DISCOURSE 17 on Jn. 28–29. 1. The words of St. John the Baptist as a testimony to his greatest reverence for Jesus Christ. — 2. Jesus Christ did not need to be baptized. — 3 and 4. The falsity of the assumption that Jesus Christ performed miracles in childhood. Why did the Jews not believe in Jesus Christ, although they heard the preaching of St. John the Baptist and saw so many signs and wonders? — The Reliability of the Evangelists. — Against the Gentiles. "There are defenders of spectacles, but truth and faith are not found. — Writings of philosophers of that time against Christians.

DISCOURSE 18 on Jn. 1:35–37. 1. Why did St. John the Baptist often repeat the same thing? Some catechumens postponed baptism until the last moment. — 2. The prophets and apostles preached Jesus Christ who was absent, and St. John the Baptist preached Christ who was present. — 3 and 4. The teaching of Jesus Christ should be preferred to any other. "The more food is given to the body, the more it is relaxed; the more food is given to the soul, the more it is strengthened. "Aversion to meat is a sign of a disease of the body; aversion to the Word of God is a sign of illness of the soul. "What is her food?" "Against the theater and the spectacle.

DISCOURSE 19 on Jn. 1:41, 42. 1. The benefits of human unity. "Andrew, having found the Messiah, immediately invites his brother to take part in the happiness he has found. — 2. Prophecy proves divine omnipotence no less than a miracle. — 3. The ancients had many names, the Christians had only one name – Christian. — Honor and glory of this name. "We bear the name of Jesus Christ and are as close to it as the body is to the head. — How to make proper use of wealth? "To give away one's possessions to the poor is to enrich oneself.

DISCOURSE 20 on Jn. 1:43–44. 1. The calling of Philip. Jesus Christ draws him along with Him in one word. Philip, for his part, leads Nathanael to Christ. — 2. Nathanael's character, his wisdom. — How he was brought to the Faith. — 3. The faithful must do whatever Jesus Christ wants and requires of them. "We must obey Christ in everything, nourish Him when He is hungry, give Him water when He is thirsty. "He will not reject our gifts, whatever they may be. "A friend gladly accepts everything that his friend gives him. "Love is found not in words, but in deeds.

DISCOURSE 21 on Jn. 1:49–50. 1. Nathanael's confession was less perfect than the confession made later by Apostle Paul. Peter. — 2. Jesus Christ performed His first miracle at the request of His Mother. — 3. Jesus Christ wants everyone to turn to Him with their needs. — An example of famous doctors. — Why did He give a harsh answer to His Mother? — Relatives of the Saviour, known as Desposines. "Our ancestors and fathers were good Christians, which should shame us and subject us to all the greater communion.

DISCOURSE 22 on Jn. 2:4. 1. Jesus Christ does everything at the right time, not because He is subject to time, since He is the Creator of years and the Lord of ages, but out of love for order. — 2. Jesus Christ, by His miracle in Cana of Galilee, proved that He is the Creator of water and wine. — 3. The miracles of Jesus Christ surpass all the forces of nature. "He perfects our rebellious souls. — The fragility of the goods of this world: they instantly disappear and flow away with the rapidity of the stream. "Poverty is the mother of health. "The sweets of the meal are very harmful to the body and soul and produce many diseases.

DISCOURSE 23 on Jn. 2:11. 1. The transformation of water into wine is the first miracle of Jesus Christ. — On what testimonies rests the authenticity of this miracle, which led the disciples to faith. — 2. Jesus Christ expels the sellers from the temple. "The same thing happened again at the end of His sermon. — 3. Why did Jesus Christ make unclear predictions? The apostles did not know about the resurrection. "Why didn't Jesus Christ reveal this to them?" "People believe the facts more than the words. — St. The Spirit reminded the apostles of all that Jesus Christ had told them. — The greatness of the virtue of the apostles. — Praise to them. — Exhortation to almsgiving, without which it is impossible to enter the gates of heaven.

