The Bible tells us that after Jesus’ resurrection, he appeared to his disciples multiple times. But how many times did Jesus appear to them? Let’s take a closer look at the scriptures to find out.
The First Appearance
According to the Gospel of John, Jesus’ first appearance was on the evening of his resurrection. The disciples were gathered together in a room with the doors locked for fear of the Jews.
Suddenly, Jesus appeared among them and said, “Peace be with you.” He showed them his hands and side, which bore the wounds from his crucifixion, and then breathed on them, saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:19-22).
Appearances to Individual Disciples
After his initial appearance to all of his disciples, Jesus appeared to some of them individually. For example:
- Mary Magdalene: Mary was one of the women who went to Jesus’ tomb early on Sunday morning and found it empty. She saw two angels who told her that Jesus had risen. When she turned around, she saw Jesus standing there but didn’t recognize him at first. When he called her by name, she realized who he was.
He told her not to cling to him because he had not yet ascended to the Father (John 20:11-18).
- Peter: Peter also went to the tomb and saw that it was empty except for the linen cloths that had been wrapped around Jesus’ body. Later that day, Jesus appeared to Peter (Luke 24:34).
- Two Disciples on the Road: On Resurrection Sunday, two disciples were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus when Jesus joined them on their journey but did not reveal himself until they sat down to eat together. When he broke bread with them, their eyes were opened and they recognized him (Luke 24:13-35).
Appearances to the Disciples as a Group
In addition to his initial appearance, Jesus appeared to his disciples as a group on at least two other occasions:
- The Second Appearance: A week after his first appearance, Jesus appeared to his disciples again while Thomas was present. This time, he allowed Thomas to touch his wounds and believe that he had truly risen from the dead (John 20:24-29).
- The Appearance in Galilee: After this, Jesus appeared to his disciples in Galilee while they were fishing.
He performed a miracle by telling them where to cast their nets and then cooked breakfast for them on the shore. This was where he famously asked Peter three times if he loved him (John 21:1-25).
Conclusion
In total, the Bible records at least five different appearances of Jesus to his disciples after his resurrection:
- The initial appearance to all of them (John 20:19-22)
- The appearance to Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-18)
- The appearance to Peter (Luke 24:34)
- The appearance to two disciples on the road (Luke 24:13-35)
- The second appearance to all of them with Thomas present (John 20:24-29)
- The appearance in Galilee while they were fishing (John 21:1-25)
Each of these appearances served a unique purpose, whether it was to comfort the disciples, confirm Jesus’ resurrection, or commission them for their future ministry. Regardless of the specific reason for each appearance, they all point to one central truth: Jesus Christ is alive!