Cyril of Jerusalem — Commentary on Scripture

Mark 1:1

With baptism the old covenant ends and the new begins. This is seen in the fact that the inaugurator of the New Testament is John the Baptist. “Among those born of women there is none greater than John.” He is the crown of all the prophetic tradition: “For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.” Of the gospel dispensation he was the firstfruits, for we read “the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ” and after some words “John did baptize in the wilderness.”

Catechetical Lecture 3.6

Mark 1:6

He fed on locusts to make his soul grow wings. Sated with honey, the words he spoke were sweeter than honey and of more profit. Clothed in a garment of camel’s hair, he exemplified in his own person the holy life.… For every snake puts off its signs of age by pushing through some narrow place, and gets rid of its old apparel by squeezing it off. From then on it is young again in body. So “enter in at the straight and narrow gate,” squeeze yourself through by fasting, break yourself away from perishing, “put off the old nature with its deeds.”

Catechetical Lecture 3.6

Mark 1:7

Even though Elijah the Tishbite was taken up to heaven, he was not greater than John. Enoch too was translated but was not greater than John. Moses was the greatest of lawgivers and all the prophets were admirable, but none greater than John. It is not I who would dare to compare prophet with prophet, but their Master and ours who himself declared “Among those born of women there is none greater than John.” Not “born of virgins,” observe! but “born of women.”

Catechetical Lecture 3.6

Mark 11:14

Remember at the time of the sin of Adam and Eve they clothed themselves—with what? Fig leaves. That was their first act after the fall. So now Jesus is making the same figure of the fig tree the very last of his wondrous signs. Just as he was headed toward the cross, he cursed the fig tree—not every fig tree, but that one alone for its symbolic significance—saying: “May no one ever eat fruit of you again.” In this way the curse laid upon Adam and Eve was being reversed. For they had clothed themselves with fig leaves.

Catechetical Lecture 13:18

Mark 11:21

You are now being joined with the holy vine. If, then, you abide in the vine, you grow into a fruitful branch, but if you do not so abide, you will be burnt in the fire. Let us therefore bring forth worthy fruit. For let it not come about that it should happen to us what happened to the barren fig tree in the Gospel. Let not Jesus come in these days and utter the same curse upon the fruitless. But instead may all of you say, “I am like a green olive tree in the house of God.”

Catechetical Lecture 1:4

Mark 13:2

Antichrist will come at such a time as there shall not be left of the temple of the Jews “one stone upon another,” to quote the sentence pronounced by the Savior. For it is not until all the stones are overthrown, whether by the decay of age, or through being pulled down for building material or in consequence of this or that other happening, and I do not mean merely the stones of the outer walls, but the floor of the inner temple where the cherubim were, that Antichrist will come “with all signs and lying wonders” treating all the idols with disdain.

Catechetical Lecture 15:15

Mark 15:17

When they “clothed him in purple,” it was in mockery, yet ironically it was a fulfillment of prophecy, for he indeed was a king, so even their parody indirectly served divine revelation. Even though they did it in a spirit of derision, still they did it, and his regal dignity was by that symbolically heralded. So, likewise, though it was with thorns they crowned him, it was still a crown.

SERMON ON THE PARALYTIC 12

Mark 15:23

What sort of gall did they put in my mouth? “They gave him,” it says, “wine mixed with myrrh.” Myrrh is like gall in taste, and very bitter. “Is the Lord to be thus repaid by you?” Are these the offerings you make to your master, O vine? Catechetical Lectures

Mark 15:27

Of the robbers crucified with him, it was said: “He was reckoned among the wicked.” Up to this time both were wicked, but one of them was wicked no longer. For one was wicked to the end, yielding not to salvation, and, though his hands were fastened, he struck blasphemously with his tongue.

Catechetical Lecture 13:30

Mark 15:29

Those who passed by wagged their heads, mocking the crucified, fulfilling the Scripture: “When they see me, they shake their heads.”

Catechetical Lecture 13:30