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Jesus’ Appearances to His Disciples After His Resurrection – Viral Believer
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Jesus’ Appearances to His Disciples After His Resurrection

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is undeniably the most significant event in the history of Christianity, proving that our Lord and Savior has triumphed over death and sin. After experiencing unimaginable suffering, Jesus rose from the grave, conquering the very thing that separates us from the eternal love of God. But it doesn’t just end there! One of the most fascinating aspects of Christ’s resurrection is His appearances to His disciples after this glorious event. Throughout the pages of the New Testament, we find some truly remarkable encounters between the risen Lord and His followers that forever changed their lives and shaped the course of Christianity.

These post-resurrection appearances play a vital role in strengthening the faith of His disciples and preparing them for the mission ahead. In the NKJV Bible, we read detailed accounts of these divine encounters that not only reaffirm the truth of Jesus’ resurrection but also provides profound lessons for our own faith journey. Whether it’s the poignant meeting with Mary Magdalene in the garden, the revealing walk with two disciples on the road to Emmaus, or the empowering encounter with the eleven apostles in the upper room, each of these appearances gives us a glimpse into the extraordinary love and power of our risen King.

So, let’s take a deeper dive into these post-resurrection appearances of Jesus Christ and discover the invaluable lessons they hold for every believer in the journey of faith. Prepare to be inspired, encouraged, and transformed as we go on this incredible journey together, walking alongside Jesus and His disciples in those momentous days following His miraculous victory over death.

1. The Surprising Return: Jesus’ First Appearance to His Disciples

After Jesus was crucified and buried, His disciples were left in deep despair, feeling that all hope was lost. Yet as prophesied, Jesus was resurrected on the third day, and His first appearance to His disciples is nothing short of divine intervention. It is uniquely surprising and filled with immense joy, as well as the ultimate testament to God’s love and faithfulness.

In John 20:19-20, the New King James Version records that Jesus appeared in a locked room to His disciples, who were gathered there in fear: “Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.”

During this unexpected appearance, Jesus revealed His miraculous resurrection and bore witness to the fulfillment of His promises. The disciples’ reactions were a mix of amazement, joy, and relief, knowing that their Savior had indeed triumphed over death. These events marked the beginning of the disciples’ newfound boldness and understanding of Jesus’ teachings. They were finally ready to accept their mission and to spread the Good News. Below are the key highlights of Jesus’ first appearance to His disciples:

  • Evidence of the Resurrected Christ: Jesus showed the disciples His hands and His side, proof of His crucifixion and subsequent resurrection.
  • Fulfillment of Jesus’ Promise: Jesus’ first appearance was a fulfillment of His promise to rise on the third day and to return to His disciples after His resurrection.
  • Gift of Peace: Jesus extended an offering of peace to His disciples, reassuring them of their safety and of His presence amidst their fears.
  • Strengthening of Faith: The disciples’ faith was strengthened by their encounter with the resurrected Christ, providing them with the assurance and inspiration necessary to continue spreading His teachings.

Jesus’ surprising return to His disciples serves as a powerful reminder of God’s incredible love and faithfulness towards His people, promising that even in the darkest moments, His light will shine through.

2. Unveiling the Truth: Jesus’ Powerful Teachings after His Resurrection

After His resurrection, Jesus continued to teach His disciples, unveiling powerful truths that would empower them to spread the gospel and follow His commandments. In Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus shared the Great Commission, emphasizing the importance of making disciples, teaching them to observe His commands, and baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This passage reveals Christ’s divine authority, His eternal presence, and the global scope of His mission. These teachings would not only influence the disciples but also countless generations of believers who followed.

Jesus also further clarified the significance and purpose of His death and resurrection with His disciples. In Luke 24:44-49, He unveiled the ultimate truth about the prophecies in the Scriptures, drawing from the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms. He then commissioned the disciples to be His witnesses, giving them the ultimate responsibility to share the Good News with the entire world. Importantly, Jesus promised them the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, emphasizing His continuous presence and guidance in their lives. These post-resurrection teachings lay an essential foundation for understanding the depth of Jesus’ love, sacrifice, and the resurrected life He offers to all who believe in Him.

3. Breaking Bread Together: Jesus’ Last Supper with His Disciples

Just hours before Jesus’ crucifixion, He gathered His disciples for one last meal together, known as The Last Supper (Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-38; John 13:1-30). This precious moment was marked with deep fellowship, profound teaching, and the institution of a new covenant. It was during this time that Jesus established an essential Christian practice called the Breaking of Bread, which would come to serve as an ongoing commemoration of His sacrificial death and victorious resurrection.

Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:24, NKJV). In the same way, He took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:25, NKJV). The act of breaking bread together is both an expression of communal faith in Christ’s sacrifice and a proclamation of His second coming. Every time believers partake in it, they are:

  • Remembering Jesus’ sacrificial love and the new covenant He established through His death and resurrection.
  • Proclaiming the Good news of salvation to others, as breaking bread is a visible proclamation of Christ’s sacrifice and a witness to the world.
  • Anticipating Jesus’ second coming, as He promised to come again and establish His kingdom on earth.
  • Unity, as we, the body of Christ, come together with a common faith and a shared experience of God’s grace, expressing oneness in Him.

