THE RESURRECTION
APPEARANCES OF JESUS
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:”
[By Ron Halbrook]
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THE RESURRECTION
APPEARANCES OF JESUS
Introduction:
1. Jesus Sympathetic in Presence of Death,
But Not Helpless (Jn. 11):
Vv. 3-4, 11 Can Awaken the Dead
Vv. 23-27 The Source of Life
Vv. 33-36 Tears of Love & Sympathy
Vv. 43-44 Raised Lazarus!
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THE RESURRECTION
APPEARANCES OF JESUS
Introduction:
2. Jesus’ Power Over Life, Death, & Resurrection
Jn. 2:18-22 Predict His Death & Resurrection
Matt. 16:21 Predict Again…
Jn. 10:17-18 “I Lay Down My Life,
That I May Take It Again”
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THE RESURRECTION
APPEARANCES OF JESUS
Introduction:
3. Jesus’ Resurrection: Proof of His Deity,
Foundation of Our Faith
Matt. 12:38-40 His Greatest Miracle
Jn. 5:28-29 Will Raise All the Dead
4. “Many Infallible Proofs” of His Resurrection
(Acts 1:3)
Bible Records the Evidence
Survey Evidence, Gain Eternal Life
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I. Testimony of Resurrection Appearances
A. Guards Abandon the Empty Tomb!
Matt. 27:57-60 Tomb Sealed with Great Stone
Matt. 27:62-66 Roman Soldiers Guard Tomb
Under Penalty of Death
Matt. 28:2-4 Angel Opens Tomb, Guards
Paralyzed with Fear
Matt. 28:11-15 Guards Report Resurrection,
Bribed to Tell Ludicrous Lies
 Death Penalty If Sleep, Seal Broke, Body Lost
 No One Awoke During Theft???
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 If Asleep, How Know What Happened???
I. Testimony of Resurrection Appearances
B. To Mary Magdalene
Jn. 20:1-10 Mary Reports Empty Tomb—
Peter & John Confirm Report,
But Do Not Understand
Jn. 20:11-18 Mary Follows to Tomb,
Jesus
Appears
Mk. 16:9-11 Mary Reports Jesus Alive—
Disciples Do Not Believe
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I. Testimony of Resurrection Appearances
C. To A Group of Women
Matt. 28:1-10 Meet Angel, See Empty Tomb,
See Risen Jesus
Mk. 16:1-8 Enter, Examine Tomb
Lk. 24:1-11 Apostles Not Believe Women
D. To Two Disciples on Jerusalem-Emmaus Road
Mk. 16:12-13 Jesus Appeared to Two Men—
They Reported Jesus Alive—
Other Disciples Not Believe
Lk. 24:13-35 Jesus Explained Prophecies of
His Death & Resurrection to These Men
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I. Testimony of Resurrection Appearances
E. To Simon Peter
1 Cor. 15:3-5 “He Was Seen of Cephas”—
A
Turning Point for Peter & Other Apostles
Lk. 24:33-34 Peter’s Report Confirmed Earlier
Reports by Women
Lk. 24:35 Report of Two Men Confirmed
Peter’s Report
Disciples Gradually Accept Reality of
Resurrection Because of Overwhelming
Evidence!
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I. Testimony of Resurrection Appearances
F. To the Apostles as a Group (1st Time)
Mk. 16:14 Risen Jesus Rebuked Apostles for
Doubting First Reports
Lk. 24:36-43 Jesus Convinces Them His Body
Was Raised—“It Is I!”
Jn. 20:19-25 Jesus Speaks of Their Future
Work—Thomas Absent, Doubts
G. To the Apostles with Thomas (2nd Time)
Jn. 20:26-31 Jesus Presents Same Evidence
to Thomas
 Power of Evidence: Confess Deity of Jesus
 Eyewitnesses & Those Who Believe Them
Blessed
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I. Testimony of Resurrection Appearances
H. To the Apostles as a Group (3rd Time)
Jn. 21:1-25 Risen Jesus Appeared in Galilee
as Promised (Matt. 28:7, 10; Mk. 16:7)
 Growing Faith: Apostles Went to Galilee to
Wait as Instructed
 Reveals Himself by Miraculous Catch of Fish
 Challenges Peter with Duties of Love
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I. Testimony of Resurrection Appearances
I. To the Apostles in Giving the Great Commission
Matt. 28:18-20 The Resurrected Lord Has All
Authority to Save the Lost in All Nations
 Baptize Men into Fellowship with God
 Teach Them All Christ Commands
Mk. 16:15-18 Preach Gospel to All Men
 Two Conditions to Receive Salvation:
Believe & Be Baptized
 One Condition to be Lost: Do Not Believe
 Miracles of Apostles Prove They Spoke by Divine
Authority
Lk. 24:44-49 Begin Work in Jerusalem
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 Gospel in Prophecy, Fulfillment, & Proclamation!
I. Testimony of Resurrection Appearances
J. To the Apostles as Jesus Ascended to Heaven
Mk. 16:19-20 Risen Jesus Ascended to God’s
Right Hand, Guided Apostles in Preaching
Lk. 24:50-53 Ascended from Bethany, Apostles
Returned to Jerusalem by Faith
Acts 1:1-11 Last Words Prepare Apostles for
Their Work—Angels Promise His Return
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I. Testimony of Resurrection Appearances
K. To Stephen
Acts 7:54-60 Men Despised Stephen’s
Sermon, Christ Approved
 Sermon Confronted Sinners with Their Sins &
With the Risen Lord!
