Part 2 The First Resurrection Realization The resurrection of Jesus was one thing, but getting people to believe in the resurrection is totally another thing. Jesus task upon rising from the dead was to get his followers to believe that it actually happened. This was no easy task. It still isn t today. We are about to see the first time the resurrection realized. Peter and this unnamed disciple ran to the gravesite. The young man outran Peter but stopped at the entrance. Peter jumped in. John 20:8-9 8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. 9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. The other disciple believed at that point that Jesus rose from the dead. He s the first one who had a resurrection realization. Note: He is not the first one to actually see the risen Christ. He is just the first to believe that Jesus rose from the dead. The other guy believed, but Peter still didn t get it. Of all people, he should. How many times had Jesus said he was going to rise from the dead? Multiple times! Just like you, this other guy believed in the resurrection having never seen the resurrected Christ. So, don t be too hard on yourself if you don t yet see the deliverance you seek right now. Keep moving until you figure out how to see it, believe it, and receive it. God is patient. Be patient with yourself too. You ll get there. That young speedy man the first person to realize there had been a resurrection. The First Resurrection Appearance As Peter and the other guy leave, Mary Magdalene shows up a second time. Remember she had gone with a bunch of ladies. This time she s alone and the sepulchre and in tears. Page 1 of 10
John 20:10-11 10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. 11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre. Mary Magdalene loved Jesus but couldn t figure out in her mind what was happening. It was a lot to take in. John 20:12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Now there are two angels. It doesn t say they were glowing it just said they were wearing white. They were sitting at both ends of the wrappings. I don t know if it was sideways or lengthwise. I don t know. I have no idea but there was one man sitting on each side dressed in white. John 20:13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. Who is she talking to? Did they just speak the same thing at the same time? She s talking to what she knows to be angels. The first angel had already told her that Jesus was risen from the dead and now she s asking them where they have taken his body. Was she listening? No. Sometimes when things are really going on in your life it s hard to really concentrate. I love her spunk and marvel at her thick-headedness! So human. What happens next would be a great Hollywood scene. It s funny that the angels could see the risen Jesus standing just behind her but Mary hadn t a clue. They re looking out past her and they could see him standing right behind her. How fun would that have been? Page 2 of 10
John 20:14-15 14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Now who did she just ask? It s crazy stuff. This is a lot to take in. She s looking in to the tomb and there are two guys sitting there dressed in white. They just happen to be two angels, casually sitting next to the wrappings, legs crossed, maybe looking at their iphones (white, of course). She turns around and there s a man standing right behind her. Have you ever turned around and somebody is right there? What!? Maybe he was backlit, maybe she couldn t see clearly because of the tears, or maybe he looked a little bit different because the last time she saw him he was not a pretty sight. Remember he was beat beyond recognition. Maybe he had on a cowboy hat and is holding a rake. Whatever reason, she doesn t recognize him. (I wonder if some of those times that you said an angel helped you; that it was actually the risen Christ just having some fun? It s possible. It s absolutely possible. Hmmmmm?) John 20:10 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master [or teacher]. What would that have been like when she realized who was actually standing there?! Talk about drama! Do you think her heart sped up? Do you think adrenaline shot through her? Oh, my word! When Jesus said her name, he said it like only he said her name; and it clicked. Mary, Mary, Mary! This is where the TV show would cut to commercial. Mary was the first person on earth to see the resurrected Christ. Mark 16:9 says, he appeared first to Mary Page 3 of 10
Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. This girl had once been a hot-mess. He had changed her life totally. I guess really her believing in him changed her life totally even before he raised from the dead. She also must have been a special person in Jesus life for her to have been the very first person on earth to see him in his resurrected body. It wasn t his mother. It wasn t his brothers. It wasn t Peter. It wasn t the Apostles. It was Mary Magdalene, a woman he had cast seven devil spirits out of. Do you think she loved him? Do you think he loved her? She stuck with this guy. She walked with him those 70 miles from Galilee to Jerusalem knowing he was walking to his death. That was the first resurrection appearance and the second resurrection realization. Second Appearance on Sunday Jesus then surprised a few women as they too were heading to tell the disciples what Mary saw. Jesus greeted them by saying all hail or better translated, CHEERS ladies! Imagine Jesus just popping out of nowhere, arms out, a great big smile, and saying CHEERS! Do you think he s having fun in that new body?! It probably scared the pee-willy out of those women though. You think driving a new car is fun, imagine how much fun that new body God promises us all will be?! This will be similar to the one he was in. Oh my gosh! I m sure Jesus was having a blast seeing what his new body could do. Watch this, God! I bet the angels were having a kick watching Jesus getting used to that new spiritual body. That had to be a fun day! That group of ladies he knew so well kneeled down and grabbed his legs and feet (Matthew 28:9-10). They all wanted to hold him. Wouldn t you? Wouldn t you have wanted to grab onto him, hug him, shake his hand, whatever? This was the second appearance and the third resurrection realization. Page 4 of 10
Guards Get Bribed About that same time, a couple of guards (not all of them), who had seen the angel and passed out, went to the top religious leaders, not the Roman leaders, to tell them what happened. They took a huge bribe from the Temple Treasury to lie and say that somebody stole Jesus body while they were sleeping (Matthew 28:11-15). They had taken the money. The Third Appearance and Fourth Resurrection Realization Now Peter revisits the tomb, alone. He s not with that young guy anymore. This is his second visit. He saw the risen Christ that time (Luke 24:12; 1 Corinthians 15:6-8). Peter was still going to need a little more convincing, but this was Peter s resurrection realization; we ll call it his starter realization. Peter was convinced and he believed it but he still was talking himself out of it. You can talk yourself out of deliverance by the way. The Fourth Appearance and Fifth Resurrection Realization Jesus Christ then comes up behind and between two disciples who were walking back home to Emmaus after all the sad, crazy, and amazing events of the last week. Some say it was about 7 miles away which would be about a 1½-hour casual walk. Amazingly, these disciples, who are friends of the Apostles and knew Jesus, don t recognize him. Remember, they had seen Jesus get crucified. They saw him beat to a pulp. They may have even heard him sing Psalm 22. They had heard the women tell of seeing an angel who told them that Jesus rose from the dead. These two men still didn t get it yet. Their minds were cranking things out trying to figure this out. They didn t yet believe. They did not yet realize that Jesus had actually risen from the dead. They listen to Jesus share from memory. They don t know it s Jesus. This guy appears right next to them, steps up between them, puts his arms around their shoulders probably, and then he just starts quoting every please in the Bible that had any reference to the Messiah which apparently if you did it would take you an hour and one-half. That s a lot of talking, folks! That s a lot of memorization. Page 5 of 10
