The Resurrection: The first and eight day combined The Lord Risen from the Dead St. John opens the first chapter of his Gospel by proclaiming the eternal existence of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a completely different beginning in contrast to the opening chapters in the other three Gospels. St. John elaborates that the Lord, being the word of God, and being one with Him, was born since time eternal. However, in the closing chapters of his Gospel, St. John writes about the same events recorded in the other Gospels as they all speak about the Lord’s resurrection. This is because His resurrection represents the focal point of the act of salvation. The Lord spoke repeatedly about that subject; and He presented the story of Jonah the prophet inside the whale as an example of His burial and resurrection (Matt 12:40). None of the evangelists have explained to us how the Lord arose. They were preoccupied with confirming His resurrection. In every possible way, they wanted to convince everyone of that great event. As much as the disciples and apostles confirmed the Lord’s resurrection, as much as unbelievers resisted this fact. Indeed, His resurrection entailed a confirmation of the crime committed in killing the Messiah, the Giver of life. The resurrection confirms the redeeming act: since He was slaughtered for our sake, then His resurrection confirms the acceptance of this sacrifice. Since He was crucified on account of our debts, then His resurrection proclaims the payment of the debt. Nothing has preoccupied the minds of preachers more than the need to confirm the Lord’s resurrection. This is because the Lord was publicly crucified and the sun became darkened at that moment. The Lord arose in order to appear to His followers and those loyal lovers who seek their salvation. Each Evangelist has underlined an aspect of the resurrection that differs from that recorded by the other writers. What St. John has underlined is not recorded in the other Gospels. He does not relate the story found in St. Luke’s Gospel about the Lord’s meeting with the two disciples on the way to Emaus. St. John does not include the story in St. Matthew about the Lord’s meeting with some of the women who were going to the tomb. He also does not relate the story in St. Mark about the youth who was dressed in white and who informed the women that they would see the Lord in Galilee. 1- Dawn: The Empty Tomb verses 1-10 2- Morning: Mary Magdalene and the Two Angels 11-13 3- Morning: Mary Magdalene and the Lord 14-18 4- The Lord Meets the Disciples on Sunday Evening 19-25 5- Meeting with Them the Next Day 26-29 6- The Purpose in Writing the Gospel 30-31 1- Dawn: The Empty Tomb Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, While it was still dark, https://coptic-treasures.com/ And saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.[1] St. John has reported many events where women played great roles: the first miracle he reports reveals the holy virgin Mary, the mother of the Lord, as an intercessor for those present at the wedding in Cana. In chapter four, the Lord meets with the Samaritan woman who attracted the whole city of Sychar. After the Lord had revealed Himself to her, she wanted them all to enjoy meeting with Him. In the incident of the raising of Lazarus from the dead (Ch. 11), the presence of the two sisters, Martha and Mary is of great significance. In this Chapter, Mary Magdalene appears with her amazing inner faithfulness. She came to the tomb while it was still dark. She was driven by her great love to the One who was absent from her at that time. Her personal and immense sorrow seem to be the driving force leading her to go to the tomb. She felt overwhelmed by the finality of absence which the grave always inspires. She was the first person to see the stone rolled away from the grave. The Lord intended her to witness that the One who takes away the sins of the world has risen (John 1:29), and that the final veil has been removed. The word ‘Magdalene’ is the feminine for the word ‘Magdala.’ Here the word ‘Magdalene’ means ‘Mary, from Magdala.’ The Talmud mentions that there was a city called Magdala, and it took about twenty minutes to walk from Tiberia (on the See of Galilee) on the northern side to that city. The word ‘Magdala’ means ‘tower.’ Actually there was a tower in the region which carried that name- probably a watch tower. St. John mentions St. Mary Magdalene solely, and has not referred to the other women who went to the tomb with her. Probably, this is due to her great eagerness to go there. The Lord had shown her great love and she had adhered to Him and had used her money to provide for His needs (Luke 8:2-3). She had listened to His teachings, and loved Him to the end. She stood by the Lord up to the moment of His death on the Cross. Now, she had come to His tomb without fearing the possible obstacles and dangers. Indeed, her love for the Lord stripped her of the fear of death and of the grave. She came to the tomb to weep bitterly and to pour frankincense and spices on His Body. This was Mary Magdalene who had adhered to the Lord up to the last moment of His burial. Now she would be the first to enjoy the news of His joyful and glorious resurrection: the empty tomb! Mary Magdalene came to the tomb at the beginning of the week. That is, she came as soon as the Sabbath of the Old Testament was over. According to the literal application of the law, it would have been incorrect to visit the tomb until the new Sabbath day - the first Sabbath of the New Testament- when the Lord arose from the dead. Mary Magdalene, in this context, has become a representative of the Church that fulfills the law of the Lord Jesus Christ. She celebrates the new Sabbath as she hurries to the Lord’s tomb in order to enjoy fellowship in His resurrection. The Gospel here begins with the first day in the new week. It opens before us a totally new age. It proclaims, in that new age, a new resurrected life and a new world. Since that time, Christians have designated Sunday as the day of rest: it is celebrated in memory of the Lord Jesus Christ, and it is called ‘the Lord’s day’ (Rev 1:10). She came to the tomb in the early morning. Indeed, love drives the believer to meet with the One resurrected from the dead at the first possible opportunity and as early as possible, without delay or procrastination. She came while it was still dark, yet the Sun of Righteousness https://coptic-treasures.com/ could shine within her and brighten the path to the empty tomb that stood as a witness to the glory of the Lord’s resurrection. It was still dark, but love provided the light to her path. She ‘saw that the stone had been taken away.’ As she was preoccupied with thoughts about the Lord, she did not worry about the problem of rolling the stone in order to offer the spices (Mark 16:1; Luke 24:1). At the same time, when she came and found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty, she did not realize immediately that the Lord had risen. She thought the body had been taken away. The Lord intended her to enjoy the news of the resurrection gradually. The Lord arose while the stone was in its place with the seals on it. However, to ensure that all the others would be completely assured, it was necessary to open the tomb after the resurrection. This is what happened, and this is what drove St. Mary Magdalene to take action. She was so filled with love for her Lord, that she could not rest; and as soon as the Sabbath ended, she went very early to the tomb. She was anxious to find some comfort in that place. When she got there, and saw the stone rolled away, she did not enter inside. She did not even bend down. Rather, she ran eagerly to the disciples. She zealously wanted to get back to them and report promptly what happened to the body. This explains why she ran and the words she said to them1. St. John Chrysostom 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.” [2] As the two disciples ran towards the tomb, it was hard for Mary Magdalene to join them. So she probably returned to the tomb while they were there or maybe after they had already left. She began to weep and it was then that the two angels appeared to her to console her. She had quickly run to Peter and John because they lived on the outskirts of the city and close to the tomb. Therefore she just ran to them. It never occurred to her that the Lord had risen according to what He had said to His disciples. Yet, there were clear indications of the resurrection, and the testimony was powerful. She probably suspected that the high priest had ordered that the body be moved to another place as a form of humiliating the Lord. Or could Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus have feared that the Jews would be angered by their act so they had carried the Lord’s body to another tomb? Mary Magdalene ran to the two disciples to beg them to look for the Lord’s body. Her grief due to His death did not erase her need to see the Lord’s body. She wanted to offer spices as an indication of her love even after His death. The amazing thing is that Peter and John stuck together. Peter’s denial had humbled him, yet he did not despair. Through repentance and tears, he came back to share fellowship and service with John. Lovingly, John did not reject drawing close to that one who had denied the 1 Homilies on St John, 85:4 https://coptic-treasures.com/ Lord; for Peter showed remorse. Some believe that Mary Magdalene ran to Peter and John while the other women ran to report the news to the rest of the disciples. The mother of the Lord went to the tomb where she met the rest of the women.. Being the Theotokos, she alone realized the power of the angels’ words- She and the other women listened to the glad news concerning the resurrection- Mary Magdalene told them how she had met with her Son and Lord. Mary Magdalene had seen the One risen from the dead. She had recognized Him before all the other women. She fell down and touched His feet and became an apostle to His disciples2. Fr. Gregory Palamas Peter, therefore, went out, and the other disciple, And were going to the tomb. [3] They both went out as quickly as possible to check the news. They wanted to be personally assured, and they wanted to look for the Holy body of the Lord Jesus Christ. St. John Chrysostom believes that St. Mary Magdalene imagined that the body had been stolen because she was not thinking clearly about the resurrection. However, the evangelist St. John does not deny praising her for her action. Moreover, he does not consider it shameful that the disciples heard the news first hand from a woman who had spent the whole night vigilant and anxious to see the body of the Lord Jesus Christ3. The Evangelist exposes the stages one takes to progress towards understanding and comprehending the resurrection. The first step is the immediate shock that Mary Magdalene got on discovering the empty tomb. Then St John sees and experiences what the Lord had declared previously that ‘He would arise from the dead. So they both ran together, And the other disciple outran Peter, and came to the tomb first. [4] The two disciples ran together as soon as they heard the news from Mary Magdalene. Her words did not lead them to despair though the matter was out of their control and they could do nothing. However, they wanted to act quickly in order to comfort her and to find out the real situation. They ran together and did not compete as to who would enter into the tomb first. Even though John outran Peter due to his youthful age, yet they cooperated. The incentive one of them had to run to the tomb did not impede the other. Each ran as fast as he could. Peter did not envy John as he ran faster, nor did John despise Peter for his slowness. Peter had repented denying the Lord. His guilt feelings slackened his movement towards the tomb. Yet he was not deprived of the One risen from the dead. This is serious spiritual friendship, which bears the spirit of communal action with no impediments to others. The wise prophet accordingly says: ‘two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor’ (Eccl 4:9). 