He Appeared

I Corinthians 15 cont’d:

… and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.  After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,  and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Yesterday’s devo reminded us of the premier importance of believing that Christ died, our sins were buried with him, and that he rose again.

It’s interesting to note that in the very next verses, we are told to believe that he appeared to certain people after his resurrection:

To Cephas (Peter – the one who denied him)

To the Twelve

To more than 500 brothers and sisters

To James

To all the apostles

To the writer of this chapter, the one who persecuted the church of God

Why is it important for us to believe that he appeared to all of these people, and why did the writer feel a need to spell out who these people were, instead of just saying Jesus appeared to all?

I’m not sure, but when I read this, it makes me realize he appeared to those who rejected him, to those who followed him, to those afar off, to his closest friends, and to the one who was perhaps his greatest enemy on earth, to assure them that what he promised (that he would rise again) indeed happened.

Jesus is a personal savior and appears to us personally, to assure us of his presence and reality and power in our lives.  And the only way we will recognize and see him is if we believe that He died, was buried, and rose again.  That faith opens our eyes to see our savior at work in our lives.