Paper 190 Overview: Morontia Appearances of Jesus

Jesus came back to life in a special form called a morontia body. This body was real but different from his physical body that had died on the cross. This special body did not have blood in it and did not need regular food like humans need.

Jesus appeared to many people during this time after his resurrection. The most important thing about these appearances was that Jesus wanted to show his followers that he was truly alive again. Mary Magdalene was the first to see Jesus alive, and she told others about it.

After Jesus rose from the dead, he stayed on earth for a short time. During this time, he had a special type of body called a morontia body. This body was like the ones that people get when they go to the mansion worlds after death.

The power that allowed Jesus to come back to life is the same power that he gives to believers. This power gives them eternal life. Believing in Jesus' resurrection was the most important part of the early Christian teaching.

The apostles did not want to believe Jesus had died. They also did not want to believe that he had come back to life, even when people told them they had seen him. When five women said they saw Jesus, Mary Magdalene went back to the tomb while the others went to Joseph's house.

Joseph and David Zebedee believed the women's story and went to check the tomb. They found it empty just as the women had said. Later that morning, David gathered his twenty-six messengers and sent them out to tell everyone that Jesus had risen from the dead. These messengers were ordinary men who believed David and went out to spread the news even before the apostles believed it.

David's messengers went to homes of believers from Beersheba in the south to Damascus and Sidon in the north, and from Philadelphia in the east to Alexandria in the west. After this, David went with his mother to Bethany to join Jesus' family. About a week later, John Zebedee took Mary, Jesus' mother, to his home in Bethsaida.

Jesus appeared a total of nineteen times in visible form to believers after his resurrection. His first appearance was to the five women at the tomb, and his second was to Mary Magdalene. He did not appear to his enemies or to people who could not use his appearance in a spiritual way.

Jesus' third appearance happened around noon on Sunday at Bethany. James, Jesus' oldest brother, was standing in the garden by Lazarus's empty tomb when he felt someone touch his shoulder. He turned and saw Jesus standing next to him. Jesus called James to serve in the kingdom and talked with him for about three minutes. James then ran to tell the others that he had seen Jesus.

Soon after, Jesus made his fourth appearance at the home of Martha and Mary. He appeared at the back door and said, "Peace be upon you." He invited everyone to join the fellowship of the Spirit of Truth in the Father's kingdom. Then, before they could embrace him, he disappeared from their sight.

Jesus' fifth appearance happened at Joseph of Arimathea's home. About twenty-five women believers were there when Jesus appeared. Mary Magdalene was telling the women about seeing Jesus at Bethany when suddenly Jesus appeared among them.

Jesus greeted them saying, "Peace be upon you." He told them that in the kingdom there would be no difference between Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, free and slave, men and women. He asked them to spread the good news of liberty through the gospel of sonship with God. Jesus promised to be with them always, even to the end of the earth, and then he disappeared from their sight.

Around half past four, Jesus made his sixth appearance to about forty Greek believers at the home of Flavius. They were discussing reports of Jesus' resurrection when he suddenly appeared among them, even though the doors were locked. Jesus greeted them and told them he came to minister to all people, not just Jews.

Jesus told the Greeks that in his Father's kingdom, there would be no difference between Jews and Gentiles - all would be brothers. He asked them to spread the gospel of salvation to the whole world. After giving them this message, Jesus left and they did not see him again. The Greeks stayed awake all night talking about what had happened.

By this time, rumors about Jesus' resurrection were spreading quickly around Jerusalem. The city was getting very excited about these stories. Jesus had now appeared to his family, to women, and to Greeks, but not yet to his apostles. Jesus wanted his apostles to have more time to think about everything that had happened before he visited them.

Two brothers named Cleopas and Jacob were walking home to Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were discussing Jesus and the rumors that he had risen from the dead. Jesus came up and walked with them, but they did not recognize him.

Jesus asked what they were talking about so seriously. They were surprised he didn't know about the recent events in Jerusalem. They told him about Jesus of Nazareth, how he was crucified, and how some women found his tomb empty that morning. Jesus then explained many scriptures to them about the Messiah and how he must suffer and rise again.

When they reached their village, the brothers invited Jesus to stay with them since it was getting dark. As they sat down to eat, Jesus blessed and broke the bread. Suddenly, they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight. The brothers were amazed and rushed back to Jerusalem to tell the apostles what had happened. They arrived around nine o'clock that evening and told everyone how they recognized Jesus when he broke the bread.