Our Friend, the Resurrected from the Dead The Lord j underwent all this agony for our sakes, so He might make us friend to Himself. Because He has risen, He remained after the resurrection the Friend to mankind. He is eager to grant His life that has been risen, to humanity. We could see Him drawing close to the Amos disciples, walk with than, and gently speaks with them, and kindles their hearts by His love. He then opens their eyes so they know Him. He also appears to the rest of the disciples, and asks them to touch Him and feel His real presence in their midst. He even ate with than, so they be confident of the reality of His presence. Finally, He gets them out to Bethany, and raises His hands and blesses them. He then draws apart from them and ascends to heaven to prepare a place for them. This is why they returned to Jerusalem in great joy. 1- The Empty Tomb 1- 12 2- The Amos Disciples 13- 35 3- Appearing to His Disciples 36- 43 4- Sending His Disciples 44- 49 5- His Ascension Into the Heavens 50- 52 6- Their Relationship to the Temple 53. + + + 1- The Empty Tomb: (Luke24: 1-8) “Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb, bringing the spices with they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again’. And they remembered His words.” The women rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment, (Luke23: 56). The Lord was laid in the tomb; this was the last of the Sabbaths of the Old Testament, so that with its finality the Old is terminated and fulfilled, whereas the New covenant begins, with the Lord’s resurrection at the beginning of the week, at dawn. This day, in which the Lord rose from the grave was like a new beginning to mankind in their relation to God; for now, humanity has the right of life resurrected in the Lord, so it lives in a unique new Sabbath, which is ‘the rest of the new life in the Lord’, or, ‘The life restful in the resurrection of the Lord’, or you may say, ‘The restful partnership with the risen Christ.’ He left the tomb empty, and the stone sealed. This is just as He was born of the Virgin and her virginity was untouched. He sent His angel to roll the stone, so that the believers might find in the empty tomb the deposit of the resurrection that has no end to it, and also the spring of the new life that has overcome death! God used to send fire form heaven to consume the sacrifice, as a sign of His acceptance of it and its being exalted to His heavens. But now that the Son has offered His life a sacrifice of love in our place, the tomb has become empty as a sign of the Father’s pleasure for the sacrifice, and His acceptance of it. Thus there is no place for the Lord’s body in the tomb, for He is risen! This is the church’s faith, that has been summarized by St. Paul the apostle in his brief statement (Rom.4: 25) “Who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.” Moreover, scholars think this statement stands for the cornerstone in the creed of the church’s faith in the apostle’s time, which the apostle carried forth from the tradition. The evangelist St. Luke mentions the women going to the grave to find it empty. We notice the following in these words: Firstly: The evangelist begins by saying, “Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb.” In the previous chapter he concluded his words saying that the women rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment. Now, with the beginning of the new week, they went with their spices and oil fragrances to the Lord’s tomb, and some women went along with them. It was not possible on the Sabbath, according to the Jewish tradition, for them to prepare the spices or go to the tomb. Thus they had to do nothing till Saturday evening or the eve before Sunday so they prepare the spices, and go with the new day at dawn, when it was still dark, towards the tomb. We may say that these women represent the one church that extends across the age, that has lived at the symbolic time as the truth. By stopping work on the Sabbath, they proclaimed their acceptance of the symbol in the Old Testament, but yet eager it be fulfilled, so they be transferred to the Sunday dawn, in order to find the Truth in essence, by their encounter with Christ the Risen from the dead. In this way, the church-rest is not in stopping work on the symbolic Sabbath, but in going towards Christ the Risen, carrying the holy spices and the fragrances so beautiful, declaring in her life and her preaching the Truth. They headed on, and some women were with them as well. If those women represent the men of the Old Testament that had their hearts kindled with the awaited-for Messaiah then we can consider those coming along with them to the tomb to stand for those Gentile nations that have accepted the faith in Christ, the Risen from the dead. Secondly: (Luke 24: 2) “But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.” The angel had rolled the stone (Matt.28: 2), and according to the church tradition, it is St. Michael the archangel who did this. The rolling came after the resurrection, since the Lord was not in need of the stonerolling