The human side of Jesus knew all these scriptures. He knew these before he was crucified. Did you not that? It wasn t just the resurrected Jesus. Imagine the Christ sharing the Word with you for over an hour? OMG! Would that be something you would Tweet or put on Facebook? Would you be doing selfies? These guys were blown away. They didn t even know who this guy was. They didn t recognize him. But just the Word burned in them; just like it does with you when you understand that Truth and things fit together in your mind. It s an amazing thing! There was also another reason Jesus took this huge chunk of time out of his busy resurrection day schedule. Jesus knew what these guys were capable of doing if he could get them to believe that he was risen. He knew these guys or knew of them. They made it to Emmaus; still not aware this is Jesus, they ask him to come inside and eat together with them. Jesus tells them he is planning on walking a bit further, but thanks anyway. The culture at that time was to refuse an offer twice and then accept it the third time. It is called constraining. They all enter the house in Emmaus and warm up some precooked bread. Jesus, the risen Christ, picks up a large pancake size loaf of flat bread (it was about as big as a plate and as thick as a man s finger), tears a piece off, blesses it, and all of a sudden, they realize who he was. They had heard about the memorial of communion he did at Last Supper. I ll bet he repeated the same words. This bread represents my body which was broken for your healing. Do this in remembrance of me. They had their amazing resurrection realization while eating with Jesus and then he just vanishes into thin air. Poof! Luke 24:31-33 (VOICE) 31 At that instant, two things happen simultaneously: their eyes are suddenly opened so they recognize Him, and He instantly vanishes just disappears before their eyes. Two Disciples (to each other): 32 Amazing! Weren t our hearts on fire within us while He was talking to us on the road? Didn t you feel it all coming clear as He explained the meaning of the Hebrew Scriptures? 33 So they get up immediately and rush back to Jerusalem all seven miles where they find the eleven gathered together the eleven plus a number of others. Page 6 of 10
Remember Jesus knew these guys. He knew what they were going to do. He knew they were chatting guys but they had good memories and they were convincing. They dash back the seven miles to Jerusalem to tell the Apostles and others who are still in their B&B trying to make sense of what really happened to Jesus (Luke 24:13-35; John 20:19-25). This had been a super important two hours for Jesus. Without these men people may never really have gotten it. Just think about the timing. Resurrection is great; necessary. But if people don t realize it and believe in the Resurrection, we would not be here today. There would be no Christianity. This was crazy important. He knew these two would run back to Jerusalem and help convince the hard-headed Apostles and disciples that he did, in fact, rise from the dead. The Fifth and Final Appearance and the Sixth Resurrection Realization on Sunday Jesus now appears to eleven of the twelve apostles. So, who do you think was missing at that point? Was it Judas? Did he go out to kill himself at this time? No! It was Thomas who was absent. So if Thomas was absent and there were still eleven apostles, who was at this meeting? Judas! Judas, who turned Jesus Christ in saw the resurrected Christ! (Luke 24:36-44; John 20:26-29). Eight Days Later Jesus appears a second time to the eleven apostles. This time Thomas, Doubting Thomas, was present which means who wasn t there? Judas was absent this time. This is probably when he went out and did the dirty deed and killed himself. He dove onto a sharp stick. That s how they committed suicide in those days sort of like a soldier falling on a sword. He impaled himself on a sharp stick. Jesus told Thomas to touch the holes in his hands and to thrust his finger into the wound on his side. I ll bet Thomas did it! God knows what you need in order to believe. Do you think he ll do less for you? We all have tough times in life but if we just keep moving, that open door has to be there. Page 7 of 10
