Jesus after the resurrection

Religious Leaders Bribe the Guards---Matthew 28:11-15

11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city. They reported to the chief priests all that had happened.

12 When the chief priests met with the elders, they came up with a plan. They gave the soldiers a large amount of money. 13 They told the soldiers, "We want you to say, 'His disciples came during the night. They stole his body while we were sleeping.' 14 If the governor hears this report, we will pay him off. That will keep you out of trouble."

15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were told. This story has spread all around among the Jews to this very day.


Jesus Appears To Two Believers Traveling On The Road---Luke 24:13-35

13 That same day two of Jesus' followers were going to a village called Emmaus. It was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.

15 As they talked about those things, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them. 16 But God kept them from recognizing him.

17 Jesus asked them, "What are you talking about as you walk along?"
They stood still, and their faces were sad. 18 One of them was named Cleopas. He said to Jesus, "You must be a visitor to Jerusalem. If you lived there, you would know the things that have happened there in the last few days."

19 "What things?" Jesus asked.
"About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet. He was powerful in what he said and did in the eyes of God and all of the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed Jesus over to be sentenced to death. They nailed him to a cross. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to set Israel free. Also, it is the third day since all this happened.
22 "Some of our women amazed us too. Early this morning they went to the tomb. 23 But they didn't find his body. So they came and told us what they had seen. They saw angels, who said Jesus was alive. 24 Then some of our friends went to the tomb. They saw it was empty, just as the women had said. They didn't see Jesus' body there."

25 Jesus said to them, "How foolish you are! How long it takes you to believe all that the prophets said! 26 Didn't the Christ have to suffer these things and then receive his glory?"
27 Jesus explained to them what was said about himself in all the Scriptures. He began with Moses and all the Prophets.

28 The two men approached the village where they were going. Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 But they tried hard to keep him from leaving. They said, "Stay with us. It is nearly evening. The day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.

30 He joined them at the table. Then he took bread and gave thanks. He broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. But then he disappeared from their sight.

32 They said to each other, "He talked with us on the road. He opened the Scriptures to us. Weren't our hearts burning inside us during that time?"

33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them. They were all gathered together. 34 They were saying, "It's true! The Lord has risen! He has appeared to Simon!"

35 Then the two of them told what had happened to them on the way. They told how they had recognized Jesus when he broke the bread.


Jesus Appears To The Disciples Behind Locked Doors---Luke 24:36-43

36 The disciples were still talking about this when Jesus himself suddenly stood among them. He said, "May peace be with you!"

37 They were surprised and terrified. They thought they were seeing a ghost.

38 Jesus said to them, "Why are you troubled? Why do you have doubts in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is really I! Touch me and see. A ghost does not have a body or bones. But you can see that I do."

40 After he said that, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 But they still did not believe it. They were amazed and filled with joy.
So Jesus asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?"

42 They gave him a piece of cooked fish. 43 He took it and ate it in front of them.


Jesus Appears To The Disciples, Including Thomas---John 20:24-31

24 Thomas was one of the Twelve. He was called Didymus. He was not with the other disciples when Jesus came. 25 So they told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But he said to them, "First I must see the nail marks in his hands. I must put my finger where the nails were. I must put my hand into his side. Only then will I believe what you say."

26 A week later, Jesus' disciples were in the house again. Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came in and stood among them.
He said, "May peace be with you!" 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here. See my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen me but still have believed."

30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in front of his disciples. They are not written down in this book. 31 But these are written down so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. If you believe this, you will have life because you belong to him.


Jesus Appears To The Disciples While Fishing, And Talks With Peter---John 21

1 After this, Jesus appeared to his disciples again. It was by the Sea of Galilee. Here is what happened.

2 Simon Peter and Thomas, who was called Didymus, were there together. Nathanael from Cana in Galilee and the sons of Zebedee were with them. So were two other disciples.

3 "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them. They said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat. That night they didn't catch anything.

4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore. But the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

5 He called out to them, "Friends, don't you have any fish?"
"No," they answered.

6 He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat. There you will find some fish."
When they did, they could not pull the net into the boat. There were too many fish in it.

7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Simon Peter, "It is the Lord!"
As soon as Peter heard that, he put his coat on. He had taken it off earlier. Then he jumped into the water.

8 The other disciples followed in the boat. They were towing the net full of fish. The shore was only about 100 yards away. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals. There were fish on it. There was also some bread.

10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."

11 Simon Peter climbed into the boat. He dragged the net to shore. It was full of large fish. There were 153 of them. But even with that many fish the net was not torn.

12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast."
None of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.

13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them. He did the same thing with the fish. 14 This was the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Jesus Takes Peter Back 15 When Jesus and the disciples had finished eating, Jesus spoke to Simon Peter. He asked, "Simon, son of John, do you really love me more than these others do?"
"Yes, Lord," he answered. "You know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

16 Again Jesus asked, "Simon, son of John, do you really love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord. You know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

17 Jesus spoke to him a third time. He asked, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
Peter felt bad because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He answered, "Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. 18 What I'm about to tell you is true. When you were younger, you dressed yourself. You went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands. Someone else will dress you. Someone else will lead you where you do not want to go."

19 Jesus said this to point out how Peter would die. His death would bring glory to God.
Then Jesus said to him, "Follow me!"

20 Peter turned around. He saw that the disciple Jesus loved was following them. He was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper. He had said, "Lord, who is going to hand you over to your enemies?" 21 When Peter saw that disciple, he asked, "Lord, what will happen to him?"

22 Jesus answered, "Suppose I want him to remain alive until I return. What does that matter to you? You must follow me."

23 Because of what Jesus said, a false report spread among the believers. The story was told that the disciple Jesus loved wouldn't die. But Jesus did not say he would not die. He only said, "Suppose I want him to remain alive until I return. What does that matter to you?"

24 This is the disciple who gives witness to these things. He also wrote them down. We know that his witness is true.

25 Jesus also did many other things. What if every one of them were written down? I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

Jesus Gives The Great Commission---Matthew 28:16-20

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee. They went to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him. But some still had their doubts.

18 Then Jesus came to them. He said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 So you must go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And you can be sure that I am always with you, to the very end."


Jesus Appears To The Disciples In Jeruselum, And Then Ascends Into Heaven---Luke 24:44-53

44 Jesus said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you. Everything written about me must happen. Everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms must come true."

45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, "This is what is written. The Christ will suffer. He will rise from the dead on the third day. 47 His followers will preach in his name. They will tell others to turn away from their sins and be forgiven. People from every nation will hear it, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You have seen these things with your own eyes.

49 "I am going to send you what my Father has promised. But for now, stay in the city. Stay there until you have received power from heaven."

50 Jesus led his disciples out to the area near Bethany. Then he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them. He was taken up into heaven.

52 Then they worshiped him. With great joy, they returned to Jerusalem. 53 Every day they went to the temple, praising God.

As I read these verses, I am struck by a couple of points. First, it's amazing to me how many people saw Jesus after the resurrection with their own eyes. In fact, according to Paul (1 Corinth. 15:3-8) more than 500 people saw our risen Lord with their own eyes before He ascended to heaven. Yet there were still doubters, just as there are today.

Second, I am struck by the final reaction that the disciples had to the resurrection at that time when Jesus was taken up into heaven. They finally got it. They knew! Our salvation is secure, and we have eternal life. They finally understood the truth that is conveyed to us in Romans 10:9-10;

9 Say with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord." Believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead. Then you will be saved. 10 With your heart you believe and are made right with God. With your mouth you say that Jesus is Lord. And so you are saved.