The Ancient Witnesses

216 • The Ancient Witnesses: A Journey to Discover Our Sacred Roots

“That’s right,” said Joseph, who was following along in his Bible. “At the hands of this confession,” Bishop Leo continued, “the mob was thrown back and retreated. 100 What happened to their conspiracy? Where was their violent rage and their drawn weapons? More than this, what will happen to those who were unable to endure his incarnate humility, when His Majesty returns in judgment?” 101 “Amen!” said Preacher, “if the power of the God came through ‘I am he,’ then just wait ’til he returns in glory!” “The Lord, knowing the mystery he had chosen to endure, and not relying on his own power, allowed his persecutors to carry out their evil plan,” Bishop Leo continued. “Indeed, he would not have been taken if he had not permitted it, but what man could be saved if that man had not been arrested?” 102 “Amen!” said Joseph. Leo’s preaching portrayed the drama of the gospel, even the drama of the two natures of Christ—he was fully God and fully man —in the one person of Jesus Christ. “Which human being,” Leo had asked, “could have been saved if that human being (Jesus, who was fully man ) had not been arrested?” “We need to understand that two natures coalesced in our Redeemer,” Leo explained, “each retaining its own character, so that a truly remarkable unity of these two natures emerged when, as human nature required, the

100 John 18:6.

101 Corpus Christianorum Series Latina , vol. 138a, 309.

102 Corpus Christianorum Series Latina , vol. 138a, 310.