This is how Jesus appeared this time; with his wounds showing. Jesus did this just for Thomas. Jesus wasn t in pain now. He was able to shape-shift to help Thomas and others believe (Mark 16:14; John 20: 26-29). What will he do for you? I think he is still able to do and be what we need him to be. God says that way back in the Bible that he will be what we need him to be. What do you need folks? Do you need health? It has to be there. You have to figure a way to find it. Prosperity has to be there. Everything you need has to be there. What will he still do to help you believe? He s probably touched all of our lives more times than we realize. The way we touch his life is by walking by the Spirit, living truth, and maintaining our resurrection realization. I would bet that we each have seen the resurrected Christ but didn t recognize him. Keep your eyes open. More importantly, keep your heart open. Other Appearances Within a 40-Day Span The Eleven: Jesus appears to the eleven apostles in Galilee (70+ miles north). Some of his Apostles still don t believe he actually rose from the dead, even after they see him standing there in his resurrected body. Amazing! (Matthew 28:16-17 says some still don t believe.) It still baffles me. If you can believe that Jesus rose from the dead, you can believe anything, folks. You can believe for that health, for that prosperity, and anybody who is a born-again Christian has believed and you never saw him (that you knew of). Peter: Jesus next appears to Peter and some of the boys who decide to go back into the fishing business after that year. He tells them to stop fishing and get back to feeding his sheep, taking care of his people (John 21:1-23). They leave the fishing business for good at this point, and go back to Jerusalem where he told them to wait. Page 8 of 10
The 500: Jesus also appears to 500 people on one occurrence (1 Corinthians 15:4-8). I would say it s beginning to go viral folks (at least in that day and time). The Ascension: The resurrection is one thing but the ascension is another. Jesus appears to his disciples again after 40 days near the Mount of Olives, near Bethany, near Jerusalem. They actually see him ascend into heaven. An angel appears in their midst and calmly asks them, What are you looking at? He s coming back! Get to work! Time is short. (Luke 24:47-53; Acts 1:1-12). James: At some point, Jesus appears in his resurrected body to his half-brother named James. The half-brothers of Jesus finally get it! They finally realize that Jesus is the Christ (1 Corinthians 15:4-8; Acts 1:14). Mary and her boys were hanging with the Apostles after the Ascension and before the Day of Pentecost. We know that. But his brother, his half-brother, finally believed. Didn t his halfbrother think he was crazy? Yes. They tried to abduct him at one time they thought he was so crazy. How hard would it be to really believe that your big brother was the Christ and that he had been raised from the dead? How hard would that be to believe? Would you have to put down a little jealousy? These weren t dummy guys either. Two of his half-brothers wrote Epistles, James and Jude. God worked in them. Remember how only a few months ago they thought Jesus was possessed and crazy? Remember how it says they didn t believe he was the Christ even a few weeks back? Just days before this they didn t. What changed? The realizing the resurrection is what changed everything. James finally got it. James finally had his resurrection realization. The same is true with us. If you can believe in the resurrection, you can believe anything folks. You can believe for anything too. Jesus Even Gave a Resurrection Appearance to a Group of Devil Spirits I don t know the timing, but at some point, Jesus appeared to and told of his victory from death to a group of devil spirits who have been restrained and not allowed to function since the flood of Noah. That s about 2,400 years! Imagine not being able to work, to function, to do anything for 2,400 years! Even they realized, even they believed, that Jesus had risen from the dead. It doesn t say they believed in him; it says they believed it happened. The Bible says the devil spirits believed and trembled (James (the half-brother of Jesus) 2:19). Page 9 of 10
His rising up made them realize they were going down! They realized that they have an end; we realize they we have a future. (1 Peter 3:18-20; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6) Finally, a Few Years Pass and Jesus Appears to Paul Jesus appeared to a man named Paul on the road to Damascus. Paul was a hunter of Christians, a murderer of God s kids. But Paul changed everything when he had his resurrection realization. Paul changed the way Christianity was done. He, by revelation, molded Christianity into the secret dream that God held in his mind since the foundation of the world, a dream called the Great Mystery. While the rest of the Apostles mixed legalism with Truth and threw in a dash of walking by the spirit, Paul was all