Christ's Victorious Resurrection

After the resurrection of Jesus, He appeared to many people. This proves the power that Christ has over the realm of death. In fact, it had absolutely no hold on Him whatsoever!

Luke 24:13 records an encounter which occurred on the day of the resurrection. Cleopas and another of Christ’s followers were walking along a road to the city of Emmaus. They were talking of all the things that had happened. As they were talking, Jesus secretly joined them. Jesus began to open the Bible to them and shared what the Scriptures said about the Messiah. When they arrived at their destination, Jesus bade them goodbye and said He would go on his way. They pressed Him to stay for supper. When He broke the bread and passed it to them, their eyes were opened to who He really was. This was Jesus alive!

When they recognized who He was, He vanished instantly. That's because Jesus was in His resurrection body and could be present or vanish instantaneously. These followers knew they had really seen Christ alive.  According to Luke 24:33 – “they rose up the same hour and returned to Jerusalem where they found the eleven. With joy they shared the great good news and were informed” -- the Lord is risen indeed and hath appeared to Simon. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus knew that Jesus was alive!

As recorded in John 20:19, ten of the eleven remaining disciples saw the resurrected Christ. On this occasion, Thomas was not present. This occurred the same day -- resurrection day -- in the early evening when the doors were shut for the evening. The 10 disciples were in hiding for fear of what the Sanhedrin would do to them if they were found.

Jesus appeared and greeted them with the words “Peace be unto you." He showed them His nail-scarred hands and feet and His wounded side. This made the disciples glad.

Thomas was not present when Jesus visited the disciples. Afterwards Jesus visited Thomas. 

According to John 20:25, "The other disciples therefore said unto him, we have seen the Lord. But Thomas said to them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe".

Jesus said to Thomas, "Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing."

Jesus knew all about Thomas’ doubts. This appearance was solely for Thomas’ sake. Thomas doubted no more, but believed. "My Lord and my God," he exclaimed.

These scriptures are proof of the deity of Christ. He had risen from the dead, appeared to many and allowed a disbelieving Thomas to physically see His wounds up close and personal.

Jesus appeared to quite a few people after the crucifixion. These witnesses of His resurrection saw that He had truly risen from the dead!