The Resurrection of Christ
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III speaks about the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, explaining that it was a divine necessity and not merely an incidental event. Christ had to rise because life dwells within Him, and because His Divinity never separated from His Humanity for a single moment during His death. Therefore, the body united with His Divinity rose through the power of His Divinity. Christ had also previously declared that He would lay down His life and take it again, and He foretold His Resurrection on the third day, fulfilling His promise as He had said. He further explains that Christ’s Resurrection was necessary because He is the One who gives life to the dead, and because He desired to become the Firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep and the foundation of the resurrection of all believers.
Spiritual Message
His Holiness explains that Christ’s Resurrection was a great manifestation of God’s power, for He rose despite the presence of the great stone, the seals, the guards, and all the obstacles placed before the tomb. His Resurrection was a victory over death and over all His enemies, and it also demonstrated that His death was not weakness, but rather redemption, love, and self-sacrifice by His own will. He emphasizes that Christ’s Resurrection differs from the raising of other dead people because it is an eternal and glorified Resurrection, after which there is no death, and because Christ rose through the power of His Divinity without anyone raising Him. He also explains that Christ chose to make His Resurrection take place in secret out of humility, and so that the faith of believers would be based on faith rather than sight. The Resurrection demonstrated that death no longer has final authority over the believing person, and that Christ is the source of life and hope.
Educational Lesson
His Holiness explains that Christ’s Resurrection completely transformed the lives of the disciples, moving them from fear, hiding, and anxiety to courage, preaching, and openly professing their faith. They began proclaiming Christ’s Resurrection before everyone and were no longer ashamed to identify themselves with Him. Rather, they considered enduring suffering for His name something worthy of joy. The Resurrection was also the foundation for the establishment of the Church, the beginning of the preaching ministry, and the spread of faith, as many people came to believe in Christ. He also explains that Christ’s many appearances to His disciples and apostles, and His spending forty days with them speaking about the Kingdom of God and explaining the Scriptures, were a source of comfort, joy, and preparation for service. The Resurrection was therefore not merely Christ’s victory, but the beginning of a new stage in the life and mission of the Church.
Practical Application
This teaching calls us to live through the power of faith in Christ’s Resurrection and not surrender to fear or anxiety, regardless of the difficulties we face. When we believe that Christ has conquered death, we can trust all His promises and live under the protection of a mighty God who never abandons His children. We should become free from fear and shame in professing our faith and be ready to bear witness to Christ through our words and lives. We also learn to hold firmly to the hope of the Resurrection and eternal life, because Christ promised that those who believe in Him will rise like Him. The Resurrection is the beginning of the journey toward the Kingdom of God and the Heavenly Jerusalem, and it is a source of joy, comfort, and hope for every believer.
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