ACC ~ John 13 v12 - 13

TEACHER AND LORD

ORIGEN: Jesus washed the feet of the disciples insofar as he was their teacher, and the feet of the servants insofar as he was their Lord. For the dust from the earth and from worldly things is cleared away by teaching, since it reaches nothing else than the extremities and lower parts of the disciples. But those things that defile the feet are also removed by the lordship of the ruler, since he has authority over those who still receive common defilement because they still have the spirit of bondage. [1] COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 32.115-16. [2]

[1] See Rom 8:15.

[2] FC 89:364*; SC 385:238.

THE GOAL OF THE TEACHER

ORIGEN: And this is the goal of the teacher, as teacher, for the disciple. He wants to make the disciple like himself, so that he may no longer need the teacher, as teacher, although he will need him in other respects. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 32.118. [1]

[1] FC 89:364-65*; SC 385:238.

THE TITLE OF LORD BY NATURE

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Christ does not hold the title Lord as an empty name of honor like we do when we are decorated by the favor of others with titles that surpass our nature and merit, even though we remain mere servants by nature. Rather, Jesus is Lord by nature, possessing authority over the universe as God, as it is said somewhere by the psalmist, “all things are your servants.” [1] Also, he is Master [or Teacher] by nature, for “all wisdom comes from the Lord,” [2] and all understanding comes by him. For inasmuch as he is wisdom he makes all intelligent beings wise, and in every rational creature, both in heaven and on earth, he implants the intelligence that is appropriate for it. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 9. [3]

[1] Ps 119:91 (118:91 LXX).

[2] Sir 1:1.

[3] LF 48:183**.