Resurrection
Happy Holiday!
May 3, 2021
The Resurrection of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the Holy day for all Christians. It is the foundation of the Christian faith. Apostle Saint Paul stated, “And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is vain and your faith is also vain.” His words attested of Lord Christ’s rising from the dead. “and was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of Holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” (1 Corinthians 15:14, Romanians 1:4)
Lord Jesus rising amongst the dead is the confirmation of Him as the Son of God and His work of atonement, redemption, reconciliation, and salvation. He was convicted, and blamed for claiming His own sovereignty; He was hung on a cross between two thieves and after His death, Jesus’ body was wrapped in linen cloths and placed in a tomb with a large stone rolled across the opening.
The third day, at early Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found it empty. It is in scripted in Holy Bible as, “Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture that He must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.” (John 20:1-10)
The Old as well as the New Testament, illustrates the truth of resurrection. Lord Jesus Christ testified His rising from the dead resurrection whilst His preaching to the disciples. “And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.” He died on the cross and his disciples witnessed his body after the resurrection. (Mark 8:31)
After Mary found the empty tomb, “she stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.” Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. (John 20:11-18)
Later on, “the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “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.” (John 20:19-23)
Yet, even if the resurrection of our Lord was mentioned in His teaching and interface, and but in the Bible, some lack faith in believing and accepting His resurrection. Among them, the Apostle Saint Thomas was unable to accept the truth when the other disciples told me the rise of Lord Jesus Christ; he asked to witness His hands and feet. “Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. “The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” (John 20:24-25)
He witnessed the Lord Jesus resurrection at His miraculous revelation in a closed house where the Apostles were gathered. “And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing. And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:26-28)
We shall all deem Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s resurrection, as He is redeemer of our soul and Path to eternal life. We ought to call upon His divinity as the Apostle Saint Thomas and live through His sovereignty.
Hereby, the Christians celebrate the Crucifixion and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. All in the name of Christians commemorate the Holiday, in the remembrance of Lord Jesus triumph over enemy Satan for the salvation of human race and His glory.
Sources: Coptic Orthodox Dioceses of the Southern United States