Беседа 55

John 8:48–49. To this the Jews answered and said to Him: Are we not telling the truth that You are a Samaritan and that You have a demon? Jesus answered: There is no demon in Me; but I honor the Father... 1. We need to strongly fight what they say against God, and endure what they say against us. – 2. Refutation of the Anomeans and Arians. – 3. Must make use of time without delaying your conversion. – Image of envious people and envy. 1. Anger is shameless and impudent. Whenever there is a need to be ashamed, then she becomes even more embittered. So it was with the Jews. They should have been moved by the words and marveled at the boldness and consistency of His conversation; but they, on the contrary, revile Him, call Him a Samaritan, claim that He has a demon, and say: “Are we not telling the truth that You are a Samaritan and that You have a demon?” When He said something lofty, then to these people, extremely insensitive, it seemed crazy. And although the evangelist above did not notice anywhere that they called Him a Samaritan, from the words given it can be concluded that they often said this. They say: “There is a demon in You.” But who has a demon? Is it the one who honors God, or the one who insults the worshiper? What about Christ - this meekness, this condescension? “There is no demon in Me; but I honor My Father” who sent Me. When it was necessary to teach them, to humble their great arrogance and instruct them not to be proud of Abraham, then He was strict; and when He himself needed to endure reproach from them, then He showed great meekness. When they said: We have God and Abraham as our father, then He smote them greatly; and when He Himself was called having a demon, then He answers meekly, teaching us to take revenge for what offends God, and not to pay attention to the insults inflicted on us. “I do not seek My glory” (John 8:50). This, he says, I said in order to show that it is not proper for you, as murderers, to call God father; it means that I said this for the sake of His honor, and for Him I hear this, for Him you dishonor Me. But I don't pay any attention to this insult. You will give an answer in your words to the One for Whom I hear this today. "I do not seek My glory." For this reason, instead of punishing you, I turn to persuasion and advise you to do something by which you will not only escape punishment, but also receive eternal life. “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever keeps My word will never see death” (John 8:51). Here He speaks not only of faith, but also of pure life. Above He said: “has eternal life” (John 5:24); and here he says: “he will not see death,” indicating at the same time that they cannot do anything to Him. If he who keeps His word does not die, how much more will He himself. They also understood this, and therefore they say: “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died and the prophets" (John 8:52), - i.e. Those who listened to the word of God died: so will not those who listened to Your word die? “Are You greater than our father Abraham?” (John 8:53). What vanity! Again they turn to their relationship with him. They should have said: are you greater than God? Or: Are those who heard You greater than Abraham? But they do not say this because they considered Him less than even Abraham. Christ first proved that they were murderers, and thereby removed them from kinship with Abraham. But since they remained with their thoughts, then He again goes to the same thing in a different way, showing that they are working in vain. However, He did not talk to them at all about death, and did not even reveal or say what kind of death he meant. Now He only assures them that He is higher than Abraham, in order to shame them. After all, of course, He says, if I were an ordinary person, then they shouldn’t have killed Me, because I didn’t do anything bad. But if, moreover, I speak the truth, and have no sin, and am sent from God, and greater than Abraham, then are you not going crazy and working in vain, trying to kill Me? What are they? “Now we have learned that the devil is in You.” But not so the Samaritan woman; She did not say to Him, “You have a demon,” but only this: “Are you greater than our father Jacob?” (John 4:12). This is because the Jews were slanderers and murderers, and she wanted to learn. For this reason, she expressed bewilderment, and gave answers with decent modesty, and called Him Lord. And indeed, Who promises much greater (goods), and Who is worthy of faith, He should not be insulted, but, on the contrary, honored; but the Jews call Him having a demon. Those words, the words of the Samaritan woman, were an expression of bewilderment; and these show unbelievers and corrupt people. “Are You greater than our father Abraham?” This means, according to His words, He was greater than Abraham. And when you see Him ascended, then you will recognize that He really is greater. Therefore, He said: “When you lift Me up, then you will know that it is I” (John 8:28). And look, what wisdom: first he removed them from kinship (with Abraham); then he shows that He is greater than him, and through this makes it possible to notice that He is incomparably greater than the prophets. And they always called Him a prophet; That’s why He said: “My word cannot fit into you” (John 8:37). There He said that He raises the dead (John 5:21), and here that he who believes in Him will not see death - this is much more important than not allowing himself to remain forever in the power of death. That's why they were even more indignant. What are they? “What are you doing?” (John 8:53). And these words are also reproachful. You, they say, exalt Yourself. But Christ answers this: “If I glorify Myself, then My glory is nothing” (John 8:54). 2. What are the heretics saying here? Christ heard (they say): “Are You really greater than our father Abraham?”, but he did not dare to tell them: so true, but did it in secret. So what? Does His glory really mean nothing? For them (the Jews) - nothing. Therefore, as He said: “My testimony is not true” (John 5:31), applying to their opinion, so here He says: “The Father glorifies Me” (John 8:54). But why did He not say: Father, who sent Me, as He said before, but: “of whom you say that He is your God. And you did not know Him” (John 8:54–55)? He wanted to show that they did not know Him not only as Father, but also as God. “But I know Him” (John 8:55). Therefore, when I say: “I know Him,” this is not boasting; but if he said: I don’t know Him, it would be a lie. But when you say you know Him, you are telling a lie. Thus, just as you lie when you say that you know Him, so I (would lie) if I said that I do not know Him. “If I glorify Myself.” Since they said: “what do you make yourself with?”, then He answers: if I create Myself, “My glory is nothing.” So, I know Him perfectly, but you do not know Him. However, just as in relation to Abraham He did not take everything from them, but said: “I know that you are Abraham’s