ACC ~ John 13 v2

WASHING BEFORE SUPPER

ORIGEN: It seems to me that the Evangelist has not preserved the literal sequence concerning the washing in these words that he might raise our understanding to the spiritual sense of the things in the passage, since those who need to wash their feet wash them before supper and before they recline to eat. The Evangelist, however, passed over that proper time for washing in his account, and now, after he has reclined to eat, Jesus arises from supper, that the teacher and Lord might begin to wash the disciples’ feet after they have eaten. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 32.11. [1]

[1] FC 89:344*; SC 385:190.

EVEN TABLE FELLOWSHIP DOES NOT STOP JUDAS

CHRYSOSTOM: The Evangelist inserts this as if in astonishment, showing that our Lord was about to wash the feet of the very person who had resolved to betray him. This also proves the great wickedness of Judas that even partaking of the same table, which checks the behavior of even the worst people, did not stop him. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 70.1. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:257**.

JUDAS NOT CLOTHED WITH THE ARMOR OF GOD

ORIGEN: I would also venture to say, as consistent with the statement, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with me,” that he did not wash Judas’s feet, [because] the devil had already put into his heart to betray the teacher and Lord, since the devil found him not clothed in the full armor of God and not having the shield of faith with which one can quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. [1] [The devil] is an archer [who] prepares fiery darts for those who do not keep their heart with all watchfulness. [2] … In the case of Judas, therefore, it has been written, “The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him.” Consistently with this you might say of each of those wounded in the heart by the devil, the devil having already put it in the heart of so-and-so that he should commit fornication, and of so-and-so that he should commit fraud, and of so-and-so that, mad for fame, he should submit to the idolatry of those who seem to have rank, and so in the case of the other sins that the devil puts into that heart that is not armed with the shield of faith, by which shield of faith one can quench not one, or two, but all the fiery darts of the wicked one. [3] COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 32.19-20, 24. [4]

[1] See Eph 6:13-16.

[2] See Prov 4:23.

[3] See Eph 6:16.

[4] FC 89:345-47; SC 385:194-98.

JUDAS SLEEPING THE SLEEP OF AVARICE

AMBROSE: Judas was sleeping; therefore he did not hear the words of Christ. Judas was sleeping, yes, sleeping the sleep of wealth since he sought a reward from his betrayal. The devil saw that he was sleeping, yes, buried in the deep sleep of avarice. He let himself into his heart, wounded the horse and threw the rider whom he had separated from Christ. ON THE PATRIARCHS 7.33. [1]

[1] FC 65:261*; CSEL 32 2:144.