Witnesses of the Resurrection

By Eric B. Murdock

Church Magazines

New Testament witnesses of the resurrected Savior can help you find your own witness too.

resurrected Jesus Christ with Mary Magdalene

On the Sunday morning after Jesus Christ’s Crucifixion, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb where His body had been placed. She found the great, heavy stone rolled away and the tomb empty.

Believing the Savior’s body had been taken, Mary wept. Someone approached her and asked, “Woman, why weepest thou?”

Mary didn’t recognize the voice that spoke to her. Thinking it was the gardener, she said, “Tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.”

“Mary,” the voice replied.

Mary knew instantly who called her name. It was the Savior—now glorified and resurrected! (see John 20:15–16).

Mary became the first to see that Jesus Christ lives. The scriptures tell us that others also witnessed that He overcame death. How can their experiences strengthen your faith? How can you, even without physically seeing Him, witness that the Savior lives?

Two Disciples on the Road to Emmaus

One day, shortly after Christ’s Crucifixion, two disciples traveling to Emmaus were joined by a stranger. Together, they discussed prophecies about the Resurrection. This conversation filled the sorrowing disciples with joy.

When they arrived at Emmaus, the disciples asked the stranger to stay with them. During their evening meal, the stranger blessed and served the food. Suddenly, the disciples recognized the stranger, but before they could say anything, the stranger vanished. They realized that the Savior had been with them the whole time!

“Did not our heart burn within us?” they asked each other. The Spirit confirmed that it really was Jesus who had been with them (see Luke 24:13–34).

The Ten Apostles

Jesus Christ appeared to 10 of His Apostles while they talked about the testimonies they heard about His Resurrection.

“Peace be unto you,” He said. “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have” (Luke 24:36, 39). Each Apostle saw and felt the Savior’s nail-scarred hands and feet.

The Apostle Thomas

Thomas wasn’t there when the Savior appeared to the other Apostles. He couldn’t believe that Jesus had really risen. He said, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, … I will not believe” (John 20:25).

Eight days later, Jesus appeared to the Apostles again. This time Thomas was there and believed. Jesus told Thomas, “Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (see John 20:26–29).

Finding Your Own Witness

Jesus Christ appeared to others after His Resurrection (see Matthew 28:9–10; Acts 9:4–8; 1 Corinthians 15:6). While you may not see Him as they did, you can still be a witness.

The Savior asked His disciples, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” They replied, “Some say that thou art John the Baptist … or one of the prophets.”

Then Jesus asked, “But whom say ye that I am?”

Peter replied, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

“Blessed art thou,” Jesus told Peter. “For flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:13–17).

Jesus stood in front of Peter. Peter had walked and talked with Him and seen many of His miracles, but that didn’t give Peter his witness. Jesus pointed out that Peter’s witness was revealed by our Father in Heaven. He also taught that that witness is more certain than seeing with our eyes.

Even without physically seeing Jesus Christ, you can personally seek Him and learn more about Him. You can exercise your faith in Him by keeping His commandments. The Spirit can touch your soul and give you a witness. Like those who actually saw the resurrected Savior, you can also stand and testify that He lives, loves us, and is there for us today.