There are many things about Jesus’ life, ministry, death, burial and resurrection. However one of the most amazing the is His appearing after the resurrection. Paul says it proves the “Gospel” message that he received and shared with so many. He says it this way in I Corinthians 15: “What I received I passed on to you. And it is the most important of all. Here is what it is. Christ died for our sins, just as Scripture said he would. He was buried. He was raised from the dead on the third day, just as Scripture said he would be. He appeared to Peter. Then he appeared to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than 500 believers at the same time. Most of them are still living. But some have died. He appeared to James. Then he appeared to all the apostles. Last of all, he also appeared to me. I was like someone who wasn’t born at the right time or in a normal way.”
His Appearing Was the Proof
[He was alive and it proved who He was]
The main reason the disciples believed in the resurrection of Jesus is that they saw Him alive after He was dead. Jesus presented Himself alive on a number of different occasions to His followers.
Thus we see them testifying, time and time again, to the fact they were eyewitnesses of His resurrection. This firsthand evidence of the disciples is a powerful argument for the resurrection of Christ. The disciples knew that He had risen because they saw Him with their own eyes.
Jesus’ Testimony About His Resurrection
First, we have Jesus’ own personal testimony is that He was raised from the dead.
I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades (Revelation 1:18).
Luke records Jesus’ saying.
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 (Luke 24:39).
The Various Appearances Of Jesus and How They Relate to Us Today:
Many different people saw Jesus after the resurrection. The appearances were as follows.
1. Mary Magdalene- “Weeping.”
The first appearance of Jesus was to Mary Magdalene and she was weeping. Have you ever wept? Are you weeping now? Jesus will appear to those who weep. He did then and He will now. He is a personal God and He sees every tear you cry and He appears to those who weep.
Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him, ‘Rabboni!’ (which is to say, Teacher) (John 20:14-16).
This next appearance was totally unexpected.
2. Mary The Mother Of James, Salome, And Joanna- “Seekers & Worshippers.”
Jesus also appeared to these three women. This happened after the appearance to Mary Magdalene. After an angel told them Jesus had risen, they were on their way to tell Jesus’ disciples when they met the risen Christ. They were seekers and worshippers. Do you seek God? Do you worship God in spirit and truth? If you do God will appear to you. He seeks those who will worship Him in Spirit and in truth. He appears to those who seek him and worship Him.
And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him (Matthew 28:9).
Again, we have another unexpected appearance. As was true with Mary Magdalene, these women touched the body of Jesus.
3. Peter- “Failure & Disappointment.”
Peter is the first person mentioned in Paul’s list of witnesses, and is the first of the apostles to see the risen Christ. This was a private appearance to reassure him, since he had just denied his Lord. Peter had failed. He had denied The Lord after he said he never would. Have you ever failed? Have you ever done something after having said, “you never would?” Jesus appeared to Peter and He will appear to you. He appears to those who have failed and been disappointed.
The gospels are completely silent as to the details of this meeting. Luke merely wrote:
The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon! (Luke 24:34).
4. Two Disciples On The Emmaus Road- “Confused & Wondering.”
Later on Easter Sunday, Jesus appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus. This is a interesting story because these two were telling Jesus everything that had just happened regarding Himself. They were left feeling confused & wondering. Have you ever been confused? Have you ever wondered? Jesus appears to those whom are confused and wondering.
And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were conversing with each other about all these things which had taken place. And it came about that while they were conversing and discussing, Jesus himself approached, and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing him (Luke 24:13-16).
As was true with the women, these two disciples were not expecting Jesus to rise. In fact, they were leaving Jerusalem because they had lost hope in Him.
5. The Disciples – (Thomas)- “Absent & Doubting.”
This is the last of the five appearances of Jesus on Easter Sunday. It took place in the evening, probably in the upper room in which Jesus had instituted the Lord’s Supper.Thomas was doubting and absent. He doubted so he didn’t show up. Have you ever no shown up? I mean even if you were their, you weren’t their? Have you ever doubted? Jesus shows up to those whom are absent and doubting.
