ACC ~ John 18 v18

COOL DURING THE VERNAL EQUINOX

AUGUSTINE: It was not winter, and yet it was cold, as it often is at the vernal equinox. [1] TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 113.3. [2]

[1] But see Ambrose below.

[2] CCL 36:637; NPNF 1 7:419*.

PETER FROZEN IN HIS DENIAL

AMBROSE: The Evangelist John says, “It was cold.” If we consider the season, it could not have been cold. [1] But it was cold where Jesus was not acknowledged, where there was none to see the light, where the consuming fire [2] was denied. Peter stood beside the brazier, because he felt he was freezing. Evil is the … flame [that night]. It burns but does not warm. Evil is the hearth that scatters a soot of error even on the minds of the saints because even the inner eyes of Peter were darkened. EXPOSITION ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 10.76. [3]

[1] Ambrose uses what he perceives as a deliberate incongruity in a detail of John’s account to launch into a spiritual interpretation of the cold.

[2] Deut 4:24; Heb 12:29.

[3] CCL 14:368.

THE FIRE OF LOVE SMOTHERED

GREGORY THE GREAT: The fire of love was smothered in Peter’s breast, and he was warming himself before the coals of the persecutors, that is, he was warming himself with the love of this present life, which only increased his weakness. MORALS ON THE BOOK OF JOB 2.2.2. [1]

[1] LF 18:68**; ODGM 1 1:162.

LOVE GROWS COLD

EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA: See how clearly this description of the day of our Savior’s passion, a day in which “there shall be no light,” [1] was fulfilled, since “from the sixth hour to the ninth hour there was darkness over all the earth.” [2] And also the “frost and cold,” [3] since according to Luke: “They led Jesus to the palace of the high priest. And Peter followed afar off. And while they kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, he sat down,” [4] according to Mark, with the others to warm himself. And John, too, especially mentions the cold, saying, “The servants and the ministers stood, having made a fire of coals, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves.” And this day, he says, was known to the Lord and was not night. It was not day, because, as has been said already, “there shall be no light.” [5] This was fulfilled when “from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.” [6] Nor was it night, because “at eventide it shall be light” [7] was added, which also was fulfilled when the day regained its natural light after the ninth hour. PROOF OF THE GOSPEL 6.18. [8]

JESUS’ TRIAL JOHN 18:19-24

[1] Zech 14:6.

[2] Mt 27:45.

[3] Zech 14:6.

[4] Lk 22:54-55.

[5] Zech 14:6.

[6] Mt 27:45.

[7] Zech 14:6.

[8] POG 2:34-35**.

OVERVIEW:

In the questioning of Jesus that follows, the high priest searches for evidence of sedition (CHRYSOSTOM). But Jesus’ reply demonstrates that he has never had anything to hide the whole time he has been with them (AUGUSTINE). Having spoken “openly to the world” indicates not only that he has nothing to hide but that what was formerly hidden in shadows in the Law is now fully revealed in him (CYRIL).

Jesus talks back to the one who strikes him instead of turning the other cheek, but in reality he goes further in preparing not only his other cheek but his entire body to be struck with the nails of the cross (AUGUSTINE). His humility and patience are evident in calling his interrogator a priest who he knew in reality made a sacrilege out of the priesthood (CYPRIAN). It is obvious that what Jesus experienced was not a trial but a conspiracy (CHRYSOSTOM). Christ the Lord of all truly is a pattern for us of humility, gentleness and forbearance (CYRIL). They had taken Jesus to Annas first because he was Caiaphas’s father-in-law and because his house may have been on the way. But now they bind Jesus and send him to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, a position he occupied in alternate years with his father-in-law (AUGUSTINE).