Mark 16:9-20
I want to look closely at the appearances of Jesus after He arose from the dead. Again, we’re going to see different accounts in the four different Gospels. I want to attempt to put these in the order they happened. But first we’re going to look at the appearances Jesus makes in each of the Gospels after He is risen.
In the Gospel of Matthew, we see two appearances of Jesus. Let’s look closely at the Scriptures.
Matthew 28:5-7
And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
Okay, what do we see here? We see the angel of the Lord at the tomb of Jesus Christ. We see the angel speaking with the women who came to see the body of Jesus. The angel tells the women who are at the tomb that Jesus is not here. For he is risen.
Go Quickly and Tell His Disciples
The angel tells them to go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead. Jesus will go before you into Galilee. There shall ye see him. The women who are there at the time know that Jesus is risen from the dead. The angel told them that he isn’t here. He is risen from the dead.
We know from the last Bible study that there were many women there. We know that Mary Magdalene was not there when this angel spoke to the women. By simply reading Matthew, you would think Mary Magdalene was there at this point when the angel is speaking. But the Gospel of John tells us that she ran away to get Peter and John.
The women that were left at the tomb have now spoken with the angel. What happens next? We’re going to see one of the appearances of Jesus after He is risen from the dead. If you’re only reading Matthew, you would believe that this is the first appearance of Jesus, but it is not. Watch what happens here as Jesus appears to these women.
Matthew 28:8-10
And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
The women leave quickly with fear and great joy. They ran to tell the disciples that Jesus is risen. As they are on the way, Jesus meets them. This is the first appearance of Jesus on the day He arose from the dead in the Gospel of Matthew.
Matthew Doesn’t Include the First Appearance of Jesus
But this is not the first appearance overall. Matthew didn’t write about everything that happened.
But here we see that women hold Jesus by the feet. Make sure you notice that as there’s much false doctrine about Mary Magdalene touching Jesus in the Gospel of John. These women touched Jesus. They held him by the feet. I’ve even had a pastor say that it didn’t count when they held him by the feet because he must have had shoes on.
They touched him. They worshipped him. Jesus says for them to not be afraid but to go tell my brethren. There’s a common theme here where the angel told them to qo quickly and then Jesus tells them to go and tell his brethren. Jesus wants his brethren to meet him in Galilee later. Later in the same chapter, we see the next appearance of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 28:16-18
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
The eleven disciples go away into Galilee into a mountain. Jesus appears to them there. They worshipped him there.
So, keep all these things in mind. We see Jesus appearing to the women first in Matthew as they leave the tomb and they are on their way back to tell the disciples. Second, in Matthew, we see Jesus appearing to the eleven disciples in a mountain in Galilee. Now did Jesus appear to the disciples in Galilee on that same day? Jerusalem to Galilee is not a short distance.
What Does the Gospel of Mark Say?
We see two appearances in the Gospel of Matthew after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Let’s look at the Gospel of Mark. We’re going to see three appearances of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark.
Mark 16:9
Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
We see that Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene. We didn’t see that in the Gospel of Matthew.
So this is a new appearance of Jesus to Mary Magdalene. And we know that Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene first.
Mark 16:12
After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
This second appearance is to two of them. In Mark, the names of these two are not given.
Mark 16:14
Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
Three Appearances of Jesus in Mark and Luke
We see a third appearance here in Mark to the eleven disciples. Here they are eating. The Bible doesn’t say where they are located. We’ve seen two appearances in Matthew and three appearances in Mark. Let’s see what Luke says. We see three appearances of Jesus mentioned.
Luke 24:13-15
And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
We see Jesus appearing to two of them here. They went to a village called Emmaus which is threescore furlongs or 60 furlongs or about 7.5 miles from Jerusalem.
Luke 24:18
And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
We now know one of those two was named Cleopas.
Luke 24:29-31
But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
Jesus ends up eating with those two, one which is Cleopas. We see that it was toward evening and this day is far spent. Jesus goes into eat with them anyway. They finally realize it’s Jesus and then he vanishes out of their sight.
They Return to Jerusalem After Seeing Jesus
Luke 24:33-34
And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
Cleopas and another man rise up the same hour and return to Jerusalem. Remember, this is about a 7.5 mile journey. The two men find the eleven disciples and them that were with them.
The eleven disciples are saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.” So now we see Jesus appeared to Simon that day as well.
So, we see Jesus appearing to two men, one named Cleopas, and then to Simon.
Luke 24:36-38
And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
Luke 24:39-41
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
Now we see the third appearance of Jesus in Luke. He appears to the two men, the eleven disciples, and others that were with them.
A Summary of The Resurrection Appearances
Let’s summarize what we’ve seen so far. Two appearances in Matthew, three appearances in Mark, and three appearances in Luke.
| Matthew (2) | Mark (3) | Luke (3) |
| The women on the way back from the tomb | Mary Magdalene | Two of them (one named Cleopas) on the way to Emmaus |
| The eleven disciples in a mountain in Galilee | Two of them as they walked and went into the country | Simon |
| The eleven disciples as they sat at meat | Two of them, eleven disciples, and others |
Now, we’re going to sort through these and do our best to put them in the right order as well. But let’s see what the Gospel of John says next.
