He Opened Their Eyes!
Scripture: Matthew 28 & Luke 24
He is Risen!
Can you imagine what it must have been like for the followers of Jesus to lose Him on Friday, and then, just a few days later, struggle to understand the reality of the risen Christ?
Today, we’re going to look at the moments in Scripture when Jesus’ followers first encountered the evidence of His resurrection, and the times they actually saw Jesus alive.
The Empty Tomb
The first sign came when the women went to the tomb, only to find it empty.
Matthew 28:1–10
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
But there were others who witnessed the miracle of the empty tomb—namely, the guards.
Matthew 28:11–15
While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.
The chief priests and elders devised a plan: they gave the soldiers a large sum of money and instructed them to lie and say, “His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.”
The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. This story was widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
The Road to Emmaus
Later that same day, two followers of Jesus were traveling to Emmaus.
Luke 24:13–18
As they were discussing everything that had happened, Jesus Himself came up and walked with them, but they were kept from recognizing Him.
When Jesus asked what they were discussing, one of them—Cleopas—responded, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
Jesus then explained the Scriptures to them.
Luke 24:28–35
As they approached their village, they urged Jesus to stay with them.
When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and began to give it to them.
Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him—and He disappeared from their sight.
They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
They returned to Jerusalem to tell the disciples what had happened.
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
While they were talking about these things, Jesus appeared among them.
Luke 24:36
“Peace be with you,” He said.
Naturally, the disciples were startled. Jesus then ate with them and continued to teach.
Luke 24:45
“Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.”
He told them to wait in the city until the Holy Spirit was given.
Thomas Sees the Risen Christ
Thomas had not been present during Jesus’ first appearance. He famously said he would not believe unless he could see and touch Jesus’ wounds. About a week later, Jesus appeared again, and Thomas was invited to do just that.
Imagine the emotion in that moment—the doubt, the trembling, and then the belief.
Breakfast on the Beach
John 21 records my favorite appearance: Jesus on the shore while some of the disciples were fishing on the Sea of Galilee. When they realized it was Jesus, Peter was so excited he jumped into the water to reach Him.
It’s during this appearance that Jesus reinstates Peter by asking three times, “Do you love Me?”—mirroring Peter’s three denials. Jesus then commands, “Feed My sheep.”
The Great Commission and Ascension
Another appearance took place on a mountain in Galilee where Jesus gave the Great Commission:
Go and make disciples of all nations…
Jesus’ final recorded appearance to the disciples happened on the Mount of Olives, where He ascended into heaven (Acts 1).
Paul’s Encounter with Jesus
But the risen Christ made one more appearance—this time to Saul, later known as Paul.
1 Corinthians 15:3–8
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins…
He appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve, then to more than five hundred brothers and sisters, then to James, to all the apostles, and finally to me also, as to one abnormally born.
Paul’s encounter changed the course of his life—and the world.
Conclusion
Every one of Jesus’ disciples died for their faith in the risen Christ. Why? Because they knew it was true.
Jesus came, died, and rose again—for one reason: He loves us and desires a relationship with us. He paid the price for our sins to make that possible.
So now the most important question:
Have you encountered the risen Jesus?
Discussion Questions
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Which resurrection appearance of Jesus speaks to you the most, and why?
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How do you think the disciples’ fear turned into boldness after seeing the risen Christ?
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Why do you think some people still doubted, even after seeing Jesus?
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What does it mean that Jesus “opened their eyes” or “opened their minds”?
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How can we live as people who have encountered the risen Christ?