to rise. He has risen, as I have said previously, when the seals were still there. Many of the fathers, such as St. Augustine and St. Jerome, believe this work comparable to what had occurred on His birth from the ever-virgin St. Mary. Therefore, the rolling of the stone was for our sakes, so as to be assured of the Lord’s resurrection, for St. John Chrysostom says “The stone was rolled after the resurrection for the women’s sake, so they believe the Lord has risen, on witnessing the tomb without the body, and hence witnessing the Truth.” Thirdly: (Luke24: 4) “And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.” The women played a role that has not been made by the other apostle or disciples. They went ahead when it was still dark, and did not mind the obstacles awaiting them, such as the rolling of the stone. When they saw the tomb opened, they did not hesitate to go in. thus they were worthy to see the two angels dressed in bright and gorgeous garments, proclaiming to them the Resurrection. They did not see the angels in flames of fire, neither did they see them carrying fiery swords as others did in the Old Testament. Rather, they saw them in garments of joy and splendor. It is as if heaven wanted to share the church her joy in the Lord’s resurrection. In their bright shining garments, the angels wished to proclaim to the entire church that the heavenly hosts are wearing the kingdom garments, awaiting the blessed bride’s coming, that will be wedded to her heavenly Groom in His eternal kingdom. Fourthly: (Luke24: 5-8) “Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, ‘Why do you seed the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again’? And they remembered His words.” On seeing the tomb empty, grief and fear filled their hearts. In bitterness, they bowed their faces to the ground. This is why the angels’ gently reproached them, how they could expect to see the living in the tomb, for He has overcome death. This was actually declared to the disciples ahead of time, concerning His resurrection. At that moment, they remembered the Savior’s words! We can say that this angelic reproach is still there addressed to every believer who wishes to keep the Lord in the tomb, as if He is unable to rise from the dead. In other words, we assume we are Christian believers, whereas we do not leave the physical needs and passions, the earth links and concerns, and we are like those who ask for the living among the dead, and listens to the words “He is not here, for He is risen!” He, who remembers the Lord’s words about His resurrection, finds himself with his Christ above the boundaries of the grave. He is not afraid of death, neither does he bow down to the physical passion bondage. He is not confused about the world concepts, but rather, he goes with his Christ who dwells in him to a heavenly life, triumphant beyond any time or place. If we meditate on the life history of the martyrs, we find that the mystery behind their victory lies in their unity with the Lord risen from the dead. They are not besieged in the body, and thus, even if the wicked ones torture their bodies, the Lord sends them His angels, and at times He Himself appears to them, not to take their revenge, but rather to exalt them above the limits of suffering. This made the rulers accuse Christians of magic and sorcery. Fifthly: When the women were ahead of the apostles in going to the Lord’s tomb, they were thus blessed by preaching of the Lord’s resurrection among the apostles. The evangelist therefore says, (Luke24: 9) “Then they returned form the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.” St. Cyril the great says, “the woman who was once to serve death, now is the first to receive the mystery of the awesome resurrection, and was the first to be informed of it. In this way the woman has obtained salvation from the shame and the curse. Sixthly: When the disciples heard the news (Luke24: 12) “Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed marveling to himself at what had happened.” The women’s talk to the apostles was like fantasy and they could not believe them (Luke24: 11). This situation was so unexpected despite the Lord’s assurance to them prior to His agony and passion. The expression ‘idle tales’ or ‘fantasy’ is medical, and was used to describe those sick with fever and have lost their mental balance. However, St. Peter was quick as usual to see what has happened, for his heart was burning in zeal. As father Theophlactius says, “When St. Peter heard this, he was quick to run to the tomb, because when fire catches anything, it knows no delay.” Seventhly: The resurrection events, as mentioned in the gospel of our teacher St. Luke the evangelist, touches the life of every true believer who wishes to encounter the heavenly Friend. The Marys, and some others with them, ran to the tomb in the midst of darkness, which signifies man, in all his spiritual potentials, his gifts, his capabilities, running as at the beginning of the week, at the first dawn, that is, to rise up early toward God, to be the first in all of his life. He