Tractates on the Gospel of John 28–54

Tractate 31

TRACTATE 31 On John 7.25-36 OU REMEMBER, my beloved people, that in the previous sermonsl it was both read in the Gospel and discussed by us, as well as we could, that the Lord Jesus went up to the festival day as if secretly, not because he feared that he who had the power not to be arrested, might be arrested, but that he might signify even on the very festival day which was celebrated by the Jews that he was hidden and that the mystery [of it] was his own. (2) In today's reading what was accounted timidity appeared as power, for he was speaking openly on the festival day so that the crowds wondered and said what we heard when the reading was read: "Is not this the one whom they were seeking to kill? And behold, he speaks openly and they say nothing to him. Can it be that the rulers have really come to know that this is the Christ? They who knew with what ferocity he was sought wondered by what power he was not arrested. Then, not fully understanding his power, they thought that it was the knowledge of the rulers, that they had themselves come to know that he was the Christ, and therefore they spared him whom they had sought so very much to kill. 2. Then those very people, who had said among themselves , "Can it be that the rulers have really come to know that this is the Christ?", proposed to themselves a problem by which it seemed to them that he was not the Christ; for they said in addition, "Yet we know where this man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where he is from." 1. Cf. Tractate 28.B-9. 30 TRACTATE 31 31 (2) Whence did this opinion, that "when the Christ comes, no one knows where he is from," arise among the Jews (for it did not arise vainly)? If we should examine the Scriptures, we find, brothers, that the holy Scriptures said about Christ, "He shall be called a Nazarene."2 Therefore, they predicted "where he is from." Again if we shoud seek the place of his birth, as if he would be from where he was born, neither was this concealed from the Jews, because of the Scriptures which had predicted these things. For when the Magi, after they saw the star, sought to adore him, they came to Herod and said what they sought and what they wanted. But he called together those who knew the Law and asked of them where the Christ would be born; they said, "In Bethlehem of Juda."3 And they even offered the witness of a prophet. (3) Therefore, if the prophets predicted both the place from which the origin of his flesh was and the place where his mother gave birth to him, whence arose this opinion among the Jews which we have just heard, "when the Christ comes, no one knows where he is from," except that the Scriptures had foresaid and foretold both? The Scriptures had predicted where he was from according to his humanness; according to his divinity he was concealed from the ungodly and was seeking to win the devout. For this reason, they also said this, "when the Christ comes, no one knows where he is from," because what was said by Isaiah, "But who shall declare his generation?"4 generated this opinion for them. (4) Finally, the Lord himself also answered to each, both that they knew where he was from and that they did not know, in order that he might bear witness to the holy prophecy which was predicted about him before, both according to the humanness of his weakness and according to the divinity of his majesty. 3. Therefore, brothers, hear the Word of the Lord; see how he confirmed for them both their words, "We know where this man is from," and their words, "When the Christ 2. Mt 2.23. 3. Mt 2.6, quoting Mi 5.2; Cf. Mt 2.1-6. 4. Is 53.8 (LXX). 32 ST. AUGUSTINE comes, no one knows where he is from." "jesus therefore, while teaching in the temple, cried out, 'You both know me and know where I am from. And yet I have not come of myself, but he is true who has sent me, whom...