He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Read Chapter 28
Cyril of Alexandria
AD 444
So the angel became an evangelist and herald of the resurrection to the women. “Do not seek,” he says, “the one who” always “lives,” who in his own nature is life, “among the dead. He is not here,” that is, dead and in the tomb, “but he has been raised.” He has become a way of ascent to immortality not only for himself but also for us. For this reason he made himself nothing and put on our likeness, that “by the grace of God,” just as the blessed Paul says, “he might taste death on behalf of all.” And so he has become the death of death.
He is risen, as he said. This is to put them in mind of what they ought to have remembered, and believed.
St. Luke is more particular; and tells us the angel said: remember how he spoke to you, when he was yet in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again. (Witham)
By this the angel give them to understand, that if they would not believe him upon his own testimony, they should at least on the testimony of their Redeemer's promises, who had frequently assured them that on the third day he should rise again. (St. Chrysostom, hom. xc.)
What evidence demonstrates that he has risen? “As he said”—that is, the event is known on the testimony of the angelic visitor. And if you refuse to believe the angel, then remember Jesus’ own words, and you will not hesitate to believe me. The evidence, however, is further presented: “Come and see the place where he lay.” For this purpose the angel had rolled away the stone: that they might see the evidence of his resurrection. The Gospel of Matthew, Homily
He is risen. Matthew 28:6 Whence is it evident? As He said. So that if you refuse to believe me, he would say, remember His words, and neither will you disbelieve me. Then also another proof, Come and see the place where He lay. For this he had lifted up the stone, in order that from this too they might receive the proof.
The Lord rises in the same flesh. He brings back the wounds, takes on again the holes from the nails and bears witness by his very body with the signs of his resurrection, which were the ravages of his suffering. If so, how could anyone imagine that he might return in some other body? How could anyone fail to believe that he will return in his own flesh? It is fanciful to think that the servant would by chance disdain his own flesh. Rest assured, my friend, when you arise from the dead it will be you in your own body. Otherwise it would not be you if you should rise in the flesh of another.