Breaking bread is a significant and powerful act for every believer, as it unites us in worship and fellowship with our Savior and one another.

4. Ascending into the Heavens: Jesus’ Final Goodbye to His Followers

After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples multiple times over a period of 40 days, teaching them about the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:3) and giving them final instructions. These events led to His magnificent ascension into the heavens, marking an unforgettable and emotional farewell. On that day, in the company of His disciples, Jesus led them out as far as Bethany, where He lifted up His hands and blessed them. As He was speaking and bestowing His blessings, He was taken up into heaven and a cloud received Him out of their sight (Luke 24:50-51, Acts 1:9).

As the disciples gazed into the sky, completely astounded, two angels appeared before them with an important message. They said: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). With this assurance that Jesus would return, the disciples were filled with joy and returned to Jerusalem where they devoted themselves to prayer and togetherness. They continually worshipped in the temple, praising God and eagerly awaiting the arrival of the promised Holy Spirit (Luke 24:52-53). This beautiful moment in history is a reminder for all believers that we should:

  • Follow Jesus’ teachings and instructions, sharing the gospel with others and making disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20).
  • Remain steadfast in prayer and fellowship, as the early disciples demonstrated in the Upper Room following Jesus’ ascension (Acts 1:14).
  • Anticipate the return of our risen Savior, living a life that honors Him and waiting expectantly for His glorious reappearance (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

Strive to remain watchful, prayerful, and faithful, knowing that in the meantime, Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven and will one day return to gather His followers and establish His everlasting Kingdom (John 14:2-3).

5. Faith Renewed: The Disciples’ Mission after Jesus’ Resurrection

After Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples were transformed from being afraid and scattered, to being bold and united in their mission. This mission, known as the Great Commission, was given to them by Jesus Himself in Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV): “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” In order to carry out this mission, Jesus instructed them to first wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit, as seen in Acts 1:4-5 and Acts 1:8. It is this anointing and empowerment by the Holy Spirit that brought about the renewal of their faith and equipped them for their mission.

As a result, the book of Acts narrates how the disciples began to fulfill the Great Commission. Some notable events which display their faith renewed include:

  • Pentecost: Acts 2 records the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the 120 followers of Jesus, which empowered them to preach the gospel, perform signs and wonders, and ultimately led to the formation of the early church.
  • Peter’s boldness: Just a few days after denying Jesus, Peter’s faith was renewed as he boldly preached to thousands and saw 3,000 people get saved (Acts 2:14-41).
  • Miracles and healings: Acts 3:1-10 tells of Peter and John healing a lame man at the temple, which led to opportunities for many to hear the gospel and believe in Jesus.
  • Persecution and prayer: Despite facing opposition and persecution, the early church continued to grow, as seen in Acts 4 and Acts 5, thanks to their unyielding faith and constant prayers.
  • Church expansion: Acts 8 records how the message of Christ began to spread beyond Jerusalem, even reaching the gentiles through the ministry of Philip and others, illustrating the believers’ commitment to sharing the gospel regardless of geographical or cultural boundaries.

This renewed faith in the lives of the disciples serves as an encouragement and reminder for us today to seek the Holy Spirit’s empowerment, to be bold in our faith, and to actively engage in our own God-given missions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the varied accounts of provide us with a rich tapestry of understanding and hope. These narratives not only depict the transformational effect of the risen Christ on his followers but also offer profound lessons on faith, belief, and perseverance for modern-day believers. It’s incredible to think that through these stories, Jesus has continued to touch countless lives, even 2,000 years after he first appeared to his disciples.

As we ponder the depths of these gospel accounts, they prompt us to grapple with questions about the nature of resurrection and our own spiritual journey. Undeniably, Christ’s post-resurrection appearances hold deep meaning for both his followers and skeptics – asserting hope and challenging the status quo of beliefs all at once. It is in the sharing of these age-old mysteries that the true beauty and redemptive power of the resurrection narrative unfolds. Entrenched in the retelling of these stories is the essence of what it means to have faith and to experience firsthand the transforming power of Christ’s love and divine purpose.

So the next time you hear or read about , remember that they serve as enduring reminders of God’s boundless love for humanity and his never-ending invitation to embrace his teachings and live a life of faith. Every story tells a lesson, and with every lesson, may our faith deepen, our love be more profound, and our conversations be filled with wonder and purpose.

Pastor Duke Taber
Pastor Duke Taber

Pastor Duke Taber

All articles have been written or reviewed by Pastor Duke Taber.
Pastor Duke Taber is an alumnus of Life Pacific University and Multnomah Biblical Seminary.
He has been in pastoral ministry since 1988.
Today he is the owner and managing editor of 3 successful Christian websites that support missionaries around the world.
He is currently starting a brand new church in Mesquite NV called Mesquite Worship Center, a Non-Denominational Spirit Filled Christian church in Mesquite Nevada.