BS7B- WITNESSES
You’ll remember that when Peter and John went into Christ’s tomb, they found the linens left almost as if a butterfly had emerged from his casing. People don’t believe in butterflies because they find empty casings. They believe butterflies exist when they actually see them.
And so it was that Jesus began to appear. He did so first to Mary Magdalene.
Reread: John 20:14-16
She had run to tell the disciples but they didn’t believe her.
Then, as two disciples were walking home to Emmaus after the traumatic events of Christ’s death, they suddenly found a stranger walking with them. Luke records that God kept them from recognizing that it was Jesus.
Luke 24:13-16
The stranger seemed oblivious to the events that had just happened and wondered what these men were discussing so seriously.
Luke 24:17-19a
The two disciples told him the whole story. What facts did they tell Jesus?
Luke 24:19b-20, 22-24
WHO had the two disciples hoped Jesus would be?
Luke 24:21
With that, the still unrecognized Jesus, began to explain to them how the scriptures had clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer and die before entering into his glory.
Luke 24:25-27
Finally arriving home in Emmaus these disciples asked their guest if he would join them for the night and proceeded to bring out some bread for dinner. Suddenly, it was like scales fell off of their eyes and these men knew that it was Jesus who had walked with them all the way from Jerusalem. What caused them to recognize Him?
Luke 24:28-31
At precisely that moment of recognition, Jesus disappeared. Within the hour they were back on the road to Jerusalem to tell everyone else. Their hearts were burning!
Luke 24:32-33
When they got back to the disciples to tell them about Jesus, WHO had Jesus already appeared to?
Luke 24:34-35
And then --- Jesus was there again with all of them in the room. He saw their fear and so what did Jesus do?
Luke 24:36-45
Jesus started with the fact that He was alive physically and therefore invited them to touch Him and see for themselves that He wasn’t a ghost. Then He gave them revelation so that they could understand what had been written in the scriptures about Him. Revelation is when our minds are opened so that we suddenly understand something that hasn’t been clear to us.
These fearful men had all fled at his arrest. There had been no chance to say good-bye.
Now there would be no need to since Jesus was alive. Jesus again commissions his disciples for a mission.
Luke 24:47-48
But Jesus also warns them that they need to wait for something. What must they have before going out to tell the world the good news of repentance and forgiveness of sin?
Luke 24:49
During a span of 40 days Jesus appeared to over 500 people at different times and different places. The Apostle Paul gives us a summary of all whom the Lord appeared to.
1 Corinthians 15:5-8
You might argue that one or two might have been hallucinating. But not 500 people! No, these were down to earth disciples who had followed the Lord --- ones that Jesus wanted to show without doubt that he was alive.
They now knew that He was alive. They were no longer doubtful, embarrassed, or terrified. His followers were now full of renewed confidence!
Let’s look more closely at two special meetings that Jesus had with Thomas and then Peter.
Next Study: BS7C- A Special Meeting With Thomas