Sonrise Message

Opening

"Christ has risen! Christ has risen indeed!"

Let’s pray

Common Post-Resurrection Appearances:

To Mary Magdalene: Early Sunday morning at the tomb (John 20:11-18; Mark 16:9).

John 20:11–18 (NASB95)

11But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; 

12and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. 

13And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 

14When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 

15Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 

16Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). 

17Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’ ” 

18Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.

To the Other Women: Mary Magdalene and others returning from the tomb (Matthew 28:9-10).

New American Standard Bible (1995) Chapter 28

9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.

10 Then Jesus *said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.

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To Two Disciples on the Road to Emmaus: (Luke 24:13-32).Luke 24:13–35 (NASB95)

13And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 

14And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. 

15While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. 

16But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. 

17And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. 

18One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” 

19And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, 

20and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. 

21“But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. 

22“But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, 

23and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. 

24“Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” 

25And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 

26“Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” 

27Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. 

28And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. 

29But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. 

30When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. 

31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. 

32They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” 

33And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, 

34saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” 

35They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

To the Apostles (Without Thomas): In a locked room in Jerusalem on Sunday evening (John 20:19-25).John 20:19–25 (NASB95)

19So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 

20And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 

21So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 

22And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 

23“If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.” 

24But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 

25So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

To the Apostles (With Thomas): One week later in Jerusalem (John 20:26-29).John 20:26–29 (NASB95)

26After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” 

27Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 

28Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 

29Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”

To Seven Apostles by the Sea of Galilee: While fishing (John 21:1-14).John 21:1–14 (NASB95)

1After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way. 

2Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 

3Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will also come with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing. 

4But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 

5So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” 

6And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. 

7Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. 

8But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish. 

9So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread. 

10Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.” 

11Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. 

12Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples ventured to question Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord. 

13Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise. 

14This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.

To Over 500 Believers: Mentioned by Paul, possibly in Galilee (1 Cor. 15:6).

1 Corinthians 15:5–6 (NKJV)

5and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 

6After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.

To James: Jesus' brother (1 Cor. 15:7).

1 Corinthians 15:7–8 (NASB95)

7then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 

To the Eleven on a Mountain in Galilee: Where they received the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20).

Matthew 28:16–20 (NASB95)

16But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. 

17When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. 

18And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 

19“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 

20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Final Teaching/Appearance: In Jerusalem/Bethany before the ascension (Acts 1:4-9).

Acts 1:4–9 (NKJV)

4And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 

5for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 

6Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 

7And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 

8But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 

9Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

At the Ascension: On the Mount of Olives ( Acts 1:6-12)

Acts 1:6–8 (NKJV)

6Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 

7And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 

8But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”