Current Lessons
Lesson No. Forty-Nine

Eye Witnesses of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ in the New Testament

The law of witnesses is an important aspect of the Lord’s work – We recently celebrated Jesus’ resurrection, and follow on Lessons of eye witness to His resurrection it seems appropriate. The law of witnesses states that “in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (2 Corinthians 13:1). Jesus spoke of the law of witnesses. (See John 8:15-18) Eye witnesses are especially credible.

The atonement of Jesus Christ, culminating in His resurrection, is the most important event in the history of this world, past, present and future – If Jesus rose from the dead then everything else He said or did is true. For something so important, God has provided for many eye witnesses. The following New Testament eye witness accounts of Jesus’ resurrection are in chronological order:

Mary Magdalene: “But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre….Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 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” (John 20:11-17).

Other women came to the sepulchre where they saw an angel who told them: “And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him” (Matthew 28:7-9).

Two disciples on the road to Emmaus: “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:27-32).

Simon Peter: Regarding the two disciples on the road to Emmaus “And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon” (Luke 24:33).

Ten of the Twelve without Thomas: “And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you….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. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And…he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them” (Luke 24:36-43).

Eleven of the Twelve: 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. 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. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. (John 20:26-28).

Seven of the Twelve on the Sea of Galilee: “Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. That disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord…” (John 21:1-14).

In Galilee He was seen by more than 500 brethren and after that He was seen of James: “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. After that, he was seen of James” (1 Corinthians 15:6-7).

Paul: “And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks” (Acts 9:3-5). “And last of all he was seen of me also…” (1 Corinthians 15:8).

Testimony – When Jesus appeared to the eleven Apostles. as outlined above, the Lord said to Thomas “because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29, emphasis mine). This teaching of the Lord has been fulfilled in my life. I have not seen the Lord, but because I am certain of His resurrection I am very greatly blessed. Furthermore, I know that in a coming day, like the Nephi multitude, I will feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet, and I will bear record that He is my resurrected Lord and Savior. (See 3 Nephi 11:15).

Released on April 27th. 2025.