020 - To whom Jesus appeared after the resurrection and when?

To whom Jesus appeared after the resurrection and when?

Have you ever stopped to try to reconcile the four narratives about the resurrection of Christ? Let's see how it all happened.

One thing is certain: Jesus was resurrected on Sunday:

 

·        “Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils." (Mark 16.9).

 

But what time?

Note that the early (as it appears in most versions in English) is, in fact, in the first second of the Jewish Sunday (which begins after sunset):

 

·        " In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.” (Matthew 28.1-4).

 

Note how the great earthquake occurred very, very early in the first day of the week. At this moment, the angel of the Lord has removed the stone and sat on it and the guards, completely amazed, they became as dead men.

It was also haunted Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (mother of James, the less, and Joseph - Mark 15.40,47). Considering the great astonishment that came upon them because of the earthquake and that already grew dark, they ended up returning home, not coming to the tomb.

However, early in the morning, when it was still dark, here's what happened:

 

·        "And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.” (Mark 16.2-4).

·        " Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.  And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus." (Luke 24.1-3).

·        "The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.” (John 20.1).

 

Note how Mary Magdalene and Mary (wife of Alphaeus, mother of Joseph and James, the youngest), now decided to go together with Joana, Salome (wife of Zebedee and mother of James and John) and a few more women who came with Jesus of Galilee (Mark 16:1; Luke 23.55, 24.10). They went out very before dawn, when it was still dark, arriving at the tomb at sunrise. While they go, they pondered: but who will roll away the stone?

To see the stone of the tomb removed, all women entered the tomb. Notwithstanding, when we fail to see the body of Jesus, Mary Magdalene was upset, thinking that the body of Jesus had been stolen and immediately returned to announce this to the apostles:

 

·        " Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. " (John 20.2.3).

 

Meanwhile, the other women remained stunned at the tomb:

 

·        "And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted." (Mark 16.5).

·        "And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: and as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them…” (Luke 24.4.5).

                                                                                                                                 

It was then that they saw a young man sitting at the right hand (probably the angel of Matthew 28.5) and appeared next to them two men in shining garments. They then say to them:

 

·        " 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 risen, 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. " (Matthew 28.5-7).

·        "And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you." (Mark 16.6.7).

·        "And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying, the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words," (Luke 24.5-8).

 

To hear the words of the three, women understood the words that Jesus spoke about His death and resurrection, and then went to happy to announce what had happened to His disciples. However, possessed of fear, not announced anything to anyone else:

 

·        "And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word." (Matthew 28.8).

·        "And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid." (Mark 16.8).

 

While this, comes to the tomb Mary Magdalene with Peter and the beloved disciple:

 

·        " So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. " (John 20.4-10).

 

After the disciples to return home, Mary Magdalene is still there, regretting the disappearance of the body of Jesus:

 

·        "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. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." (John 20.11-17).

 

When lowering to enter the tomb, Mary Magdalene sees two angels (the two men, probably that appeared to the other women), but this did not make any difference to her (unlike the other women).

The appreciation of Mary Magdalene by Jesus was such that even an angel wasn’t able to bring comfort. For her, words not enough. It is not satisfied with less than see again the body of Jesus.

Jesus then shows Himself to her and tells her to go to announce His resurrection to His brothers (unlike other women who heard of angels the order to announce to the disciples).

Probably the brothers of Jesus were gathered with the disciples (Luke 24.33) and Mary Magdalene went to where they all were.

The joy of Mary Magdalene was so great that, though the other women had gone to announce everything to the disciples, Mary Magdalene was able to reach them. Here then is what happened:

 

·        "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. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me." (Matthew 28.9,10).

 

Mary Magdalene, along with the other women, they saw Jesus, and this time, they could touch Him. And now Jesus tells all to announce His Resurrection to the brothers and to order them to go to Galilee.

To fulfill the command of Jesus, here's what happened:

 

·        "And she [Mary Magdalene] went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. (what is in square brackets is adding my)." (Luke 24.9-11).

·        "Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her." (João 20.18).

 

The disciples and brothers of Jesus did not believe in them. They found that all women were mad. However, Peter resolves to go back to the tomb in the expectation of seeing Jesus. However, initially He saw nothing:

 

·        "Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass." (Luke 24.12).

 

While Peter is wondering in Himself the case, Jesus appears to him (Luke 24.34). 

While Peter went out to go to the tomb, Cleopas and more one of the disciples decided to go to Emmaus. Although they had heard the report of the women, as well as the witness of Peter and the beloved disciple of that, in fact, the tomb was found in the way that women reported, yet they have not believed.

They refused to accept that women had seen Jesus (note how the two disciples do not mention that women claimed to have seen Jesus in Luke 24.34, but only angels). For them it was already crazy women have seen angels. See the own Jesus, then will be inadmissible (maybe they not admit that Jesus could appear, first, to a woman).

The revolt was so great that they neither wanted to wait for Peter to return:

 

·       " 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. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; and when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" (Luke 24.13-32).

 

After recognizing Jesus, Cleopas and the other disciple (Mark 16.12) decided to return to Jerusalem. Peter had already seen Jesus and told everything to the disciples.

When they arrive, here's what happened:

 

·        "And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread." (Luke 24.33-35).

 

Note how the two disciples on the road to Emmaus found the eleven apostles gathered together (which includes Thomas). However, when Jesus manifests Himself, Thomas is no longer present:

 

·        "And speaking of them these things, the same Jesus stood in their midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said to them, Why are you troubled, and why are such thoughts in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that I am myself; Handle me and see, for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have. And, by saying this, he showed them his hands and feet. And, not believing they still because of joy, and being amazed, and said unto them, Ye have here something to eat? Then they showed him part of a broiled fish, and a honeycomb; what he took, and ate before them. And he said unto them, These are the words that I said while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and in the prophets and in the Psalms. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures. And he said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and the third day risen again from the dead, and be preached in his name among the repentance and the forgiveness of sins, in all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. And these things ye witnesses. And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high." (Luke 24.36-49).

