Epaggelia

The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy (2nd Tim. 4:13) “When you come, bring with you the cloak I left in Troas with Carpas and the scrolls, especially the parchments.” We may deduce that if Timothy forgot Paul’s cloak, he would easily be forgiven, but the most important thing to remember was to bring literature! Paul had preached many sermons and performed many miracles, but he still wanted literature. He’s a man that had visited the third heaven and seen things unlawful to utter, but he still wanted literature, Paul was an inspired apostle of Christ, yet he still wanted literature. He had seen the Lord and listened to words uttered from a divine heart, but he still wanted literature. Never forget the apostle Paul, a man who had a bigger more exciting life as a Christian than most of us, and he still wanted literature! My conclusion: Never stop reading in your pursuit of truth, God will increase your appetite.

Resurrection is not a mystical vision or a phantom appearance by a ghost. Resurrection is the transforming of matter in this created order. He becomes something new, something unique. The Bible records at least eight appearances of the resurrected Jesus to different people at various times and locations over a 40-day period before He ascended into heaven. In each of these appearances, there is a victory. The price of unbelief brings upon us the rebuke of God, v14.

First, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene at the tomb (Mark 16:9). Mary was weeping at the tomb, thinking she had lost Jesus forever. Jesus appeared and brought victory over despair.

Second, Jesus appeared to other women as they were leaving the tomb (Matthew 28:9-10). They thought he was dead, but he appeared to them, and they worshiped Him there. Jesus brought victory over death.

Third, Jesus met up with two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32). These men were talking about all the week’s events surrounding Jesus. They didn’t understand what had happened. Jesus talked with them and stayed with them until they understood. Jesus brought victory over confusion & ignorance.

Fourth, Jesus appeared to 10 disciples who were hiding together (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25). These disciples were afraid of what might happen to them since Jesus had been killed. Jesus brought victory over fear.

Fifth, Jesus appeared to all 11 remaining disciples (Mark 16:14; John 20:26-31). Thomas, who had doubted Jesus’ resurrection, was with them this time. Jesus brought victory over prideful insistence.

Sixth, Jesus appeared to seven disciples, including Peter, who had denied Jesus three times (John 21). At this appearance, Jesus puts Peter back into ministry. Jesus brought victory over failure.

Seventh, Jesus appeared to the 11 disciples on a mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28:16-20). There Jesus told them He had been given all power and authority. He gave these disciples the great commission to make other disciples and sent them, now they are apostles! Jesus brought victory over any other power.

Eighth, Jesus finally appeared confirming the completion of His mission and the promise of the Holy Spirit (Luke 22:44-51; Acts 1:3-8). Jesus had victory over the future.

Then Jesus’ followers watched Him ascend to heaven. He disappeared from sight into a cloud. Suddenly two men in white stood before the disciples and told them Jesus would return the same way He was taken up into heaven. The Bible teaches that Jesus will return to judge the earth in His everlasting kingdom, delivering us to the Father, 1st Corinthians 15:24-28.

16:20 , see Jn. 14:11, Both Jesus and his apostles had the same purpose in performing miracles, that is to confirm the message taught as authoritatively from God! Miracles were never isolated events of powerful mercy, Jesus and his apostles had a message connected to each of them! The good news was governed by divine power! Once the Word was established & once for all entrusted to the church, (Jude v3) it remains to this day by the same power of God. We therefore don’t need miracles today, we need faith in his powerful word, Mk. 12:24.

The sequence of events at the tomb are harmonious if we coincide the reading of each gospel:

Matthew: Mary Magdalene & The other Mary, meet an angel, and run to tell others 28:1-8.

  “But” Jesus later appears to them Mt. 28:9

Mark: Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James & Salome meet an angel and run to tell 

others, Mk. 16:1-8

Luke: “The Women, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary mother of James, meet two men in

 dazzling apparel. They leave to tell the 11 disciples. Peter runs to the tomb, sees only 

strips of linen cloth in the empty tomb and goes home, Lk. 24:1-12.

John: Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw the stone rolled away, Then went and

 told Peter. Peter & other disciple run to the tomb and go back home but Mary

 Magdalene stays at the tomb and meets two angels, reminding her that Christ has

 risen, and then she sees Jesus who at first seems to be “a gardener”. Then Mary goes         to tell the disciples that she has seen the risen Lord. Jn. 20:1-18.

When Christ’s resurrection is discovered, the first work God’s angels invoke is to ___________ the message! This should be our emphasis & priority, Mk. 16:7, 10 & 15. The subject of the resurrection is spoken of at least 440 times in the Bible, and without it our faith is futile, 1st Corinthians 15:12-34. From the beginning of Christ’s ministry, he points disciples to the resurrection, John 2:19-22. At the end of the New Testament, The risen Lord Jesus says “Surely I come quickly”, Rev. 22:20.

The promise (Mk. 14:28) of meeting the disciples in Galilee is fulfilled in (Jn. 21:1). Why do you think Jesus wanted to confirm his resurrection in the north of Israel? Perhaps Jesus knew in advance that in order for his disciples to become apostles, that they would need his appearance to strengthen them during their bewildered doubt in such a phenomenal world-changing event. The resurrection of a person resurrected in and of themselves is beyond our understanding, experience and even expectations, so it could be that God wanted to strengthen them in the fact of his miraculous life, so they could share it with the world, who would find it just as phenomenal. He couldn’t leave them alone, and he won’t leave us alone, Heb. 13:5.

There are at least 10 appearances of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ in the New Testament.  A couple times he seems to change his appearance but in most of his appearances he seems to look exactly the same as before his death, except for the scars and then of course much later, Jesus appears in visions to Stephen, Saul who becomes Paul and John in the Revelation. When Mark ends his gospel, it seems abrupt to end it in verse 8, afterall, previously in 15 chapters, Mark has written that Jesus promised to rise and repeated the promise at least 3 different times! So why would he end his gospel without a sighting of the resurrected Jesus appearing? Most scholars attribute the short ending of Chapter 16 to the fact that only 8 manuscripts show the short ending, whereas the majority of manuscripts have the long ending to verse 20. There are several ideas among scholars as to why the long ending is not in some very reputable manuscripts, but suffice it to say that there is nothing uniquely strange in verses 9-20, every thought corresponds harmoniously with the rest of the New Testament so it shouldn’t disturb the authenticity of the gospel as a whole.

Then they crucified him and divided his clothes, throwing dice for them, to decide what each would take. It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge against him read, “The king of the Jews.” And they crucified two outlaws with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself and come down from the cross!” In the same way even the chief priests—together with the experts in the law—were mocking him among themselves: “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! Let the Christ, the king of Israel, come down from the cross now, that we may see and believe!” Those who were crucified with him also spoke abusively to him.

What are the two titles the critics of Jesus used to mock him while on the cross?

1. King                           2. Christ

In your opinion, If you had to endure all the different insults (from soldiers, outlaws, onlookers, chief priests & scribes) Jesus had thrown at him, which one do you think was the worst?

I feel like it would be hearing “experts” in the law say “he saved other but he can’t save himself”

How many times is the word “crucified” used in this passage? 4, No one can honestly deny Jesus was not unfairly killed, but anyone can deny the reason. The crucified Jesus of Nazareth is a historical fact, the reason he died lead us to accept or reject him as Christ & King. We believe God our Father wanted this to happen to Jesus, his only beloved Son, and that Jesus did it because he loved both His Father and even sinners who mocked him. But do we believe that God still loves the mockers today this much?

A good source of information on Christ documented outside of the Bible is an article published by the magazine “Biblical Archeology”, to read it, go to:

Top Ten Historical References to Jesus Outside of the Bible