Tractates on the Gospel of John
TRACTATE 4
On John i.ig—^^ ou HAVE HEARD vcrv oftcn, holy people, and you know very well that, the more renowned John the Baptist was among those born of women ^ and the more humble in acknowledging the Lord, the more he deserved to be the friend of the bridegroom, loving zealously the bridegroom and not himself,^ seeking not his own honor but that of his judge whom he preceded as a herald. Thus it was granted to the preceding Prophets to foretell the future events about Christ, but to this man to point to him with his finger.
(2) For just as Christ was unknown by those who did not believe in the Prophets before he came, so, even when he was present, he was unknown by them. For he had come at first in lowliness and hidden — the more lowly, the more hidden; but the people, scorning God's lowliness through their pride, crucified their Savior and made [him] their condemner.
2. But surely will not he who first came hidden, because he came in lowliness, later come manifestly, because in exaltation? You just heard the Psalm: "God will come manifestly, our God, and will not keep silence."^ He kept silence in order to be judged; he will not keep silence when he has begun to judge. It would not be said, "He will come manifestly," unless he had first come hidden; nor would it be said, "He will not keep silence," unless he first kept silence. How did he keep silence? Inquire from Isaiah: "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before the one who would shear him. He was without a voice; so he did not open his mouth."^
1. Cf. Mt 11.11. 2. Cf. Jn 3.29. 3. Cf. Ps 49.3. 4. Cf. Is 53.7.