The Resurrection Appearances
Sun, Apr 12, 2026
Teacher: John Dimmick Series: Gospel Highlighter Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20 & John 20:19-26
Matthew 28:16–20, Mark 16:14, Luke 24:36–49, John 20:19–23, John 20:26–29
After Jesus’ resurrection, we realize that the gospel is not just about a 1 time thing. It’s for all of us all the time and what God calls us to after salvation. There is only one appearance that shows in all 4 gospels (verses listed above) but this would be a good sermon to look at some of the other appearances that the gospels list out as well while we’re looking at this topically -
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The Gospel Highlighter
The Resurrection Appearances
Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-23; 26-29
In the gospels, we basically have 2 sets of resurrection stories. The first set has to do with the empty tomb and questions related to what happened to Jesus’ body. These stories are set in the early morning of resurrection day and involve:
the women who went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ dead body and discovered that the tomb was empty;
the angels who were at the tomb to announce that Jesus had risen;
Peter and John who went to the tomb to check out the womens’ story; and,
the soldiers who were standing guard when the resurrection took place and were paid off to say that the disciples stole Jesus’ body.
Pastor Yale covered this last week and highlighted some of the detail that really brought the Easter story to life for us. It is important to note that during this resurrection morning Jesus did make resurrection appearances to the women who went to the tomb. Matthew tells us that Jesus met the women who were running from the tomb to tell the good news of Jesus’ resurrection to the disciples and Jesus met them.
“So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell his disciples the news. Just then Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came up, took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.” Matthew 28:8-10.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus has a resurrection appearance to Mary Magdalene. This fits into the early morning narrative of resurrection day because the conversation between Mary and “the supposed gardener” has to do with where Jesus’ body has been taken. John 20:11-15. As you remember the story, Mary recognizes Jesus when He speaks to her.
The point I am making with this introduction is that Jesus made more than one resurrection appearance to his disciples. It is not what we might call a “one and done.” Jesus had several resurrection appearances that are recorded in the gospels. These resurrection appearances take place over the span of 40 days beginning in the afternoon and evening of resurrection day. The Apostle Paul gives us the summary of these resurrection appearances in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8:
“Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you – unless you believed in vain. For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures and that he appeared to Cephas, the to the Twelve. Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me.” 1 Corinthians 15:1-8
According to the Apostle Paul, the resurrection appearances of Jesus to his disciples are “most important? They are foundational to our salvation. They are central to the gospel message. They are “according to the Scriptures.” As a matter of fact, we really don’t know how many resurrection appearances Jesus made but we do know from the gospels that Jesus appeared to specific persons, to the apostles as a group, and to crowds of various sizes in both Jerusalem and Galilee - and this is what we are looking at today in our gospel highlighter series. In particular, we are focusing on Jesus’ resurrection appearances to the apostles as a group and the reason for this is that the apostles are witnesses of His resurrection, Acts 1:22. The apostles are the ones who are responsible for the following:
to establish the historical fact of Jesus’ resurrection and remove any doubt about it for future generations;
to establish the foundation of the church aligning Scripture with the person and work of Jesus; and,
to establish the mission mandate of the church to preach the gospel to the nations until Jesus comes again to establish His kingdom on earth.
Matthew 28:16-20 – In Matthew’s account of the resurrection appearance of Jesus to the 11 disciples, “some worshiped and some doubted.” Even among the 11, it was not easy to believe. None the less, Jesus spoke to them about his authority, the importance of discipleship and the promise of his presence till the end of the age.
It sounds a little academic that Jesus would appear to them to announce his authority but that is what he did. Jesus has authority in heaven and on earth. The fact that he is alive highlights the fact that we are His disciples, living under His authority, with His assurance that he will always be with us.
- “The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, 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 everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20
IWhen sharing the plan of salvation, I always try to include 2 passages of scripture, Romans 10:9-10 and 2 Corinthians 5:15.
“This is the message of faith that we proclaim: If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and “believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.” Romans 10:9-10
“And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.” 2 Corinthians 5:15
I am amazed at how easy it is for someone who has never heard or given any real thought about Jesus risen from the dead, - how easy it is for them to say ‘yes,’ I believe when the disciples who lived with Jesus 24/7 for several years had trouble believing.
I am equally amazed at how difficult it is for the same person who says I believe that Jesus was raised from the dead has so much trouble accepting his authority and begin living for him and not for themselves. That’s the difference between believing in a risen Savior and Lord and not just following a religious teacher.
