Was Jesus A Human or A Spirit Being After His Resurrection & Appearance

 

Question:

When Jesus appeared to his disciples and others after his resurrection and he was a spirit, in that he walked thru the walls, yet was human in that they touched his hands and such. How was this possible?

 

 

Answer:

That would indeed be a very challenging question to answer, considering how this question is being presented. It is presented with an assumption attached, in that it assumes that a specific act took place (Jesus walked through walls). When we are not presented with “all of the other relevant components ” concerning Jesus, we can not from this passage alone establish such a conclusion as being correct and true.

Yes, the doors were closed but it also does not say how Christ let himself in, the scriptures are silent on this matter. So great caution and careful study should be given to this matter. It is vitally important that we not read something into a passage as fact when it is neither fact nor true but rather a speculative opinion (the omission of a fact does not mean something did or did not occur).

 

 

So let’s consider what we actually know about spirits and what the Scripture provides us concerning this question.

 

 

1st  Review The Difference Between A Spirit Being vs. A Human Being

Understand the definition of what a spirit is and what flesh is: (Ref: 5. Frequently Asked Questions About Spirits )

 

 

2nd  No Man Has Ever Seen God

Ref: ( The Difference Between Manifestation And Incarnation )

 

 

3rd  Jesus Always Appeared In The Flesh (Not In Spirit)

Act 1:3  To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

 

 

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene (1)

John 20:14  And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

 

Jesus Appears to Many

1Co 15:6  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
1Co 15:7  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

 

Jesus Appears to the Disciples (2)

John 20:19  Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

John 20:20  And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

 

Jesus Appears to His Disciples (As told by Luke)
Luke 24:36  And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
Luke 24:37  But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
Luke 24:38  And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
Luke 24:39  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.

 

Jesus Appears to the Disciples with Thomas (3)

John 20:26  And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

John 20:27  Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

John 21:14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

 

 

Note: To have risen means to be made alive from that which was dead and not necessarily someone who was transformed into a “spirit being.”

So without question, Jesus was brought back to life, in the “same body” that he died in.

But this should not be so mind-boggling to us as experienced saints, because not only was Christ brought back to life, in the “same body” that he died in, but many others were brought back to life, with their “same bodies” that they died in during this same time.

 

Mat 27:50  Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

Mat 27:51  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

Mat 27:52  And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

Mat 27:53  And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Mat 27:54  Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

 

 

Note: After God resurrected Christ from the dead, there is no indication or mention that Jesus ever went to Heaven first and then returned and appeared before his disciples and the many other witnesses.

That would be a sign of the second coming of Christ (from heaven) for the saints, which has clearly not yet taken place.

 

First, and foremost, this is the body of a dead man (Jesus) whom God resurrected.

Acts 2:24  Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

Acts 2:32  This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

Acts 3:15  And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

Acts 3:26  Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Acts 4:10  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

Acts 5:30  The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

Acts 10:40  Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

Acts 13:23  Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

Acts 13:30  But God raised him from the dead:

Acts 13:33  God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

Acts 13:37  But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

Rom 7:4  Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

Rom 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

1Cor 6:14  And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.

1Cor 15:15  Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

Gal 1:1  Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father,  who raised him from the dead😉

Col 2:12  Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

1Pe 1:21  Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

 

 

Note:  We cannot explain, all of the intricate chemistry behind, how God transformed dirt of the earth into a human being (man),  nor how Christ could materialize before his disciples (if that is what actually happened).

How that was actually accomplished would be pure speculation on my part but knowing the scriptures passages that are available to us, I do not ascribe to the belief that the resurrected body of Christ was spiritual and not the same physical flesh body Christ died with while on earth.

 

Mat 19:26  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Mark 10:27  And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Luke 1:37  For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Luke 18:27  And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Luke 24:37  But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

Luke 24:38  And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

Luke 24:39  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 24:45  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

Luke 24:46  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

Luke 24:47  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Luke 24:48  And ye are witnesses of these things.

Luke 24:49  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

 

 

The Actual Ascension

Luke 24:51  And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

Mark 16:19  So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

 

ERV

(Easy To Read Version)

Act 1:1  Dear Theophilus, The first book I wrote was about everything Jesus did and taught from the beginning

Act 1:2  until the day he was carried up into heaven. Before he went, he talked to the apostles he had chosen. With the help of the Holy Spirit, he told them what they should do.

Act 1:3  This was after his death, but he showed them that he was alive, proving it to them in many ways. The apostles saw Jesus many times during the 40 days after he was raised from death. He spoke to them about God’s kingdom.

Act 1:4  One time when Jesus was eating with them, he told them not to leave Jerusalem. He said, “Wait here until you receive what the Father promised to send. Remember, I told you about it before.

Act 1:5  John baptized people with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

 

The Ascension

Act 1:6  The apostles were all together. They asked Jesus, “Lord, is this the time for you to give the people of Israel their kingdom again?”

Act 1:7  Jesus said to them, “The Father is the only one who has the authority to decide dates and times. They are not for you to know.

Act 1:8  But the Holy Spirit will come on you and give you power. You will be my witnesses. You will tell people everywhere about me—in Jerusalem, in the rest of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world.”

Act 1:9  After Jesus said this, he was lifted up into the sky. While they were watching, he went into a cloud, and they could not see him.

Act 1:10  They were staring into the sky where he had gone. Suddenly two men wearing white clothes were standing beside them.

Act 1:11  They said, “Men from Galilee, why are you standing here looking into the sky? You saw Jesus carried away from you into heaven. He will come back in the same way you saw him go.”

 

 

* NOTE!!!!

Jesus is NEVER seen after he ascends to heaven.

Jesus’ current state (which will be the same for all obedient Sons of God/Christians) is what the bible refers to as “glorified bodies,” or “changed” to immortality bodies.

Our final transformed appearance (our glorified bodies) remains to be revealed.

 

Scripture Verification

1John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

1Cor 15:42  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

1Cor 15:43  It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

1Cor 15:44  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

1Cor 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

1Cor 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

1Cor 15:47  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

1Cor 15:48  As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

1Cor 15:49  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

 

Mystery and Victory

1Cor 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

1Cor 15:51  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

1Cor 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

 

 

In Conclusion:

Now that Christ has ascended up into Heaven, although he is a “man,” whatever state we classify the body of Christ, it is not classified as being “flesh.”

 

Jesus Is a Man

[Man, in this instance, refers to the human body’s spiritual makeup (i.e., Jesus’ soul, his spirit, or his glorified body) that part of Jesus’ humanity that separates his human spirit from that which is considered to be God (the spirit of man from the spirit of God)]

(1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 9:24, 10:12; Acts 17:30-31)

(Acts 17:29-31) Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: 31 Because he [God] hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man [Jesus] whom he [God] hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him [Jesus] from the dead.