runs as if from the darkness of this world to the Lord’s tomb, that is, to the divine altar to find the risen body from the dead, the mystery of His life and His resurrection, renewed perpetually. He runs, carrying the spices, which are the prayers and the worship blended with the righteous life in the Lord, as an incense fragrance that the Father smells in pleasure. There, at the divine altar of God, the entire church assembles to see the stone of the Mosaic literacy rolled, and the sacraments of the resurrection, or, knowing God, have been revealed. The church could see the happy angels wearing brilliant garments, sharing the believers their joy of salvation, and their thrill of the kingdom. They praise all together; let us therefore sing their praises and be counted, all of us, the earthly and the heavenly creation, as one in the kingdom. Eighthly: The church fathers comment on the presence of the burial cloths in the tomb, for the evangelist says about St. Peter that (Luke24: 12) “Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves.” This is proof that the Jews lied when they accused the disciples of stealing the sacred body from the tomb. From the words of the church fathers is the following: + If the disciples had stolen the body, they would not have done so, that is, to disrobe the body. They would not have tolerated to take His handkerchief, to fold it and to put it in one place of the tomb, but they would have stolen the body as quickly as possible. For this reason, St. John has mentioned ahead of time that He was preserved by much myrrh that made the cloths stick to His body. So if you hear that the kerchief was laid on one side and the cloths on the other side, this is impossible to have been stolen. St. John Chrysostom +Know well that if a robber, other than the disciples, had stolen Him, his intent would have been to steal these valuable clothes, and the many spices and oil fragrances more than stealing Him without the cloths. As for the disciples, it was not appropriate they take Him when naked! Since they did not wish to sham Him but rather to honor Him. Anba Peter El Sadmenti 2- The Amos Disciples: The evangelist St. Luke narrates to us the Lord’s encounter with His two disciples, on their way to Amos, a village about seven and a half miles far, north-west of Jerusalem. It is probably in the village site of ‘Khomasia’ or “El Kobiba’. These two disciples, one of whom was Cleopas (Luke24: 18), an abbreviation of ‘Cleopatros’ or ‘the perfect glory’. As for the second, some scholars think he is the evangelist St. Luke himself. The scholar Oreganus and St. Cyril the great think the second person is called ‘Simon’, from among the seventy apostles, other than Simon Peter and Simon the Cyrene. We notice in the story narrated by St. Luke, the following: Firstly: The two disciples, from among the seventy apostles, were walking on the Amos way that extends for seven miles and a half. The number 8 refers to the eternal life, and the number 7 refers to our present time. Therefore these two disciples have crossed the current life, but they have not reached the power of the resurrection, and its complete number is 8. In other words, their demeanor on this road refers to the man who believes in the resurrection in his thoughts, and is the topic of his conversation, yet he is not blessed with it nor is he practicing it. Many believe in the resurrection, and they even preach it, but they do not live it. These are still on the Amos road, and they are in need of the Lord’s appearance to them, and His talking to them, so as to kindle their hearts in their inward life, by means of the resurrected life; and thus they would live it before their departure from this world. Secondly: The evangelist specifies the historical time of this encounter, saying (Luke24: 13) “On this day”, that is, on the Sunday of the Resurrection day. This was about sunset, when the day was about to end (Luke24: 21). It is as if the two disciples almost stayed the whole day in Jerusalem, listening and discussing together, or with the women and St. Peter and St. John who have gone to the tomb. They were also recalling the memories of the Lord’s words concerning His resurrection, before His agony. Despite this, they were not positively sure in their faith, but, (Luke24: 14) “And they talked together of all these things which had happened.” Thirdly: (Luke24: 15) “So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.” Indeed, they were not thoroughly confident of their faith, but they were busy with their thoughts about the Lord, speaking and discussing. In their weakness, they were unable to realise the Truth; thus the Truth came to be in their midst, declaring Himself supporting them. He assured them earlier (Matt.18: 20) “When two or three are gathered in My name, there am I in their midst.” Fourthly: (Luke24: 16) “But their eyes were restrained, so they did not know Him.” They may have been unable to recognize Him because when He had risen, His embodied a kind of glory more than previously, and so they were unable to recognize Him, as happened