L. To Saul of Tarsus
Acts 9:1-31 Chief Persecutor of Church of
Christ Converted when Saw Evidence of
Resurrected Lord!
Acts 22:1-21 Paul’s Testimony: Resurrected
Lord Sent Him to Preach to Gentiles (vv. 14-15)
Acts 26:1-32 Christ Raised, Appeared to Paul,
Sent Him to Preach (vv. 8, 15-16, 22-23)
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I. Testimony of Resurrection Appearances
M. Paul’s Summary of Resurrection Appearances
1 Cor. 15:1-8 “…the gospel which I preached…
Christ died for our sins… he was buried… he
arose again… he was seen”






Vs. 5
Vs. 5
Vs. 6
Vs. 7
Vs. 7
Vs. 8
By Cephas
By the Twelve Apostles
By More Than 500 Disciples at Once
By James
By the Twelve Apostles
By Paul
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II. Invitation to Examination of Evidence
A. Truth Invites Investigation
Matt. 28:5-6; Lk. 24:2-3 Angels Invited Women
to Investigate Empty Tomb
Jn. 20:26-29 Jesus Invited Thomas to
Investigate Marks Identifying Resurrected Body
1 Cor. 15:6 Paul Invited Anyone to Investigate
the Eyewitnesses of Jesus’ Resurrection
B. Investigate Because Some Testimony Doubtful
or Suspect
Some Witnesses “See” What They Want to
See, Expect to See, or Hope to See
Must Examine & Re-examine Such Testimony
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III. Invitation to Examination Accepted
A. Some Testimony Very Strong, Worthy of Belief
B. Involuntary Witnesses—Not Plan, Purpose,
Intend to Witness Event
Mk. 16:1 Women Expect to Anoint Dead Body
1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and
Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet
spices, that they might come and anoint him.
Lk. 24:15-16 Men on Road Not Recognize Jesus
15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed
together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went
with them. 16 But their eyes were holden that they should
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not know him.
III. Invitation to Examination Accepted
C. Unexpecting Witnesses—Not Understand or
Expect Event Could or Would Occur
Jn. 20:9 Contrary to Expectation
For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise
again from the dead.
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III. Invitation to Examination Accepted
D. Skeptical, Doubtful Witnesses—Difficult to
Convince
Lk. 24:11; Mk. 16:11-13 All Early Reports of
Empty Tomb or Resurrection Doubted
11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and
they believed them not.
11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and
had been seen of her, believed not.
12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of
them, as they walked, and went into the country.
13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither
believed they them.
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III. Invitation to Examination Accepted
E. Witnesses Yet Doubtful in Presence of Direct,
Concrete Evidence
Lk. 24:37, 39-41 Doubted Their Own Senses
with Jesus Standing Before Them
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed
that they had seen a spirit.
39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself:
handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and
bones, as ye see me have.
40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his
hands and his feet.
41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and
wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?19
III. Invitation to Examination Accepted
F. Witnesses Demand Evidence Beyond Sight &
Hearing—Must Touch & Examine
Jn. 20:20, 24-28 Thomas Must Touch, Examine
20 And…, he shewed unto them his hands and his side…
24 But Thomas…was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have
seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in
his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the
print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not
believe. 26 And after eight days… : then came Jesus…
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and
behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it
into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And
Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my 20
God.
III. Invitation to Examination Accepted
G. Witnesses Require Evidence for the Intellect
Lk. 24:36-43 Touch, See a Body—Not Mere Spirit
36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the
midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed
that they had seen a spirit. 38 And he said unto them,
Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your
hearts? 39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I
myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and
bones, as ye see me have. 40 And when he had thus
spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered,
he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an
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honeycomb. 43 And he took it, and did eat before them.
III. Invitation to Examination Accepted
H. Witnesses Finally & Fully Convinced by
Overwhelming Evidence—Beyond All Shadow of
Doubt!
Acts 1:3 Examined “Many Infallible Proofs”
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:
1 Cor. 15:6 Truth Has Nothing to Hide,
No Fear of Contradiction
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at
once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present,
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but some are fallen asleep.
III. Invitation to Examination Accepted
I. Witnesses Committed Their Lives to the Truth &
Reality of the Resurrected Lord!
Mark 16:19-20 Staked Their Lives & Salvation on
This Truth—Convinced Others to Do the Same
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was
received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the
Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs
following. Amen.
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THE RESURRECTION
APPEARANCES OF JESUS
Conclusion:
1.
2.
Honest Examination of Evidence for the Resurrection
of Jesus Confirms the Truth of the Gospel of Christ.
God Validated the Gospel as True (Rom. 1:3-5)
Vs. 3 “Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
which was made of the seed of David according to
the flesh;”—The Savior Is Our King!
Vs. 4 “And declared to be the Son of God with
power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the
resurrection from the dead:”—The Savior Is Deity!
Vs. 5 “By whom we have received grace and
apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all
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nations for his name”—Obey the Savior!