April 13, 2021 (Tuesday)
After His resurrection, Jesus Christ appeared eleven times. The appearance discussed in this blog is the appearance to above five hundred people.
“Then he appeared to more than five hundred of his followers at once, most of whom are still alive, although some have died” (1 Cor 15:6).
The eleven disciples went to the hill in Galilee where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him, even though some of them doubted. Jesus drew near and said to them, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt 28:16-20).
He said to them, “Go throughout the whole world and preach the gospel to all people. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. Believers will be given the power to perform miracles: they will drive out demons in my name; they will speak in strange tongues; if they pick up snakes or drink any poison, they will not be harmed; they will place their hands on sick people, and these will get well” (Mark 16:15-18).
Over 500 people gathered on a mountain to see and hear Jesus. When they saw Jesus, some of them worshiped Him, but some doubted. If people of that day could look Jesus in the eye and doubt the resurrection, why should we be surprised when some folks today doubt His resurrection? The fact is, many of those people were there when He died. They watched as His body was removed from the cross and hastily prepared for burial. There was no doubt in their mind that Jesus died that day. Now, weeks later, there he stood, teaching the crowd. Those eyewitnesses believed. But some doubted.
Some people have many doubts about all things related to Jesus’ death on the cross and his resurrection from death. Saul of Tarsus had his own doubts about the claims of Christians, but after the Lord met him on the road to Damascus, he was told to go to a home in that city and wait. As he waited, he prayed, and then there fell from his eyes as it were scales that had rendered him blind. When those scales fell from his eyes, he saw the room he was in and the people who were there. But he saw more. He saw the reality of Jesus and His power to save all who would believe in Him. Doubters today can see houses, trees, etc. but they cannot see the truth because they are spiritually blind. Paul said Satan has blinded them. The truth of the gospel has taken the scales from the eyes of many and and now they believe and serve the Lord.
On that day He commissioned His followers to make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to obey His commandments, all of which are summed up in “Love God and love everyone else, too.”
This song, written by E. Margaret Clarkson, in 1954, was revised by her in 1963 to read:
O’er hosts of hell, o’er darkness, death and sin,
My name to bear and in that name to conquer —
So send I you, My victory to win.
So send I you – to take to souls in bondage
The Word of Truth that sets the captive free
To break the bonds of sin, to loose death’s fetters —
So send I you, to bring the lost to Me.
So send I you — My strength to know in weakness,
My joy in grief, My perfect peace in pain,
To prove My pow’r, My grace, My promised presence —
So send I you, eternal fruit to gain.
So send I you — to bear My cross with patience,
And then one day with joy to lay it down,
To hear My voice, “Well done, My faithful servant —
Come share My throne, My kingdom and My crown!”
“As the Father hath sent Me, so send I you.”
1. The appearance of Jesus to Mary Magdalene and the message to the disciples Mar 16:9-11 John 20:11-18.
2. The appearance of Jesus to the other women Mat 28:9-10. (Some of the guard report to the Jewish rulers Matt 28:11-15.)
3. The appearance to two disciples (Cleophas and another) on the way to Emmaus Mark 16:12-13 Luke 24:13-32.
4. The report of the two disciples and their news of the appearance to Simon Peter Luke 24:33-35 1Cor 15:5
5. The appearance to the astonished disciples (Thomas absent) with a commission and their failure to convince Thomas Mark 16:14 Luke 24:36-43 John 20:19-25.
6. The appearance to the disciples the next Sunday night and the convincing of Thomas John 20:26-31 1Cor 15:5.
7. The appearance to the seven disciples beside the Sea of Galilee; The miraculous draught of fishes John 21:1-25.
8. The appearance to about five hundred on an appointed mountain in Galilee, and a commission given Mat 28:16-20 Mark 16:15-18 1Cor 15:6.
9. The appearance to James the brother of Jesus 1Cor 15:7.
10. The appearance to the disciples with another commission Luke 24:44-49 Acts 1:3-8.
11. The last appearance and ascension Mar 16:19-20 Luke 24:50-53 Acts 1:9-12