also with Mary Magdalene (John20: 14), and with the disciples on the seashore (John21: 4). Another season why they couldn’t recognize Him was due to their weak faith, and slow spiritual understanding, or maybe this was a divine purpose so that the Lord reveals to them His divine mysteries and the prophecy fulfillment in Him, for (Luke24: 27) “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” + Because He has come to have the spiritual body, the geographical distances are no obstacle to His coming physically wherever He wants. It is the same body that He was born with from the Virgin, and it embodies a new nature appropriate for the heavenly life. His body does not submit to the laws of nature but rather to the unsurpassable law of nature, the spiritual law. Thus, as St. Mark says, He appeared to them (Mark16: 12) “In another form”, and He did not allow them to know Him. It is said that their eyes were restrained from knowing Him, till their concepts would be declared that were so skeptical. Thus their wounds would be revealed and they would receive the healing, and so they know that though this was the same body in which he suffered and rose again, yet He is not visible to everyone, but only to those whom He wishes them to see Him. Moreover, so that they would not wonder He no longer walks among the people, as He did before the resurrection, showing that His transformation does not befit humanity, but what is godly and divine. He offered Himself an example to the forth coming resurrection when we become as angels and God’s children. Father Theophlactius + Indeed, He covered up His own manifestation form them by appearing in a form that they did not know. He did so for the physical eyes, for the sake of what they did themselves inwardly concerning the mental eye. Inwardly, though they have loved Him, yet they doubted. Therefore, once they spoke of Him, He appeared to them, but when they doubted, He his himself from them. Pope Gregory the great Though their eyes were restrained from knowing Him, yet He came forward Himself to open the discussion with them. He asked them (Luke24: 17) “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” Even though the Lord has undergone the agony and was crucified, yet death did not separate Him form His disciple. Even though He has risen, yet His resurrection did not distance Him from them. For our sakes, He was crucified, and died, and rose so He would draw nearer to us and initiate His love to us. He is eager to begin a conversation with us, so He offers Himself to us, and so open our eyes to witness Him, and our hearts so He dwells in us. Anyway, the story of the Lord’s encounter with the Amos disciples whose eyes were restrained from knowing Him, this is the story of every spiritual person. The Lord escorts him all the way, and leads him Himself, and kindles his heart, revealing His gospel mysteries to him, and declares His resurrection, and opens his vision so that he sees Him and rejoices in Him. St. Augustine says, “God’s absence is not actual absence. Believe in Him, and He will be with you even though you do not see Him. When the Lord drew near to the two apostles, they had no faith yet. They did not believe He rose from the dead, or that anyone else could. They have lost the faith, and had no more any hope. They were just walking with Him on the road. They were dead with the living, dead ones with life ‘Life’ was walking along with them, but their hearts had no life pulse. Fifthly: (Luke24: 17) “And He said to them, ‘What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?’” If we are in this world crying over our sins and grieve over them, yet in our encounter with Christ the Risen, we have to walk joyfully in the Lord, and not to walk sadly, because the kingdom of God is (Rom.14: 17) “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” In the confessions of St. Augustine, God used to blend His worshiping with a spiritual thrill that surpasses all the pleasures of the world, so He weans us from the pleasure of sin. It is said that St. Apollo, whom St. Jerome met in the area of Thebes, that he was constantly hopeful and pleasant. He has attracted many to the monastic life as an inwardly joyful life to live, satisfying to the heart by the presence of the Lord Himself. He often used to say, “Why do we struggle with a frowning face? Are we not heirs of the eternal life? Leave aside any grief and frowning to the unbelievers, and leave lamenting to sinners. As for the righteous and the saints, they should rather rejoice and smile because they are blessed with spiritualities.” Sixthly: What is the faith of the Amos disciples? There is no doubt that they were unable as yet to realise His godliness, or to accept the mystery of the cross. Rather, they were expecting Him to liberate Israel or be the Redeemer of the Jews from the Roman dominance. The cross has actually ruined their hopes, since Cleopas said about the Lord Jesus (Luke24: 19-24) “He was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people. And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but Him they