2 Homily on the Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women. PG 151:244 CD, 245 3 Homilies on St John, 85:4 https://coptic-treasures.com/ Some believe that Mary Magdalene ran to the disciples after she and the women with her had seen the angel who told them that the Lord had risen. However, she was so stunned that she did not report to the disciples what the angel had told her. All what preoccupied her was to find the Lord’s body and to meet with Him. Her vision of the angel and his conversation with her could have seemed more like a dream or part of her imagination. Note that the only disciples, who moved at her words, were Peter and John only.4 And he stooping down and looking in, Saw the linen clothes lying there, yet he did not go in. [5] John did not go in because he trusted that the words of Mary Magdalene were true and that the body was no longer in the tomb. He was assured just by looking inside the empty tomb. However, as soon Peter stepped inside, John followed him. Then they saw and believed that the body was no longer in the tomb. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; And he saw the linen clothes lying there. [6] They looked and saw the linen clothes placed in order and folded. This was a sign of the resurrection. Indeed, anyone who intended to steal or remove the Body would not have stripped the linen clothes from it. A thief would not have bothered to fold the clothes; and anyone intending to move the Body would not have taken off the clothes. If some persons had stolen the Body would they have engaged in complicating their job by removing the handkerchief and placing it in another place after folding it? What had happened definitely was not the action of grave diggers or thieves looting corpses. * St. John stooped to look inside. However, St. Peter entered in and saw the linen clothes. He stopped and did not speak immediately. The jealous one entered and looked in more deeply to discover and see more detail. Then he called on the other disciple to come in. After he had first seen for himself, Peter called John to enter and see the linen clothes and how the handkerchief that had covered His head was put in another place separately5. Out of necessity, they would have removed the Lord as He was (with the linens on Him). That is why St. John the evangelist reports in the earlier chapters that His Body was covered with a lot of spices. These would let the linen clothes stick to the Body just as hard as lead. Consequently, when we hear that the handkerchief was lying in a separate place, we do not accept the words of those who claimed that the Lord’s Body was stolen. A thief would not perform a needless act: why would he remove the burial clothes and the handkerchief? Besides, how could he escape if he had spent all this time to dismantle the Body and risk being discovered red handed? He would have been arrested if he had delayed and taken time at the job. Again, why would the clothes be placed away from the handkerchief and folded separately? So that we might learn that the action did not take place hastily or nosily6. 4 Cf. Adam Smith; Comm. On St John 21:2 5 Hom 85. PG 59:510 6 Hom 85. PG 59:509- 510 https://coptic-treasures.com/ * If you were to say: “what is the purpose of the handkerchief not lying with the linen clothes, but folded together in a place by itself?!” Our answer would be: So that you would know that the act was done by someone who was not hurried nor anxious. Therefore they believed in the Lord’s resurrection based on that action. St. John Chrysostom * If the enemies had stolen the Body, then they would not have left the burial clothes behind in order to ensure some material gain. If the Lord’s follower were the ones who did that act, they would not have accepted to strip the Body and humiliate Him. The best explanation is that the incident reveals that the Body had crossed over into eternity and had no need for clothes in the future.7 St. Amonius of Alexandria ‘…and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but folded together in a place by itself. [7] The Lord left the burial clothes and the handkerchief that covered his head behind in the tomb. He had risen and would not die again or need burial. His Body was now enveloped in glory and He had abandoned the earthly clothes that would deteriorate inside the tomb. In Paradise, we do not need clothes as we do on earth; for we are enveloped in the Lord’s righteousness and share His glory. When Elijah was taken up in the fiery chariot that soared into the heavens, his cloak fell away as he did not need it. Let us abandon with the Lord the burial clothes behind. For we carry the promise and warranty of incorruption, which replaces the corruption that has come upon us. The Lord has left us the burial clothes placed in an orderly manner inside the tomb; as well as the handkerchief that covered His head in a place by itself. He intended that every believer, whenever he goes to his own burial, to find coverings that the Lord has prepared by His precious burial clothes. There, the believer would also find the Lord’s handkerchief to wipe away the tears shed during his struggle on earth. St. Chrysostom comments on the burial clothes and handkerchief that were left in the tomb. He says that the Lord encourages us not to spend too much when we burry our dead. The body of the dead person will arise in brilliant glory and will not need grand clothes! * How majestic is the power of the One crucified! He encourages those who physically die as death is not final. Therefore they should not behave as persons who will ultimately die. Conversely, they should behave as persons who are sending the departed one to a distant and better home. He encourages people to know that this corrupt earthly body will wear more glorious clothes than those made of silk and golden threads- a clothing of incorruption. It is therefore appropriate not to worry over burial, since people need to consider that a virtuous life is clothing similar to an amazing breeze… * What excuse do we have if we decorated a body that will be eroded with corruption and 7 Leon Morris,p 692 https://coptic-treasures.com/ worms; while we neglect the Lord Jesus Christ who is thirsty and walks naked and estranged? Let us therefore stop this meaningless toil. May we conduct the funerals of the departed in a manner that contributes to our benefit and to theirs for the glory of God. Let us be giving for their sakes, and let us look with them for food on the way… let us send the departed to the tomb while he is wearing these clothes ( of giving) so that the Lord would be his inheritance! St. John Chrysostom Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, Went in also; and he saw and believed. [8] John had arrived first as he raced towards the tomb. However, Peter showed more courage as he stepped into the tomb looking for the body. He wanted to check the matter in all its possibilities. Some persons are characterized by their speed, others by their aggressiveness, and all support one another through their talents and their various skills. John’s speed encouraged Peter to move more quickly; while Peter’s courage led John to step inside the tomb. Peter saw and marveled (Luke 24:12); John saw and believed, (John 20:8). The physical death of the Lord Jesus Christ has removed our fear of death and of the grave. Death will eventually take hold of us, and we will be laid in a tomb. Therefore, it is appropriate that we repeat with the righteous Job: .”..I say to corruption you are my father, and to the worm, you are my mother…” (Job 17:14). For as yet they did not know the Scripture, That He must rise again from the dead. [9] St. John the Evangelical explains why he and Peter were slow to believe. It was due to their lack of deep knowledge of scriptural prophecies. They need God to open up their minds to understand the Holy Book in the same way it happened to the disciples who were going to Emaus (Luke 24:44-45) All the disciples did not understand the prophecy of the Psalmist who said: ’For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will you allow your Holy One to see corruption,’ (Ps 16:10). They also did not understand what the Lord had told them about the fulfillment of Jonah’s miracle by His own resurrection, (Matt 12:40). The Evangelist does not say: ‘He will arise from the dead’, but he stated ‘that He must rise again from the dead.’ On the one hand, the resurrection was part of God’s plan to save and redeem us. Therefore it was an expedient matter. On the other hand, it was not possible for death to imprison the Lord, or for the grave to seize Him who had said: “I am the Resurrection”! Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. [10] They returned to the place where all the other disciples were gathered. They all had no homes in Jerusalem, so they gathered in a home there and they did not return to their homes after https://coptic-treasures.com/ the crucifixion. John and Peter did not go to the other disciples in order to proclaim the resurrection, or to confirm that they could not find the body. They returned probably because they feared future troubles. It was hard for them to know what the Jewish leaders would do upon discovering that the Body was no longer in the tomb. They returned and joined their fellow disciples and waited to hear from God. They definitely spoke about what had happened, and they decided to meet all together in the evening on that same day. It was then that the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to them; but Thomas was not there. It was essential for them to meet together especially that the two angels had appeared to Mary Magdalene, whereas no angel had appeared to Peter and John. St. John Chrysostom believes that the two disciples had gone each to his own home at first as they felt amazed. There the resurrection began to touch their minds. Then they returned and met with the other disciples according to the Lord’s command. 