St. Ephrem the Syrian - If he was not flesh, whom did John baptise? And if he was not God, to whom did the Father from heaven say, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased”?
The facts
themselves bear witness and his divine acts of power teach those who doubt that
he is true God, and his sufferings show that he is true man. And if those who
are feeble in understanding are not fully assured, they will pay the penalty on
his dread day...
If he was not flesh, why was Mary introduced at all?
And if he was not God, whom was Gabriel calling Lord?
If he was not flesh, who was lying in the manger? And
if he was not God, whom did the Angels come down and glorify?
If he was not flesh, who was wrapped in swaddling
clothes? And if he was not God, whom did the shepherds worship?
If he was not flesh, whom did Joseph circumcise? And
if he was not God, in whose honour did the star speed through the heavens?
If he was not flesh, whom did Mary suckle? And if he
was not God, to whom did the Magi offer gifts?
If he was not flesh, whom did Symeon carry in his
arms? And if he was not God, to whom did he say, “Let me depart in peace”?
If he was not flesh, whom did Joseph take and flee
into Egypt? And if he was not God, in whom were words “Out of Egypt I have
called my Son” fulfilled?
If he was not flesh, whom did John baptise? And if he
was not God, to whom did the Father from heaven say, “This is my beloved Son,
in whom I am well-pleased”?
If he was not flesh, who fasted and hungered in the
desert? And if he was not God, whom did the Angels come down and serve?
If he was not flesh, who was invited to the wedding in
Cana of Galilee? And if he was not God, who turned the water into wine?
If he was not flesh, in whose hands were the loaves?
And if he was not God, who satisfied crowds and thousands in the desert, not
counting women and children, from five loaves and two fishes?
If he was not flesh, who fell asleep in the boat? And
if he was not God, who rebuked the winds and the sea?
If he was not flesh, with whom did Simon the Pharisee
eat? And if he was not God, who pardoned the offences of the sinful woman?
If he was not flesh, who sat by the well, worn out by
the journey? And if he was not God, who gave living water to the woman of
Samaria and reprehended her because she had had five husbands?
If he was not flesh, who wore human garments? And if
he was not God, who did acts of power and wonders?
If he was not flesh, who spat on the ground and made
clay? And if he was not God, who through the clay compelled the eyes to see?
If he was not flesh, who wept at Lazarus’ grave? And
if he was not God, who by his command brought out one four days dead?
If he was not flesh, who sat on the foal? And if he
was not God, whom did the crowds go out to meet with glory?
If he was not flesh, whom did the Jews arrest? And if
he was not God, who gave an order to the earth and threw them onto their faces.
If he was not flesh, who was struck with a blow? And
if he was not God, who cured the ear that had been cut off by Peter and
restored it to its place?
If he was not flesh, who received spittings on his
face? And if he was not God, who breathed the Holy Spirit into the faces of his
Apostles?
If he was not flesh, who stood before Pilate at the
judgement seat? And if he was not God, who made Pilate’s wife afraid by a
dream?
If he was not flesh, whose garments did the soldiers
strip off and divide? And if he was not God, how was the sun darkened at the
cross?
If he was not flesh, who was hung on the cross? And if
he was not God, who shook the earth from its foundations?
If he was not flesh, whose hands and feet were
transfixed by nails? And if he was not God, how was the veil of the temple
rent, the rocks broken and the graves opened?
If he was not flesh, who cried out, “My God, my God,
why have you abandoned me”? And if he was not God, who said “Father, forgive
them”?
If he was not flesh, who was hung on a cross with the
thieves? And if he was not God, how did he say to the thief, “Today you will be
with me in Paradise”?
If he was not flesh, to whom did they offer vinegar
and gall? And if he was not God, on hearing whose voice did Hades tremble?
If he was not flesh, whose side did the lance pierce,
and blood and water came out?And if he was not God, who smashed to gates of
Hades and tear apart it bonds? And at whose command did the imprisoned dead
come out?
If he was not flesh, whom did the Apostles see in the
upper room? And if he was not God, how did he enter when the doors were shut?
If he was not flesh, the marks of the nails and the
lance in whose hands and side did Thomas handle? And if he was not God, to whom
did he cry out, “My Lord and my God”?
If he was not flesh, who ate by the sea of Tiberias?
And if he was not God, at whose command was the net filled?
If he was not flesh, whom did the Apostles and Angels
see being taken up into heaven? And if he was not God, to whom was heaven
opened, whom did the Powers worship in fear and whom did the Father invite to
“Sit at my right hand”. As David said, “The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my
right hand, etc.”
If he was not God and man, our salvation is a lie, and
the words of the Prophets are lies. But the Prophets spoke the truth, and
their testimonies were not lies. The Holy Spirit spoke through them what they
had been commanded.
+ St. Ephrem the Syrian
