More Than 600 Saw The Risen Christ

In the past couple weeks I've written about people who have seen Jesus, both ancient and modern. This week I'm looking at what that has to do with we Christians believing in the resurrection.

The Apostle Paul says some interesting things in the final chapter of his first letter to the Corinthians about Jesus' appearances after his resurrection. 

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that

• he appeared to Cephas (or Peter -John 1:42), 
• then to the twelve (Luke 18:31; 22:3, 30, 47; Acts 1:15-26). 
• Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 
• Then he appeared to James (Jesus' brother - Matt.13:55; Acts 12:2,17) 
• then to all the apostles (may include the seventy - Luke 10:1,17)
• Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me (Paul).  

For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. - 1Cr 15:3-10 ESV

In addition to these appearances, the N.T. records others, including appearances to:

• Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-18)
• Mary the mother of James
• Joanna (Luke 24:1-11)
• Salome (Mark 16:1-10)
• Cleopas and companion on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35) 
• Joseph called Barsabbas or Justus (Acts 1:21-26)
• Matthias (Acts 1:21-26)
• Luke (Luke 1:1-4)
• Mark

Now that's quite a bunch who first saw him in the days following his resurrection. How many actually were there? By my count there were more than 600 who saw him, touched and heard him, watched him eat bread and fish and finally saw him ascend into heaven. All of them hallucinating? All of them imagining? Quite impossible.

We have these New Testament records about these folks recorded within 30 years after Jesus' resurrection. And besides them we have the Apostles' Creed with its origins in the witness of the Twelve.
 
Of course, I know that all this means nothing to the person who has previously made up his mind that the entire New Testament is nothing but a bunch of myths and legends. I cannot create faith. The Apostle Paul acknowledged this in his letters. For instance, he wrote to the Romans that we need not ascend to heaven to find Christ. Nor do we need to descend to the bottomless pit of hell to bring him from the dead. We have the living Word right here in front of us and our task is to proclaim and believe it.

But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." - Rom 10:8-13 ESV

Consider the Word as quoted above and rejoice. Christ is risen indeed! And everyone who calls on the name of this Risen Lord will indeed be saved!