Why did Jesus appear only to certain people after His resurrection?
Jesus rose and was seen, but not by everyone: He appeared to witnesses God had chosen beforehand, who were to carry the news to the world. The appearances were for the founding of the church, not for a public spectacle. We who have not seen are given their testimony, the word, and the Spirit, and Jesus calls those who believe without seeing blessed.
This question arose from studying Why did the disciples not recognize Him after He rose? and Did Jesus really rise from the dead?.
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What the Scripture says
He appeared to chosen witnesses for a purpose
Peter tells Cornelius that God 'raised him up the third day, and gave him to be revealed, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God.' The appearances were not random displays; they were given to specific people whose testimony would carry the gospel. Luke says Jesus 'showed himself alive... by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking about God's Kingdom,' teaching these witnesses what they would then proclaim.
God raised him up the third day, and gave him to be revealed, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking about God’s Kingdom.
and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.
Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
The witnesses were sent to testify
Jesus told the eleven, 'You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth,' and Peter's first sermon stakes everything on it: 'This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses.' Paul says the risen Christ appeared to the twelve, to over five hundred, to James, and to himself, 'and so we preach, and so you believed.' To see the risen Jesus was to be entrusted with a message and a mission.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”
This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses.
and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.
Whether then it is I or they, so we preach, and so you believed.
Blessed are those who believe without seeing
Thomas demanded to see the nail prints before he would believe, and Jesus met him in his doubt, then said, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.' This is the word for every generation after the apostles: we walk by faith, not by sight, and Peter writes that though we have not seen Him, 'believing, you rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory.' Your faith is not second-class because you came late.
Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me,you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.”
for we walk by faith, not by sight.
whom not having known you love; in whom, though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory— receiving the result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
The appearances were for the foundation of the church
The risen Christ's appearances served the founding of the church: they equipped apostles who, with the prophets, form the foundation on which the church is built, with Christ as the chief cornerstone. The season of seeing was forty days and then it closed, because the age of the Spirit's witness had begun; Paul, the last of the apostles, was 'last of all' to see Him, 'as to the child born at the wrong time.' The foundation was laid once, and the witnesses were commissioned, and then the sending continued through them.
To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking about God’s Kingdom.
being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;
and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.
Go,and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
We now have their testimony and the Spirit
John writes that 'that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes... concerning the Word of life' he declares to us 'that you also may have fellowship with us.' And John's gospel was written 'that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.' We do not need to have been in the upper room, because we have the eyewitnesses' word in our hands and the Spirit in our hearts giving us belief.
That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we saw, and our hands touched, concerning the Word of life (and the life was revealed, and we have seen, and testify, and declare to you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was revealed to us); that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us. Yes, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus; that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses.
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Verses to meditate on
God raised him up the third day, and gave him to be revealed, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me,you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.”
whom not having known you love; in whom, though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory— receiving the result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”
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