THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
God, who brought you into existence from nothing, surely finds it easier to recreate you from something. It would be simpler for Him, who can create from nonexistence, to restore what once was. He who commanded you to develop in your mother’s womb from a mere drop of fluid and to be formed with nerves, veins, and bones, will indeed have the power to regenerate you from the earth itself. Are you concerned that your withered bones may not be clothed in flesh again? Do not assess God's greatness by your own limitations. The Creator of all that exists, who adorns the trees with leaves and the fields with blooms, can readily cover your bones at the appointed time of spring, at the resurrection.
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The prophet Ezekiel questioned this very matter, and when God inquired whether the dry bones he saw scattered in the field could come to life, his reply was, ‘Lord God, You know’ (Ezekiel 37:3). Yet when he witnessed the bones assembling according to God's command and his prophecy, and as the dried bones became enwrapped in nerves, bound by veins, covered in flesh, and clothed in skin, he then proclaimed the prophecy of the Spirit. The Spirit entered into those lifeless bodies, and they rose, standing upright. Thus, convinced of the resurrection, the prophet recorded his vision for future generations. Therefore, Isaiah rightly exclaims, ‘Thy dead shall be made alive, Thy dead bodies shall rise! Rise and triumph, ye that are cast down in the dust: for Thy dew is the dew of plants, and the earth shall spew out the dead’ (Isaiah 26:19). Just as seeds moistened by dew wither and grow, so too shall the bones of the faithful thrive by the dew of the Spirit. But do you wonder how an entire person can be restored from tiny bones? You yourself can produce great flames from a little spark; will not God be capable of restoring the complete form of your body from the small leaven of your ashes? If you argue that the remnants of the body are no longer visible, having perhaps been consumed by fire or beasts, remember that all which is perished is hidden within the depths of the earth, from where it may be summoned by God’s command. And you, even when fire seems unavailable, can strike fire from a stone and extract it from iron. If through your intellect and skill, which God has graciously given you, you can reveal what was once unseen, will not God’s greatness enable Him to manifest what remains hidden? Indeed, for God, nothing is impossible.