It is recorded in both Luke’s and John’s gospel, giving us two independent accounts as to what happened. John wrote:
When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” And when he had said this, he showed them both his hands and his side. The disciples therefore rejoiced when they saw the Lord. . . But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came (John 20:19,20,24).
6. All Of The Disciples- “Devoted Followers.”
Eight days later He appeared again – this time with Thomas present. He just keeps showing up. He shows up to those who are faithful. Are you faithful? Have you followed Jesus for years? He shows up to those whom are faithful in following him.
And after eight days his disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace to you!’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at my hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving but believing.’ And Thomas answered and said to him, ‘My Lord and My God!’ (John 20:26-28).
7. Seven Disciples At The Sea Of Galilee-Fishing & Fellowship.”
Another appearance was to seven disciples on the Sea of Galilee. These is an interesting story as well. The disciples are fishing and Jesus is on the shore cooking fish. He then invites his disciples to bring some of the fish they caught, and join Him for some fellowship. Do you enjoy eating? Do you enjoy fellowship? Jesus enjoys fellowship because he values relationship. He appears to those whom desire fellowship.
After these things Jesus manifested himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and he manifested himself in this way. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples (John 20:1,2).
8. A Mountain In Galilee- “Showed up to see.”
There is also the account of Jesus appearing before His eleven disciples in Galilee. This a crowd that just showed up but ended up having an encounter with God. Have you ever showed up? “Don’t just show up to see, show up to be.” He appears to those whom shows up.
But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. And when they saw him, they worshiped him; but some were doubtful (Matthew 28:16,17).
9. Over Five Hundred People-Just part of the crowd.”
On another occasion, Jesus appeared to over five hundred people at one time. Have you ever felt like you were just one of the crowd? Every hand has a heart and every person has value. you matter to God. He appears to those who feel they are just another face in the crowd.
After that he was seen by over five hundred people at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15:6).
10. James- “Family & Faithful.”
Scripture also says that Jesus appeared to His half-brother James. Family and faithfulness matters to God. He wants to show up in the midst of your family and show Himself faithful. He appeared to James. He shows up to the faithful and to the family.
Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:7).
11. Those who watched Jesus ascend to Heaven- “Gazers & Watchers.” *Acts 1:3-8
Jesus appeared to those were watching and gazing. Have you ever just watched the sky? Have you ever just gazed off in space? Are you looking for his appearing? He shows up to the “gazers and watchers.”
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. Then you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem. You will be my witnesses in all Judea and Samaria. And you will be my witnesses from one end of the earth to the other.” After Jesus said this, he was taken up to heaven. They watched until a cloud hid him from their sight. While he was going up, they kept on looking at the sky. Suddenly two men dressed in white clothing stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking at the sky? Jesus has been taken away from you into heaven. But he will come back in the same way you saw him go.” (Acts 1:8-11 NIRV)
12. Saul- “Persecuting & Argumentative.”
After Jesus’ ascension He appeared again – this time to Saul of Tarsus. Saul was persecuting and argumentative. Some people are against everything. the argue and are against everyone and everything. Have you ever been argumentative? He even appears to those whom are argumentative.
And as he [Saul] traveled he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are your persecuting me?’ And he said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting’ (Acts 9:3-5).
These are the appearances of Jesus that the New Testament records. They caused His disciples to believe that He had risen from the dead. Luke says that Jesus showed Himself alive with many convincing proofs.
To these he also presented himself alive after his suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3)
Summary
The Bible says that Jesus made a number of appearances after His death. They were to a number of different people over a forty-day period. The Bible specifically says that on Easter Sunday Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, the women that came to Jesus tomb (Mary the Mother of James, Salome, and Joanna), Peter, and two disciples on the Emmaus road. He also appeared to the remainder of the Twelve Disciples with Thomas absent. Later he appeared to them with Thomas present. There was also an appearance to seven disciples on the Sea of Galilee. On another occasion he appeared to over five hundred people at the same time. There is also an appearance to James. Finally Jesus appeared to Saul of Tarsus – the man who became the Apostle Paul. These appearances convinced His disciples, beyond any doubt, that He had risen from the dead. Jesus just kept showing up. It proves he desires relationship with us his creation. And one day He will appear again to take us to be with Him forever.
