by Dorcas Kulwa | 22 January 2021 08:46 am01
A Theological Reflection on Christ’s Post-Resurrection Appearances
Blessed be the name of our Lord Jesus Christ forever. By God’s grace, we have arrived at yet another precious moment to meditate together on the words of life.
The Scriptures tell us that when the Lord Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to a number of people—about five hundred brethren at once (1 Corinthians 15:6). But have you ever stopped to consider why this happened? Why them? What was so significant about these individuals that Christ revealed Himself to them and not to everyone?
To answer that, we must understand a pattern revealed throughout Scripture:
God does not reveal Himself equally to all people, but according to His purposes and the condition of human hearts.
Some revelations are general (Psalm 19:1–4; Romans 1:19–20), while others are deeply personal and reserved for those whom He chooses (Exodus 33:19; John 14:21).
During the 33 years Jesus lived physically on earth, anyone who wished could approach Him. Anyone could see Him, hear Him, or even touch Him. But after the resurrection, this changed. No one could see Him unless He sovereignly revealed Himself to them.
This fulfills His words in
John 7:34:
“You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come.”
Because they had walked with Him.**
The 500 who saw the risen Christ were not accidental spectators. The Scriptures reveal an important detail:
They had accompanied Him from Galilee to Jerusalem.
Acts 13:30–31 (ESV):“But God raised him from the dead,
and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem—who are now his witnesses to the people.”
This means they had followed His ministry for years, listened to His teachings, participated in His works, and committed themselves to His mission. Christ reveals Himself most fully to those who walk with Him intentionally and consistently (Jeremiah 29:13; John 14:23).
The two disciples on the road to Emmaus are a perfect example (Luke 24:13–35). Their hearts were already burning within them because they had invested their lives in Christ’s message—even before recognizing Him (Luke 24:32).
Throughout Scripture, divine revelation follows a consistent principle: Noah found grace because he walked with God (Genesis 6:9). Abraham was called a friend of God (Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23). Moses spoke with God face to face because he desired God’s presence above all else (Exodus 33:11, 18). Daniel received visions because he set his heart to understand and humbled himself before God (Daniel 10:12).
Likewise, the 500 saw Christ because they were already walking with Him.
The post-resurrection appearances were not merely a display of power. They were a divine commissioning. Jesus was forming the foundation of the early church by choosing those who would serve as primary witnesses.
Acts 10:40–42 (ESV):
“God raised him on the third day and made him to appear,
not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses,
who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.”
Notice the divine intentionality:
“chosen by God as witnesses.”
This is the theological heart of the matter:
Christ reveals Himself for the sake of mission.
Those who receive revelation receive responsibility (Luke 12:48).
God ensured the resurrection would have: multiple witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15),credible witnesses (people who knew Him intimately),consistent witnesses (1 John 1:1–3),public witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:6 says “most of whom are still alive,” inviting verification).
Christianity rests not on mystical experience, but on historical, verifiable events.
Many believers are content with only the initial stages of salvation—faith that forgives sins and delivers from darkness. But the Scriptures call us to much deeper knowledge.
Jesus is described as: “the mystery of God” (Colossians 2:2–3) the One in whom “all the fullness of God dwells bodily” (Colossians 2:9) the One whose love is beyond knowledge (Ephesians 3:19)
If we are careless in seeking Him, if we resist His Word, or if we grow tired of hearing about Him, we should not expect deeper revelation.
Ephesians 4:13–14 (ESV):
“…until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine…”
Spiritual immaturity keeps us shallow.
Spiritual hunger brings revelation.
Paul’s greatest longing was:
Philippians 3:10 (ESV):
“that I may know him and the power of his resurrection…”
This experiential knowledge of Christ is the same gift the 500 received. Christ revealed Himself to them not only in glory but in power—power that later transformed the world.
If we only desire the Jesus who saves us from sins, He will remain at that level for us.
But if we pursue the Jesus who reveals the fullness of God, who walks with us, and who empowers us—He will reveal Himself in the power of His resurrection.
Like the 500, let us walk with Him daily.
Let us follow Him from “Galilee to Jerusalem”—from the beginning of faith to the fullness of maturity.
Let us seek Him earnestly, that we too may become His true witnesses.
Maranatha — Come, Lord Jesus.
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