in. Paul took Christianity to a whole new level and took it to the world! Paul had his resurrection realization, and through Paul s teachings and example, he has helped billions get born again, live the Word, and even a few of us learn to walk with a little spiritual power. (Acts 9 & 22; I Corinthians 15:8) Closing There is a big difference between a resurrection appearance and the honest realization that that Jesus actually rose from the dead and is still alive. Because he rose from the dead, we too will someday rise from the dead. Because Jesus rose from the dead, we can get born again and serve our purpose on this earth now as well as looking forward to the ultimate paradise God designed for us in the future. Because we too believe he is risen, let s enjoy our resurrection realization. Now you go out there and change the world! God bless you all! Page 10 of 10
Resurrection Realizations Matthew Mark Luke John Wednesday afternoon (14 Nisan; almost evening; he was buried twice that day) Joseph buries body (1 st time nontraditional) Mt 27:57-61 Mk 15:42-47 Jn 19:38-42 Women saw how body was buried and leave Mt 27:61 Mk 15:47 Lk 23:55 Nicodemus re-buries body of Jesus (2 nd time traditional; 72.5 pounds of expensive spice, ointment, wrappings) Mt 27:62-65 Wednesday evening to Thursday evening (15 Nisan; Passover begins at sundown; special Sabbath) Women rest on High Sabbath (per Law of Moses) Lk 23:56 Women prepare spices to take back to the tomb Mt 27:61 15:47 Lk 23:56 High priests ask Pilate to post a guard on tomb; Pilate also puts official wax seal on tomb (not much said about this day) Mt 27:62-66 Thursday evening to Friday evening (16 Nisan) Angel rolls stone away; 2 nd earthquake; guards pass-out and then leave (late Sat afternoon)** Friday evening to Saturday evening (17 Nisan; weekly Sabbath; 72 hours pass) ** Mt 28:1-4 Saturday evening to Sunday evening (18 th of Nisan; not the Sabbath) 4+ women* go to grave, in dark, after weekly Sabbath Mt 28:1 Mk 16:1-2 Lk 24:1,(v10)* Women wonder who will roll stone away as they walk Mk 16:3 Stone was already rolled away by angel (This was done on Saturday just before sundown) Mt 28:2-4 **[See 17 Nisan] Women get to grave and see stone had been moved Mk 16:4 Lk 24:2 * [Mary, Mary, Joanna, Salome, and others] One angel speaks to the women Mt 28:4-7 Mk 16:4-7 Lk 24:3-7 All women leave tomb Mt 28:8 Mk 16:8 24:8-9 All ladies tell Peter but the disciples don t believe them Mk 16:9-11 Lk 24:10-11 Jn 20:1-2 1. Peter and another disciple go to tomb; the other disciple believes (first resurrection realization), but not Peter 2. Mary followed them, now alone (her 2 nd trip); 2 angels; Jesus appears to Mary (his first appearance to anyone) 3. Jesus appears to all women (all hail or cheers) Mt 28:9-10 The guards finally tell the high priests Jesus body is gone Mt 28:11-15 Jn 20:3-10 Mk 16:9 Jn 20:11-18 4. Peter revisits tomb (his second trip; Jesus appears) ***Lk 24:12 5. Jesus appears and walks with 2 men to Emmaus ~7mi Mk 16:12 Lk 24:13-32 Men of Emmaus return to Jerusalem and tell the eleven they had talked to the risen Christ. Apostles say Jesus appeared to Peter (Lk 24:34; 1 Cor 15:4-8)*** Mk 16:13 ***Lk 24:33-35 [Judas was present, Thomas was absent] 6. Jesus Christ appears to the 11 (Tom absent, Judas not) [not all believe] Lk 24:36-44 Jn 20:19-25 7. Jesus appears again to 11 disciples (Thomas present Judas absent; 2 nd time he appeared to 11 disciples) Eight days later [still, not all the 11 were convinced] Other appearances (not sure of exact timing) Jesus appears to the 11 in Galilee; some still doubted Mt 28:16-17 Mk 16:14 [Thomas present, Judas absent] Jn 20:26-29 Appears to Peter and others who went back to fishing biz. Jn 21:1-23 (3 rd ) Appears to five hundred brethren on one occasion Appears to disciples then Ascends (before Pentecost) He appeared to and announced his victory to a few devil spirits who were in isolation under watch since Noah Appears to James (Jesus half-brother) Jesus appears to Paul on road to Damascus 1 Cor 15:4-8 (not mentioned in Gospels; timing and location unknown) Acts 1:1-12 and Lk 24:47-53 (from the Mt. of Olives) 1 Pet 3:18-20 (2 Pet 2:4; Jud 1:6; imprisoned and under watch somewhere, somehow, since about 2348 BC, location unknown) 1 Cor 15:4-8 (not mentioned in Gospels; timing and location unknown) 1 Cor 15:8; Acts 9:17 (last recorded appearance) (A work in progress by updated April 2017)