XLVI. Jesus Appears to the Apostles
174. The First Appearance
19On the evening of that day, the first day of the week,a the doors being shut where the apostles were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”37But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit.
38And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?” 14And he upbraided them for their unbelief, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 44“This is what I told you while I was still with you.”b
20Then the apostles were glad when they saw the Lord.
(Jn. 20:19; Lk. 24:37–38; Mk. 16:14; Lk. 24:44; Jn. 20:20)
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Jesus’ life on earth is so valuable to us because he lived his teachings. He demonstrated a new and higher type of faith—a living faith in God. This faith was wholly personal and purely spiritual. His entire life exhibited this living faith. This spiritual attitude dominated his thinking and feeling, his believing and praying, his teaching and preaching.
Jesus challenges us to achieve this faith—not only to believe what he believed, but also as he believed. This is the full meaning of his one supreme requirement to “follow me.” Jesus desires that his disciples fully share his extraordinary faith. He wants us to trust in God as he trusted in God and to believe in men as he believed in men.
Jesus does not so much require his followers to believe in him as he requires us to believe with him, believe that we are all children of a loving heavenly Father. He wants us to believe in the reality of the love of God and, in full confidence, to accept our status and security as his sons and daughters on earth.
a “the first day of the week”—Sunday.
b “This is what I told you while I was still with you.”—Here Jesus reminds the apostles that he clearly told them that he would be betrayed and delivered into the hands of the chief priests and the rulers of the Jews, be put to death, and on the third day rise.
Jn. 20:19 the apostles were (Ch. 22, fn. a) / the disciples were (RSV)
Lk. 24:38 do doubts rise (NIV) / do questions rise (RSV) • your minds?” (NIV) / your hearts?” (RSV)
Mk. 16:14 unbelief, because / unbelief and hardness of heart, because (RSV)
Lk. 24:44 “This is what I told you (AB) / Then he said to them, “These are my words which I spoke to you, (RSV) • you. / you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” (RSV)
Jn. 20:20 the apostles were (Ch. 22, fn. a) / the disciples were (RSV) (191:2/2040)
