ACC ~ John 5 v8

“RISE” CONFERS THE CURE

AUGUSTINE: There are three distinct commands. “Rise, take up your bed, and walk.” “Rise,” however, is not a command but the conferring of the cure. Two commands were given upon his cure: “take up your bed, and walk.” TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 17.7. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:113**.

THE COMPLETENESS OF THE CURE

EPHREM THE SYRIAN: Was it not enough to say, “Rise up and go”? For was it not a miracle that the one who could not turn about on his bed could rise up easily and go? Yet to show that he had given him a full healing, he also made him carry his bed—and not like the sick who return [to health] little by little. [Our Lord said], “Take up your bed and go.” And even if he remained silent, his bed would cry out. COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON 13.2. [1]

[1] CB709:100.

TAKE UP YOUR BED AND GOVERN YOUR LIFE

CAESARIUS OF ARLES: What does this mean, “take up your pallet” except carry and govern your body? Conduct that which carried you. For when you were under the dominion of sin your flesh first carried you to evil, but now since grace is in control you conduct and direct your body to what is good. In the wrong and wicked order your flesh was first in control and the soul served. But now through the mercy of Christ the soul holds sway and the flesh is subject to it in servitude. “Rise, take up your pallet, and go into your house.” When you were thrown out of your house, that is, out of the land of paradise at the intervention of sin, your flesh hurled you down into the world. But now through the gift of divine mercy take up your pallet, and in every good work govern your little body and return to your house, that is, return to eternal life…. From it we were thrown into the exile of this world. Therefore, when you hear it said to the paralytic, “take up your pallet, and go into your house,” believe that it is said to you: govern your flesh in all chastity and return to paradise, as if to your own home and your original country. SERMON 171.1. [1]

[1] FC 47:422-23*.