How Christ’s Resurrection Differs from Every Other Resurrection
It is astonishing that it was said of the Lord in His resurrection from the dead that He “became the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). How did this happen? Did not many rise from the dead before Him?
Elijah the Prophet raised the son of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:22), and Elisha the Prophet raised the son of the Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:35). The Lord Jesus Himself also raised many from the dead, among them the daughter of Jairus, the son of the widow of Nain, and Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha. So how is Christ called the “firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep,” when many had risen before Him? In what way does Christ’s resurrection differ from any other resurrection?
How Christ’s Resurrection Differs from Every Other Resurrection
It differs in many essential ways, among which are:
1. The Lord Jesus rose in a resurrection after which there is no death.
All those who had been raised from the dead before—whether by Him or by one of the prophets—returned again to die. They still lie asleep, awaiting the general resurrection, when “all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28–29).
2. The Lord Jesus rose from the dead with a glorified body.
All those who rose before, rose with the same corruptible physical body—the body that grows hungry, thirsty, weary, sleepy, sick, and decays. But the Lord rose with a glorified, incorruptible body. In the general resurrection, we too await to rise with such a body. Concerning this glorified resurrection of the body, St. Paul says:
“So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15:42–44).
With this glorified body, the Lord Jesus rose, and we await the day “when He will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body” (Philippians 3:21). But those who rose before did not rise in such a glorified body. Thus, our Lord Jesus Christ is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep in glory.
3. The Lord Jesus rose by His own will, not by the will of another.
Before Christ, no one ever rose from the dead by his own power. All who rose were raised by another—either by the Lord Himself or by a prophet through prayer. But the Lord rose by the power of His divinity, His divinity which never departed from His humanity, not even for a single moment.
+ The Importance of the Lord’s Resurrection:
The Lord Jesus came to erase sin and its consequences; and one of the consequences of sin is death. He erased the sin of the world by His death on the Cross, and then triumphed over death—the very thing sin had brought into the world—by His resurrection. Thus, by His death and resurrection, He gave us the hope of rising from the dead.
But the Lord’s resurrection also had another great significance: it restored the faith that seemed to have vanished with His crucifixion.
It appeared as though all of Christ’s work had been destroyed by His death. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered” (Zechariah 13:7). The disciples fled when He was arrested; only St. John the Beloved remained at the Cross. They hid in fear in the upper room, not daring to appear or to speak. Even Peter, who had boldly said before, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You” (Matthew 26:35), denied Him and swore that he did not know the Man.
The people who had followed Christ and witnessed His miracles were shaken to their core: some cried out, “Crucify Him, crucify Him”; others fled in fear; and some could only weep.
The enemies, on the other hand, triumphed and took control. They deceived the people, bent the governor to their will, and carried out their sentence—not only crucifying Christ but also sealing His tomb with guards after His death.
Everything was dark, gloomy, and hopeless… Then Christ rose, turning the course of events, restoring hope to hearts, and reviving faith in souls.
And the first thing He did after His resurrection was to visit those who had abandoned and denied Him. He was not angered by those who had forsaken Him in His hardest moments, nor did He reject the people who had denied His goodness, nor did He despair of those disciples He had trained for years, though He found them afraid and silent, unable even to utter His name.
He did not say: Where is friendship? Where is loyalty? Where is courage and bravery? Where is faithfulness and love? Where is the labor I spent with you for so many years?
He did not face the situation with reproach or blame, but rather began by visiting those who had left Him and by caring for those who had doubted Him.
He looked upon the ruined building, and with wondrous patience began to gather its scattered stones to rebuild it once again—from the same stones.
He began His work with love toward the woman whose reputation had been marred since Eve’s sin and her stumbling of Adam—the woman whom people blamed as the cause of humanity’s fall from Paradise.
The Lord desired to restore woman’s honor, so He first appeared to Mary Magdalene and sent her to proclaim the resurrection to His apostles: “Go to My brethren and say to them, ‘Go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.’”
The woman thus carried the good news of the Resurrection and received the blessing foretold in Scripture: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”
Then Christ turned to His disciples to strengthen their faith so that they might carry this faith to others. He spent forty days with them, appearing to them, removing their doubts, confirming them, preparing them for their mission, and forgiving their weakness, denial, and doubt.
Thus, the first work of Christ after His resurrection was to strengthen the faith of the weak and to lay the foundations of the Church’s Tradition through what He handed to His disciples during those forty days—sacraments and rites.
The Lord did not only rebuild the Church’s broken structure or restore faith and joy to its members, but also granted it power to destroy the kingdom of Satan, whose rule He had already annulled.
And it is as if I imagine the angels standing around the tomb of Christ saying to Him:
Rise, destroy Satan; let none of his dominion remain.
Rise, proclaim to the dead that their sin is forgiven.
Strengthen the faith of the shepherds and gather the scattered flock.
Forgive Peter his weakness and wipe away Mary Magdalene’s tears.
Reveal Your wounds to convince Thomas whose doubt was strong.
Lift up the fallen leaders and have mercy on the eyes that weep.
The tyrants rejoiced over us, but rise and defeat them with their own weapons.
They thought You a mere man who perished, without return or hope—
But You are indeed the Christ, the Fountain of Life.
Rise in majesty and glory, manifesting the power of the Godhead.
Rise among the hosts of heaven, for You are the Lord in His dwelling.
Rise, startle the guards, and shine with Your radiant presence.
Strengthen the faith of the shepherds and gather the scattered flock.
We have long been strangers in this world;
Our consciences have grown cold and hardened.
The devil has buried them in dust—they have not yet awakened.
The tomb is vast, a stone lies over it, and soldiers guard it.
O You who raised the dead and rose from among the tombs,
You who conquered death, O Lord of Resurrection and Eternal Life,
Rise and save the souls from the grave of sin and error.
Strengthen the faith of the shepherds and gather the scattered flock.
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Article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, Al-Keraza Magazine, Year 6, Issue 18, May 2, 1975.
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