Season 5 Podcast 84 The Stories of the New Testament, Matthew 28 B, “Christ’s First Appearance.”

A New Voice of Freedom

Season 5 Podcast 84 The Stories of the New Testament, Matthew 28 B, “Christ’s First Appearance.”

One can only imagine the feelings of the Christians following the resurrection of Jesus. If it was difficult for the eleven disciples to believe, imagine the turmoil in the minds of all the other saints who would immediately have heard the stories. One can also only imagine the joy the apostles had when Christ first appeared to them as a resurrected being. Jesus only shows himself to those who believe on him.

Christ appears first to the women who came early to the Tomb. Matthew identifies Mary Magdalene and the other Mary; Mark identifies Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome. Luke identifies Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the Mother of James, and other women that were with them. John identifies Mary Magdalene.

Matthew records the visit of the Savior to the faithful women.

“And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is arisen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.” (Matthew 28:5-9)

Mark records that “Christ appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.” John records the special experience Mary Magdalene had.

“But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.” (John 20:11-16)

As recorded by Mark, Jesus appears to two other followers of Christ who had witnessed the crucifixion of Christ in Jerusalem.

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“After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.” (Mark 16: 12-13)

Luke gives us an extended account of the resurrected Lord’s visit to the two travelers.

“And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.” (Luke 24: 13-16)

It is hard to imagine that even in the presence of the resurrected Christ, the two travelers first considered him just another believer. We learn that without revelation we cannot know Christ, even if he is standing before us. Jesus speaks to them as if he were just another disciple.