Jesus Appears to His Disciples

On the evening of that first day, the disciples were together behind locked doors because they were afraid. While they were still talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them and greeted them with peace.

At first they were terrified and thought they were seeing a spirit. Jesus asked why they were troubled. He showed them his hands and his feet, and John also says he showed them his side. In Luke, he ate food in front of them to show that he was truly alive.

John says the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Luke says they were still amazed and could hardly believe for joy. Then Jesus reminded them that what was written in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms had to be fulfilled. He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

In Luke, Jesus explained that the Christ had to suffer and rise on the third day. Repentance and forgiveness of sins were to be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. The disciples were witnesses, and they were to wait in the city until power from on high came.

John also tells how Jesus commissioned them. He spoke peace again, said that as the Father had sent him, so he was sending them, breathed on them, and told them to receive the Holy Spirit. He also spoke about forgiving sins and retaining sins.