Christ’s Appearances

It is interesting that Christ’s first two appearances after His resurrection, were to women. The fourth and most extended appearance was His visit with Cleopas and another unnamed disciple (Luke 24:13-35). None of these people were His apostles, but all were among His most devoted followers. This intimate conversation described becomes even more touching when we suddenly realize that the disciple with Cleopas was his wife! We gather this from the following list. “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary, the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene” (John 19:25). The one who walked home with Cleopas that day, and who shared their dinner with the Lord, could have been none other than his wife. Cleopas took the lead in the conversation, but both obviously were devoted disciples, through concerned and confused over the death of their Master.

Strangely, however, “their eyes were holden that they should not know Him,” even though they could say later: “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures?” (Luke 24:16,32). Recognition finally came when, “as He sat at meat with them, He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them: (Luke 24:30). Probably, as He offered them the bread they saw the scars in His hands, and knew in their hearts that none but Jesus bore such scars!

And so with us. When we suddenly realize the Lord Jesus died for us, and rose again, our lives also are forever changed, like those of Cleopas and his beloved wife.

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