John 20:16
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
There’s the first appearance of Jesus in the Gospel of John. Now, watch the next closely.
John 20:19
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
Who Was There This Time Jesus Appeared?
Now, here’s what I want you to see. Jesus came and appeared to the disciples. Who was there?
John 20:24-26
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto 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. 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
Thomas wasn’t there. In the other Gospel appearances of Jesus, we see that the Bible says the eleven were there when Jesus appeared to them. But this appearance, in John, is on the same day at evening. And Thomas wasn’t there. He was one of the eleven disciples left.
Judas Iscariot was the twelfth and he was dead at this point. There were eleven left and Thomas was one of them. But, at this point, Thomas wasn’t there.
Eight days later Jesus appears to the eleven with Thomas. The Bible says so right there. “And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus.”
John Provides Extra Information
The Gospel of John then gives us some extra information in John Chapter 21.
John 21:1-2
After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. 2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
We see Jesus and seven disciples listed there at the sea of Tiberias. Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James of Zebedee, John of Zebedee, and two other disciples. Seven total disciples listed there. They catch fish. Jesus says, “Come and dine.”
John 21:13-14
Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. 14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
The Bible clearly says this is the third time Jesus showed himself to the disciples. And that’s all the appearances of Jesus after He was risen from the dead in the Gospel of John. That’s four total appearances in John.
So, we saw two in Matthew, three in Mark, three in Luke, and four in John. That’s a total of twelve appearances in the four Gospels.
All of the Appearances of Jesus in the Gospels = 12 Times
Now, let’s put that all in a table so we can clearly see these twelve appearances of Jesus in the Gospels.
| Matthew (2) | Mark (3) | Luke (3) | John (4) |
| The women on the way back from the tomb | Mary Magdalene | Two of them (one named Cleopas) on the way to Emmaus | Mary Magdalene at the tomb |
| The eleven disciples in a mountain in Galilee | Two of them as they walked and went into the country | Simon | Ten disciples same day at evening most likely in Jerusalem |
| The eleven disciples as they sat at meat | Two of them, eleven disciples, and others | Eleven disciples eight days later | |
| Seven disciples at Sea of Tiberias |
Now, let’s take this table and put them in order and match the occurrences that are the same.
| # | Matthew (2) | Mark (3) | Luke (3) | John (4) |
| 1 | Mary Magdalene | Mary Magdalene at the tomb | ||
| 2 | The women on the way back from the tomb | |||
| 3 | Simon Peter | |||
| 4 | Two of them as they walked and went into the country | Two of them (one named Cleopas) on the way to Emmaus | ||
| 5 | The eleven disciples as they sat at meat | Two of them, eleven disciples, and others | Ten disciples same day at evening in Jerusalem | |
| 6 | Eleven disciples eight days later | |||
| 7 | Seven disciples at Sea of Tiberias | |||
| 8 | The eleven disciples in a mountain in Galilee |
And then if we search the remaining Scriptures, we will find more appearances of Jesus after His resurrection.
Additional Appearances of Jesus After He Arose from the Dead
1 Corinthians 15:4-8
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
This says he was seen of Cephas or Simon Peter or who we simply call Peter.
Then the twelve disciples. Notice this says twelve but Judas Iscariot was already dead. They are referred to as the twelve even though there weren’t twelve there at the time. This helps us to understand the reference to the eleven disciples in the Gospels even though Thomas wasn’t there at one of the appearances of Jesus.
Then he was seen of five hundred brethren at once. Then he was seen of James. Then he was seen of all the apostles. Then Jesus ascended into heaven. And finally he was seen by Paul, but that happened after Jesus had ascended into heaven.
The Appearances of Jesus on Resurrection Day
So, on the day Jesus arose from the dead, we believe that Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene. Then he appeared to the other women going back from the tomb. Then he appeared to Peter. Then he appeared to the two, one of which was Cleopas.
And then he appeared to the disciples the same day He arose from the dead in the evening in Jerusalem.
This helps us understand the timeline of day Jesus arose from the dead. We continue to fill in information for this resurrection timeline.
We’re going to continue to study all the details. And remember that all of this is related to the feasts of the Lord. Jesus is the firstfruits. He arose from the dead on the feast of firstfruits. Many people saw him die on the cross and those same people saw Jesus after he arose from the dead.
And then many of them watched him ascend into heaven as well.
Jesus died on the cross for all of our sins. He is the Passover Lamb which taketh away the sin of the world. His unleavened body, sinless body, was buried in the tomb. His body did not see corruption when buried. He arose from the dead on the feast of firstfruits. He is the firstfruits. He arose in a new body.
And Jesus appeared to many people in His new and glorified body.
Let’s pray.
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