The outcome of Jesus’ resurrection is the Good News! It brings forth life, a new life. The crucifixion, death and resurrection of the Son of God had destroyed the power of sin and death. His resurrection had given birth to the new life of many believers, who must believe in Jesus alone, being born again of the Spirit as God’s children, with the life of Jesus in us, thereby receiving eternal life. Why did the disciples not rejoice instantly at such a good news? Jesus had predicted this. He knew them even though they did not really know Him.
When Jesus predicted His death and resurrection the disciples did not understand what He meant. They responded like any man who only knew and believed in the physical realm and things that could be seen which did not demand their faith in the supernatural reality. They were all shocked to the core to see Jesus in real life, coming back from the dead.
The Gospels truthfully recorded the disciples’ doubt, unbelief, fear and directionless without the physical Jesus.
John 20-21 recorded the resurrection and the subsequent event:
Mary Magdalene first went and saw the empty tomb and went to tell the other disciples. Peter and John ran there and saw for themselves. They noticed the way the linen wrappings and head cover were lying there and believed.) 20:9 for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead. 10 Then they went again to their own homes.
Mary encountered the resurrected Lord Himself when she persisted at the empty tomb, crying and looking. Two angels talked to her. Then Jesus appeared and told her to go tell the other disciples. She did as the Lord told her. (John 20:11-18)
The other disciples were still in fear of the Jews (who persecuted and arrested Jesus and put him to death through the Roman Governor) and gathered behind locked door. Even then, Jesus appeared to them and showed them His nailed hand wounds and pierced side. Then they were glad when they saw the Lord. (20:20)
One of the twelve disciples, Thomas was not there when Jesus came. And he did not believe them when they told him they saw the resurrected Jesus. In their second meeting, Jesus came and showed Himself again to His disciples and said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” (John 20:24-29)
Note: At the sea of Tiberias: Directionless, the disciples returned to their old way of living. Peter initiated and others followed, back to fishing, and that night they caught nothing. when the morning came Jesus appeared, standing on the shore and told them to cast their net on the right side of the boat, and they caught 153 large fish. He also cooked and gave them breakfast and ate with them. (John 21:1-13) This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. (John 21:14)
Note: Mark 16 recorded how Mary Magdalene saw Jesus and went and told the disciples who were mourning and weeping (like the people of the world) but when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. (16:10-11)
16:12 Afterward he appeared in a different form to two of his followers who were walking from Jerusalem into the country. 13 They rushed back to tell the others, but no one believed them.
14 Still later he appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their stubborn unbelief because they refused to believe those who had seen him after he had been raised from the dead.
Note: Luke 24 recorded in great details what transpired between the resurrected Jesus and the reaction of His eleven apostles when they saw Him. The women followers believed and remembered what Jesus had told them beforehand, but the eleven and the rest of the disciples were still full of unbelief!
The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee—Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women came to the tomb and did not find the body of Jesus. They saw two angels who reminded them what Jesus had told them about His resurrection on the third day. 24:9 So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. 24:11 But the story sounded like idle tales/nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it.
Luke 24:12 However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.
Luke 24: 13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
Note: Jesus noted they were like others, mourning and returning to their old way, just like the people of the world. And He rebuked them!
17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”
25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
After Jesus opened their eyes they went back to Jerusalem and told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them.
Jesus appeared to all: Luke 24: 36 And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 37 But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!
38 “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? 39 Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” 40 As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.
24: 41 Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he ate it as they watched.
Note: Matthew 28:7-9 The women were blessed because they believed. They feared the supernatural but they rejoiced at hearing the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection and instantly believed!
(The angels told them) 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” 8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.
The Women Worship the Risen Lord 9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.
John 16:22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. 16:24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. 17:13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.
Summary: Jesus knew how His disciples, including the eleven apostles would react. They would behave like the people of the world, fearful, shocked, sad, mourning, directionless, skeptical, reverting to their old way. When they saw the resurrected Jesus they would think they saw a ghost. And they feared ghost. They had never seen God. In their mindset they could not really believe that Jesus came back as Himself, the Son of God, God Himself. Jesus knew all these beforehand. What did he do to set them free from their old nature? (To be continued)
Cherish but weep not for the memories. 