did not see.” The evangelist St. John analyzes the disciples’ lack of faith saying (John20: 9) “for as yet they did not know the scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.” St. Cyril the great adds that the Amos disciples had another excuse: which is that the news the women said were not enough for them to believe in the resurrection, rather, this was amazing and bewildering news, “the women astonished us,” for the news bore the empty tomb and the angels testimony. Even St. Peter’s news, for he only saw the empty tomb and the linen cloths. Moreover the two disciples said (Luke24: 12) “As for Him, they did not see Him.” Seventhly: When the two disciples declared their weak faith or their disbelief, the Lord offered them the assurance of the law and the prophets, for He said to them (Luke24: 25-27) “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken.’ Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.” St. Cyril the great says, “The Lord presented to the two disciples Moses and the prophets. He revealed to them what they could not understand, for the old law is a paving to the road, and the service of the prophets is to prepare the people so they receive the faith. God did not send anything that is of no use, rather, for everything there is usefulness at the right time. The prophets are actually the servants the Lord has sent before Him, so that their prophecies are a preparation for His coming. It is as if these prophecies are a royal and sealed treasure, that has to be opened at the right time to interpret the symbols inside.” Eighthly: (Luke24: 28) “Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther.” He did not tell them He was going to a farther place, but He pretended to, so He would not intrude Himself on them. But if they ask Him to, and insist on asking Him, He would accept. God does not impose Himself on our life, without our own will. He rather asks that we invite Him in, and insist on the invitation, declaring the full freedom of man’s self will in accepting or rejecting Him. This is on one hand, on the other one, as Pope Gregory the great said, because they were still strangers to the faith, ‘He pretended to be going to a farther place.” Ninthly: They insisted saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” The soul that has tasted of what the disciples did, does not cease saying with the bride of the songs of Solomon (Song of Sol.3: 1,4; 2: 6, 3) “Upon my bed at night, I sought him whom my soul loves; Scarcely had I passed them, when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go until I brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.... O that his left hand were under my head, and that his right hand embraced me! With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.” St. Augustine says, “If you wish to have life, copy the apostles so that you may come to know the Lord. They insisted on inviting all the more and said to Him to stay with them because it was almost eventide.” The saint also says, “Invite warmly the close ones if you want to know your Savior. This warm invitation returned to the disciples what the doubts and lack of faith had taken thus the Lord declared Himself when He broke the bread. Therefore, learn where to ask for the Lord, and you will be lucky enough to have Him at your table.” Tenthly: (Luke24: 30, 31) “Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.” Some think what the Lord Jesus did here is the ‘Eucharist Sacrament’, and that the Lord manifests Himself through this mystery. He opens the inward eyes of His believers so they witness Him. Others think that this was not the Eucharist Sacrament because we do not hear of Him that He also took the cup and gave them to drink. Moreover, He did not mention, when breaking the bread that this is His body that is shed for them, as He did at the last supper. St. Augustine says “When did the Lord manifest Himself? When He broke the bread.... This is why when we break the bread, we come to know the Lord; for He did not declare Himself except at the table, to us who were unable to see Him physically, but he gave us His body to eat. Therefore, if you believe this, come, whatever state you may be in. if you are confident, then be restful when the bread is broken.” Father Theophlactius says, “The eyes are opened to those who receive the holy bread so that they know Christ, because the Lord’s body bears tremendous strength, quite unutterable. St. Cyril the great analyzes the disappearance of the Lord Jesus from them, saying, “The Lord has disappeared from them because the Lord’s relation with His disciples, after the resurrection was not the same as before. They were in need of a change, and a new life in Christ, so that the new would stick to what is new, the incorruptible to the corruptible. It is for this reason that the Lord did not allow Mary Magdalene to touch Him, as St. John mentioned (John20: 17) until He ascends, and comes back once more.” Eleventhly: He concluded the story, saying (Luke24: 33) “So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem”, This is the aim of God’s work in us, that He grants us the power of the resurrection, for He says ‘they rose up’. With this resurrected life we go back to Jerusalem above which we have left, we return to the city of God the great king (Matt.5: 35). We go back to (Gal.4: 26) “the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.” In other words, God changes our direction. After we were heading to Amos, and were giving our backs to Jerusalem, now we are giving our backs to Amos, and heading with our faces, our hearts and our thoughts towards Jerusalem. 