The Significance ot the Resurrection

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H.H. POPE SHENOUDA III

Death is an alien and a stranger to humanity.
When God created man, He formed him for life; He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.

God wished him life and perpetuity, but man's choice was inclined towards sin. Man thus brought death upon himself as a result of his sin, "For the wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23), and death came into the world and reigned over humanity.

We rejoice with the resurrection because it is a triumph over death and a return of man's nature to life. God has created man to live and not to die.

Christ's resurrection is the handsel of our resurrection, and thus, Saint Paul the apostle described Him as "the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." (1 Corinthians 15:20) He is the first fruit and we will rise after him.

Perhaps someone may ask saying 'How can Christ be the first fruit of the dead while many rose before Him?' Examples of such people are:

The son of the widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon, who was raised from death by Elijah the prophet (1 Kings 17:22).
The son of the Shunammite, whom Elisha the prophet raised from death (2 Kings 4:32-36).
The three whom the Lord Christ Himself raised from death, and they are:
The son of the widow of the town called Nain,
Jairus' daughter, and
Lazarus.
In fact, there are some persons who rose from death before the days of Christ, but after their rising, they died once more. They are still waiting for the general resurrection. Christ's resurrection was the one after which there was no death. It was the first fruit and the inordinate desire which every believer longs for in eternity.

By 'the resurrection', we mean the way which leads to eternal life. We know that man's life on earth is very short. It is nothing if measured or compared to eternity, immortality is the beautiful dream of humanity.

The resurrection elevates the value of man and asserts that his life is not ended by death. <
It affirms that there is another life which differs from this earthly one. We, God willing, will enjoy that new life after the resurrection.

Thus we say in the Creed which we recite every day in our prayers, 'we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the coming age, Amen. '

Therefore, we may say that the most important events of the resurrection are those which will follow it.
The resurrection shows that there is an extension to man's life in eternity. It proves that death is a mere stage of the journey of man's life. It is a bridge between two lives: an earthly life and a heavenly one.

Undoubtedly, the heavenly life is far better than the earthly one because it will be in heaven, above any material standard. It will be pure and without any sin.

Moreover, it will be an association with God, His angels and His saints. The holy Bible says about heaven that it is what "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Saint Isaac said 'Fear of death disturbs the heart of the ignorant, but the righteous person longs for death as he loves life.'
Thus, Saint Paul, the apostle said "I...desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. " (Philippians 1:23)

Death does indeed become an inordinate desire to those who love God and the life in heaven. They consider it far better than life on earth, which has lost its purity.

Those who believe in the resurrection do not consider death as an end of life, but as a transfer to another life.

The resurrection has changed people's outlook regarding death. It is a mere transition, or a bridge, which leads to another life. One can say that it is an operation of ascent.

Thus, death has become the inordinate desire of the righteous.
The apprehension of death fell forever after Christ had trodden down death by His resurrection.

Saints do not fear death any longer. They pay no attention to its causes, such as: illness, conspiracies and the aggression of the wicked.

He who fears death is the sinner who has not turned from sin. He becomes afraid of his destiny and of the final day when he will stand before God.
The sinner who practices certain desires and passions fears death lest it should deprive him of such lusts, but the righteous person never fears death because he believes in the resurrection.

The resurrection is connected to faith. The apostates, for example, do not believe in the resurrection.
He who is of the faithful believes that God has the ability to raise the body from death. He who has created human-beings from dust and made dust from nothingness can bring the body back to life in order to return and unite it with the spirit.

The apostates do not believe in the spirit's existence or its perpetuity after death. They do not believe in eternity or in recompense and punishment, and thus I said that the resurrection is connected with faith.

Believing in the resurrection leads to the life of righteousness and virtue.
The believer knows that on the awesome day of judgment, he will stand before God to give an account for all his past deeds, whether good or bad. Thus, this faith leads him to be cautious and accurate in his life for fear of the final judgment.

Consequently, he judges himself upon every deed, every thought, every sensation and every word, and then he reforms himself as Saint Macarius said 'My brother, restrain yourself before they check you. '

The true faith in the resurrection leads to the life of religious devotion and monasticism.
The resurrection drew men's attention to the glories of the other world; thus, the fleeting joys of this perishable world diminished. By their exorbitant thinking about the invisible, they paid no attention to the tangible and visible things.

They became as the Bible said, "... we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. " (2 Corinthians 4:18)

If it, was not for the resurrection, men would have coveled greedily in earthly life and plunged in its inordinate desires as the Epicurians used to say "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." (1 Corinthians 15:32)
Those who believe in the resurrection and prepare themselves for it control themselves and subdue their desires and passions. They prepare themselves spiritually to make themselves upright. They do not yield to bodily or material desires, but lead a spiritual life and suppress their bodies, their senses and their nerves.

The love for eternity made the righteous long for something greater and more eminent than the world.
Everything in the world cannot satisfy or fill them because, from within, there is a strong desire for heaven, and a great longing for the spiritual and happy life which exceeds sensation and intelligence; excels all earthly desires.

Thus, the saints looked at the earth as an expatriation and considered themselves strangers on it. They always long for a heavenly home; they longed for a different spiritual and heavenly life which no eye has seen. They longed for the other world which is adorned with holiness, innocence, spirituality, peace, love and purity. There, God fills the hearts and there is no place for any other desire.

In the resurrection, there