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Answer
After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to Mary Magdalene, various other women, two unnamed disciples, Peter, and the remaining eleven apostles. Scripture states that “after that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born” (1 Corinthians 15:6-8). Some have suggested that a larger group of witnesses would have offered more compelling evidence, potentially convincing more people to believe in Christ. Why did Jesus not appear to more individuals after His resurrection?
Jesus could have revealed Himself to many others after His resurrection if He had chosen to do so. However, it was God’s plan to restrict the post-resurrection appearances to specific groups. The over five hundred eyewitnesses to the living Lord were sufficient. The Bible teaches that salvation is a gift of grace through faith—rather than the result of acquiring a vast amount of historical knowledge: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Having additional evidence is not essential for those who have faith.
There are numerous Scripture passages that are ample to guide someone to faith in Christ. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” «So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. », (Romans 10:17). When we listen to Scripture, the Spirit cooperates with the Word in our hearts to lead us to believe.
Just a little more information about Jesus’ life wouldn’t necessarily lead to more people being saved; instead, everyone whom the Spirit influences to believe will do so.
There were many individuals who were not eyewitnesses to the resurrection but did hear about it. The news of Jesus’ resurrection quickly reached the ears of the Jewish leaders through the Roman guards at the tomb. The guards had witnessed an angel descending and rolling away the stone from the tomb’s entrance. Upon seeing this, the guards “shook with fear” and “fell into a dead faint” «and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. », (Matthew 28:4, NLT). When they reported the incident to the Jewish leaders, their response was to bribe the guards, instructing them to spread the false story that “His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.” They assured the guards that if this reached the governor, they would handle the situation and protect them from trouble. Consequently, the guards accepted the money and followed the instructions given to them. This fabricated account has persisted among the Jews to this day (Matthew 28:13-15).
Furthermore, many deceased saints rose from the dead and were witnessed by numerous individuals (Matthew 27:52-53). The reality is that the Jewish leaders were informed about the resurrection and received multiple confirmations from eyewitnesses, yet they chose to reject the truth. While one might speculate that if Jesus had appeared to more people after His resurrection, more individuals would have believed, the presence of evidence does not alter a hardened heart.
Jesus taught that a person’s heart can become so hardened towards God that not even a resurrection would persuade them (see John 11:53;see John 12:9-10). The rich man in Hades pleads with Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead toWarn the five brothers of the man about the necessity to repent to avoid the torment he was enduring «Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: », (Luke 16:27). The man’s reasoning appeared logical: “If someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!” (verse 30). However, Abraham stated, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them. . . . If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead” (verses 29, 31). Jesus appearing to more individuals after His resurrection would not have sufficed as evidence for those who reject belief.
Faith in Christ holds a specific definition. Merely possessing extensive knowledge about Christ’s life and intellectually acknowledging His existence is not the faith the Bible refers to. The faith that leads to salvation is one that places reliance on Christ’s death and resurrection, resulting in action «Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? », (James 2:22). Believing in Christ encompasses more than a measurable amount of knowledge about His life; it involves conversion, trust, and dedication to Him and His work, leading to a life of obedience.
Jesus did not reveal Himself to more people post-resurrection because faith does not hinge on possessing the most facts possible. Additional written historical information is not required to reach the correct stance of faith. The risen Christ did not need to manifest Himself to the Sanhedrin, Herod, Pilate, or any other skeptics. His kingdom is “not of this world” «Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. », (John 18:36), and individuals have sufficient evidence on which to base their faith.
Jesus appeared to the appropriate number of people after His resurrection. There is ample historical evidence to accept the truth, and God requires faith «But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. », (Hebrews 11:6). “Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all” «Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, », (Romans 4:16). Certainly, understanding the Scriptures is crucially important, but the kind of “faith” that arises solely from scholarly work, without a life-altering conversion, may amount to mere intellectual agreement, not the faith that brings salvation. Genuine faith in Christ entails a certain level of historical knowledge, but it also results in a transformed life with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in one’s heart. Jesus pronounced a blessing on those who have faith: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” «Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. », (John 20:29, ESV).