2. In the Morning: Mary Magdalene and the Two Angels. ‘But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, And as she wept she stooped and looked into the tomb.’ [11] Whereas the two disciples hurried back to their fellow disciples, Mary Magdalene stayed by the tomb and wept. It was hard for her to leave the tomb without seeing the Body of the Lord. The soul is bound to the Lord Jesus Christ by love. She desired to get acquainted with His mysteries and longs to see Him. While Mary wept she stooped and looked inside the tomb. She was assured that the Body was no longer there. The two disciples had also entered and were assured. However, her love drove her to keep stooping and looking inside time and again. She hoped to find something that would console her! * The female species is characteristically emotional to a great extent, and is more inclined to tenderness. We say that so that you would not be surprised why Mary wept so bitterly at the tomb, while Peter showed no emotions! The Holy Word reports that ‘… the disciples went away again to their own homes.’ As for Mary, she stood there weeping; on account of her weak nature and because she had not yet comprehended well enough the matter of the Resurrection. In contrast, the two disciples marveled and believed after having seen the burial linen clothes; and so returned home. Why did they not go back immediately to Galilee according to the command the Lord Jesus Christ had given them before His suffering? Maybe it was because they were waiting for the arrival of the others as well as due to their own state of ultimate astonishment. These two disciples therefore went on their way home, whereas Mary remained by the tomb. As we have said earlier, just looking at the tomb gave her great comfort... All things considered, she received a blessing on account of her great zeal. This is not to be discounted, for what the disciples had missed, this woman was the first to see: she saw two angels seated, one at the feet and the other at the head, and even their white clothes reflected the brilliance with joy8. St. John Chrysostom 8 Homilies on St John,86:1 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 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. [12] After the two disciples had left, and probably after the sun came up on that same day, Marty returned alone. She was still searching for the One she missed. Her condition had not changed, though when she stooped and wept, the tomb presented another proclamation. She saw two angels sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet. It was as though they were measuring the Body with heavenly standards rather than earthly ones. Therefore they could present the Body risen from the dead throughout all ages, to establish out of Him the one universal church as His Holy Body. The Lord responded to her love and tears. So he opened her eyes to see the two angels witnessing to His resurrection- for based on two witnesses, a testimony is acceptable. She had not seen them before; nor had the two disciples when they had entered the tomb. St. Matthew and St. Mark report that Mary saw one angel- they were probably satisfied with making reference only to the one who spoke to her. White clothes indicate purity. Why were the angels sitting? Angels do not need to sit in order to rest for they do not posses a body that is liable to get tired. Their sitting down indicates an invitation to shake off our fear of the grave. Wherever the Lord is present, we may sit and rest. Although the world had positioned guards to secure the tomb and prevent the Lord’s resurrection, yet He arose, and the guards trembled and ran away. As for the guards of the Lord, they are the angels who were sitting in security and assurance in the Lord’s conquest and victory over the forces of darkness. The two angels are a reference to the two cherubim who stood over the Ark of the Covenant where the throne of mercy and God’s presence among His people was found (Ex 28:18). They did not carry swords, like those standing at the gate of the Paradise of Eden, in order to prevent men from entering. These angels were sitting at the head and feet where the Body had been laid, and they welcome us. They lead every believer to enjoy fellowship with the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ. They invite us to enjoy eternal life through the cross that is the tree of life. St. Gregory the Great comments that the angel seated at the head proclaims the Lord’s divinity: ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God’ (John 1:1). The other angel, seated at the feet proclaims the Lord’s incarnation: ‘And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us’ (John 1:14). They could also be a reference to the two Testaments, the Old and the New Testaments. Both present the same message: that the Lord became incarnate, died, and arose from the dead. They are like the two cherubim who sat on the Ark of the Covenant where the glory of God shone. The word ‘cherubim’ means ‘perfect knowledge.’ What else could that mean other than the two Testaments? What is the mercy seat other than the Lord who became man? The Old Testament proclaims a matter that is imperative and bound to happen. The New Testament announces that this proclamation has been fulfilled and completed. Both Testaments faced each other while they faced the seat of mercy at the same time. They contemplated the Lord who became incarnated; and with one heart, they explained https://coptic-treasures.com/ the mystery of His plan9. * Why was one angel seated at the head, while the other was seated at the feet? Is it not because the Greek word for angels is translated into Latin as ‘untie’ (bearing/carrying news)? Therefore the angels refer to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ that is preached from head to foot- or from the beginning to the end of time10. St. Augustine * The woman’s comprehension had not soared sufficiently to accept the Resurrection based on the evidence of the handkerchief and the burial linens. Then something else occurred, for she saw the two angels seated and dressed in shining clothes. They were there to alleviate somewhat her great sorrow and to comfort her. They did not speak about the resurrection, but she was led to that knowledge gently. She saw unusual brilliant features, shining clothes and heard a soothing voice11. St John Chrysostom * The Jews honored the Holy of Holies because it contained the cherubim, the seat of mercy, the bowl of manna, Aaron’s rod, and the gold censor. Does the Lord’s tomb less honorable than the Holy of Holies? On entering there, we would probably see the Savior in burial clothes; and if we stayed longer, we would see an angel seated at His feet and another at His head. This tomb had been carved by Joseph of Arimathea, and the prophetic words of Isaiah inform us of his glory: ‘…and his rest shall be glorious,’ (Is 11:10). This indicates that the burial place of the Lord would receive universal honor12. St Jerome Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to tem, “Because they have taken my Lord, And I do not know where they have laid Him.” [13] The two angels behaved tenderly towards Mary Magdalene. They marveled at her weeping because they expected her to rejoice that He had risen. Indeed, the heavenly ones lovingly share our sorrows. They are surprised that we are saddened because they know what glory the resurrected Lord has prepared for His followers. Even the sight of the angels could not satisfy the heart of Mary Magdalene. She had come to seek the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The two angels stopped her tears for what else could they be proclaiming other than that, in one way or another, the matter promised future joy... They raised the question: ‘why are you weeping?’ It is as though they were telling her: ‘Do not weep.’ But she assumed that they asked 9 cf. Hom 25: Forty Gospel Homilies, PL76:1189 10 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate 121:1 11 Homilies on St John, 86:1 12 Letter, 46:5 https://coptic-treasures.com/ this as they did not know the cause of her tears13. St. Augustine * In all these circumstances, it was as though a door was opening up before her so that she could gradually acquire the knowledge of the Resurrection. The manner in which the angels were sitting down was an invitation for her to ask them for they indicated that hey knew what had happened. Therefore they did not sit together, but each sat apart... What did she say? She spoke with emotion and excitement: .’..they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.’ What are you saying? Have you not learned anything about His resurrection until now? Do you still imagine that He is still lying somewhere? Do you not see that Mary Magdalene had not yet acquired superior knowledge?14 St. John Chrysostom * She was not looking for the Body. She was looking for the Lord who had been taken away15. St. Gregory the Great. * ‘By night on my bed I sought the one I love’ (Sg of Sol 3:1). It is also written: ‘Mary Magdalene came….while it was still dark’: ‘By night on my bed I sought the one I love, I sought him, but I did not find him’ And in the Gospels, Mary says: ‘…they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him?!’ 16 St. Cyril of Jerusalem 1- In the Morning: The Meeting of Mary Magdalene with the Lord Jesus Christ. ‘Now when she had said this, She turned around and saw Jesus standing there, And did not know that it was Jesus.’ [14] The special ‘place’ where the Lord stayed, and where He went is a vital topic. At the beginning of the Gospel, the first two chosen disciples asked the Lord: ‘… where are You staying?’ (John 1:38). During the last supper, Thomas said to the Lord: “Lord we do not know where You are going…” (John 14:5). At the tomb, Mary Magdalene asked Him: “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away” (John 14:15). When the Lord asked her to proclaim His resurrection, He guided her to the place where He was going for He wanted her and the disciples to reach a higher degree of knowledge concerning His resurrection. Before the angels could answer her, the answer came in a practical fashion: the Lord Jesus Christ stood behind her, spoke with her and answered her question. The desire of her heart was to see the Body of the Lord who had died. However, the Lord granted her a greater blessing for the ‘One risen from the dead’ appeared to her. Indeed, the Lord grants us over and above 13 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate 121:1 14 Homilies on St John, 86:1 15 Hom 25. Forty Gospel Homilies, PL 76:1189 16 Essay 14:12 https://coptic-treasures.com/ what we pray for and request. She turned around probably because she saw the angels acting in an unusual manner such as bowing down towards the Lord. Or their eyes looked in great awe as they turned away from her. Mary Magdalene saw an ordinary person and did not recognize the Person of the Lord. Her psychological condition or her mind was not prepared for meeting with the resurrected One. It is true that she was seeking Him with tears and a broken heart; but she did not realize that He ‘is near to those who have a broken heart’ (Ps 34:18), and closer than they think. Therefore it is appropriate for us to realize that He is very close to us -more than anyone can imagine- when we seek Him. Indeed, He lives within us, and seeks to reveal Himself to us. St. John the evangelist does not report that one of the angels informed Mary Magdalene about the Lord’s resurrection. Probably this is because the other three evangelists have mentioned it (Matt 28:5-7; Mark 16:6-7; Luke 24:5-7). * It seems to us that the Lord appeared to her suddenly, and immediately after she had said: ‘they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.’ When the angels saw the Lord, their appearance, looks, and behavior revealed that they seen their Master. They wanted to draw Mary Magdalene’s attention to Him. That was how the angels saw Him- as their Master. However, the Lord did not reveal Himself to her in the same manner, as He did not want to scare her when her eyes would see Him for the first time after His death. Therefore He appeared to her as a simple human being so that she thought He was the gardener. This was expected of a mind that was not fully ready for heavenly matters. Rather than providing a big portion of knowledge all at once, the Lord quietly asked her: “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”17 St. John Chrysostom * Because she loved, she complained, and she saw Him but did not recognize Him. Her love revealed Him to her, yet her doubts prevented her from recognizing Him18. Pope Gregory the Great 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.” [15] It could be that the Lord’s questions were spoken in a stern manner: “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?.” It is as though He was telling her: why have you come here so early?! 17 Homilies on St John, 86;1 18 Hom 25. Forty Gospel Homilies.PL 76:1189 https://coptic-treasures.com/ Her behavior was previously reported symbolically by Joseph in the Old Testament. He had acted as a foreign person towards his brothers before revealing himself to them (Gen 44, 45). The Lord was reprimanding her: “Why are you weeping? I am risen! Whom are seeking? I am here before you! My resurrection is the answer to all your questions, and it fulfills all your needs.” Her answer implied the following: ‘Why do you blame me for my many tears? Why do you ask about whom I am seeking? You know the reason for my tears and the purpose of my search.’ As she thought Him to be the gardener, she begged Him to tell her where she could find Him if he had carried the Lord away to another place. She probably believed that as a gardener he did not want the body of a person, who had been rejected and crucified by society, to be placed in the new graves prepared for his employer and masters. Therefore he had carried Him elsewhere. She asked to take the Body and she would find another tomb where to lay Him. Her love led her to forget the weight she would have to carry in order to move the Body and find an appropriate burial place. * Again, Mary Magdalene spoke about the Body as though she was speaking about a dead body that was laid down or carried far away. Her words implied: ‘If you have carried Him away because you feared the Jews, inform me, and I will take the Body.’ Her feminine tenderness and spontaneous love were so great! However, she lacked a sublime. vision. Therefore He gave her the message through the sound (of His voice) and not through vision19. St. John Chrysostom * The Lord asked her about the reason for her sorrow in order to augment her yearning. He asked the woman who was searching to see, in order to inspire in her a stronger charge of feelings and love towards Him20. Pope Gregory the Great Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). [16] She searched for Him zealously and lovingly. This qualified her to be the first to hear His joyful voice. The Lord Jesus Christ was pleased to grant her the joy of His resurrection. Consequently, He intended her to testify and preach the Gospel of His resurrection. He spoke to her in the loving tone with which she was familiar, and not in the manner of a gardener watching over the garden. She heard her name uttered through His lips and so she recognized Him. This conforms with what the Lord had said about His sheep who know His voice (John 10:4). One word sufficed and it was the Lord calling her by her name. The church accordingly says: ‘The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, leaping upon the mountains...’ (Song of Solomon 2:8). She said to Him, ‘ Rabboni.’ This is a title that carries an honor that is greater than that of ‘Rabbi.’ It conveys the meaning of ‘My greatly honored teacher.’ 19 Homilies on St John,, 86:1 20 Hom 25. Forty Gospel Homilies, PL 76:1189 https://coptic-treasures.com/ * Until the moment when the Lord called her by her name, and had appeared to her, she still believed that He had died and asked where He had been laid. He called her by her name and seemed to be telling her: ‘May you know the One who knows you.’ As soon as she was called by her name, Mary Magdalene recognized her Creator. He was the One she was seeking beyond herself, whereas He was teaching her to seek Him inside her21. St. Gregory the Great * The reason for her sorrow was that she did not know where to go to comfort herself. However, the time had come when the two angels would announce to her what would transform, to some extent, her sorrow into joy. They asked her not to weep22. * When she turned around (to look behind her) she thought Him to be someone else (15). However, when she let her heart guide her, she recognized Him for who He really was23. St. Augustine 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.”[17] Mary Magdalene did as she was commanded, and went and informed the disciples that she had seen the Lord. She confirmed her experience of having met the Lord who had risen from the dead. To confirm His resurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ allowed His disciples to touch the places where the nails and wounds had been. He also allowed the women to touch His feet and worship Him (Matt 28:9). As for Mary Magdalene, the Lord asked her not to touch Him with her hands for He wanted her to reach out to Him with her heart. Probably the reason for that was that He knew she would imagine that He had risen and would live with them on earth just as Lazarus had done. The Lord wanted her to preach His resurrection and ascension into heaven He did not arise in order to establish an earthly kingdom. He arose in order to ascend and establish His kingdom in our hearts. The Lord had prepared the minds of His disciples earlier, and had told them about His crucifixion and ascension into the heavens. Therefore He did not want the joy of His resurrection to be transformed into a yearning for Him to stay with them on earth. Leon Morris explains that the word ‘touch’ in Greek implies the meaning of ‘do not continue to touch’ and not ‘do not start with touching.’ The Lord wanted her to stop touching and it is as though He allowed her to touch Him only for a moment. He wanted to assure her that He had risen with a new life and this shared nothing in common with the old life He had left on earth. Having this new life, He would grant the faithful believers this renewal in the final great 21 Hom 25. Forty Gospel Homilies, 193 22 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate 121:1 23 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate 121:2 https://coptic-treasures.com/ day of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:51-53). Once again, as Mary Magdalene experienced His resurrection, He confirms to her that He has not ascended yet to heaven. The time had come to preach the resurrection and to prepare the minds for the ascension. There was no time for temporal relationships or for His physical presence among them. There was no time to speak with Him. The Lord had to fulfill His mission, and it was time to preach the joyful news. Although He had risen and had proclaimed His ascension, yet He was not embarrassed to call His disciples as His ‘brothers.’ The Lord sent a message to His disciples through Mary Magdalene. They had deserted Him when He was arrested; and they did not accompany Him to the cross. He did not tell them one word of reproach. It was as though the message He sent was telling them, ‘I forgive and forget, and I do not reproach!’ The Lord sent the message with Mary Magdalene from whom He had cast out seven devils. She was the one who would preach the glad news of the resurrection to the disciples. In His message to them, the Lord proclaimed His yearning for unity. Their union with Him was His desire. Consequently they would be adopted sons of God and God would be their Father. The Lord Himself would be united with them for the Father would be His God, and the Lord would be the Son of Man who is a representative of all mankind. However, the Lord makes a distinction between His status as the true and eternal Son and their status as children by adoption; since He does not say: ‘our Father and our God’, Although John and Peter left Mary Magdalene alone in the garden, looking for the Lord and weeping, she ran back to the disciples as soon as she met Him. She returned to preach all the things she had seen, heard and found. She had found the Messiah, the Savior of the world who would prepare them to ascend with their hearts into the Father’s embrace. Saint Jerome responds to the question raised by Marcella about the harmony between the words in John 20:16 ‘Do not cling to Me..’ and the words in Matt 28:9, .’..they came and held Him by the feet and worshipped Him’ ( Mat 28:9). St. Jerome says that in the first case Mary Magdalene failed to recognize the divinity of the Lord. In the second case, the women recognized Him, and therefore were granted the privilege which Mary Magdalene was denied at first24. * In other words: ‘you are not qualified to touch the One risen from the dead and whom you imagine is still in the grave.’25 St. Jerome * The Lord Jesus Christ taught this woman a lesson after which she knew that He was the Master. That was how she had called Him in her response to Him. That gardener was planting in 24 Letter,59, Question 4 25 Letter 39:6 https://coptic-treasures.com/ her heart the mustard seed just as He would have planted it in His garden. So what did He intend to convey when He told her: “Do not cling to Me”? He also added- as though the reason for that needed an explanation, ‘for I have not yet ascended to My Father.’ What does this mean? If human beings cannot touch Him while He stands on this earth, then how could we touch Him when He is seated in heaven? He surely came before His ascension, to His disciples, so they could touch Him (Luke 24:29).. This woman symbolizes the gentile church who did not believe in Him except after His actual ascension to the Father. In this manner the Lord intends the Gentiles to believe in Him. They need to cling to Him spiritually as He and the Father are One.. * It was appropriate that Mary Magdalene was forbidden to touch the Lord who said: ‘Do not cling to Me..’ because she still did not believe that He was equal to the Father. It conveyed to her that she could not go on having faith based on her current concept. He seemed to be telling her: ‘Do not let your thoughts wander away from all what I have gone through for your sake and without transcending and comprehending that which goes beyond your present condition…you will cling to Me when you believe that I am God and am in no way unequal to the Fathe26r. St. Augustine * We believe that this woman wanted to resume her friendship with the Lord Jesus Christ and accompany Him as she had done before. She was so overjoyed that she did not comprehend the huge event. Even though He still carried the same Body, yet He was in a far more glorious state. By forbidding her, the Lord lifted her thoughts so that she would see Him in greater awe and reverence. The words ‘do not cling Me’ actually meant: ‘Do not approach Me in the manner you did previously.’ * Whereas we saw the Lord all alone at His crucifixion, we do not see Him in that state afterwards. Indeed, He appears among His brothers. On the day of His resurrection, He offered the joyful message: .’.go to My brethren and say to them; I am ascending to My Father and your Father’ (John 20:17). We hear Him talk to His disciples as His brothers on the day of His glorious resurrection after He had gone through His suffering. As we become sanctified through His redeeming act (the pains of the cross), He not only bears no grudge or embarrassment but also feels greatly pleased to call them His ‘brothers’, (Heb 2:11-12). * The bridegroom says: ‘If you desire to open the door of your soul so that the king of glory enters in, then you need to have a sense of yearning in your soul. As the Evangelist reports: ‘for whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother’ (Matt 12:50). It is appropriate that you draw near to the Truth, and to become His partner so that you are never separated from Him. St. Gregory, Bishop of Nicea * “Go to My brethren and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father.” Although His ascension was not going to occur immediately, and would happen after forty days, why did the Lord say these words? He desired to raise their thoughts and motivate them to comprehend that He was leaving this world and going to heaven27. St. John Chrysostom 26 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate 121:3 27 Homilies on St John, 86:2 https://coptic-treasures.com/ * When the Lord would go( to the Father), He would be carrying His victory and conquest in His Body, resurrected from the dead…then some of the hosts would inquire: “who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, this One who is glorious in His apparel?” (Is 63:1). And those in His company would answer the guards at the doors of heaven saying: “Lift up your heads, O you gates!…and the king of glory shall come in” (Ps 24:7). As they would need more explanation, and when they will see traces of blood on His side and all the wounds on His Body, they will ask: ‘why is Your apparel red, and Your garments like one who treads in the winepress?’ And His answer is: ‘I have trodden them and trampled them..” (Is 63:2-3)28. Origen the Scholar * The Lord asked May Magdalene not to touch Him as He had not yet ascended. He would prepare glorious things and then she could touch Him after His ascension when she would be able to comprehend matters which hands cannot grasp, and have a vision of things not found here below. The Lord probably intended to inform her by asking her not to touch Him, that she should not consider Him to be just a human being; but that He is the Holy One. He wanted to lead her to ‘lift up your heart and thoughts to heaven and seek for Me there. I am going to ascend to the Father whom I have never left and have never become separated from Him. I will raise you and carry you up to My throne!’ The reason why He should not be touched is stated: ‘… for I have not yet ascended to My Father ...” The heart that does not believe in the equality of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Father would maintain that the Lord has not yet ascended to the Father. But a person who believes in his heart that the Lord is one with the Father since the beginning of times is uniquely enabled to touch Him... Because I have become incarnated, then He is My God. Because you have been liberated from sin, He is become your God. He is My Father and God in a manner that is distinct and different from yours for He gave birth to Me as a God before the beginning of the creation but became created as a man in the fullness of time29. Pope Gregory the Great * It is vital to avoid thinking naively or rashly and tenaciously, that the Lord’s words, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father’ indicate a person’s equality in honor with the righteous. Therefore it is important to make a distinction: the name ‘Father’ refers to One- that is- ‘He is the Father to one Son.’ Concerning His role, it is a multiple one as He ‘he calls sons through the adoption of many’: Because the Lord Jesus Christ Himself knew that, He who is without sin, has said: ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father.’ He did not say: ‘Our Father’ for He distinguished between the two. He first said what applies to Him: ‘I am ascending to My Father’ which is the natural relation. And then He added .’.. and your Father’ that is the result of adoption. For however great is the privilege we have received when we pray ‘Our Father who is in heaven’; yet this is a gift we have received due to God’s merciful love. We call Him Father because we have been transferred from slavery to adopted children, and not because we have been born naturally from 28 Commentary on John, Book 6:2888-289 29 Hom 25. Forty Gospel Homilies, 193-195 https://coptic-treasures.com/ our heavenly Father. By the grace of the Father, through the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we have been allowed to say these words. It is due to God’s love and His unspeakable mercy30. * To prevent the thought that in some way He is Father of the Son as well as of all creation, the Lord Jesus Christ made the following distinction: He said “ My Father and your Father’, which is to say: ‘He is my Father by nature, and your Father through adoption.’ He did not say: ‘I am ascending to our Father’, otherwise all creation would be a partner with the only Son (based on His earthly status)31. St. Cyril of Jerusalem * If you are seeking Him among the earthly creatures, just as Mary Magdalene was doing, then be careful or He will tell you the words He told Mary: ‘ Do not cling to Me for I have not yet ascended to My Father.’ Your doors are narrow and cannot be lifted up and you are therefore unable to enter in. Go on the way to my brothers, that is to the eternal doors through which you will see the Lord Jesus Christ ascending... The doors of the church are eternal. The prophet yearned for them and proclaimed within its doors the praises of the Lord in these words: “that I may tell of all your praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion” (Ps 9:14)32. * The Son of God reveals the difference between birth and grace when He says: ‘I have not yet ascended to My Father… I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ He does not say: “I have not ascended to our Father and our God”; and this distinction marks the difference because the One who is the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ is at the same time our Creator33. * The Lord’s purpose in being incarnated is to prepare for us the path to heaven34. * The Lord actually told May Magdalene: ‘Do not cling to Me.’ However, the wholly pure One did not say: “because I am pure.” So do you dare to claim, O Novatian, and say that you are pure? In fact, by claiming this, you will be considered impure even if your deeds were pure35. St. Ambrose * The Lord Jesus Christ was about to sit on His Father’s throne, while everyone else remains standing. Even though He became our brother according to the flesh, yet He possesses honor that is wholly different than ours, and to a degree that is impossible to express36. St. John Chrysostom Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, And that He had spoken these things to her. [18] Observe how the sin of the human race fell way just in the same manner when it was initiated. 30 Essay 7:7 31 Essay 11:19 32 On the Christian Faith, Book 4:2:25-26 33 On the Christian Faith, Book 1:14:90 34 On the Christian Faith, Book 3:7: 50 35 Concerning Repentance:1:8:38 36 Homilies on St John, 86:2 https://coptic-treasures.com/ In paradise, the woman was the cause of man’s death (Gen 3:6). Now, a woman leaves the tomb to proclaim life for mankind. Mary recounted the words of the One who restored her life to her; and it was a woman who had recounted the words of the snake and which led to death. It seems that the Lord was telling the human race through deeds and not through words: ‘Receive the source of life from the hand that had offered the death potion37. St. Gregory the Great 2- The Lord’s Meeting with His disciples on Sunday Evening Then, 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.” [19] We do not hear that the Jews wanted to attack the disciples at that time. It is the weak faith of the disciples that led them to think that their turn would come after the Jews had crucified and buried the Lord. Indeed, no one had touched them since the Jews had been told: “let these go their way” (John 18:8). The goal of the leaders was to get hold of Jesus Himself. Therefore acting against the disciples was useless once Jesus had died in disgrace on the cross and was no longer present. So they considered the matter of the disciples of little importance. The Lord’s appearance in the midst of the disciples while the doors were closed was not a miraculous event. This is the nature of the body resurrected from the dead. Matter cannot hinder or obstruct it. The Lord wanted to confirm that He had risen with the same body. However, it was a glorified body. His resurrection did not mean that He had returned to a normal life on earth. Conversely, it proclaimed the uplifting of believers and ascending while carrying them into the Father’s embrace. The word’ doors’ in the plural form occurs only in the Gospel of St. John. The upper room probably had more than one door, or he could have meant that the front door of the house as well as the door of the upper room was both locked. As the disciples were greatly frightened, they were not content to close the front door only. In the other Gospels, the evangelists underlined how the disciples lived in fear immediately after the resurrection. It was not an easy thing for them to see the One, who had died and had been buried, still alive and appearing to them. Here, however, St. John the evangelist reveals another reason for their fear, and that is ‘the Jews.’ The disciples felt that their lives were exposed to real danger even after the Lord’s resurrection. They feared they would be accused of having stolen the Body. The Lord appeared on the first Christian Sabbath in order to bless and sanctify that day. The disciples had probably met in order to pray and worship. They might have wanted to discuss the current events of that day. The women, Peter, and John had confirmed that the tomb was empty. Mary Magdalene recounted her meeting with the Lord and reported the message He had 37 Hom 25. Forty Gospel Homilies, 195 https://coptic-treasures.com/ entrusted her to deliver. He had also appeared to the women on that day (Matt 28:9). He had also appeared to the two disciples on the way of Emaus. He had conversed with them, opened their minds, and inflamed their hearts with love ( Luke 24:13), etc... They had probably met to pray as they feared they would be arrested, The Jews claimed that the Lord’s disciples had gone at night and stolen the Body. Anyhow, the disciples knew how to gather and pray in moments of stress. The Lord’s words: “Peace be with you” were not mere words uttered as a usual form of greeting exchanged among friends. Indeed, these words were a form of unusual blessing that carried power and offered the fruit of the resurrection: inner peace with God, peace for man with himself, peace in the Lord Jesus Christ. A peace unlike the fake peace of the world. The Lord Himself is chaste. His mother is a virgin as well. Indeed, although a mother, she remained a virgin for the Lord had entered while the doors were closed. In His grave, a new tomb had been cut out of an extremely solid rock. No one had been laid there before or after Him (John 19:41). St. Mary is a closed paradise… ‘A sealed source’ (Song of Solomon 4:12). According to Joel (3:18) the waters of the river flow from this source38. St. Jerome * Truly, the Lord was able to enter through the doors without opening them. He is the One who was born and yet the virginity of His mother remained untouched39. St. Augustine * The disciples had gathered behind closed doors due to their fear of the Jews (John 20:19). When a person remains in the city of revelation, feeling secure, and overcome by holy meditation- while in fear of evil spirits, and enclosing his senses, that person welcomes the word of God. Then it is revealed to him in a mysterious manner rather than through the senses. It proclaims peace to him, while granting calmness and freedom from lusts…as he inhales this breeze, it grants him the many gifts of the Holy Spirit and the power over evil spirits, while revealing to him the marks and concepts of the divine mysteries. St. Mark the Ascetic And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. [20] By entering while the doors were close, the Lord Jesus Christ confirmed to the disciples that His resurrected Body had a new nature. At the same time, He confirmed that it was the same body since it bore the same wounds of the cross. However, this was a glorified body. The resurrected Lord spoke through His mouth. He granted them a new and sublime peace. He spoke as He carried His wounds in His hands and feet. Therefore He granted them a unique joy by His presence among them. He showed them His hands and side to assure them that He is the same Jesus who was crucified in the same body. The traces of His wounds were a 38 Letter 48:21 39 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate 121:4 https://coptic-treasures.com/ living testimony of His resurrection. These wounds will continue to be a source of joy and glory until the end of time. They will remain to be a sign of the amazing divine love that is endless and that seeks the salvation of mankind. He had placed a cover shield on the brilliant glory of His resurrected Body so that they could look at Him and speak to Him. The Lord Jesus Christ continues to spread His hands and expose His side. He embraces us with His love and satisfies our thirst from the source of His amazing blood. Consequently, we learn that since He is living then we are alive through His cross. Death will not be able to destroy us. The wounds of His cross are the language of a love that can tear away our fear of this world. A language of love that grants us a sublime inner joy. He always grants us insight through the wounds of His cross. We eventually realize that we not only enjoy depth of vision but that we also enjoy His presence among us. * Certainly the form of the bodies resurrected from the dead will be in the same state as now, however they will attain a sublime glory. After the Lord’s descent into Hades, He had the same body which had been crucified. He showed the disciples the marks of the nails in His hands and the wound in His side. If we deny the condition of His body because of the manner he entered the room though the doors were closed- and this is not a feature of human bodies- then we need to remember, as well, that Peter and the Lord Jesus Christ each possessed two real bodies since they walked on the water. This too contradicts nature (Matt 22:30)40. St. Jerome What are the features of a body resurrected from the dead? A resurrected body is comparable to the body of the Lord Jesus Christ after His resurrection. With this body, He came out of the tomb while the sealed stone was still placed there; and He entered the upper room while the doors were closed (John 20; 19-20). He soars over time and place, as well as over physical boundaries and obstacles. It is an ideal body that collaborates with the soul so that it enables man to progress towards the Lord. Such a glorious fellowship, coupled with vision and meeting face to face is ultimately achieved. This does not mean that it is a different body than the one we now have. It is the same identical body we have now dressed in incorruption (1 Cor 15:53) St. Augustine deals cautiously with this problem of ‘the nature of the resurrected body’ and says: (At any rate, whatever the nature of the spiritual body is, and however great is its blessing, yet I fear to speak about it. This is because we still have no experience related to the reality of this subject)41. The resurrected body possess these characteristics: 1- After the resurrection, the human body becomes spiritual. However, it is recognizable and can be distinguished from other bodies. The saint clarified the expression of ‘the heavenly 40 Against Jovinianus, 1:36 41 De civite, Dei, 22:21 https://coptic-treasures.com/ body’ does not mean the denial of the real bodily nature that the spiritual body possess42 (The spiritual body does not imply that it is no longer a body. Rather, just as “the living body” implies “life”… “the spiritual body” implies a body that obeys the spirit)43. 2- It is the same body as ours, yet it will be wholly transformed into incorruption. The resurrected body will not possess the imperfections or defects of our bodies as (it will be transformed wholly into something far better at the moment of the resurrection44). 3- The wounds of martyrdom will leave their marks on His body. They will not appear as defects but as clear marks revealing the mystery of great love the martyrs bore for Jesus Christ. These will convey honor, and glory and will not appear as imperfections or defects in the body45. 4- The resurrected body will be a glorified one that resembles the body of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. 5- (It is possible and reasonable to believe that we shall see the new heaven and the new earth. In this manner, we shall see God more vividly wherever we turn our eyes. He will be present everywhere as He rules the whole universe46.) 6- We are introduced to the concept of the spiritual body as a factor that will no longer preoccupy us from meditating on God. It will no longer be a stumbling block for the soul as it will submit to it. According to St Augustine, this will be a vital issue as there will no longer be a conflict between the spirit and the body. Indeed, the resurrected body will interact with the spirit – [the same body that troubles us and makes us continue to sin, will submit to us in the resurrection. It will no longer trouble us with the obstacles it puts in our way as we seek to study God’s divine laws and commandments47]. In his book ‘The Holy City of God’, St Augustine explains this concept in great depth and says: [The spiritual body will submit to the spirit, yet it will remain a body and not a spirit. Just as in this life the earthly spirit submits to the body yet it continues to be a spirit and is not a body48]. Instead of there being a conflict between the soul and the body, there will be a complete union within one spiritual nature, where the body will not rebel against the spirit. St Augustine explains: [Why do we speak of a spiritual body, O dearly beloved, except that it does not fail to submit to the spirit? Nothing will remain in you that struggles or rebels against you. There will no longer be reason to lament as the apostle does when he says: “The flesh lusts against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh,” (Gal 5:17)49]. 