Library › St Ambrose of Milan › On the Sacraments
On the Sacraments
St Ambrose of Milan, tr. Thompson, 1919
Book 2, 2. The Healing of the Paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda
What was read yesterday?1 An angel, it says, went down at a certain season into the pool, and, so often as the angel descended, the water was troubled: and whosoever first descended, was made whole of every disease whatsoever he had.2 Which signifies a figure of our Lord Jesus Christ who was to come.
Why an angel? Because he himself is the Angel of Great Counsel.3 At a certain season, because he was kept till the last hour, that he might catch the day at its setting, and delay its setting.4 Therefore, as often as the angel descended, the water was troubled. Thou sayest perchance: “Why is it not troubled now?” Learn why. Signs for the unbelieving, faith for believers
Whosoever first descended, was made whole of every sickness. What is the meaning of first?5 Does it mean in time, or in honour? Understand in both ways. If it means he who descended first in time was made whole first, it signifies the people of the Jews, as opposed to the people of the Gentiles. If it means he who descended first in honour, that signifies that he who had the fear of God, the love of righteousness, the grace of charity, and the desire of purity, he rather was made whole. Yet at that time one only was made whole; at that time, I say, by way of figure he who first descended was alone healed. How much greater is the grace of the Church, wherein all are saved, whosoever descend!
But observe the mystical sense. Our Lord Jesus Christ came to the pool; many sick were lying there. And, naturally, there were many sick lying there, where only one was healed. Then he saith to the sick of the palsy, “Descend.” He saith, “I have no man.”6 Consider where thou art baptized.7 What source can there be for baptism, save the cross of Christ, the death of Christ? Herein is the whole mystery, in that he suffered for thee. In him thou art redeemed, in him thou wilt be saved.
“I have no man,” he said: that is, since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.8 He could not descend, he could not be saved, who did not believe that our Lord Jesus had taken flesh of the Virgin. But this man who was looking for the mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ,9 waiting for him of whom it was said, And the Lord shall send a man who shall save them,10—he said, “I have no man”; and therefore he deserved to attain to health, because he believed in one who was to come. Yet he would have been better and more perfect, if he had believed that he whose coming he hoped for had already come.
Notes
- Cf. de Myst. iv. 22. On the system of lessons indicated in this book see Introd. p. xxvii.
- Jn. v. 4. See note de Myst. iv. 22, and Introd. p. xli.
- A reference to Isaiah, ix. 6, according to the LXX.
- For this idea cf. Ambrose, de Abraham i. 50.
- Reading quid est prior. Some MSS. read qui for quid. In that case qui is relative, not interrogative, and the meaning will be “He who is first, is he first in time or in honour?”
- Jn. v. 7. There is nothing in the Gospel parallel to the word “descend.” The writer is quoting from memory.
- i. e. under what circumstances.
- 1 Cor. xv. 20. The reading “quia per hominem” is an Old Latin rendering for Vulg. quoniam enim per hom.
- 1 Tim. ii. 5.
- Is. xix. 20, following the LXX.