Paper 192 Overview: Appearances in Galilee

This Paper chronicles Jesus' post-resurrection appearances to his apostles in Galilee, beginning with his arrival by the lakeside through his final commission on the Mount of Ordination. After Jesus' resurrection, the apostles traveled to Galilee where he appeared to them multiple times, providing instruction, reassurance, and renewed commission for their future work. These appearances reinforced their faith and prepared them for their mission of preaching the gospel.

During this period, Jesus spoke privately with pairs of apostles, addressing their individual strengths and weaknesses. He appeared to a gathering of over five hundred believers and demonstrated his continued presence and authority. These Galilean appearances served as a transition period, preparing the apostles for their return to Jerusalem where they would await the Spirit of Truth and begin their public ministry after Pentecost.

By the time the apostles departed Jerusalem for Galilee, the Jewish leaders had calmed significantly regarding the gospel movement. Since Jesus appeared exclusively to his followers and the apostles remained in hiding, the authorities concluded they had effectively crushed the movement. They attempted to counter resurrection rumors by instructing the bribed guards to spread the story that Jesus' followers had removed his body from the tomb.

From this point onward, Peter was recognized as the leader of the apostolic group, though Jesus never officially designated him for this position. The apostles' primary focus shifted toward public preaching, and upon returning from Galilee, they selected Matthias to replace Judas Iscariot as treasurer. During the week before departing for Galilee, Mary, Jesus' mother, spent considerable time with the women believers at Joseph of Arimathea's home, while John Mark boldly joined the apostles on their journey north despite their initial reluctance.

Early Friday morning, April 21, Jesus made his thirteenth morontia appearance to the ten apostles as their boat approached the shore near Bethsaida. The apostles had spent the previous afternoon and evening at the Zebedee home, where Peter suggested they go fishing to pass the time. After a fruitless night of labor with their nets, they noticed someone standing on the beach near the boat landing as daylight arrived. Initially mistaking the figure for John Mark, they realized as they drew closer that the stranger was too tall to be the youth.

When the figure called out asking if they had caught anything, they answered negatively, prompting him to instruct them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat. Following this direction, they immediately hauled in a net teeming with fish, causing John Zebedee to recognize the Master and whisper this revelation to Peter. With characteristic impulsivity, Peter immediately cast himself into the water to reach Jesus faster, while his brethren followed in the small boat with their abundant catch. The net contained 153 large fish, though Jesus clarified that this was not a miraculous event but simply the result of his foreknowledge of where the fish were located.

John Mark, who had risen early and spotted the apostles returning with their heavy catch, ran down to greet them and was surprised to count eleven men rather than ten. Realizing the unrecognized figure must be the risen Jesus, the youth rushed to kneel before him. Jesus greeted him warmly, addressing him in common tones rather than with the formal "Peace be upon you" used in Jerusalem. The Master invited them all to breakfast, having already prepared a fire, and directed them to bring some of their freshly caught fish. When Peter saw the glowing coals, he was momentarily disturbed by memories of his denial in the high priest's courtyard, but quickly overcame this to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Master.

After they had finished breakfast, Jesus invited Peter and John to join him for a walk along the beach. As they strolled, Jesus turned to John and asked, "John, do you love me?" When John affirmed his wholehearted love, Jesus instructed him to give up his intolerance and learn to love men as Jesus had loved him. The Master emphasized that it is the love of God that impels men to seek salvation and stands as the ancestor of all spiritual goodness, the essence of truth and beauty.

Turning to Peter, Jesus asked if he loved him, to which Peter replied affirmatively with his whole soul. Jesus then charged him to feed his lambs, minister to the weak and poor, and preach the gospel without fear or favoritism. After walking a bit further, Jesus asked Peter a second time if he really loved him, and when Peter confirmed his love, Jesus instructed him to take good care of his sheep and be a true shepherd who would not betray the flock's confidence. For a third time, Jesus questioned Peter's love, causing Peter some distress at the apparent doubt. When Peter emphatically declared that Jesus knew all things and therefore knew of his love, Jesus commanded him to feed his sheep, not forsake the flock, and to follow after him even to the end.

Peter took this last instruction literally and, pointing to John, asked what John would do if Peter followed Jesus. Jesus clarified his meaning, saying, "Peter, be not concerned about what your brethren shall do. If I will that John should tarry after you are gone, even until I come back, what is that to you? Only make sure that you follow me." This comment spread among the apostles and was interpreted as meaning John would not die before Jesus returned, which helped bring Simon Zelotes back into service.

Jesus continued his private conversations with pairs of apostles, speaking next with Andrew and James about trust and leadership responsibilities. He counseled Thomas to overcome his doubting nature and grow in faith, while encouraging Nathaniel to remain devoted to the welfare of his brethren with tireless affection. To Philip and Matthew, he gave instructions about proclaiming the gospel to gentile lands, and with the Alpheus twins, he discussed the importance of continued faith and allegiance despite outward changes in their circumstances.

At noon on Saturday, April 22, the eleven apostles assembled on a hill near Capernaum as prearranged, and Jesus appeared among them for his fourteenth morontia manifestation. The apostles knelt in a circle around their Master as he repeated the charges he had given when first ordaining them as ambassadors of the kingdom. This symbolic reenactment of their original commissioning served as a powerful reminder of their sacred responsibilities.

Unlike the first ordination, Jesus' prayer on this occasion was delivered with extraordinary majesty and authority, speaking as one who possessed all power and authority in his universe. The apostles were deeply moved by this experience, never forgetting the spiritual impact of this morontia rededication to their former pledges of ambassadorship. After spending precisely one hour with his apostles on the mountain, Jesus took an affectionate farewell and vanished from their sight.

No one saw Jesus for a full week following this appearance, leaving the apostles uncertain about their next steps. They remained in Bethsaida during this period, hesitant to resume fishing lest they miss a visit from the Master. Throughout this week, Jesus was engaged with morontia creatures on earth and attending to matters related to his own morontia transition experience, preparing for the next phase of his post-resurrection ministry.

Word of Jesus' appearances spread throughout Galilee, bringing increasing numbers of believers to the Zebedee home seeking information about the resurrection. Early in the week, Peter announced that a public meeting would be held by the seaside on the following Sabbath afternoon. On Saturday, April 29, more than five hundred believers from the surrounding area assembled at Bethsaida to hear Peter deliver his first public sermon since the resurrection.

Peter presented a compelling message that convinced most of his hearers that Jesus had truly risen from the dead. He concluded his address with a powerful declaration: "We affirm that Jesus of Nazareth is not dead; we declare that he has risen from the tomb; we proclaim that we have seen him and talked with him." At that precise moment, Jesus appeared beside Peter in full view of the crowd, saying, "Peace be upon you, and my peace I leave with you," before vanishing from sight. This marked Jesus' fifteenth morontia manifestation.

The next day, Sunday, April 30, the eleven apostles departed for Jerusalem as instructed during their meeting on the Mount of Ordination. They taught and preached along the Jordan valley during their journey, not arriving at the home of the Marks in Jerusalem until late Wednesday, May 3. They found a somber household, as Elijah Mark, John Mark's father, had suddenly died from a brain hemorrhage just hours before their arrival. Despite their grief, the apostles took comfort in their belief in the resurrection and accepted Mary Mark's invitation to continue using the upper room as their headquarters until after Pentecost.