42 Retractiones 2:3 43 Sermon 242:8:11 44 De doctrina Christina, 1:19:18 45 City og God 2:19 46 De Civil. Dei, 22:229:3 cf. De Gen ad Lit. 12:35 47 To Fortunastus 22 48 De Civit. Dei, 22:21 49 Sermon, 242:8 https://coptic-treasures.com/ * The outer features of this world will pass away- that is, all the consequences of the fall will end. This will not involve the destruction of the essence or composition of the creation; but just the outer form of the world that will pass away. Then man will be renewed and flourish in the incorrupt form and origin of life. It will no longer be possible to grow old, for there will be ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ (Rev 21:1).In this new heaven and earth, man will live in a state of constant renewal and he will be engaged in an eternal dialogue with God50. St Iraneous * The Lord arose with the same body He had at His burial. As Christians, we have been given the promise of the resurrection, and we look forward to experience a resurrection similar to that of the Lord’s. He has risen before any of us came into the faith so that His resurrection becomes the basis of our belief. But why? Is it so that we are no longer the same, after the resurrection, as we are now? The Lord Jesus Christ arose and ascended into the heavens with His body. When He lived on earth, His body possessed all its human functions. Therefore this proves that the body that was buried is the same that arose. But will there be a need for food in heaven? We have read that angels had appeared on earth in the form of men (Gen 18). They visited Abraham and ate with him. An angel appeared to Tobias and also ate with him. Do we suppose that they seemed to eat but did not do so actually? Is it not a fact that Abraham indeed killed a calf, baked bread, and laid it on the table? Did he not offer food to the angels and they ate?! (Gen 18:1-9)51. St Augustine * God, who is loving and merciful, has released the body from its imprisonment, and has liberated it from the slavery of destruction. A slavery that is deadly and bitter. He has granted the body immortality in the eternal life. In this manner, He has granted the human body the gift of holy eternity, making it immortal and alive for ever52. St Clemet of Alexandria Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father sent Me, I also send you.” [21] The Lord repeated and confirmed His gift, “Peace to you” [21]. Through this gift, the disciples would therefore become qualified for the heavenly mission. They would preach, with authority from above, the news of the joyful resurrection. They would act as ambassadors of inward peace for they would become members in the risen body of Christ. The Head would work in them so that they would witness to the world concerning the risen life which they practice through the Holy Spirit. *This is what the Lord had said before His crucifixion, “…I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one can take away from you,” (16:22). These words were now being fulfilled in a practical manner. It led the disciples now to have true faith…these were the Lord’s first words after His resurrection53. St John Chrysostom 50 K Ware: the Orthodox Way :SVSP., p182 51 Sermon 242:8 52 Pedagogus 3:1 53 Homilies on St John, 86:2 https://coptic-treasures.com/ And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” [22] The Lord granted the disciples the Holy Spirit for the first time on the eve of the first day of His resurrection... It was the culmination of a series of events that had started at dawn. This preceded the Pentecost and it has led many to question the difference between the granting of the Holy Spirit in this passage and the event that took place on the day of the Pentecost. In the Holy Bible, the verb ‘breathed’ or ‘emphyso’ has been rarely used. However, it is used in the Book of Genesis where it carries much weight. We read at first that ‘the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters’; then we read that God ‘breathed into (man’s) nostrils the breath of life’, and man became a living soul; (Gen 2:7). In the Book of Ezekial, we are told that when the bones of the dead came together, the Spirit breathed into them and granted them life (Ezk 37:9). From the above, we understand that a new creation is born and inaugurated through the breath of the Holy Spirit which was granted to the disciples. It is possible to describe the work of the Holy Spirit as a mission with the objective of leading the disciples to work by the Holy Spirit in order that the world might enjoy the new creation of the resurrected life. He granted them the breath of the Holy Spirit to empower them to carry out the ministry and service of their mission. Thousands of years earlier, God had breathed into the earth and had created Adam into a living being. Now He breathed into the disciples’ faces in order to raise in them the new being; and so that they would be blessed by the gift of the active Spirit working within and through them. Fr Maximmus the Confessor comments as follows: [ Since we have been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit (in other words, we have participated in His death and resurrection), we have been granted our first liberation from the corrupt flesh in the name of the Lord and through His Spirit. However, we look forward to the final liberation…as spiritual beings]. * We know that it is possible to be baptized only in the Church and at the hands of priests. The Church is established upon evangelical principles; and her priests are ordained in the Lord Jesus Christ and authorized to baptize and grant absolution for our sins. Without them it would be impossible to absolve or retain sins since there would be no one to determine such issues54. * The Lord gave the disciples the power to forgive sins. He also gave that power to the Churches where He had sent the disciples to lay down the foundations; and to the bishops whom they had ordained and who had succeeded them55. Caprianus the Martyr * Notice that sins are absolved through the Holy Spirit. As for human beings, they undertake this function as they fulfill the service of absolving sins. They do not claim that they are entitled to do so due to some kind of authority they personally possess. In fact they forgive sins in the name 54 Letter 73 to Jubauan: 7 55 Firmilian to Cyprian: Letter 75:16 (on 256 AD) https://coptic-treasures.com/ of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and not in their own name. Man prays the Divine One to grant forgiveness; for man performs the service, but the Almighty grants the blessing56. St Ambrose * Why were the disciples granted the Holy Spirit on earth at first, and then later as tongues of fire descending from heaven? Because there are two commandments for love: loving God and loving our brothers. The gift of the Holy Spirit on earth promotes love for our brothers, while the gift coming from heaven promotes love for God Just as there is one love and two commandments, so there is one Spirit and two gifts or blessings. The first blessing is the one the Lord granted when He lived on earth. The second one when He went to heaven. By loving our brothers we learn how to develop our love for God. It is true that the one Holy Spirit had lived in the hearts of the disciples from a very early stage in order to grant them faith; however, the gift was not fully or clearly granted except after the resurrection. This explains why it is written, ‘…for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified,’ (Jn 7:39). It is important to realize that those who possessed the Holy Spirit acknowledged and proclaimed Him publicly only after the Lord’s resurrection. They did so not only to support the small number of believers but for the sake of many others57. Pope Gregory the Great “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; And if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” [23] The Lord Jesus Christ forgives sins (and also expels demons) through His Holy Spirit. This is clear in His words to His disciples after the resurrection, “Receive the Holy Spirit..,”, and then went on to say, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; and if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” [22-23] * The task of the priest is to grant the Holy Spirit, to exercise his right to forgive - through the Holy Spirit- and to retain sins58. St Ambrose * As a King, the Lord sent the disciples to be rulers, and He granted them the power to be thrown into prison and to come out from there. He assigned that same power to them and that was how He sent them out59. St John Chrysostom 56 Of the Holy Spirit, Book 3:18:137 57 Hom. 25. Forty Gospel Homilies 58 Concerning Repentance,1:2:8 59 Homilies on St John, 86:3 https://coptic-treasures.com/ Pope Gregory the Great warns against the abuse of such authority. This could occur if a person is driven by personal whims and not according to the nature of the One to whom they are subject. In such a case, the following words would be pertinent,’…to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live…’ (Ezk 13:19)60. But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, Was not with them when Jesus came. [24] Thomas was characterized by his frankness. His decision was very clear when he stated that he would not believe unless he saw the hands of the Lord and the traces of the nails, and unless he touched the marks of the nails and put his hand in the Lord’s side, [25]. This happened during the first day and events reached their peak as the Lord continued to appear. His object was to attract this world and call everyone to enjoy the experience of the resurrection. The absence of Thomas from the meeting of the disciples deprived him from the golden opportunity of seeing the Lord, hearing His words, and receiving His blessing. He might have been unable to attend – due to a health problem for example- yet what excuse could he have for refusing the testimony of his brothers who told him they had seen the Lord? * We have a reason for celebrating the holy liturgy at the beginning of the week on Sundays. Moreover we stand up for we have risen with the Lord, and pray for heavenly matters as we reach out to Him. We observe all this as we consider that this day represents a picture of the age to come. Therefore we consider that this is the beginning of the days of the week and we call it day one and not the first day. Moses accordingly repeats these words in the Book of Genesis: ‘So the evening, and the morning were … ’ St Basil the Great * That past Sunday (the day of the Passover) was the Sunday of salvation. But this Sundaywhich comes eight days later, and which we call the Sunday of Thomas- is the commemoration and confirmation of Salvation. The former was the Sunday that stands in between the grave and the resurrection; while the latter one (Sunday of Thomas) is the day God spends to create. Just as He had begun the first creation on day one, He also began His second creation on that same day which is at the same time day one-in relation to the days following it; and day eight – in relation to the days that follow it....and the day He returns to live in heaven. St Gregory of Nazianzen The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord,” But he said to them, “Except I see in His hands the print of the nails, And thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe.” [25] That is how the Evangelist reports to us the event of the first day of the Lord’s resurrection, which is also the eighth day of the disciples’ deep sense of loneliness and loss. The 60 cf. Hom 25. Forty Gospel Homilies, 205 https://coptic-treasures.com/ Lord appears to them in a similar way on both days. Then the Evangelist draws our attention to the Lord’s wounds so that we might all shout and say with Thomas, “My Lord and my God!” * Thomas disbelieved the disciples when they told him, “we have seen the Lord.” This was not because he mistrusted them. Neither did he discount their testimony or believe that the resurrection was impossible, for he did not say, ‘I do not believe you.’ His words were, ““Except I see in His hands the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe”61. St John Chrysostom 5- The Lord’s Meeting with the Disciples on the Following Sunday And after eight days again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them, Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, And stood in the midst, and said: “Peace be unto You.” [26] In the first century, it was usual in Palestine to include the first and last day when specific of a specific period of time. Therefore, the words ‘after eight days’ would convey to us the eighth day, or after the seventh day...which would be the first Sunday after the Lord’s resurrection. That was when the Lord revealed Himself to Thomas… the eighth day being as reference to the age and life to come. The Evangelist reports another meeting with the disciples while the doors were closed. He had not met with them as a group throughout the week- between Monday and Saturday- in order to confirm that He would no longer accompany them as He used to do before His crucifixion. The time had come to prepare them for His ascension. After the resurrection, His natural place- as the Son of Man resurrected from the dead- was in the heavens. At the start of His ministry, the Lord had disappeared for forty days when Satan had tempted Him (Matt 4:1-3). He wanted to confirm to His disciples that He had come to fight on their behalf, and to offer them His victory. Now He would remain forty days hidden from them, and meeting them only intermittently, to confirm the glory prepared for them by His ascension into the heavens. The disciples used to meet together weekly on the day of the Lord which was the Christian Sabbath day. He appeared to them on that day to confirm His promise- that where two or three are gathered in His name He would be in their midst- in a tangible manner. Thomas made sure he would be present as he was eagerly expecting the Lord to appear to the disciples. * If you were to say: ‘Why did Jesus not appear to Thomas immediately, and did so only after eight days?’ Our answer would be, ‘So that the disciples would inform Thomas and he so that his heart would be more eager. Besides, he would become a stronger and more willing believer as a result62. St John Chrysostom 61 Homilies on St John, 87:2 62 Homilies on St John, 87:1 https://coptic-treasures.com/ * Is it astonishing that the Holy One, Who- being resurrected and on His way to eternal lifewould make His entrance through closed doors? He is the One who had come out of the sealed womb of the Virgin in order to die on earth. He appeared to His disciples immediately after His death to reveal that His body is incorruptible and materially real. He confirmed that His body, after the resurrection is made of the same nature as our bodies, yet different in its aspect of glory63. Pope Gregory the Great 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.” [27] *Note the Lord’s compassion! For the sake of one soul, He revealed Himself carrying His wounds. He came to save each one personally. St John Chrysostom * After the resurrection, we will possess the same body, blood, and bones. What will be judgedaccording to the Holy Bible- will be our deeds and not the physical nature of these elements64. St Jerome And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God.” [28] Thomas was not a doubting person to the degree he believed himself to be. As soon as he saw the Lord Jesus Christ standing before him and as soon as he heard His voice, he no longer felt the need to touch the wounds of His Master. He immediately proclaimed Him and cried out, “My Lord and my God.” Probably, just the sight of His Lord made him withdraw what he had told the disciples – that unless he touched the Lord’s wounds, he would not believe- and now he declared to the whole world what he felt in his heart. The Lord what Thomas had said without being informed by anyone. Opinions differ, and some scholars believe that Thomas declared his faith without touching the Lord’s wounds. Others believe that he actually declared his faith but obeyed the Lord and touched His wounds, even though he no longer needed to do so in order to believe. * He saw the Lord’s Body and touched Him; and he comprehended His Divinity that can neither be seen nor touched65. St Augustine * Just as the Father is God and the Son is Lord; so also the Son is God and the Father is Lord66. St Ambrose 63 Hom. 25. Forty Gospel Homilies, 201 64 To Pammachius Against John of Jerusalem, 28 65 St Augustine: On the Gospel of St John, tractate 121:5 66 Of the Holy Spirit, Book 3:15:108 https://coptic-treasures.com/ Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” [29 The Lord did not tell him, ‘You have believed because you have touched My wounds.’ Rather, He said, “because you have seen Me.” Seeing the Lord led him to have faith. * The Lord, Who has the power to arise without any traces of wounds, retained them so that the doubting disciple could touch them. This would heal his wounded heart67. * When the doubting disciple touched the wounds in His Master’s Body, the wounds inflicted by his unbelief were healed. The lack of faith displayed by Thomas was more beneficial to our faith than to the believing disciples. When Thomas regained faith by touching the Lord, our minds were released of all doubt, and have become steadfast in the faith68. Pope Gregory the Great * The Lord knew how much the disciples’ hearts were hurting. In order to heal them, He retained the traces of the wounds in His Body69. * It is possible to confirm that the disciple did not dare to touch the Lord when He asked Thomas to do so as it is not reported that ‘Thomas touched Him.’ However, whether Thomas believed by only seeing Him, or by touching Him as well, he surely saw and believed. What the Lord declared was a reference to what would happen concerning the faith of the Gentiles: “Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have believed.” St Augustine 1- The Aim of the Gospel And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, Which are not written in this book.’ [30] The Evangelist reveals the aim of writing this Gospel. It is not intended to present a full documentation of the life, work, and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. St Joh knew a lot which he did not record as his aim was to get every reader to enjoy the living faith and not just to believe. Living faith provides real knowledge which leads to eternal life. But these are written, That you may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, And that believing you may have life in His name. [31] Believing in Christ as the Messiah and Son of God does not leave a person unchanged and in the same status. This faith leads the believer to enjoy eternal life, rejoice in the Lord’s name and in His person as He is life itself. 67 Sermon on N.T. Lessons, 48:1 68 Hom. 25. Forty Gospel Homilies, 206-207 69 Sermon on N.T. Lessons, 38:2 https://coptic-treasures.com/ * ‘… in His name’ or through His name, for He is life70. St John Chrysostom The Events related to the Day of the Lord’s Resurrection71 Many scholars have attempted to provide a sequence of events for this amazing first day of the Lord’s resurrection. They based their attempts on the writings of the holy Gospels. Wescott has put them in the following order: Saturday * Before 6 a.m., Mary Magdelene, and Mary the mother of James, went to the tomb (Matt 28:1) * Later on, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of Jacob, and Salome prepared the spices and oils (Mk 1:16) Sunday * The resurrection occurred early in the morning, and it was followed by an Earthquake and the angel came and opened the tomb (Matt 28:2-4). * Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Salome, and probably some other women went to the tomb at dawn. Mary Magdalene headed to the tomb immediately, and returned with Peter and John (Jn 30:1). * The other women arrived there by sunrise (Mk 16:2). They saw an angel, and received a message for the disciples (Matt28:5 etc; Mk 16:5etc…) * Other women came later on while it was still early in the morning, among them was Joanna (LK24:1 etc). Two angels, who appeared as two young men, appeared to them (Lk 24:4 etc…). * Peter and John came to tomb (Jn20:3-10). Mary Magdalene saw two angels (Jn 20:11-13). Other women told the news to the disciples (Lk 24:10 etc…). * The Lord appeared to Mary Magdalene (Jn20:14-18; Mk16:9). * The Lord appeared to other women on their way home and as they were returning from their visit to the home (Matt28:9 etc…). * The Lord appeared to two disciples on their way to Emmaus (Lk 13:24 etc…) * He appeared to Peter later on in the evening (Lk24:34; 1 Cor 15:5). *He appeared to the twelve while they were gathered with others (Lk 24:36; Jn 20:19). End of Chapter 20 +++ MEDITATIONS INSPIRED BY THE GOSPEL OF ST JOHN, CHAPTER 20 + YOUR TOMB COULD NOT IMPRISON YOU WITHIN IT! + 70 Hom. 87. PG 59:521 71 B.F. Wescott: (Cf. Leon Morris, p. 696) https://coptic-treasures.com/ * On the new Saturday, I hurry to your tomb at dawn Your tomb could not imprison You within it! For you will not rest, Until You soar and enter my heart. You arose while the stone and seal were still on the tomb So that You might enter into my depths And place upon them the seal of the first born. The stone of sin, however heavy, obstruct Your resurrection * May I enter with Peter and John into your tomb To see your grave clothes lying there and die with You And be covered with them May I see your head cover with which you wipe away The tears I have shed throughout my days. * If an angel spoke to me, my soul would not be satisfied. I will not stop from crying until I find and carry You! May You call me by Your mouth, For your voice is sweet! Say a word, thereby transforming me Into a preacher proclaiming the joy of Your resurrection. I rush with Your disciples in order to enjoy Your amazing manifestations! * May Your Spirit carry me to the upper room Where I could share the fellowship with Your disciples. You enter while the doors are closed, So that no one creeps and intrudes upon our meeting together. You reveal Your wounds to me, and I get to understand the mystery of Your love. You grant me Your peace, Therefore my heart is filled with joy. * Indeed, how I long to touch your wounds with my own hands, And so cry out saying with Thomas: “My Lord and my King!”
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