DISCOURSE 24 on Jn. 2:23. 1. Those who were drawn to Jesus Christ by His teaching were firmer and steadfast in faith than those who were attracted by signs. Why did He not perform any more miracles? — 2. Nicodemus, the weakness and imperfection of his faith. — The condescension of Jesus Christ. — 3. One should not penetrate into the sacred mysteries with excessive curiosity. "Not subordinating their reason to faith, people fall into a multitude of absurdities. "The human mind, not illumined from above, produces only darkness. "Riches are thorns that scratch and wound us.

DISCOURSE 25 on Jn. 3:5. 1. Nicodemus did not understand the words of the Savior because he wanted to reason about spiritual things in a human way. If a person is not born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. — 2 and 3. Belief in the invisible. — The difference between the first and second creations. In the first creation, the Creator used the earth to create man; in the second St. The spirit uses water. "The first man was created with a living soul, the second is filled with the life-giving Spirit. "The first person needed help, the second, receiving the grace of the Holy Spirit, does not need any other help. — Why is water needed for baptism? — The rite of baptism. The great mysteries performed for us by Jesus Christ as motives for us to lead a good life. Catechumens and their position in relation to the faithful. — The benefit of alms and gifts offered to Jesus Christ and to these little ones.

БЕСЕДА 26 на Ин. 3:6. 1. Духовное возрождение и его сущность. — 2. Прообраз духовного возрождения. — 3. Характер христианского увещания. — Нужно действовать с кротостью, без гнева и крика. — Человек, приносящий другим обиды, совершает позорное дело; терпящий обиды есть истинный философ. — Рабы имеют ту же природу, как и господа, и потому последние не должны оскорблять первых. То, что рабы делают из страха господ, последние должны делать из страха Божия.

БЕСЕДА 27 на Ин. 3:12–13. 1. Не должно стараться постигнуть разумом происхождение Сына Единородного. — 2. Медный змей как прообраз Иисуса Христа. — Как Бог возлюбил мир. — 3. Любовь Божия: чрезмерность Его благости к грешникам и неблагодарным. — Бог, чтобы спасти нас, не пощадил даже Сына своего Единородного, а мы щадим свои деньги. — Дурное употребление, делаемое из богатства. — Наша неблагодарность Иисусу Христу в лице бедных за все Его благодеяния нам. — Против тех, которые расточая все на роскошь, презирают бедных и не заботятся о их нуждах.

БЕСЕДА 28 на Ин. 3:17. 1. Чем больше милосердие Господа, тем строже будут Его наказания жестоковыйным. — Бог открыл двери щедрот всем людям. — Два пришествия Иисуса Христа. — 2. Неверующие подлежат осуждению — Кто удаляется от Иисуса Христа. — Великие грешники — люди, закоснелые в своем упорстве, преданные обуявшим их порокам. — Чтобы быть христианином, нужно вести добрую жизнь с соблюдением чистоты учения. — Причина уклонения язычников от принятия веры Христовой. — Языческие философы делали добродетель из пустого тщеславия. Любовь к тщеславию губит людей. — Тщеславие пагубнее всех других пороков. — Чтобы приобресть славу пред людьми и славу, исходящую от Бога, нужно стремиться к достижению только последней.

БЕСЕДА 29 на Ин. 3:22. 1. Возвышенность истины и низость лжи. — Почему Иисус Христос сам не совершал крещения, а только Его ученики. — 2. Ученики Иоанна Крестителя завидовали ученикам Иисуса Христа. — 3. Как церковь становится невестой Иисуса Христа. — Бедствия и потери, причиненные тщеславием. — Как освободиться от этого порока.

БЕСЕДА 30 на Ин. 3:31. 1. Старания св. Иоанна Крестителя привесть своих учеников к Иисусу Христу. — 2. Отвержение Иисуса Христа равносильно обличению во лжи пославшего Его Бога. — 3. Не должно читать Слово Божие легкомысленно: нужно вникать во всякое слово. — Слово Божие есть оружие, которым нужно уметь владеть. — В делах мира сего все ловки и бойки, а в деле спасения мы ленивы и трусливы. — Священные книги написаны не для древних только, но и для нас.