Paper 190 Overview: Morontia Appearances of Jesus

Jesus, having risen from the dead, began a period on earth where he appeared in a morontia form - a transitional state between material and spiritual existence. This resurrected form was real and substantial but differed from his former physical body in that it had no circulating blood and did not require material food for sustenance. These appearances served as powerful evidence of his resurrection and conquest over death, something that would later become foundational to the faith of his followers.

During this time, Jesus made nineteen separate appearances to his believers, beginning with the women at the tomb and continuing through various groups of followers. These appearances demonstrated the reality of life after death and fulfilled his promise to rise on the third day. The morontia appearances of Jesus were selective, manifesting only to those who could spiritually benefit from the experience, and each appearance carried specific teachings related to the kingdom of heaven.

The resurrected Jesus remained on earth for a brief period to experience the ascending morontia career that normally begins for mortals on the mansion worlds. Though his experience took place on earth, it paralleled the standard progression that souls follow after death when they transition to the first of the seven mansion worlds. His resurrection demonstrated the power of life that enabled him to rise from the dead.

This same power of eternal life is what Jesus bestows upon believers in his kingdom, ensuring their own resurrection from natural death. The morontia bodies that mortals receive in the resurrection are similar to the one Jesus manifested - real bodies without blood circulation or material food requirements. Belief in Jesus' resurrection quickly became the defining feature of all branches of early gospel teaching, with the testimonies of eyewitnesses playing a crucial role in establishing this faith.

The apostles had been reluctant to accept Jesus' statements about his impending death and were equally resistant to evidence of his resurrection. When confronted with the testimony of the five women who claimed to have seen and spoken with the resurrected Master, they refused to believe it. Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb while the other women went to Joseph's house, where they shared their experiences with Joseph's daughter and other women believers who readily accepted their testimony.

The news eventually reached Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, who were inclined to believe the reports. David Zebedee was particularly convinced, having remembered Jesus' prediction that he would rise on the third day. Around nine-thirty that morning, David assembled his twenty-six messengers and officially disbanded their corps, sending them out as the first heralds of the resurrection. Despite attempts by others to dissuade them, these messengers trusted David and departed to spread the news that "Jesus has risen from the dead; the tomb is empty" throughout all believer centers in the region.

While these laymen were actively spreading the news of Jesus' resurrection, the apostles remained secluded in the upper chamber, paralyzed by fear and doubt. David's messengers traveled to believer centers from Beersheba in the south to Damascus and Sidon in the north, and from Philadelphia in the east to Alexandria in the west. After disbanding his messenger service, David joined his mother and went to Bethany to be with Jesus' family. Within a week, John Zebedee took Mary, Jesus' mother, to his home in Bethsaida, while Jesus' brother James remained in Jerusalem and his youngest sister Ruth stayed at Bethany.

From the time of his morontia resurrection until his spirit ascension, Jesus made nineteen separate appearances in visible form to his believers. He appeared only to those who could spiritually benefit from seeing him, never manifesting to his enemies or those who could not make spiritual use of the experience. His first appearance was to the five women at the tomb, followed by his second appearance to Mary Magdalene at the same location.

The third appearance occurred around noon on Sunday at Bethany. Jesus' brother James was standing in Lazarus's garden by the empty tomb, contemplating the news of Jesus' resurrection, when he sensed a presence beside him. Looking up, he saw Jesus gradually appearing and addressing him by name. Though many people had difficulty recognizing Jesus' morontia form, they could identify him by his voice and personality once he began speaking. Jesus invited James to join in service to the kingdom, and they walked through the garden conversing for about three minutes before Jesus bid him farewell.

Jesus' fourth appearance happened shortly before two o'clock at the home of Martha and Mary in Bethany. He appeared visibly before his earthly family and their friends, twenty people in all, standing in the open back door. He greeted them with words of peace and questioned why they had lingered so long before fully embracing the light of truth. Jesus invited them all into the fellowship of the Spirit of Truth in the Father's kingdom, but before they could approach him for an embrace, he vanished from their sight. Although the witnesses wanted to rush to Jerusalem to tell the apostles, James restrained them, allowing only Mary Magdalene to return to Joseph's house.

