Category Archives: Body of Divinity

Maundy Thursday

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A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-35)

Think of ‘as I have love you’ this way: For my love has not been the payment of something owing to you but had its beginning on my side. And in a similar way you ought to do one another good, though you may not owe it. -John Chrysostom

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (I Corinthians 11:23-26)

Although [at the Lord’s Supper] my mind can think beyond what my tongue can utter, yet even my mind is conquered and overwhelmed by the greateness of the thing. Therefore nothing remains but to break forth in wonder at this mystery, which plainly neither the mind is able to conceive nor the tongue to express. -John Calvin

He fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39)

His words ‘if it be possible’ referred not only to God’s power but also to his justice. As to God’s power, whatever is just or unjust is possible. As to his justice, which is not only powerful but also just, not everything is possible — only that which is just. – Origen

While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:47-48)

Let us know that this evil, which Christ once sustained in his own person, is an evil to which the Church will always be exposed — that of cherishing traitors in her bosom… -John Calvin

Christ’s Incarnation Glorifies All

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This is from Athanasius’ On the Incarnation 2.9. It makes me think how the incarnation brings honor to all of creation, especially embodied humanity.

You know how it is when some great king enters a large city and dwells in one of its houses; because of his dwelling in that single house, the whole city is honored, and enemies and robbers cease to molest it. Even so is it with the King of all; He has come into our country and dwelt in one body amidst the many, and in consequence the designs of the enemy against mankind have been foiled and the corruption of death, which formerly held them in its power, has simply ceased to be. For the human race would have perished utterly had not the Lord and Savior of all the Son of God, come among us to put an end to death.

Throne

(picture is a modification of origianl by: Matthias Kabel)