Expert: Rev. Robert Woods - 5/28/2007

Question
Jesus appeared to the Apostle's 3 times after his ressurection with a  physical body. What was he trying to teach us?

Answer
Blessings and thank you for your question.

Jesus' appearence to the disciples, to the multitudes and to Paul all came about for several reasons:
1.  Purpose:
Fulfill Scripture Luke 24:45, 46
Forgive sins 1 Cor. 15:17
Justify the sinner Rom. 4:25; Rom. 8:34
Give hope 1 Cor. 15:18, 19
Make faith real 1 Cor. 15:14–17
Prove His Sonship Ps. 2:7; Rom. 1:4
Set Him on David’s throne Acts 2:30–32
Insure His exaltation Acts 4:10, 11; Phil. 2:9, 10
Guarantee the coming judgment Acts 17:31
Seal the believer’s resurrection Acts 26:23; 1 Cor. 15:20, 23

2.  He appeared to:
Mary Magdalene Mark 16:9
Other women Matt. 28:9
Two disciples Luke 24:13–15
Simon Peter Luke 24:34
Ten apostles John 20:19, 24
Eleven apostles John 20:26
Apostles at Sea of Tiberias John 21:1
Apostles in Galilee Matt. 28:16, 17
500 brethren 1 Cor. 15:6
All the apostles Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9
Paul 1 Cor. 15:8
James 1 Cor. 15:7

3.  Why?  Jesus appeared in bodily form so that there would be no question that he rose from the dead.  In fact, Jesus even sat and ate with his disciples because the Jewish people had a belief that "ghosts" could not eat, so Jesus ate with them to show that He had truly resurrected.

4.  His Body - His body was the resurrected body, this means he appeared to be Jesus, he could talk, he could eat, and he could sit down.  However, He could also walk through walls.  This shows us that our resurrected bodies will be different from our current bodies.