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His Holiness Pope Shenouda III
Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark

In the book of Numbers, when God ordered Moses to take a census of the people, this was restricted to young men who can go to war (Nu 1: 3).  When the Song of Solomon talks about the men around King Solomon's throne, it describes them as valiant men; "They all hold swords, Being expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh, Because of fear in the night." (Sgs 3: 8)

The following are a few examples of God's strong children:

David:

When he was only a young lad keeping watch over his father's sheep in the wilderness, a lion and a bear came and seized a lamb from the flock.  David said "I went after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it.  Your servant has killed both lion and bear."(1 S 17: 34-36)

Imagine a young boy pursuing a lion and snatching it from his jaws and then attacking it and killing it without any fear.  He killed both the lion and the bear.

Also, when he saw Goliath the giant challenging army, the people and the king, with everyone terrified of him, he presented himself and volunteered to fight him.  He told King Saul, "Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." (1 S 17: 32) And in fact, David came forward with his sling and horse to fight a giant whose height was six cubits and the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam (1 S 17).  He told him, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel… This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you… for the battle is the Lord's". David was strong of heart and faith, so he fought and won.

   -An excerpt from His Holiness' book Contemplations on the Resurrection. 

    The angels proclaimed the news of Christ's resurrection to the women saying, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but He is risen" (Luke 24: 5-6) The news of the risen Christ brought tremendous joy to the disciples, but terrified the Jewish leaders.
    As much as the day of the crucifixion was painful emotionally, it was a day of salvation. However, people did not see Christ opening the doors of paradise, they only saw the suffering, insults and nails. As much as the disciples were disturbed and sad on Friday, they were very joyful on Sunday. The promise of the Lord to them was fulfilled when He said, "But I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you" (John 16:22).
Through His resurrection, they rejoiced that the resurrection is possible and realistic. He was the evidence. That is why     St. John describes Him, "whom we have seen with our eyes and touched with our hands" (1Jn 1: 1). St. Peter also bears witness that "we have eaten and drank with Him after His resurrection from the dead." (Acts 10: 41). Through the resurrection, the fear of the disciples was turned into courage and indifference to all the powers that were fighting them. All their enemies could do is threaten to kill them, but what can the threat of death do to one who believes in the resurrection and has seen it!
    In the resurrection, the disciples felt that they were under the wings of a powerful God. The One in whom they believe holds the keys to life and death. He is the resurrection and the life. He is the source of life, not only on earth. but eternal life also.
    The disciples rejoiced because God fulfilled His promise to them, when they saw the promise of His resurrection fulfilled, they were reassured of the outcome of all the other promises, like "I go to prepare a place for you... and I will come again and take you, so that where I am, there you will be also" Jn. 14: 2-3). They believed His promise that He is with us until the end of days (Matt. 28:20). Thus, all His promises gave them power, comfort and joy.