ACC ~ John 8 v12b

THE SUN LEAVES, BUT CHRIST REMAINS THE LIGHT OF LIFE

AUGUSTINE: [That unfailing Light] has taken you from the eyes of the flesh and brought you back again to the eyes of the heart! He does not think it enough to say… “shall have light” but adds “of life,” even as in the psalm it was said, “[In your light shall we see light]; for with you is the fountain of life.” [1] See how the words of our Lord agree with the truth of that psalm where light is placed with the fountain of life and now here he speaks of the “light of life.” For bodily uses, light is one thing and a well another. Our mouths seek a fountain; our eyes seek the light. When we thirst, we seek a fountain; when we are in darkness we seek light. And if we happen to get thirsty in the night, we kindle a light to come to a fountain. With God the light and the well are the same. The one who shines on you so that you may see him is the same one who flows to you so that you may drink him.

You see then what kind of light this is if you see inwardly the light of which he says, “He that follows me shall not walk in darkness.” Follow the sun, and let us see if you will not walk in darkness. When the sun rises, it comes toward you and heads on to the west. But perhaps your journey is toward the east. So if you follow the sun, then you will certainly err and instead of going east you will go west, whether by land… or by sea. Finally, you decide that you should follow the sun, and you travel to the west, where it also travels. Let us see if, after it sets, you will not still walk in darkness. See how, though you are unwilling to desert it, yet it will desert you in order to finish out its service for the day. But our Lord Jesus Christ, even when he was not made known to all through the cloud of his flesh, still held all things by the power of his wisdom. Your God is everywhere entirely. If you do not fall away from him, he will never fall away from you. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 34.5-6. [2]

[1] Ps 36:9 (35:10 LXX, Vg).

[2] NPNF 1 7:201-2**.

FUTURE PROMISE, PRESENT DUTY

AUGUSTINE: What he has promised he has put in the future tense. Notice, he doesn’t say “has” but “shall have the light of life.” And yet, he does not say “he that shall follow me” but “he who follows me.” He puts in the present tense what our duty is, but in the future tense what he has promised to do…. What we follow now by faith we shall have hereafter by sight…. When shall we walk by sight? When, in the future, we have the light of life and come to that vision whereby this night will have passed away. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 34.7. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:202**.

ISRAEL FOLLOWED THE LIGHT IN THE DESERT AS WE DO NOW

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Since he knew they would challenge him, he fashions his speech after a more ancient image of things that also draws on the experience of their ancestors…. For when Israel was crossing the wide desert, hurrying to the promised land, a cloud was suspended over them like a canopy during the day, driving off the sun’s flame. By night a pillar of fire contended with the darkness and marked out for the travelers their unerring road. For just as they escaped from straying who at that time followed the fire that guided and led them—being led straight to their right and holy ground without having to deal with the night or darkness—so “the one who follows me,” that is, “who follows in the tracks of my teachings,” will not be left in the dark but will gain “the light of life,” that is, “the revelation of my mysteries that are able to lead him by the hand to everlasting life.” COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 5.2. [1]

[1] LF 43:564**.

TACIT PRAISE OF NICODEMUS

CHRYSOSTOM: He uses “light” and “darkness” in a spiritual sense, meaning “do not remain in error.” Here he tacitly praises Nicodemus… and the officers… and censures those who were secretly plotting against him as being in darkness and error but who will be unable to overcome the light. [1] HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 52.2. [2]

[1] See Jn 1:5. Alternate translation: “unable to come to the light.” Chrysostom’s comment makes more sense when one realizes that his text did not include Jn 8:1-11.

[2] NPNF 1 14:187-88**.