In order that the disciple should be made to fear

[Unknown]

"In order that the disciple should be made to fear, and not become worse
for lack of reverence, nor himself undergo punishment and penalty, Christ
displayed this His power on the fig-tree, saying, "Let no fruit grow on
thee henceforward," (Matt. xxi. 3 9,) and, by His mere word, caused it
instantly to wither. In this way, without causing harm to any man, Pie
himself showed His might, though it was only a tree that bore the
infliction. And the disciple, if he had attended to this instance of
punishment, would have reaped profit from it. Still, however, even thus he
was not corrected. And Christ, foreseeing even this, not only did this
thing, but afterwards wrought a much greater wonder. For when the Jews came
against Him, armed with swords and staves, He caused them all to become
blind; this being shown by His saying, "Whom seek ye?" Since Judas had said
again and again, "What will ye give me, and I will deliver Him unto you?"
(Matt. xxvi. 15,) the Lord, wishing to prove to the Jews, and to let Judas
also know, that He went of His own accord to His sufferings, and that all
these events were in His own power;----that He was not overpowered by the
wickedness of another, He said, when the traitor with all his companions
stood still, "Whom seek ye?" Judas did not know Him whom he came to betray,
for his eyes were blinded. Nor was this all, but Christ by His word caused
them all to fall backward to the ground. And since even this did not render
them less cruel, nor cause the wretched man to desist from his
treachery,----for he was still incorrigible,----Christ even now did not
give up His kindness and regard; but mark how movingly He deals with this
mind devoid of shame, and how He speaks words which ought to melt a heart
of stone."

St. John Chrysostom, Discourse I, Chiefly on the parable of the rich man
and Lazarus (16 of --).

"so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through
righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 5:21

Draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto you.