ACC ~ John 19 v17a
CHRIST CARRIED FIRST, SIMON SECOND
THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: When Christ was condemned, they laid his cross on him. However, on the way out to Golgotha, they met Simon of Cyrene and transferred it on to him. [1] In this way there is no disagreement among the Evangelists. COMMENTARY ON JOHN 7.19.17. [2]
[1] Mt 27:32.
[2] CSCO 4 3:335.
LET US ALSO BEAR THE CROSS
ORIGEN: But it was fitting not only that the Savior should take his own cross but that we also should bear it, fulfilling our being pressed into service in the cause of salvation. But yet again, we do not profit from taking his cross as much as we do when Jesus himself takes his cross and bears it. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 126. [1]
ABRAHAM AND THE FATHER, ISAAC AND CHRIST
ROMANUS MELODUS:
“In you [Abraham] I foreshadow my plans, [2]
For indeed, O just man, you are clearly my figure in relief. [3]
Do you wish to know what is to come after you as a result of your deeds?
It is for this reason that I had you ascend here, to show you.
Just as you did not spare your son because of me,
Just so, I shall not spare my son because of all men;
But I shall give him to be slain for the sake of the world.” [4] …
“In the same way that your Isaac has carried the wood on his shoulders,
In the same way, my son will bear the cross on His shoulders.
Your great love has revealed to you the future.
See now the battering ram attached to the wood;
As you see the source of its support, you will understand the mystery.
It is by the horns that it holds in the bonds;
The horns signify the hands of my son.
Set the seal of approval on Him, and I shall guard your son.”
KONTAKION ON ABRAHAM AND ISAAC 41.22-23. [5]
[1] AEG 6:53*; GCS 38 2 (11):263. This is a common solution to John omitting mention of Simon of Cyrene, that is, that Jesus first carried the cross and then Simon. See, for instance, Theodore on this point. Irenaeus alludes to a possible Gnostic proposal that it was Simon of Cyrene and not Christ who was crucified, implying a theological reason for Simon’s omission by John. See Against Heresies 1.24.4.
[2] Gen 22:15-19.
[3] Gen 1:26; 22:12, 16.
[4] Rom 8:32.
[5] KRBM 2:69. For a further sampling among the many comparisons between Isaac and Christ in the patristic literature, see J. Cavadini, “Exegetical Transformations: The Sacrifice of Isaac in Philo, Origin, and Ambrose,” in Dominico Eloquio, ed. Paul Blowers et. al. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002), 35-49.
THE SACRIFICE OF ISAAC PREFIGURED CHRIST’S SACRIFICE
CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA: Isaac (for the narrative may be interpreted otherwise) is a type of the Lord, a child as a son. For he was the son of Abraham, as Christ was the Son of God, and a sacrifice as the Lord, but he was not immolated as the Lord. Isaac only bore the wood of the sacrifice, as the Lord the wood of the cross. And he laughed mystically, [1] prophesying that the Lord should fill us with joy, who have been redeemed from corruption by the blood of the Lord. Isaac did everything but suffer, as was right, yielding the precedence of suffering to the Word. Furthermore, there is an intimation of the divinity of the Lord with his not being slain. For Jesus rose again after his burial, having suffered no harm, like Isaac released from sacrifice. CHRIST THE EDUCATOR 1.5. [2]
[1] The name Isaac means “laughter.”
[2] ANF 2:215*. For further parallels between Isaac and Christ here see also Tertullian An Answer to the Jews 10 and Against Marcion 3.18 and the commentaries, loc. cit.
JESUS FINISHES WHAT ISAAC WAS SPARED
CHRYSOSTOM: And now, [the Jews] laid the cross on him as a malefactor. For they even abhorred the wood and would not even touch it. This was also the case in the type. For Isaac bore the wood, but then the matter stopped because his father wanted it to, for it was the type. Here there was no stopping it because it was the reality [and not the type]. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 85.1. [1]
[1] NPNF 1 14:317**.
ISAAC AND CHRIST CARRIED THEIR OWN WOOD
TERTULLIAN: Isaac the son of Abraham personally carried the wood for his own sacrifice when God had enjoined that he should be made a victim to God himself. But these had been mysteries that were being kept for perfect fulfillment in the times of Christ. Therefore Isaac, with his wood, was preserved when the ram that was caught by the horns in the bramble was offered in his place. [1] Christ, however, carried his wood on his own shoulders, adhering to the horns of the cross with a thorny crown encircling his head. For he chose to be made a sacrifice on behalf of all. AN ANSWER TO THE JEWS 13. [2]
[1] Gen 22:1-14.
[2] ANF 3:170-71**.
HE BECAME A CURSE FOR US
CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: They led away the author of life to die—to die for our sake. In a way beyond our understanding, the power of God brought from Christ’s passion an end far different from that intended by his enemies. His sufferings served as a snare for death and rendered it powerless. The Lord’s death proved to be our restoration to immortality and newness of life. Condemned to death though innocent, he went forward bearing on his shoulders the cross on which he was to suffer. He did this for our sake, taking on himself the punishment that the law justly imposed on sinners. He was cursed for our sake according to the saying of Scripture: “A curse is on everyone who is hanged on a tree.” [1] … We who have all committed many sins were under that ancient curse for our refusal to obey the law of God. To set us free he who was without sin took that curse on himself. Since he is God who is above all, his sufferings sufficed for all, his death in the flesh was the redemption of all. And so, Christ carried the cross, a cross that was rightfully not his but ours, who were under the condemnation of the law. … Indeed, our Lord Jesus Christ has warned us that anyone who does not take up his cross and follow him is not worthy of him. [2] And I think taking up the cross means simply renouncing the world for God’s sake and, if this is required of us, putting the hope of future blessings before the life we now live in the body. Our Lord Jesus Christ was not ashamed to carry the cross we deserved, and he did so because he loved us. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 12. [3]
[1] Gal 3:13.
[2] See Mt 10:38.
[3] LF 48:623-24**.
THE CROSS IS THE SCEPTER OF JESUS’ POWER
LEO THE GREAT: When our Lord was handed over to the will of his cruel foes, they ordered him, in mockery of his royal dignity, to carry the instrument of his own torture. This was done to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah: “A child is born for us, a son is given to us; sovereignty is laid on his shoulders.” [1] To the wicked, the sight of the Lord carrying his own cross was indeed an object of derision. But to the faithful a great mystery was revealed, for the cross was destined to become the scepter of his power. Here was the majestic spectacle of a glorious conqueror mightily overthrowing the hostile forces of the devil and nobly bearing the trophy of his victory. On the shoulders of his invincible patience he carried the sign of salvation for all the kingdoms of the earth to worship, as if on that day he would strengthen all his future disciples by the symbol of his work and say to them, “Anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” [2] SERMON 8.4. [3]
[1] Is 9:6.
[2] Mt 10:38.
[3] NPNF 2 12:172; JFB 44; PL 54:339-40.
Jn