Summary of passage: Jesus appeared to the disciples as they huddled together, afraid of the Jewish authorities. He showed them his hands and thighs and the disciples were overjoyed at seeing Jesus. Jesus gave them the Holy Spirit and commissioned them to the world.
Questions:
9a) He personally appears to them. He gifts them with the Holy Spirit to guide them in his ways. He shows them his wounds. He blesses them with peace.
b) Personal Question. My answer: Above all, by choosing me to be a believer. By giving me a purpose for my life and a means to achieve it through Him.
10) He appears to Mary who clings to him physically. He appears to the disciples and shows them his wounds physically. Luke tells us he ate food with his disciples. He appeared to the disciples and others over a period of 40 days and spoke of God’s kingdom. He appeared to more than 500 of his brothers at the same time. He appeared to James. He appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus. Jesus must rise again to conquer death so we can live forever with the Father. It proves the Gnostics of the time wrong that he only died a spiritual death.
11) Privilege: They are the chosen ones to spread the Good News.
Authority: Jesus personally commissioned them.
Power to accomplish the commission: Jesus gave them the Holy Spirit to aid in their mission and peace as well.
Message: If you forgive others, they are forgiven as Jesus has forgiven them of their sins. If you don’t forgive them, they aren’t.
Conclusions: Not a big fan of these questions. Repetitive.
End Notes: This is the same day that Mary saw Jesus at the empty tomb. 5 times Jesus appeared on Resurrection Day:
- To Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-18)
2) To the other women (Matthew 28:9-10)
3) To the two on the road to Emmaus (Mark 16:12-13, Luke 24:13-32)
4) To Peter (Luke 24:33-35, 1 Corinthians 15:5)
5) To ten of the disciples, Thomas and Judas being absent (John 20:19-23)
Jesus prayed for them to stay together and they did (John 15:17)–all except Thomas, who we don’t know why he wasn’t there.
Jesus visits small groups of people (one exception in 1 Corinthians 15:6) in remote areas or closeted indoors. By the garden tomb, in a locked room, on the road toe Emmaus, beside the Sea of Galilee, atop Mount Olives–such private encounters bolster the faith of people who already believed in Jesus.
Fun Fact: As far as we know, not a single unbeliever sees Jesus after his death.
What would have happened if Jesus made a public spectacle and appeared before Pilate? Would it have bolstered faith? Jesus tells us no. “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even is someone rises from the dead” (Luke 16:31).
Jesus appeared amongst them despite the locked doors. Jesus did not rebuke his disciples for abandoning him at the cross. Instead, he told them “peace” or all is well. Jesus revealed himself and invited all present to touch him to prove he’s real (Luke 24:39-40). Jesus came for us. He was also calming the disciples at his sudden appearance.
Jesus commissions them to do his work on earth such as he prayed in John 17:18. Luke tells us there are others there besides the disciples. Jesus sends them as well! We are sent in the same way–for Jesus!
Jesus gives the disciples the Holy Spirit as their guide, John purposefully connecting this with Genesis, saying Jesus breathed on them. Cool! I want Jesus to breathe on me! This is re-creation or born again. This is Jesus’ spirit as well.
This also creates the duty of the church to forgive and warn of the consequences of unforgiveness. We are the messengers, announcing forgiveness according to God’s word. In essence, if you repent of your sins and believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, you will receive God’s forgiveness.
