serpent, here it was the Lord's Body, builded by the Spirit; there a serpent bit and a serpent healed, here death destroyed and a Death saved ... but the Lord's Death was free from all sin, as the brazen serpent from venom. For, saith Peter, "He did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth." (1 Pet. ii. 22.)
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 27 on John 3, 4th Century
For as some noble champion by lifting on high and dashing down his antagonist, renders his victory more glorious, so Christ, in the sight of all the world, cast down the adverse powers, and ... delivered them from all venomous beasts that vexed them, by being hung upon the Cross.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 27 on John 3, 4th Century
Here Christ speaks concisely, because His discourse was directed to Nicodemus, but still in a more significant manner ... He shows the great strength of His love ... He, the immortal, who is without beginning, the Infinite Majesty, they but dust and ashes, full of ten thousand sins, who, ungrateful, have at all times offended Him; and these He "loved."
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 27 on John 3, 4th Century
