Many Reasons for the Disciples’ Joy in the Glorious Resurrection
The Lord had said to them before the crucifixion:
“But I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (John 16:22).
And indeed, they saw Him after His resurrection, and they rejoiced. But what were the reasons for their joy?
1 – First, they rejoiced because they met Him again.
It is not an easy thing to meet a beloved one after his death. Thus Saint John the Beloved said:
“That which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled” (1 John 1:1).
And Saint Peter the Apostle said: “We who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead” (Acts 10:41).
It was not just one meeting after His resurrection; it was a period of forty days during which He showed Himself alive by many infallible proofs, appearing to them and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). Therefore, their joy was complete.
2 – They also rejoiced because the Lord had triumphed over death.
He rose by Himself and came out of the sealed tomb alive, without anyone raising Him. He fulfilled His earlier saying:
“I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again” (John 10:17–18).
This victory brought them many other reasons for joy.
3 – The fear of death fell before them.
They realized that death was not the end of life. The joy of the resurrection granted them courage. There is another life that begins and never ends. Thus, Saint Paul later mocked death, saying:
“O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55).
They understood that death is only a passage from one life to another. Therefore, they no longer feared death. The worst their enemies could do was threaten them with death — but what is that threat to one who believes in the resurrection and has seen it?
They rejoiced because if they died, they would rise as Christ rose. Therefore, they preached the resurrection with courage and boldness.
4 – In Christ’s resurrection, they felt they were under the shadow of a mighty God.
He in whom they believed holds “the keys of Hades and of death” (Revelation 1:18). “In Him was life” (John 1:4); He is the source of life, even “the Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25). Whoever believes in Him, though he may die, shall live — not only on earth but also in eternal life.
5 – The disciples rejoiced because the Lord fulfilled His promise to them.
He had told them that He would rise and they would see Him, and it happened as He said. Therefore, in the joy of His resurrection, they trusted in all His other promises and their fulfillment.
They rejoiced in His promise:
“I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2–3).
They also trusted in His promise to send them the Holy Spirit (John 16:7) and that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them (Acts 1:8). They also trusted His promise:
“I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
6 – The disciples rejoiced because the resurrection changed everything and delivered them from the mockery of their enemies.
There was a great contrast between the day of crucifixion and the day of resurrection. The day of crucifixion was sad and painful — though from a theological standpoint, it was the day of salvation — but at that time people saw only suffering, insults, scourging, and nails. They did not see the salvation, the opening of Paradise, or the transfer of those who had fallen asleep in hope. The disciples were terrified, but when they saw the Lord, they rejoiced. Everything changed completely. Truth triumphed over falsehood, and they were freed from the scorn of their enemies.
7 – The disciples rejoiced because they went out from the upper room into freedom.
They had been shut inside in fear, afraid even to be known as followers of the crucified Jesus. But He came to them in the upper room, though the doors were locked, and granted them peace. They went out courageously, met Him in Galilee, and after Pentecost preached everywhere. Freed from fear, they boldly proclaimed His resurrection. When the authorities forbade them, they answered, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
8 – In their joy in the resurrection, they rejoiced in the kingdom and eternal bliss that would follow.
They realized that resurrection leads to everlasting glory. Saint Paul said:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
He also spoke of the crown of righteousness:
“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day — and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).
In Revelation, the Lord describes the heavenly rewards for the victors — the tree of life, the crown of life, the hidden manna, the new name, power, the morning star, white garments (Revelation 2–3).
“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Revelation 3:21).
The resurrection cannot be separated from the glories of resurrection, for which the saints longed even for death.
9 – They rejoiced that the resurrection became for them not an end, but a means.
It was the way to eternal fellowship with the Lord and the joy of being with Him in glory with His angels and saints. Saint Paul said:
“Having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better” (Philippians 1:23), and “Thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
Saint John also saw the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven, where God would dwell with His people (Revelation 21:2–3).
Truly, the joy of Christ’s resurrection led to joy in the general resurrection with all its eternal glory.
Since Christ became “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:23), resurrection became the hope and faith of all — the path to eternal bliss with God, the purpose of our earthly life.
10 – In their joy in the resurrection, they also rejoiced in suffering for the sake of its testimony.
The Jewish council scourged them and released them, but “they departed rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:40–41).
They found a new meaning in suffering — the path to glory — saying: “If we suffer with Him, we shall also be glorified with Him” (Romans 8:17).
They endured pain with joy, saying: “As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10).
Thus, they no longer feared persecution. Saint Paul even said: “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).
11 – They rejoiced because the Lord revealed to them through the resurrection something of His glory and majesty.
Not only in His coming out of the tomb unseen, or leaving the grave clothes behind (John 20), or entering the upper room while the doors were shut (John 20:19), or His glorious ascension (Acts 1:9), but also when He appeared to Saul of Tarsus in a dazzling light from heaven (Acts 9:3–6).
He appeared to John the seer with His face shining like the sun in its strength, so that John fell at His feet as dead (Revelation 1:16–17).
12 – The disciples rejoiced because in the resurrection the Lord entrusted them with a mission and gave them gifts to fulfill it.
He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained… As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21–23). Thus, they received the grace of priesthood and its ministry.
He also said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19–20).
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved… and these signs will follow those who believe…” (Mark 16:15–17).
Thus, they received authority to preach, to teach, to baptize, and to perform miracles.
They now had a great and holy mission to live for, to strive for, and to be crowned for.
13 – They also rejoiced in the glorious resurrection body.
The same body by which the Lord ascended to heaven before their eyes (Acts 1:9). They rejoiced that they too would have a similar body in the resurrection, as Saint Paul said:
“He will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body” (Philippians 3:21).
He also explained in 1 Corinthians 15 that our resurrection body will be spiritual, heavenly, raised in glory and power. Truly, this is a cause for great joy.
14 – Finally, they rejoiced because the risen Lord promised them: “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
Thus, it was not merely a resurrection and appearance, but an abiding presence — with them always, not only to the end of this age but also in the age to come, as He said:
“That where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3).
(An article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, published in Watani newspaper on May 14, 1995)
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