The Case For Christ

people in the gospels and Acts-some individually, some in groups,
sometimes indoors, sometimes outdoors, to softhearted people like
John and skeptical people like Thomas," he began.
At times they touched Jesus or ate with him, with the texts
teaching that he was physically present. The appearances
occurred over several weeks. And there are good reasons to trust
these accounts-for example, they're lacking in many typical
mythical tendencies." "Can you enumerate these appearances for
me?"
From memory, Habermas described them one at a time. Jesus
appeared
* to Mary Magdalene, in John 20:10-18;
* to the other women, in Matthew 28:8-10;
* to Cleopas and another disciple on the road to Emmaus, ul Luke
24:13-32;
* to eleven disciples and others, in Luke 24:33-49;
* to ten apostles and others, with Thomas absent, in John
20:1923; * to Thomas and the other apostles, in John 20:26-30;
* to seven apostles, in John 21:1-14;
* to the disciples, in Matthew 28:16-20.
* And he was with the apostles at the Mount of Olives before his
ascension, in Luke 24:50-52 and Acts 1:4-9.
"It's particularly interesting," Habermas added, "that C. H.
Dodd, the Cambridge University scholar, has carefully analyzed
these appearances and concluded that several of them are based on
especially early material, including Jesus' encounter with the
women, in Matthew 28:8-10; his meeting with the eleven apostles,
in which he gave them the Great Commission, in Matthew 28:16-20;
and his meeting with the disciples, in John 20:19-23, in which he
showed them his hands and side."
Again, here was a wealth of sightings of Jesus. This was not
merely a fleeting observance of a shadowy figure by one or two
people. There were multiple appearances to numerous people,
several of the appearances being confirmed in more than one
gospel or by the I Corinthians 15 creed.
"Is there any further corroboration?" I asked.
"Look at Acts," replied Habermas, referring to the New Testament
book that records the launch of the church. Not only are Jesus'
appearances mentioned regularly, but details are provided, and
the theme of the disciples being a witness of these things is
found in almost every context.