Homilies on the Gospel of John

“He that believes in Me, believes not on Me, but on Him that sent Me.”

As though He had said, “Why fear ye to believe in Me? Faith passes to the Father through Me, as does also unbelief.” See how in every way He shows the unvaryingness of His Essence. He said not, He that believes “Me,” lest any should assert that He spoke concerning His words; this might have been said in the case of mere men, for he that believes the Apostles, believes not them, but God. But that you might learn that He speaks here of the belief on His Essence, He said not, “He that believes My words,” but, “He that believes in Me.” “And wherefore,” says some one, “has He nowhere said conversely, He that believes in the Father, believes not on the Father but on Me?” Because they would have replied, “Lo, we believe in the Father, but we believe not on you.” Their disposition was as yet too infirm. Anyhow, conversing with the disciples, He did speak thus: “You believe in the Father, believe also on Me”; but seeing that these then were too weak to hear such words, He leads them in another way, showing that it is not possible to believe in the Father, without believing on Him. And that you may not deem that the words are spoken as of man, He adds,