Jesus Post-Resurrection Appearances

“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

One of the facts about Jesus and Christianity that many today still doubt, debate and deny is that Jesus was resurrected. In His infinite wisdom Jesus knew this would be an issue so He appeared many times before He was caught up into heaven so that there could be no doubt about His resurrection.

The first appearance was to several women who came to the tomb and were told by an angel that He had risen (Matt. 28). They took hold of His feet and worshipped Him and Jesus told them to tell the disciples to go to Galilee where He would meet them. It is interesting to me that Jesus chose to appear first to those who had been so intent on serving Him before His death.

We are also told of His appearance to the two men who were on the road to Emmaus. Jesus walked with them and “explained to them the things concerning Himself in the Scriptures” (Luke 24:13-30). Later in that same chapter in Luke we learn that He appeared to the disciples and offered to let them touch Him to prove that he was alive. He also ate with them. It was during this time that “He opened their mind to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45).

John 20:19ff tells us He appeared to the disciples and showed them both His hands and His side where the nails had been driven during His crucifixion. At that time He also gave them the Holy Spirit.

Thomas, the one known as the doubting disciple was not with the other disciples at that time and when they told him, he refused to believe without seeing the Lord Jesus himself. Eight days later Jesus appeared to Thomas and the rest of the disciples and Thomas believed.

Jesus also appeared later to the disciples at the Sea of Galilee and provided breakfast for them. He wanted them to understand He would provide for them.

Paul tells us in I Cor. 15:6 that Jesus also appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time and in v. 8 shares that Jesus appeared to Him also.

Finally, He gathered His disciples together and led them to Bethany where he blessed them and ascended to heaven (Luke 24:50). These men then returned to Jerusalem with great joy and were continually in the temple giving praise to God.

Never doubt the resurrection of Jesus. It is a well-proven fact.