Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament

[CXXI. Ben.]

On the words of the Gospel, John 1:10 , “The world was made through him,” etc.

1. By the Lord “was the world made, and the world knew Him not.” What world was made by Him, what world knew Him not? For it is not the same world that was made by Him, which knew Him not. What is the world that was made by Him? The heaven and earth. How did not the heaven know Him, when at His Passion the sun was darkened? How did not the earth know Him, when as He hung upon the Cross, it quaked? But “the world knew Him not,” whose Prince he is, of whom it is said, “Behold, the prince of this world comes, and finds nothing in me.” Wicked men are called the world; unbelieving men are called the world. They have gotten their name from that they love. By the love of God we are made gods; so by the love of the world, we are called the world. But “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.” “The world” then “knew Him not.” What? “all men?”