ACC ~ John 1 v20
JOHN FIRST REMOVES THEIR FALSE SUSPICIONS
ORIGEN: Someone may, perhaps, reasonably raise the question why in the world, when the priests and Levites inquire of John, not if he is the Christ but âWho are you?â the Baptist does not answer, âI am the voice of one crying in the wilderness.â⌠It is likely that John saw from the question the reverence of the priests and Levites. Their question suggested their secret suspicion that he who baptizes might be the Christ, but they were cautious about asserting this more boldly that they might not seem rash. This is why he declares with good reason that he is not the Christ, to remove all their false suspicion about him first, then, in this way, to present the truthâŚ.
We should also add that the people were disturbed that the time of the Christâs sojourn might already be imminent from the time slightly preceding the birth of Jesus up to the manifestation of his preaching. In all probability the scribes and lawyers were already expecting the one awaited (deriving his time from the Scriptures). This is why Theodas [1] had sprung up who had gathered no small crowd by claiming to be the Christ, I think. And after him, Judas of Galilee, in the days of the taxation, [2] had done something similar. Since therefore Christâs sojourn is rather heatedly expected and discussed, it is with good reason that the Jews send priests and Levites from Jerusalem to John, intending with the question, âWho are you,â to see if he will admit to being the Christ. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 6.56-57, 60-61. [3]
[1] See Acts 5:36 (RSV Theudas.)
[2] See Acts 5:37.
[3] FC 80:183-85**; SC 157:170-72.
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DECEPTION?
AUGUSTINE: But the Jews say, âAre you the Christ?â If he had not been a valley to be filled in but a mountain to be humbled, he would have found here an opportunity for deception. They, you see, would like to hear from him what they believed. I mean they were so impressed by his grace that they would undoubtedly believe whatever he said. There you are, he had found an opportunity of deceiving the human race; if he said âI am the Christ,â they would believe him. If he started bragging with a name that belonged to another, he would lose his own proper merit. If he started bragging as though he were the Christ, wouldnât he have this answer to give himself? âWhy are you pushing yourself forward? âAll flesh is grass, and its glory like the flowers in the grass; the grass has withered, the flowers fallen.â Understand what abides foreverâ âbut the Word of the Lord abides forever.ââ [1] SERMON 289.4. [2]
[1] Is 40:8.
[2] WSA 3 8:121-22.
SYMPATHY TOWARD JOHN AS THE MORE DESERVING
CHRYSOSTOM: [The Jews] were influenced by a kind of human sympathy for John [the Baptist], whom they were reluctant to see made subordinate to Christ because of the many marks of greatness about him. [For example], there was in the first place his illustrious descent, since he was the son of a chief priest. [1] There was also his hard training and his contempt for the world. [2] ⌠In Christ, however, the contrary was apparent. He was of humble birth, for which they reproach him by asking, âIs not this the carpenterâs son?â [3] ⌠And the country that he was supposed to have come from had such a bad reputation that even Nathanael said, âCan anything good come from Nazareth?â [4] He also had an ordinary way of living and clothes like everyone else woreâŚ. When John then was constantly sending them to Christ⌠therefore, they send someone to him, thinking by their flattery that they will induce him to confess that he was the Christ. They do not therefore send inferior people to him⌠servants and Herodians, as they did to Christ, but priests and Levites. And no indiscriminate party are these, but those [priests and Levites] of Jerusalem, that is, the more honorable onesâŚ. They send them to ask, âWho are you?â⌠They send them not because they want to be informed but in order to induce him to do what I have saidâŚ.
John replies then to their intention, not to their interrogationâŚ. âAnd he confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, âI am not the Christ.ââ And observe the wisdom of the Evangelist. He repeats the same thing three times to show Johnâs virtue and [the priestsâ and Levitesâ] wickedness and foolishnessâŚ. For it is the character of an honest servant not only to forbear taking to himself his lordâs glory but even to reject it when many offer it to him. The multitude indeed believed from ignorance that John [the Baptist] was the Christ, but in [the priests and Levites] it was malice, and in this spirit they put the question to him, expecting to draw him over to their purpose by their flattery. If they had not expected this to happen, they would not have proceeded immediately to another question. Instead, they would have been angry with him for giving them an answer outside of what they were askingâŚ. When caught, however, and it was discovered what they had in mind, they proceed to another question: âAnd they asked him, âWhat then? Are you Elijah?ââ HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 16.1-2. [5]
[1] Lk 1:5, 13.
[2] See Lk 1:80.
[3] Mt 13:55.
[4] Jn 1:46.
[5] NPNF 1 14:55**.
THEY WERE LOOKING FOR MESSIAH
AUGUSTINE: For they knew that Elijah would precede Christ. For the name of Christ was not unknown to any Jew. They did not think that he was the Christ, but they did not think that Christ would not come at all. When they were hoping that he would come, they were offended at him when he did come and stumbled at him as on a low stone. ⌠They did not see the lowly stoneâbut what great blindness not to see the mountain! TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 4.4. [1]
[1] NPNF 1 7:26-27**.
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