ACC ~ John 15 v20a

JESUS’ HUMILIATION WILL BE HIS DISCIPLES’ HUMILIATION

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Jesus indicates to his disciples that they will encounter every kind of disgrace, saying, “The slave is not above his lord.” “For,” he says, “wicked people attacked me with their unbridled tongues. And leaving no kind of insult untried, they called me a man possessed of a devil and a drunkard and the fruit of fornication. Yet I did not immediately seek their punishment, but not being cut to the heart by their insults, I granted to my hearers the word of salvation.” Do not, then, seek out of reason your own aggrandizement or scorn the limits within which your Lord was bound, who lowered himself to such humiliation for us to benefit all. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 10.2. [1]

[1] LF 48:416-17*.

CONSOLATION THAT THEIR LORD SUFFERED

CHRYSOSTOM: He showed that in this point they would be his most ardent imitators. For while Christ was in the flesh, people made war against him, but when he was translated [to heaven], the battle next came on them. Then because they were so few, they were terrified at being about to encounter the attack of so great a multitude. And so he raises their souls by telling them that it was a special subject of joy that they were hated by them, “For you shall share my sufferings. You should not therefore be troubled, for you are not better than I.” As I told you before, “The servant is not greater than his lord.” Then there is also a third source of consolation, that the Father also is insulted together with them. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 77.2. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:283*; PG 59:416.