Happy Friday!
We’re continuing our April series this week discussing Jesus’ appearance after His resurrection. Who all did He speak to? Where did He go? If you’re curious or have similar questions, I have listed the names or groups below along with Scripture references.
Who did Jesus appear to after His resurrection?
-Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18)
-The other women at the tomb (Matthew 28:8-10)
-Peter in Jerusalem (Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5)
-The two travelers on the road (Mark 16:12, 13)
-Ten disciples behind closed doors (Mark 16:14; Luke 24: 36-43; John 20:19-25)
-All disciples, with Thomas but excluding Judas Iscariot (John 20:26-31; I Corinthians 15:5)
-Seven disciples fishing (John 21:1-14)
-Eleven disciples on the mountain (Matthew 28:16-20)
-A crowd of 500 (I Corinthians 15:6)
-Jesus’ brother James (I Corinthians 15:7)
-Those who watched Jesus ascend into heaven (Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:3-8)
What impact do you believe seeing the resurrected Jesus had on the people that He appeared to or spoke to?
Most of the early Christ followers, especially His disciples, were martyred for their faith. Some people might string along a story that they know is a lie for fame or fortune, but I haven’t heard of anyone who dies for something they know to be a lie. These early believers went on to change the world. As the Acts account states of Peter and John, “When they (the religious leaders) saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13
Seeing resurrected Jesus changed these men and they possessed a boldness that was powerful and literally could not be stopped. And aren’t we, believers who have come long after these first believers, thankful that they stopped at nothing short of death to spread the good news!
Jesus is alive and He is still now, in full authority, having the keys to death itself (Rev. 1:18), at the right hand of God. There, He mediates for us. (Hebrews 7:25; 1 Timothy 2:5) What a wonderful, powerful savior we serve!
**summarized from Life Application Study Bible, NIV, Zondervan
Comments