- Overcomer Literature Trust
- Swindon
- Wiltshire
REFLECTIONS FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS.
Athanasius
Death is destroyed. The cross has triumphed over it. It no longer has any power but is truly dead. This is why all of Christ’s disciples despise death and no longer fear it. They take the offensive against it, and by the sign of the cross and by faith in Christ they trample it down as dead. Before the Saviour came, death was terrible to the saints. Everyone wept for the dead as though they perished. But now that the Saviour has risen, death isn’t terrible anymore. For everyone who believes in Christ tramples over death. They would rather die than deny their faith in Christ. For they know that when they die they aren’t destroyed, but actually begin to live. Through the Resurrection they become incorruptible. For the devil, who once maliciously rejoiced in death, is the only one truly dead, now that we are relieved of death’s pains. As proof of this, people are cowards and terrified of death before they believe Christ. But when they have turned to Christ’s faith and teaching, they despise death so much that they even eagerly rush up to it. They testify of Christ’s victorious Resurrection.
John Chrysostom
The neatness of the linens proves that there was no theft of the Body of Christ. When Mary came and said these things, the apostles heard them and drew near to the tomb with great eagerness. They saw the linen clothes lying there, which was a sign of the resurrection. If they had removed the body, they would not have stripped it first, nor, if any had stolen it, would they have taken the trouble to remove the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head and roll it up and lay it in a place by itself apart from the linen. They would have taken the body as it was. John tells us that it was buried with much myrrh, which glues linen to the body no less firmly than lead. He tells us this so that when we hear that the cloth lay apart from the linen, we may not accept those who say that He was stolen (John 20 v7). For a thief would not have been so foolish as to expend so much effort.
Theodoret of Cyrus
The Cross and its life-giving fruit.
For us the saving Cross is the tree of life. For it received like fruit the life-giving body by which those who stretch out their hands and pick the fruit will live life eternally.
From ‘His Passion: Devotions’ and ‘Ancient Christian Devotional’.