v. 36 — But I said unto you that ye have both seen Me and believe not.
Commentary on the Gospel according to John · St Cyril of Alexandria
By many words doth He struggle with them, and in every way urge them to salvation by faith. But He was not ignorant, as God, that they would run off to unbelief, as their sister or intimate foster sister, and would regard as nought, Him who calleth them to life. In order then that they might know that Jesus was not ignorant what manner of men they would be found, or rather, to speak more fittingly, that they might learn that they were under the Divine wrath, He charges them again, But I said unto you that ye have both seen Me and believe not. I foreknew (says He) and clearly foretold, that ye would surely remain hard, and keeping fast hold of your cherished disobedience, ye would be left without share in My gifts. And when did Christ say any thing of this kind? remember Him saying to the blessed prophet Isaiah, Go and tell this people, Hear ye in hearing and understand not, and looking look and see not, for the heart of this people is waxen fat. Will not the word be shewn to be true by these things also which are before us? for they saw, they saw that the Lord was by Nature God, when He fed a multitude exceeding number which came unto Him with five barley loaves, and two small fishes, which He brake up. But they have seen and believe not, by reason of the blindness which like a mist hath come upon their understandings from the Divine wrath. For they were (I suppose) without doubt worthy to undergo this, for that they, caught in innumerable stumblings, and fast holden in the indissoluble bands of their transgressions, received not when He came Him who had power to loose them. For this cause was the heart of this people made fat.
CyrJn 3.36.1
But that the multitude of the Jews saw by the greatness of the sign that Jesus was by Nature God, you will understand full well by this too. For marvelling at what was done, as the Evangelist says above, they sought to seize Him to make Him a King. No excuse then for their folly is left unto the Jews. For astonished (and with much reason) at the Divine signs, and coming from the works proportionably to the Might of Him Who worketh, they wellnigh, shudder at their readiness to believe, and spring back from good habits, readily making a summerset as it were into the very depths of perdition.
CyrJn 3.36.2
It did not behove the Lord simply to say, Ye have both seen Me and believe not, but it was necessary that He should bring in besides the reason of their blindness, that they might learn that they had fallen under the Divine displeasure. Therefore as a skilful physician He both shews them their weakness, and reveals the cause of it, not in order that they on learning it may remain quiet in it, but that they may by every means appease the Lord of all, Who is grieved at them, i. e., for just causes. For He would never be grieved unjustly, nor would He Who knows how to give righteous judgment have given any such judgment upon them, were not reason calling Him thereto, from all sides hasting unto the duty of accusal. The Saviour hereby affirmed that everything should come to Him, which God the Father gave Him; not as though He were unable to bring believers to Himself, for this He would have accomplished very easily if He had so willed, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things to Himself, as Paul saith: but since it seemed somehow necessary and more fit, to say that they who were in ignorance were illumined by the Divine Nature, He again as Man attributes to the Father the operation, as to things more God-befitting. For so was His wont to do, as we have often said. But it is probable that when He says that all that He giveth Him shall be brought to Him by God the Father, He points to the people of the Gentiles now about full soon to believe on Him. It is the word of one skilfully threatening, that both they shall fall away from grace, and that in their stead shall come in all who of the Gentiles are brought by the goodness of God the Father, to the Son, as to Him Who is by Nature Saviour and Lifegiving, that they, partaking of the Blessing from Him, may be made partakers of the Divine Nature, and be thus brought back to incorruption and life, and be reformed unto the pristine fashion of our nature. As though one should bring a sick man to a physician, that he might drive away the sickness that has fallen upon him, so we say that God the Father brings to the Son those who are worthy salvation from Him. Bitter then and full of destruction is hardness of heart to them that have it. Therefore doth the word of prophecy chide the Jews, crying aloud, Be ye circumcised to God, and circumcise the hardness of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. Yet not for them, but for us rather hath God the Father kept the circumcision in the heart, namely that which is through the Holy Ghost, wrought according to the rites of him who is a Jew inwardly. It is then right to flee from their disobedience, and with all zeal to renounce hardness of heart, and to reform unto a more toward disposition, if we would avert the wrath that was upon them unto destruction.
CyrJn 3.36.4
He says that conversion through faith will not be profitless unto them that come to Him. For He had to shew that the being brought by God the Father was a most desirable thing, and productive of ten thousand goods. Things most excellent then (saith He) shall be theirs, who through the grace from above are called to Me and come. For I will not cast out him that cometh, that is I will not discard him as an unprofitable vessel, as is said through one of the Prophets, Jechonias was despised, as a vessel whereof there is no use, he was cast away, and cast forth into a land which he knew not. Earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord, write ye this man a man proscribed. He shall not then be proscribed (saith He) nor cast forth, as one despised, nor shall he abide without share of Mine regard, but shall be gathered up into My garner, and shall dwell in the heavenly mansions, and shall see himself possessed of every hope beyond understanding of man. For eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God prepared for them that love Him. It is probable that the word?, I will not cast out him that cometh to Me signify moreover, that the believer, and he that cometh to the Divine Grace, shall not be delivered over to the judgment. For you will find that the word out, has some such meaning, as in that parable in the blessed Matthew. For (saith He) the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a net that was cast into the sea and gathered of every kind, which having brought up and dragged to the shore, they gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. For that the good are gathered into the Divine and heavenly Courts, we shall understand by His saying that the good were gathered into vessels: and by the unprofitable being cast away, we shall see that the ungodly shall fall away from all good, and go away into judgment. When then Christ says, Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out, let us understand that the people which cometh unto Him through faith shall never fall into torment. Most wisely does He seem to me in these words to veil a threat against those most abandoned men, that if any will not turn with all speed to obedience, they shall be deprived of all good, and be excluded even against their will from His Friendship. For wherein He promises not to cast out him that cometh, He in the same signifieth that He will surely cast out him that cometh not.
