11 — Post-Resurrection

When: Easter Sunday and the 40 Days Following

Read: Matthew 28:9-10, Mark 16:9-14, Luke 24:36-43, John 20:11 -21:25, 1 Cor. 15:6-7

Some people end the Easter Story with Jesus rising from the dead; but that’s not the end of the story at all!

After the tomb was found empty, the Bible says that Jesus made a number of appearances to many different people over a forty-day period. The Bible specifically says that on Easter Sunday Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, the women that came to Jesus' tomb (Mary the Mother of James, Salome, and Joanna), Peter, and two disciples on the Emmaus road. He also appeared to the remainder of the Twelve Disciples with Thomas absent. Later he appeared to them with Thomas present. There was also an appearance to seven disciples on the Sea of Galilee, and on another occasion he appeared to over five hundred people at the same time (1 Cor. 15:6).

These appearances convinced His disciples, beyond any doubt, that He had risen from the dead. He was real and physically present. He told them to share the good news of his death and resurrection with everyone in the world. It is the same good news we are commissioned to share with the world still today.