3- His Appearance to His Disciples: When the Lord Jesus rose from the dead, He no longer led the human daily life. He no more preached among the Jews, or performed miracles and wonders. He has risen, bearing His own body but glorified. In other words, His new and natural position has come to be His ascension to the heavens, awaiting His sacred bride to be exalted with Him. But He stayed for forty days after His resurrection until His ascension. He manifested Himself to those eager for Him, so He draws their hearts towards heaven. Indeed, the Lord Jesus seized every opportunity to declare His resurrection and confirm it in the life of His lovers, those who believe in Him. He heralded the women coming to the tomb in love, asking to offer the spices and fragrances to the holy body. Thus His angels declared to them of His resurrection. He also walked with the two disciples who were discussing together on the Amos way, about His resurrection issue. Now, the disciples have returned to Jerusalem to inform the disciples of what had happened, and how they came to know Him at the breaking of the bread. (Luke24: 36- 43) “Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you’. But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold, My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” When He said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, ‘Have you any food here?’ so they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence.” We notice the following in the above meeting: Firstly: When they were speaking of the resurrection, all of them were kindled to being blessed by Him, as did St. Peter the apostle (Luke24: 34) and the two Amos disciples, and some of the women. The Lord therefore fulfilled their hearts’ desire and He stood there in their midst. Indeed, by His coming in their midst, the loft has been changed to a sacred church in tremendous brilliance and glory. You may say the loft has become at this moment a live model of what the church has to be. This means the church members becoming enkindled with the resurrected Messaiah, and His coming in their midst, as a live Head, giving the power of the resurrection to the members of His body. +He, who is truly desired, has come, manifesting Himself to those who ask for Him, and those who await Him. This is not in a doubtful way, but He came in their midst in an explicit manifestation. St. John Chrysostom Secondly: In the first meeting of the Lord who is risen form the dead with His assembled disciples, the representatives of His church, He offered them His unsurpassing ‘Peace’. This was not as an outward gift, but a talent that touches the most inward depths, for He had promised them on the night of His passion, saying, (John14: 27) “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. +Let us give honor to the gift of peace that Christ has left to us on His departure. Peace, in particular, concerns God alone; for He unifies everything together into one entity. To Him is nothing attributed such as the oneness of nature and peace that dwells by Him in man. St. Gregory, bishop of Nazinaza + The Lord also revealed to them clearly His bruises, and He assured them with His voice, for they were worried and anxious. It is said, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you.” This means they should not be troubled. By saying so He assured them of His words before the crucifixion took place (John16:33) “In this world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John20: 20) “Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.” Look how this has been fulfilled. For before His crucifixion He said, (John16: 22) “Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you,” so His words have been fulfilled at this moment. All of this has brought to them firmly assured faith. These are the Lord’s first words to them after His resurrection. As for the women. He granted them the joy (Matt.28: 9) because the women were sorrowful indeed, and this is why He granted them primarily joy. In discretion, the Lord granted peace to the men, and granted joy to the women due to their grief. He offers the fruits of the cross first, which is ‘Peace’. St. John Chrysostom + This is the true peace, and the salvation greeting, for the greeting takes its name form salvation. St. Augustine Thirdly: The evangelist says, (Luke24: 37) “But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.” The disciples have lived with the Lord Jesus for a long time, and they realised that He has truly become incarnate, and that He embodies a real human nature. Now, when