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Why didn't Jesus disciples recognize Jesus after the resurrection?

Discussion in 'Other Christian Denominations' started by xdisciplex, May 23, 2007.

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  1. xdisciplex

    xdisciplex New Member

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    Was it because he looked totally different afterwards?
    I listened to a sermon and the speaker said that after the resurrection the disciples basically had to accept by faith that Jesus was really Jesus.
    Do you think this is true and that Jesus looked totally different afterwards so that nobody would have even recognized him?
    But if he looked totally different afterwards then how did the people even know that it's him? But the bible speaks about infallible proofs!

    Acts 1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

    This means that it wasn't simply about accepting Jesus by faith but also by sight.
    What do you think? But on the other hand the bible also says that some of his followers saw him and still doubted how is this possible? How can you see Jesus and his wounds and still doubt?

    But the argument that Jesus looked different afterwards and that you simply had to accept by faith that it's really Jesus is not a good argument in my opinion because then you can as well say that maybe it wasn't even Jesus but a twin or somebody who looked a bit like Jesus or simply somebody who claimed to be Jesus and the people simply accepted by faith that it's Jesus. :confused:
     
    #1 xdisciplex, May 23, 2007
  2. Scarlett O.

    Scarlett O. Moderator
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    Hi, xdx-

    No, I don't believe it's true that Jesus looked totally different afterwards so that nobody would have even recognized him.

    The bible says otherwise.

    There are 12 resurrection appearances of Jesus to over 500 people. I only see two places where people were briefly confused and in one of those instances Jesus hid his identity for a purpose.

    Here it is in a nutshell-

    1. Mary Magdelene (Mark 16:9 and John 20:10-18) - Mary came to the grave when it was dark and when she saw that Jesus was not there she cried hysterically. When Jesus spoke to her, the bible says she turned at looked at him but did not recognize him. It was dark and she was crying like a baby. He spoke again and she instantly recognized him. This was a case of extreme grief, tears, darkness, and emotions taking a toll on her momentarily.

    2. The women returning from the tomb (Matthew 28:9-10) - After the angel told them to go and tell the disciples, Jesus met the on the way and said, "All hail". They worshipped him immediately. The recognized him.

    3. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus. (Luke 24:13-32 and Mark 16:12-13) - Jesus disguised his face on purpose (verse 16) and then revealed himself later in the conversation. (verse 31) These men needed to hear the fulfillment of scriptures about why Jesus had to die and understand them first, so Jesus had "bible study" with them before he revealed his familiar face. When he revealed himself, they recognized him.

    4. Peter in Jerusalem (Luke 24:34 and 1 Corinthians 15:5)

    5. Several disciples in a locked room in Jerusalem. (Luke 24:36-43 and John 20:19-23) - The disciples that had just met with Jesus went to the others. While they were telling this story, Jesus appeared to them all. They definitely recognized him, because they thought he was ghost and they could hardly believe it because it seemed to good to be true. Shock, I think, is an understatement. **Note, Thomas was not there.

    6. A week later behind locked doors with Thomas present. (John 20:24-29) When the disciples tried to tell Thomas the truth, he wouldn't believe them. A quite natural reaction. But when he actually saw Jesus and touched his wounds, he was convinced. He recognized Jesus on sight.

    7. The seven disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-24) - The disciples were night-fishing and after a terrible night with no success, the sun begun to rise. Jesus, who was on the shore called out to them to cast their nets on the other side. The bible says that didn't recognize the man from their boat. It was probably still dark and they were tired and he was on the shore. But when they pulled in the net load of fish, they knew immediately who it was on shore. In fact, verse 12 said that when they got on shore they knew it was him.

    8. Seen by 500 believers at once (1 Corinthains 15:6)

    9. James (1 Corinthians 15:7)

    10. Appeared to the 11 on a mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28:18-20) - Jesus made this appointment to be with them there. Some worshipped him and some held back, still not grasping it all. Human nature.

    11. The road to Bethany, the Mount of Olives, and the Ascension (Luke 24:50-53) By this time, they all worshipped him....any fears and doubts had gone. (verse 52)

    12. Seen by Paul on the Damascus Road (Acts 9:3-6 and 1 Corinthians 15:8) Although Paul saw only a bright light, when Jesus spoke with authority, he knew exactly who this was.
     
    #2 Scarlett O., May 23, 2007
  3. tragic_pizza

    tragic_pizza New Member

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    xdx, remember that Jesus was dead. Completely, utterly dead.

    The last person they would expect to see was someone who they knew, without a doubt, had died.
     
    #3 tragic_pizza, May 23, 2007
  4. richard n koustas

    richard n koustas New Member

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    But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. Luke 24:16

    ...as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed [it], and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. Luke 24:30-1

    in this story we are not told that Jesus looked the same or different, but His identity was hidden. What I think is more interesting is that "their eyes were opened" when He broke bread with them. some one has suggested that when He broke bread, the disciples saw the nail prints in His hands (wrist).
     
    #4 richard n koustas, May 23, 2007
  5. Gerhard Ebersoehn

    Gerhard Ebersoehn Active Member
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    Why recognized Jesus' disciples Him not after the resurrection?

    GE

    Because they HAD TO recognise Him from the Scriptures first of all and a priori conditionally. Jesus made that clear with the very way He revealed Himself to them on the road to Emmaus.

    The problem with Christianity is singly that we do not take the challenge seriously. Everyone creates his own Jesus-image.
     
    #5 Gerhard Ebersoehn, May 25, 2007
  6. Gerhard Ebersoehn

    Gerhard Ebersoehn Active Member
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    But Jesus was not finally nor fully revealed untill the Day of Pentecost. Without the regenerating power of witness of the Holy Spirit to the Christ, He willed not to be known by any.
     
    #6 Gerhard Ebersoehn, May 25, 2007
  7. BobRyan

    BobRyan Well-Known Member

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    Go to the Bible - that is always the right thing to do. And as usual Scarlett does the right thing.



    There is no mention of it being too dark to recognize Jesus in Mark 16 or John 20. But it is instructive that it is at the point that Jesus speaks tht Mary "hears the familiar voice". This tells us that in our resurrected bodies we will have voice patterns recognizable to those who know us.

    Again - it is at the act of speaking and voice recognition - not simply seeing him walking toward them at a distance.

    This one is interesting because both his voice and his physical appearance left them mystified as to who this was. When he raises his hands in blessing they recognize the nail prints.

    In this summary of the Gospel Paul does not say how Peter recognized Christ,

    But in each case it is verified after Christ speaks and when they see the nail prints.

    John says to Peter "it i the master" from the boat and Peter swims to shore. But both had already seen Christ before.


    My point is that in 1John 3 we are told that we will receive glorified bodies at the resurrection and "see him as he is". I don't think our resurrected bodies will be exact duplicates of the earthly - since they will be without defect - without any flaws of any kind.

    But apparently our voices are still recogniable and our features are similar.

    In Christ,

    Bob
     
    #7 BobRyan, May 26, 2007
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