by esther phinias | 2 March 2020 08:46 pm03
What Can We Learn From It Theologically?
Before His crucifixion, Jesus was easily recognized. People knew Him by His face, His voice, and His earthly presence. But after His resurrection, something radically changed. The glorified Christ no longer revealed Himself through physical appearance but through spiritual discernment, personal testimony, and the power of His Word and Spirit.
This change reveals a profound theological truth: To recognize the risen Christ, one must be spiritually awakened. Flesh and blood alone cannot reveal Him—it requires revelation from the Father (cf. Matthew 16:17).
1. MARY MAGDALENE: RECOGNIZING BY THE VOICE, NOT BY SIGHT
In John 20:11–18, Mary Magdalene stands weeping outside the empty tomb. Jesus appears to her, but she doesn’t recognize Him. She assumes He’s the gardener—until He calls her name: “Mary.”
Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to Him, ‘Rabboni!’ (which is to say, Teacher).
John 20:16 (NKJV)
Theologically, this highlights the truth found in John 10:27:
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
Mary didn’t recognize Jesus by His appearance—but by His voice. The same voice that called Lazarus from the tomb (John 11:43) now awakens faith in her heart. This moment shows that recognition of Christ comes by divine calling, not by human perception.
2. THE DISCIPLES ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS: CHRIST REVEALED IN THE WORD AND THE BREAKING OF BREAD
In Luke 24:13–35, two disciples journey to Emmaus, confused and discouraged. Jesus walks with them “in another form” (cf. Mark 16:12) and expounds the Scriptures, explaining how the Messiah had to suffer and rise again.
And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
Luke 24:27 (NKJV)
Still, they don’t recognize Him—until He breaks bread.
Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
Luke 24:30–31 (NKJV)
This passage teaches us that Christ is revealed through Scripture and communion. They later say,
Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?
Luke 24:32 (NKJV)
This “burning heart” reflects the inner witness of the Holy Spirit (cf. Romans 8:16), stirring the soul as the Word is opened.
3. THE DISCIPLES BY THE SEA: RECOGNIZING JESUS THROUGH HIS WORKS
In John 21:1–14, the disciples go fishing and catch nothing. A man on the shore tells them to cast the net on the right side—and they bring in a miraculous catch. It is only then that John says:
It is the Lord!
John 21:7 (NKJV)
This echoes a previous miracle in Luke 5:1–11, when Jesus first called Peter. Recognition here comes not through appearance but through familiar signs of divine power. Jesus reveals Himself through continuity in His works, affirming His identity as the risen Christ.
4. THEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: A SHIFT FROM SIGHT TO FAITH
After the resurrection, Jesus no longer appeared in the same recognizable form. This shift was intentional—it leads believers from reliance on the physical to faith in the spiritual.
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)
The resurrected body of Jesus was real and tangible (cf. Luke 24:39, “a spirit does not have flesh and bones”), but it was also glorified (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:42–44), no longer bound by space or appearance. He could appear in different forms and vanish at will, showing His divine authority.
Even some of His disciples doubted despite seeing Him:
When they saw Him, tphey worshiped Him; but some doubted.
Matthew 28:17 (NKJV)
This shows that seeing is not always believing. Without spiritual discernment, one can look directly at Jesus and still not recognize Him.
5. TODAY: DO WE RECOGNIZE JESUS?
Today, Christ is present among us, but not in bodily form. If we expect Him to reveal Himself in visible signs only—long hair, white robe, glowing face—we may miss Him altogether.
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.
John 20:29 (NKJV)
We now recognize Christ through:
6. A WARNING: CHRIST CAN BE OVERLOOKED
Just like Mary thought Jesus was the gardener, or the disciples thought He was a stranger, you may encounter Christ in ways you don’t expect—through a preacher, a scripture, a rebuke, a call to repentance.
If you lack His testimony in your heart, you’ll dismiss Him.
You might say, “It’s just a preacher,” or “just another church service,” and fail to realize it is Christ Himself speaking to you.
CONCLUSION: KNOW HIM BY HIS TESTIMONY
Jesus has risen. He no longer comes to us in His former appearance, but He is present by His Spirit, and can be known through His Word and testimony.
And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, ‘See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant… Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Revelation 19:10 (NKJV)
Christ is still walking among His people today. The question is—can you recognize Him?
You don’t need a vision or supernatural sight. You need the Word in you. You need the Spirit to open your eyes. You need the testimony of Jesus alive in your life.
Let His Word dwell richly in you. Let His Spirit bear witness in your heart. Then, wherever He walks—you will know Him.
That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection…
Philippians 3:10 (NKJV)
Source URL: https://wingulamashahidi.org/en/2020/03/02/the-new-appearance-of-jesus-after-his-resurrection/
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