ACC ~ John 6 v68

WHO COULD BE ANY BETTER TO FOLLOW?

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: “To whom shall we go?” Peter asks. In other words, “Who else will instruct us the way you do?” or “To whom shall we go to find anything better?” “You have the words of eternal life”; not hard words, as those other disciples say, but words that will bring us to the loftiest goal, unceasing, endless life removed from all corruption. These words surely make quite obvious to us the necessity for sitting at the feet of Christ, taking him as our one and only teacher and giving him our constant and undivided attention. He must be our guide who knows well how to lead us to everlasting life. In this way, we shall ascend to the divine court of heaven, and entering the church of the firstborn, delight in blessings passing all human understanding.

It is entirely self-evident that the desire to follow Christ alone and to be with him always is a good thing leading to our salvation. And yet, we can learn this from the Old Testament as well. When the Israelites had shaken off Egyptian tyranny and were hurrying toward the promised land, God did not allow them to march in disorder. The lawgiver [Moses] did not let each one go where he wanted to since, without a guide, they should undoubtedly have lost the way completely. [1] … They were ordered to follow: to set out with the cloud, to stop with the cloud and to rest with the cloud. When they stayed with their guide, then it was the Israelites’ salvation, just as not leaving Christ is ours now. For he was with those people of old under the form of the tabernacle, the cloud and the fire….

They were commanded to follow and not undertake the journey on their own initiative. They were to set out with the tabernacle and stop with it, that by this symbol you might understand Christ’s words: “Whoever serves me must follow me, so as to be with me wherever I am.” [2] When you are always in his company, it means you are resolute in following him and constant in holding on to him. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 4.4. [3]

[1] Cyril then quotes Num 9:15-18 LXX.

[2] Jn 12:26.

[3] LF 43:444-46**.

PETER CONFESSES THE RESURRECTION

CHRYSOSTOM: [Peter’s was] a speech of the greatest love, proving that Christ was more precious to them than father or mother. And that it might not seem to be said as a result of thinking that there was no one whose guidance they could look to, he adds, “You have the words of eternal life.” … These men already confessed the resurrection and all the apportionment that shall happen there. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 47.3. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:171*.