ACC ~ John 7 v45 - 52

OVERVIEW:

The officers who were sent by the Pharisees believed in Jesus. They remained innocent of any crime against him and were full of admiration for him (AUGUSTINE). What the Pharisees expected to happen to the people, in other words, happens instead to those whom they sent (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA). Those who were sent recognize that only the living God could have spoken as Jesus did about living water (ATHANASIUS). Those who did not know the law believe, while those who supposedly knew the law do not believe (AUGUSTINE). Those sent by the Pharisees ask if any of the rulers or Pharisees have believed. Despite the Pharisees’ answer in the negative, there is one Pharisee, Nicodemus, who believed (CHRYSOSTOM). He did not approve of what they were doing (THEODORE). Nicodemus hopes that these Pharisees might become like those they sent, which was possible if they only would listen to what Jesus has to say (AUGUSTINE). But when they become hostile toward him, Nicodemus’s faith is still not strong enough to deal with their opposition (CYRIL, THEODORE).

7:45 | Why Did You Not Bring Him?

THE OFFICERS RETURN FULL OF ADMIRATION

AUGUSTINE: But those who had been sent to take him returned innocent of the crime and full of admiration. For they even gave witness to his divine doctrine, when those by whom they had been sent asked, “Why have you not brought him?” They answered that they had never heard a man speak like this…. But he spoke in this way because he was God and man. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 33.1. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:197**.

7:46 | No Man Ever Spoke Like This Man!

THE POWER OF JESUS’ SPEECH

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The chief priests and Pharisees, fearing that the people of the Jews might be persuaded by the Savior’s words, send out officers to arrest him. They think that if Christ were out of the way they might no longer be concerned with him. But what they suspected might happen to the people actually happens to those whom they sent to arrest Jesus. Moreover, the chief priests and Pharisees shudder to hear a report from their own officers that contradicts them: “No man ever spoke like this man!”… In essence the officers are saying, “It is unreasonable for you to blame us for not being able to arrest Jesus, for how could one arrest a man who by his words possesses divine nature? For he spoke not as a man, nor were his words befitting man, but they unmistakably belong to one who is God by nature.” COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 5.2. [1]

[1] LF 43:555-56**.

ONLY THE LIVING GOD COULD HAVE SPOKEN LIKE THIS

ATHANASIUS: They perceived that this was not a mere man like themselves, but that this was he who gave water to the saints and that it was he who was announced by the prophet Isaiah. For he was truly the splendor of the light, [1] and the Word of God, the river that flowed from the fountains and watered the paradise of old. But now, to all he gives the same gift of the Spirit and says, “If anyone thirst, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes on me, as the Scripture says, rivers of living water shall flow out of his belly.” [2] This was not for [a] man to say but for the living God, who truly promises life and gives the Holy Spirit. FESTAL LETTER 44. [3]

[1] Heb 1:3.

[2] Jn 7:37-38.

[3] NPNF 2 4:553*; NPB 6 1:160.

7:47-49 | Only the People Believed in Jesus

THOSE WHO DID NOT KNOW THE LAW BELIEVE

AUGUSTINE: Those who did not know the law believed on the one who had sent the law, and those men who were teaching the law despised him. [1] … For the Pharisees, the teachers of the law, were made blind, and the people who did not know the law and yet believed on the author of the law were enlightened. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 33.1. [2]

[1] See Jn 9:39.

[2] NPNF 1 7:197*.

7:50-52 | Nicodemus Asks for a Hearing

AT LEAST ONE PHARISEE BELIEVED

CHRYSOSTOM: He shows that they neither know the law nor do the law, for if the law commands to kill no one without first hearing him, and they before hearing were eager to do this, they were transgressors of the law. And because they said, “None of the rulers has believed on him,” therefore the Evangelist informs us that Nicodemus was “one of them,” to show that even rulers believed on him. For although they were not all that bold yet, still they were becoming attached to Christ. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 52.1. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:187*.

NICODEMUS OPPOSES THE OTHER PHARISEES

THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: It is evident that not all the doctors approved what they were doing, since one of the doctors was Nicodemus, who replied against their words. COMMENTARY ON JOHN 3.7.50-51. [1]

[1] CSCO 4 3:163-64.

NICODEMUS HOPES THEY WILL BELIEVE

AUGUSTINE: Nicodemus indeed knew, or rather believed, that if only they were willing to give him a patient hearing, they would perhaps become like those who were sent to take him but preferred to believe. They answered, from the prejudice of their heart, what they had answered to those officers, “Are you also a Galilean?” that is, one seduced as it were by the Galilean. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 33.2. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:197*.

THE WEAK FAITH OF NICODEMUS

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Nicodemus, who was numbered among those having authority… is himself indignant with the Pharisees for condemning the people for only marveling at Jesus. It is clear that he agrees with those who believe. However, he is still sick from harmful shame and, not yet mingling boldness with his zeal, he does not permit his faith to be clearly revealed. Rather, he hides his faith as with a dark cloak and conceals that he is on Christ’s side. Nicodemus is sick with a terrible sickness because we ought to believe fearlessly, glorying rather than being ashamed, practicing a transparent openness and rejecting slave-like hypocrisy…. Thus it was fitting for the wise Paul to declare, “I am not ashamed of the gospel. It is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith.” [1] COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 5.2. [2]

[1] Rom 1:16.

[2] LF 43:559-60**.

NICODEMUS’S WEAKNESS OR FEAR KEEPS HIM SILENT

THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: Nicodemus, either out of weakness or fear of the doctors, did not reply to them when they wanted to diminish the words and works of Christ by mentioning Galilee. COMMENTARY ON JOHN 3.7.52. [1]

[1] CSCO 4 3:164.