Article: The Four Post Resurrection Appearances of Jesus Christ

 

John 20: 14-15 – “And when she had thus said, she turned herself back (would have been better translated, ‘she was caused to turn back’; perhaps she noticed the Angels looking past her at someone else; Williams said, ‘to a wounded heart seeking Christ Himself, Angels, however glorious, have no interest’), and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus (regarding our Lord’s appearances after the Resurrection, there seem to have been two reasons He was not easily recognizable; the first was unbelief, and the second was that His Appearance was changed, at least to a small degree; but unbelief was the biggest problem!).

“Jesus said unto her, Woman, why do you weep?  (This is identical to that asked by the Angels.  By virtue of His Death and Resurrection, He for all practical purposes had removed the cause of weeping.)  Whom do you seek?  (This presents the second question asked by Jesus, and really gets to the heart of the matter.)  She, supposing Him to be the gardener (evidently means she thought this man worked for Joseph of Arimathaea, who owned this garden; still, there is no thought of Resurrection!), said unto Him, Sir, if you have borne Him hence, tell me where you have laid Him (in her mind, the Sacred Body was to be embalmed with the precious spices, which quite possibly she had spent her all to buy; she probably knew that the Jews desired to take His Body and place it in the garbage dump, so she was concerned), and I will take Him away (simply means that if they will allow her, she will give Him a proper burial).”

John 20:19 – “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week (proclaims the first gathering on a Sunday), when the doors were shut where the Disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews (the ‘fear’ expressed here pertained to the idea or thought that the religious authorities having now murdered Jesus, may very well seek to do the same to His closest Followers; the Day of Pentecost would remove this ‘fear’), came Jesus and stood in the midst (gives us no information as to how this was done; He just seems to have suddenly appeared), and said unto them, Peace be unto you (presents a common salutation, but coming from Him, and especially at this time, it spoke volumes).”

John 20:25 – “The other Disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord (was the greatest announcement they had ever made, at least since their conversion).  But he said unto them, Except I shall see in His Hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His Side, I will not believe (unbelief ever takes us lower and lower; the problem with untold millions is that ‘they will not Believe’).

John 21:3 – “Simon Peter said unto them, I go a fishing (even though the Scripture is not clear, it seems this fishing expedition was not for pleasure, but rather the necessity of making a living for their families; however, a Ministry which originates in the energy of the carnal will is fruitless; but when under the Governance of the Head of the Church, it brings forth rich fruit). They say unto him, We also go with you (represents the other six Disciples present; we aren’t told where the remaining four were at this time).  They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately (probably referred to one of the vessels formerly used by Peter and the sons of Zebedee in their former fishing business); and that night they caught nothing (points to the fact that they were doing this for income, not for pleasure).

Everything Jesus Christ did during His earthly Ministry had a specific purpose and meaning.  Nothing was done by chance or happenstance.  As well, after His Resurrection from the Garden tomb and appearances for 40 days, all that transpired had purpose and meaning as well.

In John, Chapters 20 and 21, after the Resurrection the Scripture records four appearances of the Lord that addressed four great enemies of the human heart.  They are:  “sorrow, fear, doubt, and care.”

 

SORROW

The first appearance recorded is found in John 20:14-15 and concerns Mary Magdalene.  Mary’s heart was broken and filled with sorrow.  The Master was gone, His Body disappeared, or so she thought.  Sorrow had gripped her and her grief was overbearing; this is a perfect picture of the world today because of sin.  How many in the world today have no hope, no joy, no peace, and their hearts are troubled and filled with sorrow because of the Fall.  The Text tells us that Jesus stood before her and yet, because of her overwhelming sorrow and grief, she doesn’t recognize the Master.  In her weeping, the Lord responds to her and says, “Woman, why do you weep?”  What a statement, and, in fact, the Lord is asking the same question to us all.  Why?  Because His Resurrection and Ascension shows us the fact that Calvary is a Finished Work.  At Calvary all sorrow ultimately was banished.  Jesus Christ, by virtue of His Death and Resurrection, has taken away the cause of weeping and sorrow as it regards the great difficulties of life.

 

FEAR

This great truth is found in John 20:19.

The Text says the “Disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews.”  The fear expressed by the Disciples pertained to their fear of the religious authorities who had crucified Christ.  They feared too that they would be put to death next.  This fear the Disciples were dealing with was a test of their Faith.  They knew the Lord had told them He would die for man’s sin and be Resurrected, yet, they were human, they let the circumstances of the day rob them of their Faith and joy.  But all of a sudden, without warning, Jesus Christ appeared in their midst and said, “Peace be unto you.”

Peace and fear cannot cohabit together.  His appearing to them was telling them that everything was going to be alright.  True Faith and trust in Christ will bring peace to one’s heart.

The greatest loss to a Believer is the loss of one’s Faith.  Everything is turned upside down, one’s confidence is shaken, but proper Faith placed exclusively in Christ and what Christ did for us at the Cross will then bring in the Holy Spirit to guarantee the Peace of God.  Christ proved this by showing them “His Hands and His Side.”  In effect, saying, “Not only do I have the Power to come back from the grave, but I am more than capable of handling the problems of life we face.”

 

DOUBT

Verse 24 says that Thomas was not present when the Lord appeared to the Disciples.  When he was told that the Lord had appeared to the others, he replied, “Except I shall see in His Hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His Side, I will not believe” (Vs. 25).  Verse 26 says, “After eight days again His Disciples were within, and Thomas with them:  then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.”  In Verse 27 the Lord says to Thomas, “Reach hither your finger, and behold My Hands and reach hither your hand, and thrust it into My Side:  and be not faithless but believing.”  By doing this He was taking Thomas back to the Cross.

Doubt is faithlessness in action.  How many today in the Church doubt the great Miracles of God, or doubt the Lord can handle the problem they are facing?  The phrase, “but believing,” simply means have Faith, never forget Faith begets Faith, while doubt begets doubt.

The Appearance of Christ to Thomas shows to us today the Love of God, He could have written him off, but He didn’t, and He won’t write you off if you keep believing.

 

CARE

The last appearance recorded by John is found in Chapter 21.  Verse 3 says the Disciples had fished all night and caught nothing.  This act of fishing was not for sport, but as a means to make a living and to care for their families.  They didn’t know how they were going to provide for their families.  Verse 3 says, “They caught nothing.”  Can you imagine their thoughts, how are we going to put food on the table, how are we going to provide for our families?

Verse 4 says, “But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore:  but the Disciples knew not that it was Jesus.”

Get the picture; the night was over, morning has now come, and there stands Jesus.

Jesus says to them, “Children, have you any meat?”  In this statement, Jesus was directly addressing their livelihood.  In essence, the Master was saying, “Do you know how you will care for your families?”  Their answer was, “no,” but then Jesus said, “Cast your net on the right side of the ship and you will find.”  The Text says they obeyed “and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.”  Jesus then said, “Come and dine” (Vs. 12).  He wasn’t inviting them to an empty table, but He was telling them “I can provide for you, I will take care of you,” and so no matter what problems of life you face, Jesus has already handled the situation. 

Sorrow, fear, doubt, and care be gone – Christ has risen, and HE will take care of His Children.

Your Evangelist,
Donnie Swaggart