Mark 16:14-15 - Mark’s account of the resurrection appearances of Jesus to the Eleven is a rebuke of their unbelief and hardness of heart “because they did not believe those who saw him after he had risen.” Matthew has some of the Eleven doubting but Mark has the Eleven with unbelief and a hardness of heart. In spite of that Jesus still commands them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
16:14 highlights the fact that the resurrection appearance of Jesus is a sign of a new quality of life not only for Jesus but also for those who believe.
We are looking at the longer ending of Mark, 16:9-18, which is both a recap of the resurrection appearances of Jesus mentioned in the other gospels and a reminder to us that the resurrection of Jesus was a tremendous display of God’s power.
The fact that the Eleven had “hardness of heart” means that they were stubborn in their unbelief. They simply were not going to believe what others were saying about Jesus being alive. So what does Jesus do? He appears to them.
With the command to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” Jesus tells them that the power of God will accompany the message. Whatever evidence is needed to validate the message will accompany the message. It is evidence that demands a verdict and inspires faith in the ones who receive the message.
Luke 24:36-49 – Luke’s account of the resurrection appearance of Jesus to the Eleven also highlights the fact that they were struggling with doubts in their hearts. To remove their doubts Jesus invites them to have personal contact with him.
“As they were saying these things (the Emmaus disciples’ testimony of what happened on the road and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread, Luke 24;13-35), he himself stood in their midst. He said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. “Why are you troubled?’ he asked them. “And why do doubts arise in your hearts?’ “Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself? Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see, I have.” Having said this, he showed them his hands and feet. “Do you have anything here to eat?” So they gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence. Luke 24:36-43.
Jesus also connects them to Scripture.
“He told them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you – that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. He also said to them, “This is what is written. The Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead the third day, and repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.” Luke 24:44- 49
So, the resurrection appearance of Jesus to the disciples is necessary. They need personal contact and open minds to understand Scripture. What is written reveals God’s plan for our salvation and what is written in Scripture will stand true forever. There are three parts. The first part of God’s plan that stands firm in what is written in Scripture is:
- Messiah is to suffer. Before his exaltation, there would be the disfigurement of the cross. See Isaiah 52:13-53:12. According to Scripture, this has always been God’s plan.
- Messiah is to rise. It is hard to know whether the detail of the third day is part of the emphasis here since no text of Hebrew Scripture makes a clear claim for the third day. Jesus used the analogy of Jonah to emphasize God’s blessing upon those who hear the word of God and keep it not to explain how many days he would be in the tomb, Luke 11:27-32. What is highlighted here is more likely the idea of resurrection itself and Jesus’ glorification. See Acts 2 and how Peter connected OT Scripture to Jesus’ resurrection and glorification, Acts 2:24-36 (Psalm 16:8-11; Psalm 110:1).
- Messiah is to be exalted. Repentance and forgiveness of sins ae to be preached in Christ’s name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. This is the message that we, followers of Jesus, have been commissioned to share. Luke emphasizes the importance of repentance as the appropriate response to the gospel. Luke highlights repentance “as a turning change of mind.” The continuing story of the gospel in Acts begins with a call to repentance as the first step in responding to the gracious offer of forgiveness and the hope of eternal life.
As Luke concludes his gospel the personal contact that we need with Jesus is now available through the person of the Holy Spirit:
“You are my witnesses of these things and look, I am sending you what my Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on him.” Luke 24:48-49
John 20:19-26 – John’s account of the resurrection appearance of Jesus is to His disciples who were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews on the day of resurrection as well as a week later.
His address to them both times is with the greeting, “Peace be with you.” This address reminds them of the promise Jesus made to them in John 16:33:
“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
The resurrection appearance of Jesus to them reminds them of the peace that they will have through the Holy Spirit as the Father sends them into the world.
Even though Thomas needs proof of Jesus’ resurrection, Jesus extends a benediction to us:
“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” John 20:29
CONNECTION CARD
1. This week, I will confront any personal doubts I have about believing Jesus is my living Savior and Lord
2. This week, I will renew my personal commitment to living out Jesus' commands of the Great Commission.
3. I will finish reading og the Gospel Highlighter series reading plan. (on the Living Faith Church Center App.)
2. This week, I will renew my personal commitment to living out Jesus' commands of the Great Commission.
3. I will finish reading og the Gospel Highlighter series reading plan. (on the Living Faith Church Center App.)