Homilies on the Gospel of John

“And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified in the truth.”

What is, “I sanctify Myself”? “I offer to You a sacrifice.” Now all sacrifices are called “holy,” and those are specially called “holy things,” which are laid up for God. For whereas of old in type the sanctification was by the sheep, but now it is not in type, but by the truth itself, He therefore says, “That they may be sanctified in Your truth.” “For I both dedicate them to You, and make them an offering”; this He says, either because their Head was being made so, or because they also were sacrificed; for, “Present,” it says, “your bodies a living sacrifice, holy”; and, “We were counted as sheep for the slaughter.” And He makes them; without death, a sacrifice and offering; for that He alluded to His own sacrifice, when He said, “I sanctify,” is clear from what follows.