seed” (John 8:37), in order to subject them to greater condemnation through this, so here He did not take everything from them, but what? "Which you speak of". By allowing them to boast about this in words, He made their guilt more severe. How come you don't know Him? You revile the One who says and does everything for Him to glorify Him, and Who was sent from Him. But this (they will say) remains without evidence. On the contrary, the following words serve as proof of this. “And I will keep His word” (John 8:55). At the same time, they, of course, could have denounced Him if only they had something, because this served as the strongest evidence that He was sent from God. “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day; and he saw and rejoiced” (John 8:56). Again it shows that they are strangers to Abraham, since what he rejoiced about, they mourned. And by day, it seems to me, He means here the day of the cross, which (Abraham) typified by the offering of the ram and Isaac. What are they? “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” (John 8:57). Christ tells them: “before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). And they “took up stones to throw at Him” (John 8:59). Do you see how He proved that He was greater than Abraham? Whoever was glad to see His day and considered it desirable for himself, he obviously recognized this as a blessing for himself and was less than Him. And since they said that He was the son of a tekton, and did not imagine anything more about Him, He little by little raises them to a lofty concept of Himself. So, when they heard that they did not know God, they were not upset; and when they heard: “before Abraham was, I am,” then - as if their nobility was humiliated - they were indignant and began to throw stones. “I saw My day and rejoiced.” This shows that he does not go into suffering unwillingly, because he praises the one who rejoiced over the cross, since the cross was the salvation of the universe. And they threw stones: that’s how they were inclined to kill and did it without permission, without any research. Why didn’t He say: “before Abraham was,” I was, but “I am”? Just as His Father used this word about Himself: “I am,” so does He. It means the eternal essence of being, regardless of any time. Therefore, His words seemed blasphemous to them. And if they did not tolerate comparison with Abraham, although this is not so important, then could they stop throwing (stones) at Him when He began to often compare Himself with God? Therefore, He, acting like a human being, runs away and hides again. Having offered them sufficient instruction and fulfilled His duty, He left the church and went to heal the blind man, in order to show by His very deeds that He was before Abraham. But perhaps someone will ask: why did He not destroy their power? In this case, perhaps they would believe. He healed the paralytic, and they did not believe. He performed many other miracles, and during the very suffering he cast them down on their faces to the ground, and darkened their eyes, and they did not believe. Is it possible for them to believe if He destroyed their power? So, there is nothing worse than a hardened soul; even if she saw signs, even miracles, she still remains in the same shamelessness. So Pharaoh, despite many executions, came to his senses only when he suffered punishment, and until the last day he remained the same persecutor of those whom he released. That is why Paul repeatedly says: “lest any of you become hardened by being deceived by sin” (Heb. 3:13). Just as bodily powers become dead over time and lose all sensitivity, so the soul, possessed by many passions, becomes dead to virtue. Then, no matter what you present to her, she feels nothing; even if threatened with punishment or something else, she remains insensitive. 3. That’s why I beg you, while we still have hope of salvation, while we can turn, we will take care of it in every possible way. Just as desperate helmsmen, having abandoned the ship to the will of the wind, do not themselves help it at all, so do those who have lost all hope finally act. The envious person only has in mind how to satisfy his desire; and even if he had to undergo punishment or death, he remains devoted to his one passion. A dissolute and covetous person does the same. If the power of passions is so great, then the power of virtue is much greater. If we despise death for the former, much more so for the latter. If they neglect their souls, then all the more must we neglect everything for our salvation. Indeed, what justification will there be for us when those who are perishing care so much about their destruction, and we will not show even such diligence for our salvation, but will always melt with envy? But there is nothing worse than envy. In order to destroy another, (the envious) destroys himself. The envious eye is consumed by sadness. The envious person lives in continuous death, considers everyone his enemies, even those who have not offended him in any way. He grieves that honor is given to God; rejoices in what the devil rejoices in. Has anyone gained respect from people? It's not an honor; don't be jealous. Is anyone honored by God? Be jealous of him and be like him. But you don't want to? Why else are you ruining yourself? Why are you throwing away what you have? Can't you match him and do something good? Why else are you doing bad things? If you cannot share his labors with him, you must at least rejoice with him in order to benefit from this rejoicing. After all, one intention is often enough to receive great good. Now, Ezekiel says that the Moabites were punished because they rejoiced at the Israelites (Ezekiel 35:12); and there were also those who were saved because they sighed over the misfortunes of others. If there is some consolation for those who sigh over the misfortunes of others, then there is much more (comfort) for those who rejoice in the honors of others. God blamed the Moabites for rejoicing in the Israelites. And although He Himself punished them, He does not want us to rejoice in the punishment of others, even when He Himself punishes, because He Himself is reluctant to punish. If one should sympathize with those who are being punished, then even more so one should not envy those who are given honor. It was through this that Korah and Dathan perished; those whom they envied, they made more glorious, but they brought punishment upon themselves. Envy is a poisonous beast, an unclean beast, an evil of will that does not deserve forgiveness, a vice for which there is no justification, the cause and mother of all evils. So, let us destroy it from the roots in order to get rid of present troubles and be worthy of future blessings, according to the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom and with whom be glory to the Father with the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. The paragraphs in the text were arranged by us – Editorial staff of “ABC of Faith” You might be interested in: