36. And therefore the Lord answered Philip
thus;—Have I been so long time with you, and ye have not known
Me, Philip? He rebukes the Apostle for defective knowledge of
Himself; for previously He had said that when He was known the Father
was known also. But what is the meaning of this complaint that
for so long they had not known Him? It means this; that if they
had known Him, they must have recognised in Him the Godhead which
belongs to His Father’s nature. For His works were the
peculiar works of God. He walked upon the waves, commanded the
winds, manifestly, though none could tell how, changed the water into
wine and multiplied the loaves, put devils to flight, healed diseases,
restored injured limbs and repaired the defects of nature, forgave sins
and raised the dead to life. And all this He did while wearing
flesh; and He accompanied the works with the assertion that He was the
Son of God. Hence it is that He justly complains that they did
not recognise in His mysterious human birth and life the action of the
nature of God, performing these deeds through the Manhood which He had
assumed.