they heard of His resurrection, they never expected He would come in this way in their midst when the doors are shut. This is why they were terrified and frightened, and thought they have seen a ghost. After the Lord Jesus had granted them His real peace, He assured them he was not a mere spirit, but that in truth He bore a physical body. He proved this by telling them to touch Him, and he asked to eat with them. + We cannot assume that St. Peter and St. John doubted, after that they were assured of His resurrection when they had gone into the tomb. Then why does St. Luke say the disciples were terrified? Firstly: Because the majority declared their doubts, and so they prevailed over the minority. Secondly: Even though St. Peter believed in the resurrection, yet he was stupefied when he saw Jesus present in their midst, in His physical person, whereas the doors were shut. St. Ambrosios Thirdly: The Lord Jesus revealed to them at first who He was, by telling them He knew what was on their minds and in their hearts. He said to them (Luke24: 38) “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?” He then assured them He is the crucified Messaiah, (Luke24: 39) “Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” St. Augustine says that the Lord Jesus has left His bruises after His resurrection so that He heals the disciples’ wounds with them for they did not believe His resurrection when He manifested Himself, and they thought Him a spirit. He therefore showed them His hands and His feet, for he says, “Even though His wounds wee healed, yet their traces were still there! The Lord saw this is useful to the disciples, to keep the scars of His wounds, so the wounds of their souls be healed, the wounds of their lack of faith. The Lord has appeared before their eyes, and He manifested to them His real body, and despite this, they thought Him a spirit! And what did the Lord tell them? (Luke24: 38) “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?” If you have thoughts arise in your hearts that are doubtful, then these come form the earth. It is better for man that doubts do not rise in his heart, but that rather man’s heart rises upwards. This is w3here the apostle wishes believers to set their hearts there, for he says, (Col.3: 1-4) “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” What kind of glory is this? It is the glory of the Resurrection! What glory? Listen to what the apostle says about this body (1Cor.15: 43) “It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory.” St. Ambrosios says, “In their fear, the disciples thought they had seen a spirit. To show you the truth of the resurrection, the Lord said to them to touch Him, and to look at Him, for the spirit has no flesh and bones as He has. How could the Lord be, not in the body, and yet there were the scars of the wounds and the piercing that He showed them? The Lord has accepted to ascend to the heavens with the wounds He bore for our sakes. He did not wish to wipe them away, so He shows to God the Father the price of setting us free. In this way He sits on the Father’s right hand, carrying the banner of our salvation.” As St. Cyril the great says, “The main reason to keep the scars of those wounds is to testify to His disciples that the body that rose is the same exact one that has suffered.” As for Pope Gregory the great, he mentions four justifications to these wounds. These are: (a) To build up His disciple in the faith by means of His resurrection. (b) These wounds remain so as to declare His intercession for redemption and atonement to the Father instead of us. (c) So the believers remember His love to them and His mercy towards them. (d) These wounds remain to judge the wicked ones on the great day of the Lord. Fourthly: (Luke24: 41-43) “But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, ‘Have you any food here?’ So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence.” They were so glad they could not believe themselves, that they could see the Lord. This is why He wanted to assure them He was not a spirit, when He asked them for food from their hands so He eats it before them. + He was not hungry, but He asked to eat. He thus ate in His authority, not out of necessity, so that the disciples realise the reality of His body, and that the entire world would know Him by means of their preaching. St. Augustine +Even though there is no food or drink after the general resurrection for everyone, nor if anyone is injured, there will be a resurrection with this injury, yet the Lord did so, that we believe all of us that the body that suffered and died is the same one that rose from among the dead. Anba Paul El Boshy + According to the commandment of the old law, the Passover used to be eaten for real with bitter herbs, because the bitterness of the bondage was still there. But after the resurrection, the food is sweet with the bees’ honey. St. Gregory El Nasy Fifthly: When the Lord Jesus, the Risen from the dead, came in the midst of His disciples, and offered Himself by means of the senses so He might exalt them through faith to what is above the senses, He opened their minds so they be aware of what was written about Him in the Mosaic Law, and the prophets, particularly about His crucifixion and His resurrection. (Luke24: 44-46) “Then He said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.’ And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the scriptures. Then He said to them, ‘Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day’.” The Lord went into the loft when the doors wee shut so He manifests His resurrection to them. He came into their minds and declared His transfiguration in them, and thus they would be blessed with the glory and power of His resurrection. They would realise the concepts of His gospel, and experience His kingdom form the inside. 4- Sending His Disciples: The Lord Jesus has declared His resurrection to His disciples, just as if declaring the resurrection of the Head for the sake of the body. He rose to make us rise with Him. In other words, He rose to send His disciples to offer the power of His resurrection to mankind, so they be blessed with the true membership in His risen body. Here, He began His gifts by granting His peace, and He concludes them by asking the disciples to preach through the power of His Holy Spirit, so as to recruit new members in His holy body, the risen from the dead. His commandment to them came as follows (Luke24: 46-49) “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day. And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” The Lord has offered to them His life that was shed, the risen form the dead, so that is becomes a deposit and a fund for the preaching after they are blessed with, the Holy Spirit, as the mystery of their power from above’. This is for the establishing of the church, the risen body of Christ. St. Augustine comments on this divine appearance of the Lord, the concluding one, to send His disciples in dispatchment, saying, “He manifested Himself to His disciples for His being the Head of His church. At first, the church could see herself in Him, for the Head was seen, and the body was promised. They saw the Head and they believed in Him, being in touch with the body. As for us, we can see the body and we believe in the Head. Their seeing Christ helped them in their belief of the future church. As for us, our seeing the church helps us in the faith of Christ the Risen One. Their faith has become complete, and our faith has become complete as well. Their faith has been fulfilled by means of their seeing the Head, and our faith has been fulfilled by our seeing the body. They have seen the Head and have believed in the body. As for us, we have seen the body and have come to believe in the Head. No one is lacking in Christ, for He is complete in everyone, despite the fact that His body is not yet complete up till today.” Furthermore, St. John Chrysostom says “Just as the captain does not allow his solders to face many others unless they be armored, likewise did the Lord not allow His disciples to go fighting the battle unless the Holy Spirit comes down first.” Now that the Lord Jesus has met His disciples more than once, and has assured them of His resurrection, and promised them to send His Holy Spirit on them, He went up to heaven so their hearts ascend with Him, bearing His heavenly qualities. 5- His Ascension to Heaven: (Luke24: 50-52) “And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.” We said that ‘Bethany’ means ‘the house of suffering’ or ‘the house of obedience’. He wished to ascend up to the heavens in Bethany, at the mount of Olives, so that anyone who wishes to exalt his heart to heaven, has to endure the suffering with Him, and share Him His agony. He also has to have the quality of obedience that is the Son’s towards His Father. We can say that due to our disobedience, He came down from heaven, and with His obedience He exalted us to the heavens. He lifted up His hands, that had the scars of the wounds by the blessing of the cross, and offered His blood that was shed as a price for exalting them with Him. What is surprising is that the disciples did not grieve over the Lord’s ascension, and His being physically separated from them. They rather returned to Jerusalem with great joy. They realised that where the Head is, the members will be. What the Lord Jesus was blessed with is only in the name of the church as a whole, and for her account. 6- Their Relation to the Temple: (Luke24: 53) “And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God.” They were linked to the temple, and did not wish to leave it but rather, they wanted to draw every heart to realise the spiritual and evangelical concepts of the law. Their life was a constant praise, even when they were cast out of the temple, and underwent the most bitter persecution by the Jews, and later on by the Romans. This is the end of the gospel book; in it we find the heavenly Friend exalted, so as to exalt His friends, granting them the life of praise so they complete their inward struggle joyfully, and cling to Him eternally.
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