Ep. 147: Jesus appears to disciples

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1 CORINTHIANS 15:5, MARK 16:14, LUKE 24:36-43, JOHN 20:19-25

‍That same afternoon the Lord had appeared to Peter, but we are not given any extra information here. These two in Emmaus could not have kept the good tidings to themselves. So they left the uneaten meal and hastened back along the road they had travelled with the now well-known Stranger – but with what lighter hearts and steps! They met the Apostles, though Thomas was not with the others on that evening of the first ‘Lord’s Day.’

‍When the two from Emmaus arrived they found the little band as sheep sheltering within the fold from the storm. Whether they expected persecution simply as disciples, or because the story of the empty Tomb, which had reached the authorities, would stir the fears of the Sanhedrists, special precautions had been taken. The outer and inner doors were shut, both to conceal their gathering and to prevent surprise. But those assembled were now sure of at least one thing. Christ has risen. And when they from Emmaus told their wondrous story, the others could reply by relating how he had appeared, not only to Mary but also to Peter.

‍And still, they seemed not yet to have understood his Resurrection. They were sitting at a meal, discussing, in their state of confusion, the real importance of these appearances of Jesus. But all at once. He stood in the midst of them. Were they gazing on ‘a spirit?’ This was unmistakably Jesus, demonstrated by the marks of his sacred wounds and he readily joined their supper of broiled fish.

‍Once more he spoke the ‘Peace be unto you!’ and now it was to them an emblem of faith, the well-known greeting of their old Lord and Master. It was followed by the re-gathering and constitution of the Church as that of Jesus Christ, the Risen One. The Apostles were commissioned to carry on Christ’s work, and not to begin a new one.

‍And so it was that he made it a very real commission when he breathed on them, not individually but as an assembly and said; ‘Take you the Holy Spirit’ and this not in the absolute sense, since the Holy Spirit was not yet given, but as the connecting link with and the qualification for the authority bestowed on the Church.

‍This is an extract from the book, Jesus : Life and Times, available for £12 here (Finalist for Academic Book of the year at 2023 CRT awards)

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