Want to learn more about Jesus' resurrection?
The strongest evidence we have on this matter is 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).
In the book of Luke we also see Jesus providing proof to His disciples, "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).
What if I told you that hundreds of people saw Jesus after the resurrection? Let's take a closer look at some of those appearances . . .
The first appearance of Jesus was to Mary Magdalene.
"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).
Then we have His appearance to Mary, the Mother of James, Salome, and Joanna. (Note: I think it's so cool that Jesus first appeared to the women that followed Him, before He appeared to His male disciples)
"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. And as was true with Mary Magdalene, these women touched the body of Jesus.
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. 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).
Later on Easter Sunday, Jesus appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus. (Note: these two disciples were so disheartened by the death of Jesus that they were leaving Jerusalem.)
"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).
Which brings us to the last of the recorded 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. 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).
Eight days later He appeared again - this time with Thomas present.
"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).
Another appearance was to seven of the disciples on the Sea of Galilee.
"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 21:1, 2).
There is also the account of Jesus appearing before His eleven disciples in Galilee.
"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). (Note: This scripture bears out an earlier statement recorded in the book of John, "But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him." (John 12:37) This statement is also true today.
I find it fascinating that Jesus regularly performed His miracles on the Sabbath, which should always point us to the eternal Sabbath that is to come. In that existence Jesus’ rule will be complete, and there will be no need for Jesus to perform miracles for all things will be made new. Under His perfect rule all things will be good. His miracles point us to the coming age of perfection and freedom.
On another occasion, Jesus appeared to over five hundred people at one time.
"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).
Scripture also tells us that Jesus appeared to His half-brother James.
"Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles." (1 Corinthians 15:7).
The details of this appearance are not recorded, however we know from history that James, who was a skeptic while Jesus walked this earth as a man, became a passionate follower of his half-brother after this encounter.
After Jesus' ascension He appeared again - this time to Saul of Tarsus.
"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).
We also have this account written by Luke, "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)
Many encounters, with many people, all to help them believe and to accomplish the Kingdom of God. And if God, who allowed His only Son to die a horrible death, can turn that event into an act of great love and joy, to the point that we now proclaim the Friday of His death, Good Friday, is it not true that He will accomplish that same thing with the pain and circumstances of our own lives? (Romans 8:28)
Finally, lets conclude with the last words in the book of John, picking up right after Jesus had appeared to Thomas,
"Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.' Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20: 29-30)
