ACC ~ John 19 v18

THREE CRUCIFIED, ONLY ONE ATTRIBUTED GLORY

CHRYSOSTOM: Who cares if the Jews did these things with a different intent? They crucified him too with thieves, in this also unintentionally fulfilling prophecy. For what they did for insult contributed to the truth, that you may learn how great its power is, since the prophet of old had foretold, “He was numbered with the transgressors.” [1] The devil therefore wished to cast a veil over what was done but was unable. For the three were crucified, but Jesus alone was glorious, that you may learn that his power affected all. Yet the miracles took place when the three had been nailed to the cross. But no one attributed anything of what was done to either of those others but to Jesus only. This is how the plot of the devil was rendered so entirely impotent and how everything rained back on his own head. For even of these two, one was saved. He therefore did not insult the glory of the cross but contributed to it not a little. For it was not a lesser matter than shaking the rocks to change a thief on the cross and to bring him into paradise. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 85.1. [2]

[1] Is 53:12.

[2] NPNF 1 14:317*.

THE TWO THIEVES ARE A TYPE OF ISRAEL AND THE GENTILES

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The two criminals who hung by Christ’s side symbolize the two nations who were about to be brought into close contact with him, namely, the children of Israel and the Gentiles. And why do we take condemned criminals as the type? Because the Jews were condemned by the Law, for they were guilty of transgressing it. And the Greeks were condemned by their idolatry, for they worshiped the creature more than the Creator. … Therefore, the crucifixion of the two robbers, side by side with Christ, signifies … the juxtaposition of the two nations, dying together, as it were, with the Savior Christ by bidding farewell to worldly pleasures, refusing any longer to live after the flesh and preferring to live with their Lord, as far as possible, by fashioning their lives according to him and consecrating them to his service. And the meaning of the figure is in no way affected by the fact that the men who hung by his side were criminals. For we were by nature children of wrath [1] before we believed in Christ and were all doomed to death. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 12. [2]

[1] Eph 2:3.

[2] LF 48:626-27*.

THE MIDDLE CROSS FORESHADOWS THE JUDGMENT SEAT

AUGUSTINE: Even the cross, if you consider it well, was a judgment seat. For the Judge was set up in the middle with the thief who believed and was pardoned on one side and the thief who mocked and was damned on the other. Already then he signified what he would do with the living and the dead: some he will place on his right hand, others on his left. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 31.11. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:193**.