JORDAN MEANS “DESCENT.” ORIGEN: “Jordan” means “descending.” It is the
“descending” river of God, one running with a vigorous force. It is the Lord our Savior. Into him we are baptized with true, saving water. Baptism is also preached “for the remission of sins.” HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 21.4.10
FORGIVENESS COMES FROM CHRIST’S BAPTISM. GREGORY THE GREAT: “And he came into all the region of the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” It is apparent to all who read that John not only preached a baptism of repentance but also bestowed it on some. Yet he was not able to bestow a baptism for the forgiveness of sins. Forgiveness of sins is granted us only in the baptism of Christ. We must note the words
“preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” He preached a baptism that would take away sins, but he was unable to give it himself. By his word of preaching he was the forerunner of the Father’s
Word incarnate. By his baptism, which could not of itself take away sin, he was to be the forerunner of that baptism of repentance by which sins are taken away. His words prepared the way for the Redeemer’s actual presence, and his preaching of baptism was a foreshadowing of the truth.
FORTY GOSPEL HOMILIES 6.11
FAITH IN CHRIST THE HIGHEST FORM OF REPENTANCE. CYRIL OF
ALEXANDRIA: Moreover, the fruit of repentance is, in the highest degree, faith in Christ. Next to it is the evangelic mode of life, and in general terms the works of righteousness as opposed to sin, which the penitent must bring forth as fruits worthy of repentance. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 7.12
REPENT TO PREPARE FOR JOHN’S BAPTISM. ORIGEN: The precursor of Christ
—the voice of one crying in the wilderness—preaches in the desert of the soul that has known no peace. Not only then, but even now, a bright and burning lamp first comes and preaches the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Then the true Light follows, as John himself said: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”13 The word came in the desert and spread in all the countryside around the Jordan. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF
LUKE 21.3.14
TO PREPARE THE WAY IS TO CALL FOR FRUITS OF REPENTANCE.
CHRYSOSTOM: Thus the prophet wrote that he shall come saying, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”15 And John himself said when he came, “Bring forth fruits consistent with repentance,” which corresponds with “prepare the way of the Lord.” See that both by the words of the prophet and by his own preaching, this one thing is manifested alone.
John was to come, making a way and preparing beforehand, not bestowing the gift, which was the remission, but ordering in good time the souls of
such as should receive the God of all. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 10.3.16
PREPARE BY MAKING READY TO RECEIVE CHRIST. CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA:
John, being chosen for the apostleship, was also the last of the holy prophets. For this reason, as the Lord has not come yet, he says, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” What is the meaning of “Prepare the way of the Lord”? It means, Make ready for the reception of whatever Christ may wish to do. Withdraw your hearts from the shadow of the law, discard vague figures and no longer think perversely. Make the paths of our God straight.
For every path that leads to good is straight and smooth and easy, but the one that is crooked leads down to wickedness those that walk in it.
COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 6.17
THE WAY JOHN PREPARES IS IN THE HEART. ORIGEN: “Prepare a way for the Lord.” What way are we to prepare for the Lord? Surely not a material way.
Can the Word of God go on such a journey? Should not the way be prepared for the Lord within? Should not straight and level paths be built in our hearts? This is the way by which the Word of God has entered. That Word dwells in the spaces of the human heart. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 21.5.18
ISAIAH FORETELLS A REVERSAL IN NATURE TO SIGNAL THE COMING OF
SALVATION. CHRYSOSTOM: Do you perceive how the prophet anticipated all by his words—the concourse of the people? Thus, when he says, “Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the rough ways shall be made smooth,” he is signifying the exaltation of the lowly, the humiliation of the self-willed, the hardness of the law changed into easiness of faith. For it is no longer toils and labors, says he, but grace and forgiveness of sins, affording the way to salvation. Next he states the
cause of these things, saying, “All flesh shall see the salvation of God.” No longer Jews and proselytes only, but also all earth and sea and the whole race of people may be saved. By “the crooked things” he signified our whole corrupt life, publicans, harlots, robbers and magicians, as many as having been perverted before, afterward walk in the right way. As Jesus himself likewise said, “Tax collectors and harlots go into the kingdom of God before you,”19 because they believed. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF
MATTHEW 10.3.20
NO BARRIERS TO THE COMING OF TRUTH. PRUDENTIUS:
As messenger of God, who was about to come, He faithfully observed this law, constructing well,
That every hill might low become and tough ways plain, Lest when the truth should glide from heaven down to earth It then would find a barrier to its swift approach.
HYMNS FOR EVERY DAY 7.51-55.21
JOHN’S WORK OF PREPARATION IS ONGOING. ORIGEN: I believe that the mystery of John is still being achieved in the world today. If anyone is going to believe in Christ Jesus, John’s spirit and power first come to his soul and “prepare a perfect people for the Lord.” It makes the ways in the heart’s rough places smooth and straightens out its paths. HOMILIES ON THE
GOSPEL OF LUKE 4.6.22
THE SALVATION OF GOD IS THE CHRIST OF GOD. AUGUSTINE: Consider the text “And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” There is no difficulty at all in taking this to mean “And all flesh shall see the Christ of God.” After all, Christ was seen in the body and will be seen in the body when he comes again to judge the living and the dead. Scripture has many texts showing that he is the “salvation of God,” particularly the words of the venerable old
man, Simeon, who took the child in his arms and said, “Now let your servant go in peace, O Lord, according to your word, because my eyes have seen your salvation.”23 CITY OF GOD 22.29.24