CyrJn 3.36.6
The Son Light as God, the creature enlightened. 287 288 Pharisees unstable. Burning and shining, a reference to Lamp before Tabernacle. 289 290 The lamp a type of S. John Baptist. Apostles succeed. Christ takes the part of His Forerunner. 291 292 The Son God who does the works of God; as GOD has, as Man, receives. 293 The Son GOD, Who answers unuttered thoughts. 295 296 Recapitulation of our Lord's speech. God unseen unheard at the giving of the Law. 297 298 Manliness of Christ's own. Mountain, smoke, voices of trumpet. Voice created by God, not His. 299 300 The FATHER seen in the SON; Jews thought to see Him apart. Scriptures vainly searched if Christ neglected. 301 302 The SON hath glory though man withhold it. Jews rejecting Christ will receive Anti-christ. 303 304 Empty glory. God One. Christ too will accuse. Moses would lead, else will accuse. 305 306 Moses typified CHRIST'S Mystery manifoldly. 308 CHRIST exact Mediator GOD and Man. Like Moses otherwise too. To unbelief, wrath. 309 310 Moses' writings not superior, but if their clear teaching rejected, what hope yet? 311 The paralytic healed, the Jews unhealed. Why Christ departs. 313 314 Feast of Tabernacles what. People easily swayed. Christ's lesson through His flight. Aliens the Church. 315 316 The sea severs from Christ them who provoke Him. Pharaoh of old drowned, now Jews make themselves Pharaoh. 317 318 Christ's ascent into the mountain. Loyalty of His followers. The brave and loyal shall ascend too. 319 320 Hospitality to be striven after. Christ looks on and provides for His own. Philip why questioned. Whence. 321 322 Whence. S. Philip's slow advance. S. Andrew's tardy apprehension exalts Christ's Might. 323 324 Moses understood not. Duty of faith since nature so weak. God spared not Moses doubting. 325 326 CHRIST wrought through Elias. Men alone counted, why; their reward. Grass, rest. CHRIST gives thanks our Pattern. 327 328 He wills to be hid, speaks as GOD and Man. Blessed. Loaves why barley, fish why two. 329 330 Why Christ gave such abundance of fragments. Now time to shew mercy. CHRIST works through others. 331 332 Basket of fragments reward of teachers. Rejection of Jews. CHRIST eschewed glory ,they too who thirst for the eternal glory. 333 334 After lowliness exaltation. CHRIST'S departure over sea, forsaking Jews. Recapitulation of whole. 335 336 Why Alone. He teaches disciples, the world's teachers. He teaches them through miracle. Alone in storm. 337 338 Without JESUS no safety. Brave endurance. In deep peril He comes and rest and joy. Apostles' successors. 339 340 At Second Coming Church gains her haven. The good will fear. Nought hid. Seek not glory. 341 342 Unreal love of the Lord in those who followed Him. Their reproof just. He GOD knowing thoughts. 343 344 Rulers must rebuke. The Day of Doom. Severity then, not Mercy. Some CHRIST will not know. 345 346 Sowing to flesh, to Spirit. Care of body only, but brings it to Fire. The soul's Food unto Life. 347 God and Man One Christ. 349 350 The SON in the FATHER and of Him. The SON GOD or the FATHER begat not. 351 352 Likeness to GOD may be lost. The SON GOD, worshipped and at the Right Hand. 353 354 The SON GOD, lest the creature share some Divine attribute. Each Person exists, Godhead not parted, 355 356 FATHER and SON exist Each yet are not separate. Boasting reply of rich youth. Trust due to teachers. 357 358 Belief in the Truth surpasses types. The Jews give the palm to Moses. 359 360 Christ they own not. 362 Saints to be honoured. Manna not the Bread from Heaven, but CHRIST, our very Life. Olden type of Him. 363 364 Israel lusting in desert depicts our tempests. Christ enmightens. Jews not punished at first, why. 365 366 The cry of babes heard, the stronger must fight. Sabbath our rest at Christ's coming. Double gathering, what. 367 368 Quails and evening intimate incompleteness. What signified by Manna, morning, coriander seed. 369 370 The Law's shadow transient. Pot of Manna soul which contains CHRIST. Moses, a mediator. Jews' unwisdom. 371 372 Misconception of Jews as of woman of Samaria. CHRIST veils His words yet also utters them forth. 373 374 Joshua a type of CHRIST. Never hunger a gift superior to Moses'. 375 376 CHRIST'S Body our Life. Firm resolve, not keeping away from Eucharist, our duty. Disfavour to unbelief. 377 378 Jews without excuse. CHRIST grieved. All intimates calling of Gentile Church. 379 380 Out means Doom. Some will be cast out. 381
CyrJn 3.36.9