Q: To whom did Jesus first appear? Matthew 28:1-9 says that Jesus appeared first to the two Marys. Mark 16:9 and John 20:11-12 say that Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene. Luke 24:13-31 says that Jesus first appeared to Cleopas and another disciple. Meanwhile, in the list of appearances in First Corinthians 15:4-5, Cephas is listed first! Logically, even if one granted the idea that Jesus appeared to anybody, only one of these accounts can be correct.
A: Lets look at I Cor. 10:4-5 first. Nowhere does that passage say that Cephas was the first person to whom Jesus appeared after the resurrection. Paul simply relates that Jesus did appear to him. This interlocks with the statement of the apostles in Luke 24:34 that The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared unto Simon. Thus it seems that Jesus appeared to Simon before appearing to the gathered-together disciples, in both reports (Luke 24 and I Cor. 15). But neither one states that the appearance to Cephas was the very first appearance Jesus made to anyone after His resurrection.
Mary Magdalene holds the distinction of being the first human being to see Jesus after His resurrection. After the angels delivered their message to the women at the tomb (Mary Magdalene, the other Mary, Joanna, Salome, and at least one other), Mary Magdalene lingered at the tomb, went in, and saw two angels. Then she encountered Jesus (in John 20:14-17). After that, she ran and caught up with the women who had left the tomb earlier. Then, as the whole group resumed the journey to the disciples, Jesus appeared to them (in Matthew 28:9-10). At some point after this, Jesus appeared to Simon Peter. And after that, He appeared -- though in a form not readily identifiable -- to Cleopas and Cleopas fellow-disciple (in Luke 24:13-31).
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
A: Lets look at I Cor. 10:4-5 first. Nowhere does that passage say that Cephas was the first person to whom Jesus appeared after the resurrection. Paul simply relates that Jesus did appear to him. This interlocks with the statement of the apostles in Luke 24:34 that The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared unto Simon. Thus it seems that Jesus appeared to Simon before appearing to the gathered-together disciples, in both reports (Luke 24 and I Cor. 15). But neither one states that the appearance to Cephas was the very first appearance Jesus made to anyone after His resurrection.
Mary Magdalene holds the distinction of being the first human being to see Jesus after His resurrection. After the angels delivered their message to the women at the tomb (Mary Magdalene, the other Mary, Joanna, Salome, and at least one other), Mary Magdalene lingered at the tomb, went in, and saw two angels. Then she encountered Jesus (in John 20:14-17). After that, she ran and caught up with the women who had left the tomb earlier. Then, as the whole group resumed the journey to the disciples, Jesus appeared to them (in Matthew 28:9-10). At some point after this, Jesus appeared to Simon Peter. And after that, He appeared -- though in a form not readily identifiable -- to Cleopas and Cleopas fellow-disciple (in Luke 24:13-31).
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
