Messiah: appearances after resurrection
MY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron
On the day of Jesus’ resurrection, the horrors of the cross initially gave way to fear, despair, and confusion about the empty tomb. But soon His followers again found joy and hope in His presence.
The apostle Paul believed these post-resurrection appearances were essential to the gospel. He described them in 1 Corinthians 15: 3-6, “of first importance... that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time....” To those who saw Him, the appearances were undeniable proof that He was the risen Lord of Life, and their personal experiences became the driving force of the early church.


