Appearances of the Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ

Scriptures within the Word of God reveal the appearances before and after the glorification of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ

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Appearances of the Resurrected

Lord Jesus Christ

 

By

Kathy L. McFarland

 

25 April 2011


First Appearance:  The Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ appears to a weeping Mary Magdalene at the tomb after Peter and John depart.  She first mistakenly identifies him as a gardener, but immediately recognizes Him when He speaks to her (John 20:11-17; Mark 16:9-11)

Second Appearance: Christ appears to the fearful but joyous women, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary (mother of James) and others, on the way from the empty tomb to tell the disciples. (Matthew 28:9-10; Luke 24:1-10).

Third Appearance: The Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ reveals Himself to two disciples, one named Cleopas, as they walk on the road to Emmaus, approximately seven miles from Jerusalem.   Christ speaks of Old Testament Scriptures concerning His death and resurrection as He walks with them, and later connects these events with the blessed bread He breaks and gives to them. The sharing of bread, laden with deep typological shadows and mysteries, supernaturally reveals Christ in recognizable form, and the two disciples know Him. (Mark 16:12-13; Luke 24:13-35)

Fourth Appearance: Peter runs to the empty sepulchre on Resurrection Day and finds only the linen clothes within the tomb, prior to Christ’s appearing to the two Emmaus disciples. At some point, the two Emmaus disciples report to the eleven disciples gathered in Jerusalem that Christ is seen arisen from death by both them, and the disciple Peter Simon (Cephas). (Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5)

Fifth Appearance: The fifth appearance of the resurrected Christ is to the unbelieving, hard-hearted disciples as they sit eating. (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-23; 1 Corinthians 15:5)

Sixth Appearance: Christ appears to the eleven disciples eight days after His resurrection.  Doubting Thomas is present in this meeting of the Resurrected Christ, and believes He is arisen from the dead because he sees it with his own eyes. (John 20:26-29)

Seventh Appearance: Resurrected Jesus Christ next appears to seven disciples, Simon Peter, Thomas (Didymus), Nathanael, John and James (Sons of Zebedee), and two other disciples by the Sea of Galilee. He shouts to their boat from the shore and instructs the disciples to cast their nets for a multitude of fish. Simon Peter recognizes the Savior, and jumps out of the boat to come to him on land quickly. (John 21:1-23).

Eighth Appearance: The eighth appearance was to about five hundred brethren who see His Resurrected body with their own eyes, at the same time, and are able to tell others what they saw as proof through their testimonial witness. (1 Corinthians 15:6)

Ninth Appearance: Next Christ appears to James, the Lord’s brother (1 Corinthians 15:7).  James was probably not a believer prior to the resurrection (John 7:3-5), but immediately after the resurrection he is numbered among the believers (Acts 1:14; Galatians 1:19).  He later became one of the outstanding leaders in the apostolic church.

Tenth Appearance: Then the Lord Jesus Christ comes to eleven disciples on an appointed mountain in Galilee, where He gives them the Great Commission to preach the gospel. (Matthew 28:16-20)

Eleventh Appearance: His eleventh appearance occurs at the same time of His ascension from the Mount of Olives. This is the last appearance of Christ to His disciples prior to His glorification in Heaven. (Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:3-9)

Glorified Appearance after Ascension

Twelfth Appearance: The Ascension glorified Christ appears to Stephen just prior to the time of his stoning martyrdom that was witnessed by Saul. (Acts 7:55-56)

Thirteenth Appearance: The thirteenth appearance of Christ is to Saul on the road to Damascus as he was about to continue his work of persecuting Christians. It is the time he was made blind for three days, just prior to his conversion to the Apostle Paul. (Acts 9:3-6; cf. Acts 22:6-11; 26:13-18)

Fourteenth Appearance: Christ appears to Paul in the Temple and warns him of the persecution to come. (Acts 22:17-21)

Fifteenth Appearance: The fifteenth appearance of Christ is to Paul while in the prison in Caesarea. Scripture records that “the Lord stood by him,” and told him that he would bear witness in Rome. (Acts 23:11)

Sixteenth Appearance: The final and sixteenth appearance of the glorified, resurrected, Lord Jesus Christ is to the Apostle John at the beginning of the revelation given to him in setting of Heaven.  (Revelation 1:12-20)

 

About the Author: Kathy L. McFarland is a Becker Bible Studies Teacher and Author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She has received her Bachelor of Science degree in Religious Studies from Liberty University, and is now working toward an advanced degree of Masters of Divinity with an Academic / Pre-Ph.D. Track through the Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary & Graduate School. She is a Hebrew language student attending Israeli taught Ulpan and a noted expert on Old Testament exegesis, Christian apologetics, and Bible typology and mysteries.

Last modified: Wednesday, 18 September 2013, 12:18 PM