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Glory · Jesus Christ
A number of the resurrection accounts tell us that the risen Jesus was not immediately recognized: the two on the road, Mary, the disciples on the shore. He was always the same Jesus, now risen and glorious, and recognition came as He revealed Himself, by His word, at the breaking of bread, in calling a name. The appearances teach us that we recognize our risen Lord by faith, through the means He has given, not by sight alone.
https://glorystudy.com/questions/why-did-the-disciples-not-recognize-him-after-he-rose · Scripture quoted from the World English Bible
Luke 24:13-43
As you read: Two disciples walk with the risen Jesus without recognizing Him, until He opens the Scriptures and takes bread, and then their eyes are opened.
13Behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia from Jerusalem.
14They talked with each other about all of these things which had happened.
15While they talked and questioned together, Jesus himself came near, and went with them.
16But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
17He said to them, “What are you talking about as you walk, and are sad?”
18One of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things which have happened there in these days?”
19He said to them, “What things?” They said to him, “The things concerning Jesus, the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people;
20and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.
21But we were hoping that it was he who would redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.
22Also, certain women of our company amazed us, having arrived early at the tomb;
23and when they didn’t find his body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.
24Some of us went to the tomb, and found it just like the women had said, but they didn’t see him.”
25He said to them, “Foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
26Didn’t the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?”
27Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
28They drew near to the village, where they were going, and he acted like he would go further.
29They urged him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is almost evening, and the day is almost over.” He went in to stay with them.
30When he had sat down at the table with them, he took the bread and gave thanks. Breaking it, he gave to them.
31Their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished out of their sight.
32They said one to another, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us, while he spoke to us along the way, and while he opened the Scriptures to us?”
33They rose up that very hour, returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and those who were with them,
34saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”
35They related the things that happened along the way, and how he was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.
36As they said these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”
37But they were terrified and filled with fear, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38He said to them, “Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts?
39See my hands and my feet, that it is truly me. Touch me and see, for a spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.”
40When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
41While they still didn’t believe for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”
42They gave him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.
43He took them, and ate in front of them.
John 20:11-18
As you read: Mary does not know it is Jesus standing before her until He calls her name.
11But Mary was standing outside at the tomb weeping. So, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb,
12and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13They told her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have laid him.”
14When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, and didn’t know that it was Jesus.
15Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”
16Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him, “Rabboni!” which is to say, “Teacher!”
17Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold me, for I haven’t yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brothers, and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
18Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these things to her.
John 21:1-14
As you read: The disciples have fished all night and do not recognize the figure on the beach, until the catch of fish and the cry, 'It's the Lord.'
1After these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself this way.
2Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.
3Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing.” They told him, “We are also coming with you.” They immediately went out, and entered into the boat. That night, they caught nothing.
4But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus.
5Jesus therefore said to them, “Children, have you anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.”
6He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” They cast it therefore, and now they weren’t able to draw it in for the multitude of fish.
7That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his coat around him (for he was naked), and threw himself into the sea.
8But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away), dragging the net full of fish.
9So when they got out on the land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.
10Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
11Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fish, one hundred fifty-three; and even though there were so many, the net wasn’t torn.
12Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” None of the disciples dared inquire of him, “Who are you?” knowing that it was the Lord.
13Then Jesus came and took the bread, gave it to them, and the fish likewise.
14This is now the third time that Jesus was revealed to his disciples, after he had risen from the dead.
Mark 16:9-14
As you read: Mark notes that Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them as they walked, and later upbraided the eleven for their unbelief.
9Now when he had risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.
10She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
11When they heard that he was alive, and had been seen by her, they disbelieved.
12After these things he was revealed in another form to two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country.
13They went away and told it to the rest. They didn’t believe them, either.
14Afterward he was revealed to the eleven themselves as they sat at the table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they didn’t believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
John 20:24-31
As you read: Even the doubter is met with grace: reach here your finger, see my hands, and do not be unbelieving but believing.
24But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came.
25The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26After eight days again his disciples were inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace be to you.”
27Then 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.”
28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
29Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me,you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.”
30Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book;
31but 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 do not hide it. The two on the road to Emmaus 'were kept from recognizing him.' Mary stood before the risen Jesus and 'didn't know that it was Jesus.' The disciples on the shore 'didn't know that it was Jesus,' and in the upper room they were terrified, thinking they saw a spirit. Whatever the reason, it was the disciples' eyes and minds that failed to see at first, not the reality of the risen Lord before them.
“But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.”Luke 24:16
“When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, and didn’t know that it was Jesus.”John 20:14
“But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus.”John 21:4
“But they were terrified and filled with fear, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.”Luke 24:37
The risen Jesus insisted on continuity with the crucified One. He showed them His hands and feet: 'See my hands and my feet, that it is truly me. Touch me and see, for a spirit doesn't have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.' He ate with them, and He offered His wounds to Thomas. The glory did not erase His identity; it fulfilled it. He is the same Lord, risen, bodily, and present.
“See my hands and my feet, that it is truly me. Touch me and see, for a spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.””Luke 24:39
“They gave him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. He took them, and ate in front of them.”Luke 24:42-43
“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.””John 20:27
In every case, the blindness was lifted when Jesus acted. On the road, it was when He took bread, blessed it, and broke it that their eyes were opened and they recognized Him. To Mary, it was when He said her name: 'Jesus said to her, Mary.' At the sea, it was the miraculous catch that led John to say, 'It's the Lord.' The disciples did not find Him by their own insight; He made Himself known.
“When he had sat down at the table with them, he took the bread and gave thanks. Breaking it, he gave to them. Their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished out of their sight.”Luke 24:30-31
“Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him, “Rabboni!” which is to say, “Teacher!””John 20:16
“He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” They cast it therefore, and now they weren’t able to draw it in for the multitude of fish.”John 21:6
“That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his coat around him (for he was naked), and threw himself into the sea.”John 21:7
On the Emmaus road, before their eyes were opened, their hearts were burning as He opened the Scriptures to them; even after the empty tomb, they had not yet understood the Scripture that He must rise from the dead. Later, He 'opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures.' The risen Jesus connects His resurrection to the whole word of God, from Moses and all the prophets to everything written about Him. Recognition came through the word He had given, and it still does: He makes Himself known as He opens the Scriptures to His people.
“He said to them, “Foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Didn’t the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?” Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”Luke 24:25-27
“They said one to another, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us, while he spoke to us along the way, and while he opened the Scriptures to us?””Luke 24:32
“He said to them, “This is what I told you, while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures.”Luke 24:44-45
“For as yet they didn’t know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.”John 20:9
Jesus told Thomas, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.' Peter celebrates that those who have not seen Him love Him and rejoice in Him with inexpressible joy, and Paul says we walk by faith, not by sight. The risen Lord is with His people, making Himself known in His word, at His table, and in His care; and like the disciples, we recognize Him not by seeing with our eyes but by believing with our hearts.
“Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me,you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.””John 20:29
“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—”1 Peter 1:8
“for we walk by faith, not by sight.”2 Corinthians 5:7
“teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”Matthew 28:20