Post-Resurrection Appearances of Jesus Christ
See Matthew 28:1-10... Jesus appeared near the tomb, to Mary Magdalene
and the “other” Mary (the mother of James and Joseph, 27:56); He instructed them
to go tell the disciples that they would see Him in Galilee.
Mark 16:1-8 has Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and also Salome
(the mother of James and John, sons of Zebedee, 27:56) at the tomb, but there is
no mention of Jesus appearing to them.
Luke 24:1-11 lists Mary Magdalene, Joanna (Luke 8:3, wife of Chuza, Herod’s
steward), Mary mother of James, and “other’ women, but no appearance of Jesus.
See John 20:11-18... Jesus appears only to Mary Magdalene, who at first
thought He was a gardener, but when He called her name, she realized it was the
Lord, then she went and told the disciples what had happened.
Next (Luke 24:13-31), Jesus appears to two disciples who are walking from
Jerusalem to Emmaus (7 miles). When they sat down to eat, Jesus blessed the
bread, then breaking it, He gave some to the two disciples and they instantly
recognized Him — just as suddenly, “...[Jesus] vanished from their sight” (v. 31).
The next appearance is that evening (John 20:19-23) when Jesus passes right
through the wall or locked door of a house where the disciples were gathered.
Jesus miraculously appears right in front of them, although (v. 19), “...the doors
were shut...”
The word translated “door” implies a large and solid door. The word translated
“shut” means locked, most commonly with a heavy bolt that slid through rings
attached to the door and the frame; this door would have been nearly impossible,
to break down.
So, the disciples were huddled together in a locked house (v. 19), “for fear of
the Jews.” The disciples feared they might be arrested and hung on a cross
themselves.
Last week we looked at Matthew 28:11-13, where we read how the soldiers
who had guarded Jesus’ tomb were paid off by the Chief Priests to tell everyone
that the disciples had taken the body of Jesus. That is a good reason for the
disciples to be hiding.
When Jesus came to them, the disciples, were no doubt terrified by His’ sudden
appearance, no wonder Jesus says to them (Luke 24:37-44), “don’t be afraid, it is
not a ghost, it is I, Myself! Touch Me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and
bones, as you see I have." Then Jesus asks them for something to eat, and He
actually ate it before them. He passed through walls like a spirit, yet He had a
body and He was able to eat?
Jesus then began to tell them how the Old Testament Scriptures spoke about
Him in many places (v. 45), “He opened their minds, that they might understand
the scriptures,” concerning Him; explaining that “repentance for the forgiveness of
sins would be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
Read John 20:24-29... Thomas was not present when Jesus appeared, but
when he heard, he said he wouldn’t believe unless he himself touched the Lord.
The very next Sunday, the disciples were behind locked doors again, Thomas was
with them. Again Jesus came to them, saying they should reach out and touch
Him, feel His wounds caused by the nails and the spear. After this, Thomas
definitely believed!
Luke 24:39-43 adds some additional narrative: “‘Look at my hands and my
feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as
you see I have.’ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And
while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them,
‘Do you have anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he
took it and ate it in their presence.”
Read John 21:1-14... This is the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples
(this time there were only seven of them, who were fishing); early in the morning
Jesus came to them at the Sea of Tiberias [Sea of Galilee]. Jesus stood on the
shore and called to them, to cast their nets on the other side of the boat.
They weren’t sure who was instructing them, but they obeyed, as they hadn’t
caught anything all night. Guess what? They caught so many fish that they
weren’t even able to pull their nets into the boat, and it was then that they realized
it was the Lord speaking to them!
Peter couldn’t contain himself, he jumped into the sea and dragged the full net
of fish, 153 large fish, about 100 yards to the shore, where Jesus had a campfire
going and He actually cooked some of the fish for them.
That concludes the resurrection appearances given in the Gospels. Now turn to
1Corinthians 15:6, “He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the
same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep [died].”
This appearance seems to be is on a mountain in Galilee, possibly where Jesus gave
the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).
After Jesus’ resurrection He told His followers to go to Galilee, where most of
them were from; there they would see Him. This is very likely where Jesus gave
the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20.
1Corinthians 15:7a says, “He appeared to James, then to all the apostles.” This James is likely the Lord’s half-brother, not coming to saving faith until he saw the risen Lord. We aren’t given details about Jesus’ appearance to him, but James later served as a leader in the Jerusalem church, and the human author of the Book of James.
I believe the statement in verse 7b, “then to all the apostles,” is the event recorded in Acts 1:3-11, just before Jesus ascended back into heaven.
See 1Corinthians 15:8-9... Paul had been the main persecutor of the followers of Christ; until the risen Lord appeared to him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-22), after Christ’s ascension back into heaven.
Paul says (1Corinthians 15:8-9), “and last of all [Jesus] appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”
All the others to whom the Lord appeared, had seen Jesus during the 40 days between His resurrection and ascension; but the Lord appeared to Paul long after ascending back into heaven.
Paul felt like one abnormally born, because the other apostles had walked and lived with Jesus for three years, being taught by Him; whereas Paul had not only rejected Him as the Messiah, he had persecuted His followers.
Acts 1:3 says after His suffering [crucifixion], Jesus showed Himself to His followers, giving many convincing proofs that He was alive, appearing to them over a period of forty days, speaking to them of the kingdom of God.
Many convincing proofs [i.e., demonstrable evidences]: Think about all the Post- Resurrection appearances of Jesus, attested to in the Scriptures; the testimony of the early church, and the evidence throughout history of lives being totally changed, because of Christ.
But the real proof of the resurrection is experienced in your life, through the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit. This is very personal proof that Jesus lives, which clearly means He is not dead. God’s Not Dead!
1John 5:11-13, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
True followers of Christ serve as examples in this darkening and decaying world, for Christ lives in us by His Spirit, shining His Light into people’s hearts.”
Revelation 1:17-18, “I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was
dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!
John 11:25-26, ”I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will
live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.
2Corinthians 4:4-6, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so
that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image
of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as
your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"
made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge
of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”
Jesus Christ has set us free from the curse, corruption, and condemnation of
sin; and He has blessed us with the incomprehensible resources and riches of God,
making us His very own children who are destined to live together, forever, in a new
heaven, a new universe, with all those who belong to Him, in the very presence of
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Amen!