What are we to learn about what Jesus was really like, from appearances of our resurrected LORD Jesus, when no details are given? There are 3 such appearances mentioned in 1 Cor 15:6-7. “After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,” 1-500+ brothers & sisters; 2- James, Jesus’ brother; 3- “all the apostles”.
#1- We don’t know where this took place, we don’t know when and we don’t know who exactly the 500+ were. What we do know is that Paul was so confident as to the undeniability of this appearance, that some 25 years later, he challenged doubters to interview the witnesses who were still alive. Think about that. Over 500 followers of Jesus gathered in one place and suddenly - HE APPEARS ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No cheers from any event ever topped the HALLELUJAHS that day. Doesn’t that make chills run up your back. Oh, to have been there.
#2- James could not remember a time in his life when Jesus wasn’t there. He always knew He was different, but His claim to be the Son of God sounded crazy. So he went with his mother, Mary, and his brothers, to find Jesus and set Him straight, carry Him off if necessary. After all, a year earlier the people of Nazareth had attempted to kill Jesus when He claimed to be the Son of God. This is the best description of James’ absence of belief in His older brother, Jesus. His disbelief evidently continued all the way to Calvary, when Jesus couldn’t turn Mary’s care over to him or any of His own brothers, but had to ask John, one of His apostles, to care for His mother.
So what turned James into a devout disciple? Just 20 years later, by AD 49, when the Jerusalem Conference (Acts 15) took place, James’ voice was the most noteworthy among all of the church-wide elders and preachers who had gathered in Jerusalem, even more influential than Peter, more persuasive than Paul. The only explanation for this transformation is: HIS ALIVE AGAIN, RISEN SAVIOR, who had once been his older brother.
#3- There are 3 different views as to what “all the apostles” refers. Some believe it points to the disciples known as the Twelve, now the Eleven. Some to the Twelve, plus some other faithful followers. The third view is that it refers to those disciples, not the Twelve, who had been specially chosen by Jesus and then assigned the responsibility of proclaiming the Gospel message to every creature on earth. An example of this group can be found in Lk 10:1-24, when Jesus called and then sent out 72 disciples to evangelize. The word “apostle” was not restricted to the Twelve in other places: Epaphroditus-Phil 2:25; Andronicus & Junia-Rom 16:7; James-Gal 1:19; Barnabas-Ac 14:14. It was to these specially selected and commissioned disciples that this appearance refers.
So what was Jesus really like in these appearances?
Inspirational, to the 500+.
Lovingly supportive to His little brother.
Motivational, to James, as his Savior and LORD.
Challenging, to His band of apostles, who were not the Twelve.
That’s Jesus.
Mike “Pawdad” Sublett, Pastor @ Hi-Land Christian Church, Pampa, Texas 79065, 630-730-8015
