When it comes to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, one of the most debated questions is who exactly saw him back to life. The Bible provides us with several accounts of individuals who witnessed the resurrected Christ, each with their own unique perspective and experience.
The Women at the Tomb
The first group of people to see the resurrected Jesus were a group of women who had gone to his tomb early on Sunday morning. According to the Gospel of Matthew (28:1-10), Mary Magdalene and another Mary went to the tomb and were greeted by an angel who told them that Jesus had risen from the dead. As they were leaving, they encountered Jesus himself, who greeted them and instructed them to tell his disciples that he was alive.
The Disciples
The next group of people to see Jesus after his resurrection were his disciples. According to Luke’s Gospel (24:36-49), Jesus appeared to his disciples while they were gathered together in a room.
Initially, they were frightened and thought they were seeing a ghost, but Jesus reassured them by showing them his hands and feet, which still bore the scars from his crucifixion. He then ate with them and explained how everything that had happened was foretold in scripture.
Thomas
One disciple who was not present when Jesus first appeared to his followers was Thomas. He famously doubted their accounts until he saw Jesus for himself.
In John’s Gospel (20:24-29), we learn that Thomas declared he would not believe unless he could touch the wounds in Jesus’ hands and side. A week later, when he was with the other disciples, Jesus appeared again and invited Thomas to touch him, which led Thomas to proclaim “My Lord and my God!”
The Emmaus Disciples
Another account of people encountering the resurrected Christ is found in Luke’s Gospel (24:13-35). Two disciples were walking to Emmaus when Jesus appeared to them, although they initially did not recognize him. He walked and talked with them, explaining the scriptures and revealing himself through the breaking of bread.
Paul
Finally, we have the account of the apostle Paul, who claimed to have seen Jesus after his resurrection on multiple occasions. According to Acts (9:1-19), Paul was originally a persecutor of Christians but was converted after encountering a vision of Jesus on the road to Damascus. He later wrote that he had seen Jesus physically and had even been taken up into heaven.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there were many individuals who saw the resurrected Jesus in various ways and circumstances. These accounts provide us with evidence of Christ’s resurrection and offer insight into how different people experienced and responded to this miraculous event. Regardless of who saw him first, what is clear is that the resurrection changed everything and continues to inspire believers today.