Church Fathers Commentary John 10:39-42

"They sought again to take him: and he went forth out of their hand. And he went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was at the first baptizing; and there be abode. And many came unto him; and they said, John indeed did no sign: but all things whatsoever John spake of this man were true. And many believed on him there." — John 10:39-42 (ASV)

The Venerable Bede: The Jews still persisted in their madness, as the text says, Therefore they sought again to take Him.

St. Augustine of Hippo: They sought to lay hold of Him, not with faith and understanding, but with bloodthirsty violence. You should lay hold of Him in such a way that you have a firm hold. They eagerly tried to lay hold of Him, but they could not, for the text continues, But He escaped out of their hand.

Believers, however, did lay hold of Him with the hand of faith. It was no great challenge for the Word to rescue His flesh from hands of flesh.

St. John Chrysostom: After speaking on some high truth, Christ commonly withdraws immediately to give time for the people's fury to subside during His absence. This is what He did now.

He went away again beyond Jordan, into the place where John at first baptized. He went there so that He might remind the people of what had happened there: John’s preaching and his testimony about Him.

The Venerable Bede: Many followed Him there. And many resorted to Him, and said, John did no miracle.

St. Augustine of Hippo: He did not cast out demons, did not give sight to the blind, did not raise the dead.

St. John Chrysostom: Notice their reasoning: John performed no miracle, but this Man did; therefore, He is superior. But lest the absence of miracles should diminish the weight of John’s testimony, they add, But all things that John spake of this Man were true.

Though John performed no miracle, everything he said about Christ was true. From this they conclude that if John was to be believed, how much more should this Man be, who has the evidence of miracles. Thus the text continues, And many believed in Him.

St. Augustine of Hippo: These believers laid hold of Him while He remained, not like the others who tried to seize Him as He was departing. Let us approach the day by way of the candle. John is the candle, and he gave testimony to the day.

Theophylact of Ohrid: We may observe that our Lord often leads the people into solitary places, thus removing them from the company of unbelievers for their advancement in the faith, just as He led the people into the wilderness when He gave them the old Law.

Mystically, Christ departs from Jerusalem (that is, from the Jewish people) and goes to a place with springs of water (that is, to the Gentile Church, which has the waters of baptism). And many come to Him, crossing over the Jordan (that is, through baptism).