Has God given us any real-life examples to assure us of the glorious resurrection of the body?

The apostle Paul marvels at the examples in real life that the Creator has afforded us, so that we should be assured that the body can indeed rise. For example, a mere grain of wheat that is buried in dirt produces a spike of grain of the same nature, better and greater than itself. In a similar way, we are sown as a body and rise with the same body, but more beautiful and splendid, bearing a new, glorified, spiritual nature, greater than what was sown. Death is not just a means for the body to cross over into death and return to dust, but also a means of the glorification of the body that it may share in the soul’s eternal splendor. The cross does eradicate the death of the body; for by faith, when we die with the Lord Christ, we are being prepared for the glorious resurrection, with better characteristics more suited to eternal life.

St. John Chrysostom says, “For here his discourse no longer regards the resurrection, but the manner of the resurrection … What is that then which he says, ‘You do not sow the body that shall be?’ i.e. not the ear of corn: for it is the same, and not the same; the same, because the substance is the same; but not the same, because this is more excellent, the substance remaining the same but its beauty becoming greater, and the same body rising up new.”¹²⁹⁰

“‘Yes,’ says one, ‘but in that case it is the work of nature.’ Of what nature, tell me? For in that case likewise God surely does the whole; not nature, nor the earth, nor the rain. Wherefore also he making these things manifest, leaves out both earth and rain, atmosphere, sun, and hands of husbandmen, and subjoins, ‘God gives it a body as it pleased Him’ [1 Cor. 15:38]. Do not therefore curiously inquire, nor busy yourself with the how and in what manner, when you hear of the power and will of God.”¹²⁹¹

St. Ambrose says, “You also, then, are sown as are other things, why do you wonder if you shall rise again as shall others? But you believe as to them, because you see, you believe not this, because you see it not: ‘Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed’ (John 20:29). However, before the season comes, those things also are not believed, for every season is not suited for the raising of seeds. Wheat is sown at one time, and comes up at another; at one time the vine is planted, at another the budding twigs begin to shoot, the foliage grows luxuriant, and the grape is formed; at one time the olive is planted, at another

1290 St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on the First Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians 41.3 (NPNF I/12:250) amended.

1291 St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on the First Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians 41.3 (NPNF I/12:250–251) amended.

time, as though pregnant and loaded with its offspring of berries, it is bent down by the abundance of its fruit. But before its own period arrives for each, the produce is restricted, and that which bears has not the age of bearing in its own power.”¹²⁹²