Fathers

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What the Fathers say

John 12:16

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"But this," saith the Evangelist, "the disciples knew not, that it was written of Him." Seest thou that they were ignorant on most points, because He did not reveal to them? For when He said, "Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up," neither then did the disciples understand. And another Evangelist saith, that "the saying was hid from them," and they knew not that He should rise from the dead. …

Homily on the Gospel of John 66 ↗

Cyril of Alexandria

At first therefore they were ignorant that these words had been written with regard to Him; but after the Resurrection, they did not continue to suffer from the Jewish blindness, but the knowledge of the Divine words was revealed to them through the Spirit. And then was the Christ glorified, when after being crucified He came to life again. …

Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 8 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

I ask you, marvel at the evangelist, how he is not ashamed, but openly speaks of the former ignorance of the apostles. "His disciples," he says, "did not understand these things at first, but understood when Jesus was glorified." By glory he means the ascension, which followed the suffering and death. Then, without doubt, after the descent of the Holy Spirit, they came to know that these things had been written about Him. …

Commentary on John ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"These things understood not His disciples at the first; but when Jesus was glorified," that is, when He had manifested the power of His resurrection, "then remembered they that these things were written of Him, and they had done these things unto Him," that is, they did nothing else but what had been written concerning Him. …

Tractates on John 51 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Then when he says, his disciples did not understand this at first, he describes the state of mind of the disciples regarding this prophecy. And he admits his own ignorance and that of the disciples, for as we read: "The just person is the first to accuse himself" (Prv 18:17). So he says, his disciples did not understand this, what was predicted, at first, that is, before the passion. …

Commentary on John ↗

Bonaventure

And although this honor had been foretold, nevertheless it was not foreknown by the disciples of Christ, so that you may know that this was not done by human invention, but by divine dispensation. Therefore he adds: These things his disciples did not understand at first, namely when they conferred this honor; but when Jesus was glorified, after the resurrection and ascension, then they remembered, that is, they perceived, that these things were written of him: and these things they had done to him. …

Commentary on John, Chapter 12 ↗