| Jesus’ Post-Resurrection Appearances
by Tony Tench
Adapted from Biblical Illustrator Magazine, Spring 1998 (A
Publication of LifeWay Christian Resources).
See chart below . . .
With the following words Luke succinctly described Jesus’
post-resurrection appearances: “He showed himself to
these men and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive.
He appeared to them for over a period of 40 days and spoke
about the kingdom of God.” 1
A sequencing of these appearances can be outlined beginning
with Easter morning when a group of women went to visit Jesus’
tomb. On their way to tell others about the empty tomb, they
encountered the resurrected Lord. After these women reported
their encounter, Peter and the others ran with excitement
to the tomb. After the disciples had returned to their homes,
Mary Magdalene remained near the tomb where she saw Jesus.
That same day two disciples who had heard the women’s
report, were walking toward Emmaus disappointed by the events
of the weekend. On the road they met Jesus. These two disciples
returned that evening to Jerusalem to hear that Jesus had
also appeared to Peter. That same evening Jesus appeared to
the disciples while Thomas was not present. One week later
while they were still in Jerusalem, He appeared again to the
disciples, but this time Thomas was with them.
As Jesus had instructed them through the women’s testimony,
the disciples went to Galilee. There, while waiting to meet
with Jesus, some of the disciples went out on the lake to
fish. Jesus appeared to them on the lake shore. Later, still
in Galilee, the disciples gathered on the mountain where Jesus
shared with them His plans for their ministry. Paul recorded
that Jesus appeared to 500 at one time. This appearance may
have been the mountainside event that Matthew recorded.2 If
not, this appearance occurred prior to the disciples’
return to Jerusalem.
Before the end of the 40 days of instruction, the disciples
returned to Jerusalem from Galilee. At some point, in Jerusalem,
Jesus also appeared to His brother James. Forty days after
His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples at Bethany
where they watched as Jesus ascended into heaven. Following
the ascension, the disciples returned to Jerusalem to await
the Holy Spirit’s coming.
Luke also recorded Jesus’ appearance to Saul on the
Damascus road about A.D. 34-35. Some time prior to Saul’s
conversion, Jesus appeared from heaven to Stephen as he was
being stoned to death. Years later, about A.D. 90, John wrote
that Jesus appeared to him on the Island of Patmos.
The significance of the appearances is found in the following
answers to the question, “Why did Jesus reveal Himself
first to those faithful women?” They were with Him when
He died. These women, whose “testimony carried little
if any official or legal value in the first century,”
3 represented the poor in spirit receiving the kingdom and
the meek inheriting the earth. Jesus sent these humble, yet
faithful ones with the message of new life.
THE GRIEVING COMFORTED (John 20:10-18) Jesus next appeared
to Mary Magdalene. Her tears of grief were turned into joy
at the sight of Jesus. Her testimony to the disciples was
an excited, “I have seen the Lord.” Thus is the
testimony of one who has known the comfort of the risen Lord.
SCRIPTURE FULFILLED (Luke 24:13-35) Jesus found the two on
their way to Emmaus disappointed because they had hoped that
Jesus was the One to redeem Israel (v. 21). Jesus helped renew
their hope by showing them from Scripture that He was the
One; in Him all Scripture had been fulfilled.
THE FALLEN RESTORED (Luke 24:34; 1 Cor. 15:5) Peter had denied
Jesus at His trial. He had failed miserably to keep his promise
to stand with Jesus no matter what. Through this appearance,
Jesus forgave and restored His fallen disciple to the place
of leadership the Lord had planned for him to accomplish.
PEACE, PURPOSE, AND POWER (Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-23;
Acts 1:4) The accounts of Jesus’ appearance to the disciples
on Easter evening have three commonalties. Jesus came into
the midst of their fears with the promise of peace. He described
for them from Scripture the purpose for which He had called
them, in other words, to be sent as witnesses of His gospel.
And He promised them the power of the Holy Spirit who would
soon come to dwell within them.
DOUBTS REMOVED (John 20:24-29) By the next week Thomas had
already carefully explained his doubts. Thomas wanted to place
his finger in Jesus’ hand and to place his hand on Jesus’
side. Jesus appeared to Thomas to remove his doubts. When
Jesus came, He offered to let Thomas do what he needed to
do. He met Thomas at the place of his doubts and dispelled
them.
“FOLLOWSHIP” RESTATED (John 21:1-23) As Jesus
walked with Peter by the sea, He allowed Peter to renew his
commitment to care for the flock of disciples whom the Lord
had already called. Peter had regained hope from Jesus’
first appearance, but there by the lake Jesus challenged him
to stand anew as the “rock” in whom Jesus had
placed confidence.
SERVICE COMMISSIONED (Matt. 28:16-20) Still in Galilee, the
disciples arrived at the place where Jesus had instructed
them to gather. There Jesus gave them the “mission statement”
for the rest of their lives. Based on His authority, they
were to go, disciple, baptize, and teach, knowing all the
while that their Lord would be with them.
TESTIMONY CORROBORATED (1 Cor. 15:6) The significance of
Jesus’ appearance to a group of 500 was to document
that many people had seen the resurrected Lord. A group so
large was sufficient testimony to the event. The story was
not fabricated!
TRANSFORMATION REALIZED (1 Cor. 15:7) Jesus’ appearance
to His brother James showed the change that came from an encounter
with the resurrected Lord. James and his family were not simply
doubtful of Jesus’ ministry; they were opposed to it
(Mark 3:21). So this appearance transformed James’s
skepticism into real faith as he became the leader of the
church in Jerusalem.
VISION FOCUSED (Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:6-11) On the day of
His ascension, Jesus helped focus His disciples vision for
their future. He blessed them, bringing closure to their time
together. They responded with joy, praising God for new life
in Christ. Then Jesus promised them power, sending them to
the rest of the world as His witnesses.
ASSURANCE REVEALED (Acts 7:55-56) Having proclaimed the gospel
before a hostile crowd, Stephen was stoned. He saw Jesus standing
at God’s right hand in heaven. This appearance gave
Stephen assurance that his death was not in vain. Because
he had been faithful to proclaim the gospel without regard
for his personal well-being, he would be received by the Lord!
APOSTLE CHOSEN (Acts 9:3-6,17; 1 Cor. 9:1; 15:8) God had
chosen Paul as His messenger to “. . . Gentiles and
kings and the sons of Israel” (Acts 9:15, NASB). Paul
would bridge the gospel from Israel to the rest of the world.
An apostle was one sent with a message. Saul had been an apostle
of the high priest, but this appearance transformed his message
from persecution to proclamation of eternal life in Jesus!
HOPE VICTORIOUS (Rev. 1:10-18) As the first century came
to a close in the midst of great persecution, Jesus revealed
Himself to John. Imprisoned on Patmos, John received the “revelation”
as a message of hope for all believers in every age who lay
down their lives for their Lord. Victory over physical and
spiritual tribulation was promised for all who were faithful
to the Lord, “the Living One” (v. 18, NIV).
1 Acts 1:3, New International Version.
2 James Orr, “The Resurrection of Jesus” in The
Resurrection of Christ by H. C. G. Moule and James Orr (Minneapolis:
Klock & Klock Christian Publishers, Inc., 1980 reprint),
156.
3 Holman Bible Handbook, David S. Dockery, gen. ed. (Nashville:
Holman Bible Publishers, 1992), 604.
Tony Tench is an International Mission Board teacher in the
Baptist Mission in Malawi.
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