The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a foundational event in Christian theology, signifying His victory over death and His divine nature. Following His resurrection, Jesus made several appearances to His disciples, providing them with proof of His risen state and preparing them for their mission to spread the Gospel. One of these significant appearances occurred when Jesus appeared to His apostles, with the notable absence of Thomas.

Biblical Account

The account of Jesus appearing to His apostles after His resurrection is recorded in the Gospel of John. On the evening of the first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together in a locked room, fearful of the Jewish authorities. Despite the locked doors, Jesus appeared among them, offering them peace and showing them His hands and side as evidence of His crucifixion and resurrection. The Berean Standard Bible records this event in John 20:19-20:

"On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. 'Peace be with you!' He said to them. After He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord."

Significance of the Appearance

This appearance of Jesus to His apostles served multiple purposes. Firstly, it provided undeniable proof of His resurrection, as He stood before them in a physical form, bearing the marks of His crucifixion. This encounter was crucial in transforming the disciples' fear into joy and conviction, as they witnessed the fulfillment of Jesus' promise to rise from the dead.

Secondly, Jesus' greeting of peace was significant, as it reassured the disciples of His forgiveness and the restoration of their relationship with Him, despite their earlier abandonment during His arrest and crucifixion. This peace was not merely a greeting but a profound impartation of spiritual tranquility and assurance.

Thomas's Absence

Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not present during this initial appearance. His absence is noteworthy, as it sets the stage for a subsequent appearance where Jesus addresses Thomas's doubts directly. Thomas's skepticism and eventual confession of faith highlight the importance of personal encounter and belief in the risen Christ.

The absence of Thomas during this appearance underscores the individual journey of faith each believer must undertake. While the other disciples rejoiced at seeing the Lord, Thomas's later demand for physical evidence ("Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe" · John 20:25) reflects a common human struggle with doubt and the need for personal assurance.

Theological Implications

The appearance of Jesus to the apostles, excluding Thomas, emphasizes the reality of the resurrection as a historical and transformative event. It affirms the physicality of Jesus' resurrected body, countering any notion that the resurrection was merely spiritual or metaphorical. This event also highlights the continuity between Jesus' earthly ministry and His post-resurrection appearances, as He continues to teach, commission, and empower His followers.

Furthermore, this appearance sets the stage for the Great Commission, as Jesus later instructs His disciples to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. The resurrection appearances, including this one, serve as a foundation for the apostles' witness and the early church's proclamation of the risen Christ.

In summary, Jesus' appearance to the apostles, except Thomas, is a pivotal moment in the resurrection narrative, reinforcing the truth of His victory over death and the transformative power of His presence among His followers.John 20:19,24
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the middle, and said to them, Peace be to you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

St. Thomas Also Confessed the Same Faith as Peter after the Lord's ...
... St. Thomas also confessed the same faith as Peter after the Lord's resurrection. ...
Certainly it was Christ without any doubt. But what did he exclaim? ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter xv st thomas also.htm

Christ Appears to Five Hundred Believers; to his Brother James to ...
... and work in general, and to the resurrection only as ... his doubts"and, on this foundation,
he should have ... And, on the other hand, Christ assigns a higher place ...
/.../section 302 christ appears to.htm

Thomas' Test.
... in their memories as the place where their risen Lord had appeared. ... He did not
absolutely deny the possibility of Christ's resurrection, but he went very ...
/.../dods/the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol ii/xxiii thomas test.htm

Preface
... of the Jews," when the Lord Jesus suddenly appeared in the midst of them after His
resurrection, and said ... He was now zealous only for the kingdom of Christ. ...
/.../ryle/the upper room being a few truths for the times/preface.htm

On the Resurrection of Christ from the Dead.
... two modes of accounting for the narrative of the Resurrection: by fraud, and that
Christ's was not ... In regard to the supposition of fraud he says: it shows ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xvi on the resurrection.htm

First Latin Form.
... he were made whole by their prayers, he would become ... laid the body of our Lord Jesus
Christ in my ... Him and spoke with Him after His resurrection; who afterwards ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the passing of mary/first latin form.htm

Christ's Resurrection an Image of Our New Life.
... When the Saviour first appeared to Mary, He said, as if ... can have tarried, we must
wait till He appears again ... the new life that is like Christ's resurrection life ...
/.../selected sermons of schleiermacher/xv christs resurrection an image.htm

Faustus Willing to Believe not Only that the Jewish but that all ...
... in this world after the death and the resurrection of Christ ... thinks it allowable
to say: Your Christ spoke falsely ... successor of Moses in his mind, he may perhaps ...
/.../faustus willing to believe not.htm

The Eternal Manhood
... cast all your care on him, because you believe that he careth for ... If you do, then
indeed you believe in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ; and you ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xxxv the eternal manhood.htm

John xx. 24, 25
... in those times, and had seen Christ working miracles ... with them alone after the
Resurrection; wherefore also ... He appeared, for instance, in the evening, and flew ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily lxxxvii john xx 24.htm

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