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The Power of Jesus’ Post-Resurrection Appearances

This is the next in a series of April blogs on the post-resurrection appearances that occurred in an ancient spring some 21 centuries ago, according to the Gospel of Luke.

Peter the Apostle Rembrandt_van_Rijn_-_St._Peter_in_Prison_(The_Apostle_Peter_Kneeling)_-_Google_Art_Project

St. Peter in Prison, Rembrandt van Rijn

The second time Jesus comes to view after the resurrection isn’t narrated like the other two–meeting the Emmaus followers, and greeting disciples in the upper room–since it is mentioned in only a single verse, Luke 24:34.

       They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!  

The disciples are sharing this startling yet inspired news with the two returnees from Emmaus who have their own story to share.  And while they’re relaying this fulfillment of prophesy

       …Jesus himself stood among them…(Luke 24:36).

Two post-resurrection appearances to groups (one small, one larger) prompted the question:  why a post-resurrection appearance to Peter exclusively? One answer comes from what might seem a surprising source: the apostle Paul.  His letter to the Corinthians  is the only other mention of this appearing:

       …and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas then to the twelve (I Cor. 15:5).

We know Paul and Peter had a deep friendship in their mutual missions to spread the Good News to respective audiences of Gentiles and Jews. But the seeds of that friendship began in a quiet two-week  visit to Jerusalem shortly after Paul’s conversion. Returning from the desert near Damascus, Paul must have longed to understand more about Jesus and his mission, so he journeyed to those who knew him best: James, the brother of Jesus who would have grown up with the Master; and Peter, the disciple so close to Jesus during his three year ministry on whom Jesus said he would build his church.

            Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days;   19 but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord’s brother (Gal. 1:18).

Wouldn’t that have been a conversation to witness!  One can only imagine the new convert sharing his own Damascus road post-resurrection experience with Peter who would have understood like few others.

Why is all this relevant? Because both post-resurrection appearances of Peter and Paul reveal that Christ comes to us individually to correct and heal whatever is not serving God’s purpose.   In both cases, each man had serious issues to work through. Peter denied Jesus and Paul, as a Pharisee, would have been all too glad to see the Romans crucify him—evidenced by Saul’s earlier persecution of Jesus’ followers.

The dark side of human nature had been evidenced in both men, but their commitment was needed for enormous missions going forward.   In a short three day span, Peter had fallen asleep at the needed moment of standing guard in Gethsemane, had angrily taken up a sword to strike the high priest’s soldier, and finally shown a tragic lack of boldness that produced history’s most famous betrayal. Was this really the man capable enough to build Christ’s church?

Whatever the risen Christ said to Peter in that individual appearance, will remain one of the unknowns of history. But we can see the profound affect it had on Peter to go forward as the Master originally declared he would, building a church that stands today. That ought to give the rest of us courage to get on with our own apostolic work as well.

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Marilyn
Marilyn
April 30, 2015 3:55 pm

What wonderful insight you’ve provided, Madelon. I’m so glad I read your blog this afternoon. It clearly illustrates that past shortcomings do not define us. As long as we’re headed forward, and open to His will, we’re on the right road. I’ll be giving this more thought and study. With gratitude.

gary
gary
May 28, 2015 11:48 am

In which work of ancient literature do we first find this expression: “…kick against the goads”? If you said the Bible, in which Jesus appears to Paul on the Damascus Road, you would be wrong.

This expression was first used in a book of Greek mythology, “The Bacchae”, written by Euripides in circa 475 BC. The expression occurred in a fictional conversation between the god/man, Dionysus, and the king of Thebes, his persecutor.

Isn’t it odd that Jesus would borrow an expression from Greek mythology in his appearance to the self-proclaimed “Thirteenth Apostle”?

gary
gary
March 21, 2017 4:51 pm

How are the group appearances of Jesus to the first Christian disciples any different from the group appearances of the angel Moroni to the first Mormons?

https://lutherwasnotbornagaincom.wordpress.com/2017/03/21/shocking-parallels-between-mormonism-and-early-christianity/

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