Resurrection is one of the foundation stones of Christian faith. Without it our faith is empty, as empty as the tomb of our Lord, whereas empty tomb is one of the many concrete proofs that showed that our Savior was resin. In the book of Acts it is written that Jesus appeared to apostles and disciples many times in ways that proved beyond any doubts that He has risen and alive (Acts. 1:3). He talked with them, walked with them, ate with them and taught about the Kingdom of God. During forty days before ascension the number of His appearances are recorded as follows.

1. Mary Magdalene was most blessed to have the first appearance of our Lord (Mk. 16:9; Jn. 20:15-16)

2. To women returning from the tomb (Mt. 28:8-10)

3. To apostle Peter sometimes on the same Easter Sunday (Lk. 24:34; 1 Cor. 15.5)

4. To the two disciples going to Emmaus (Mk. 16:12; Lk.24: 13-32)

5. To the group of disciples without Apostle Thomas (Jn. 20:19-25; Lk.24: 36-43; Mk. 16:14)
   
   The first five appearances happened on the day of resurrection.

6. On the second Sunday Jesus appeared to the disciples with Thomas being present( Jn. 20:26-31) On this occasion Jesus Christ was addressed as “My Lord and My God” by Apostle Thomas. In other words this was the first time our Lord was called “God” by anybody.

7. During the fishing trip by seven disciples at the Sea of Galilee (Jn.21)

8. On a certain mountain in Galilee. There were eleven disciples (Mt. 28:16)

9. To James, our Lord’s one of the four half brothers (1 Cor. 15:7)

10. To five hundred believers (1Cor15: 6)

11. To twelve apostles including Matthias who replaced Judas (1Cor.15: 7)

After the ascension, the Lord appeared to Stephen at the time of his stoning to death (Acts. 7:55-60). On the way to Damascus Jesus appeared to Saul (who was later known as Paul) and led him to his famous conversion to Christianity (Acts.9: 3-6). According to Paul’s account he met our Lord four other times. a. At Corinth. (.Acts.18: 9-10) b. In the temple at Jerusalem. (Acts 22:17-21) c. Later at Jerusalem (Acts 23:11) d. Might have met the Lord during his unusual vision described in 2 Cor. 12:1-4. In the book of Revelation it is reported that Apostle John had the special experience of meeting the Lord through the visions (Rev. 1:10-19).

Anyhow it is quite reasonable to believe that our Lord might have appeared to His friends, believers and to the mother Mary that are not reported in the Bible. All through the centuries devoted saints and believers had the special privileges of meeting and experiencing His presence through the visions and appearances such as Francis of Assisi (13th century), Ghulsan Esther (20th century).

Let us not forget our Lord’s words that blessed are the ones who believe Him without seeing Him (Jn. 20:29). He is with us every moment of our lives to the end of time and in eternity! If we really would like to meet the Lord in person, look into the eyes of our fellow-human beings with love without lust, with compassion and care, with gentleness and meekness, with spirit of complements without complaints, because we are all created in His image and He was incarnated in our own image. We can also experience the Lord’s presence in the entire creation where His majesty and creative presence are always present. Amen.