·        "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, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. 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." (John 20.19-25).

 

I believe that Thomas was so indignant by the account of women, of Peter and the disciples of Emmaus who decided not to want to hear anything else. As he left, Jesus appeared to all present. Nevertheless, even seeing Jesus, even though He had shown His hands, feet and side, they still find all too good to be true.

 

·        "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).

 

The curious thing is that, in Luke 24.34, it is said that the apostles were commenting that Jesus had truly risen due to the fact of having appeared to Simon (note how the testimony of women still not counted). 

However, what was this faith? With sure wasn't the kind of faith that pleases Jesus (see Luke 18.8). And the proof is that when Jesus appeared, all were afraid of Jesus. They believed in Jesus at a distance, but was unable to get closer to Him. Even Peter, Cleopas and the other disciple of Emmaus, having seen Jesus before, did not dare to seek an intimacy with Jesus.

He, then, to put an end to any type of unbelief, eat in front of them. 

After receiving all the ministry of Jesus, the eleven disciples departed then to Galilee. Eight days after Jesus, then, appears to the eleven disciples (including Thomas) and a few more that there were (which, despite hearing several testimonies stating that Jesus had raised, yet remained unbelievers).

 

·        "Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen." (Mark 16.14).

·        " And 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. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God." (John 20.26-28).

 

After, Jesus appears to the eleven apostles when Peter had come out to fish (John 21).

Then, when Jesus is to ascend to heaven, he brings together five hundred of His disciples in Bethany on the Mount of Olives:

 

·        " Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." (Matthew 28.16-18). 

·        "And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven." (Luke 24.50-51).

·        "Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey." (Acts 1.12).

·        "After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep." (1Corinthians 15.6).

 

And this is what Jesus said on this occasion:

 

·        "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28.18-20).

·        "And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1.4-8).

 

·        "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight." (Acts 1.9).

 

·        "After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles." (1 Corinthians 15.7).

 

This latest occasion occurred a little before Peter and John to be led to the Sanhedrin:

 

·        "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." (Acts 4.13).

 

To follow Jesus appeared to Paul:

 

·        "And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time." (1 Corinthians 15.8).

 

Finally, he appeared to John on the Isle of Patmos, where he receives the revelations contained in the book of Revelation.

 

Apparent Contradictions

 

·        "And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" (1 Corinthians 15.4). 

·        "Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;" (Acts 10.40).

·        "And said unto them, thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:" (Luke 24.46).

·        "Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again." (Luke 24.7).

·        " For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day." (Mark 9.31).

·        "And shall mock, and açoitarão, and cuspirão therein, and put him to death; and, on the third day rise." (Mark 10.34).

·        " Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day." (Luke 9.22). 

·        "And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected." (Luke 13.32).

·        "And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again." (Luke 18.33).

·        " From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day." (Matthew 16.21)

·        "And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry." (Matthew 17.23).

·        "And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again." (Matthew 20.19).

 

How to tell the time? In the Testament of the Law the count would be, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

However, with regard to Christ, the way of counting the time has changed. See how Jesus interpreted this third day:

 

·        "And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. " (Mark 8.31)

·        " For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (Matthew 12.40)

·        "Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body." (John 2.19-21).

 

Gathering the three passages, we see that Jesus said He would remain in the tomb three days and three nights (seventy-two hours) and that His body would spend three full days to be lifted.

And the Pharisees understood this very well:

 

·        " Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.” (Matthew 27.62-66).

 

That is to say, the third day is, in fact, after three full days that the resurrection took place. To illustrate: suppose you find with the so-and-so at the beginning of Thursday. When you are questioned at the end of the Sunday: you saw the so-and-so? What do you respond? It does three days that I saw him, isn't it?

Well! This is what happened.

See, for example, what the disciples of Emmaus said to Jesus:

 

·        " 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. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.” (Luke 24:13-21).

 

That is to say, Sunday, in accordance with this version and most versions in English, was the third day after the crucifixion and burial of Jesus (since He died and was buried).

To conclude, there is still one thing to be clarified: but Jesus was not crucified on the eve of the sabbath?

What happens is that all holy feast days when the rest was required were called Sabbath:

 

·        "And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: for on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever." (Leviticus 16.29-31).

 

And one of these days it was a sabbath of rest was the first day of the feast of unleavened bread:

·        "In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.” (Leviticus 23.5-8).

 

In other words, the day before the sabbath that Jesus was crucified was the Wednesday of Easter. Couldn't be Friday, since it would contradict what was recorded below:

·        "And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.” (Mark 16.1).

·        “And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.” (Luke 23.55,56).

 

How was it possible that those women had prepared spices and ointments before the Sabbath (Luke 23.56), if they were to buy the aromas just after the Sabbath was past (Mark 16.1)? If this were the weekly Sabbath, I wonder: when is that they were buying the aromas and prepare the spices and ointments (remember that there was no electric light at that time)?

Soon, the only explanation is that there were two Sabbaths: past the first Sabbath (Thursday), women bought the aromas and prepared spices and ointments. This spent the entire Friday, which made that they only go to the tomb on Sunday, since they should rest in the weekly Sabbath (second Sabbath).

 

 

 

How is the happiness of someone who suffers from some disorder that prevents you from being who he is?