14. Do I Really Know Jesus? He Appeared to His Disciples

We Renewalists—those belonging to the worldwide, historical Renewal Movements—also believe he still appears to people today.

Here is the figure or diagram of the states of Jesus Christ:

If you would like an explanation of the entire image, please click on this link:

1. Do I Really Know Jesus? His Entire Existence in One Image

His appearances are part of his resurrection, the right side of the up-sweeping arrow.

The following table lists fourteen appearances to a variety of disciples, after the resurrection.

If you would like to see the following verses in many translations and in their contexts, please go to biblegateway.com.

Resurrection Appearances
Appearance	Place	Time	Scriptures
The Empty Tomb	Jerusalem	Resurrection Sunday	Mt. 28:1-10; Mk. 16:1-8; Lk. 24:1-12; Jn. 20:1-9
Mary Magdalene	In a garden in Jerusalem	Resurrection Sunday	Mk. 16:9-11; Jn. 11-18
Other women	Jerusalem	Resurrection Sunday	Mt. 28:9-10
Two men on Road to Emmaus	Emmaus seven miles from Jerusalem	Resurrection Sunday	Mk. 16:12-13; Lk. 24:13-32
Peter	Jerusalem	Resurrection Sunday	Lk. 24:34; 1 Cor. 15:5
Ten disciples in upper room	Jerusalem	Resurrection Sunday	Lk. 24:36-43; Jn. 20:19-25
Eleven disciples in upper room	Jerusalem	Following Sunday	Mk. 16:14; Jn. 20:26-31; 1 Cor. 15:5
Seven disciples	Sea of Galilee	Some time later	Jn. 21:1-23
Eleven disciples on mountain	Galilee	Some time later	Mt. 28:16-20; Mk. 16:15-18
More than five hundred	Unknown	Some time later	1 Cor. 15:6
James	Unknown	Some time later	1 Cor. 15:7
His disciples at his ascension	Mount of Olives	Forty days after resurrection	Lk. 24:44-49; Ac. 1:3-8
Paul	Damascus	Several years later	Ac. 9:1-9, 22:3-16, 26:9-18; 1 Cor. 9:1
Adapted from NIV Study Bible, p. 1754.

The key verses are as follows:

⁵and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. ⁶After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, ⁸and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.(1 Cor. 15:5-8)

Five hundred of his disciples at one sitting or at the same time. Wonderful!

So how do I get closer to Jesus and know him better?

Christ’s bodily resurrection changes everything. When he started preaching, he ushered in the new, eternal kingdom that has a global reach outside of Israel. By his resurrection, he has ratified the new kingdom and put his seal on it.

Reports are now circulating and growing in number that Jesus is appearing to Muslims, either in dreams or personally in his body. They are converting to Christ.

Without the resurrection, his mission would like any other world religion—just preach some sort of message, and in Islam’s case, if they don’t convert, force them. But the Spirit of Jesus woos and draws people—not ravishes them.

Jesus’s resurrection ushered in the Church Age, when he sent his Spirit to the upper room (Acts 2), probably the same one in the above list. When he was alive he said it would be advantageous for him to go away into heaven, because he would send the Spirit (Jn. 16:7). Now he can direct the Spirit to guide his Church. Personally, his Spirit guides you. He presents Jesus to you—all due to Jesus’s resurrection.

Closing verse:

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. (Rom. 8:11)

Matt. 27:52-53 and Appearance of Holy People: Pious Fiction or Fact?

ARTICLES IN “DO I REALLY KNOW JESUS?” SERIES

1. Do I Really Know Jesus? His Entire Existence in One Image

2. Do I Really Know Jesus? He Was the Preincarnate God

3. Do I Really Know Jesus? He Was God Incarnate

4. Do I Really Know Jesus? He Took the Form of a Servant

5. Do I Really Know Jesus? He Came Down from Heaven

6. Do I Really Know Jesus? Why Did He Become a Man?

7. Do I Really Know Jesus? Thirty Truths about His Life

8. Do I Really Know Jesus? He Was Sinless

9. Do I Really Know Jesus? He Died for You

10. Do I Really Know Jesus? Did He Descend into Hades to Preach?