The fifth morontia manifestation of Jesus occurred at Joseph of Arimathea's home around four-fifteen on Sunday afternoon, with approximately twenty-five women believers present. Mary Magdalene had just arrived and begun relating the story of Jesus' appearance at Bethany when suddenly the room fell silent as Jesus appeared in their midst. He greeted them with words of peace and delivered a progressive message about equality in the kingdom, stating: "In the fellowship of the kingdom there shall be neither Jew nor gentile, rich nor poor, free nor bond, man nor woman."

Jesus commissioned these women to spread the good news of human liberty through the gospel of divine sonship, instructing them to go throughout the world proclaiming this message and strengthening believers. He promised to be with them always, even to the ends of the earth, before vanishing from their sight as the women fell to their faces in worship. This was the fourth morontia appearance that Mary Magdalene had witnessed out of the five that had occurred by this time.

As a result of the messengers spreading news throughout the day and unintentional leaks about Jesus' appearance at Joseph's house, rumors began circulating by early evening. The Jewish leaders became increasingly alarmed by these reports and hastily called a meeting of the Sanhedrin for eight o'clock that evening. At this gathering, they took drastic action by voting to excommunicate anyone who mentioned Jesus' resurrection, with some even suggesting that those claiming to have seen him should be executed. The meeting ended in disarray, bordering on panic, as the leaders realized their troubles with Jesus were far from over.

Around half past four o'clock, Jesus made his sixth morontia appearance to approximately forty Greek believers gathered at the home of Flavius. While they were discussing reports of the Master's resurrection, Jesus suddenly materialized in their midst despite the doors being securely locked. He addressed them with words of peace and delivered an inclusive message: "While the Son of Man appeared on earth among the Jews, he came to minister to all men. In the kingdom of my Father there shall be neither Jew nor gentile; you will all be brethren—the sons of God."

Jesus commissioned these Greek followers to go throughout the world proclaiming the gospel of salvation as they had received it from the kingdom's ambassadors, promising to fellowship with them in the brotherhood of the Father's sons of faith and truth. After delivering this charge, he departed, and they saw him no more. The Greeks remained indoors all evening, too overwhelmed with awe and fear to venture outside, and none of them slept that night. Many in this group had been present at Gethsemane when Jesus was arrested, making this appearance particularly meaningful to them.

By this time, rumors of Jesus' resurrection and reports of his appearances were spreading rapidly throughout Jerusalem, creating a heightened state of excitement and anticipation. The Master had now appeared to his family, to various groups of women, and to Greek believers, yet he deliberately delayed appearing to his apostles. Jesus was thinking about his apostles but wanted to give them additional time for solemn reflection and thoughtful consideration before he manifested himself to them. Meanwhile, the Sanhedrin was preparing to address these new developments that were threatening the Jewish religious establishment.

At Emmaus, about seven miles west of Jerusalem, lived two brothers who had attended the Passover ceremonies in Jerusalem. Cleopas, the elder brother, was a partial believer in Jesus who had been expelled from the synagogue for his faith. His brother Jacob was not a believer but was intrigued by what he had heard about Jesus' teachings and works. On Sunday afternoon, as they walked home discussing the rumors of Jesus' empty tomb and resurrection, Jesus himself joined them on the road in his seventh morontia appearance.

After walking alongside them briefly, Jesus inquired about their earnest conversation. Surprised at his apparent ignorance of recent events, Cleopas explained about Jesus of Nazareth, his crucifixion, and the women's claims of his resurrection. Jesus responded by methodically explaining numerous scriptural prophecies about the Messiah, including how he would suffer, die, and rise again. He expounded on passages about the Deliverer bringing salvation to all nations, comforting the brokenhearted, proclaiming liberty to captives, and establishing a universal brotherhood of believers.

As they approached their village, the brothers urged Jesus to stay with them since evening was approaching. During their meal, when Jesus blessed and broke the bread, they suddenly recognized him, but he immediately vanished from their sight. Marveling at how their hearts had burned within them as he explained the scriptures, they immediately set out for Jerusalem despite the late hour. Around nine o'clock that evening, they burst in upon the apostles in the upper chamber, excitedly relating their experience and how they had recognized Jesus in the breaking of bread. This powerful testimony prepared the apostles for Jesus' appearance to them later that evening.