Today is April 21, Monday in the Octave of Easter.
We read at today’s Mass, “God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses” (Acts 2:32).
The day after Easter we hear the amazing testimony of Peter, preaching about the Resurrection. The most striking part is the boldness with which Peter declares many were witnesses to the event.
It would be a mistake to think that because the Resurrection took place in the early morning at the tomb, there were no witnesses to the Resurrection. But a surprising amount of evidence is given in the New Testament that many people saw the risen Christ.
So, how many people did Jesus appear to after the Resurrection? Well, today, Peter says, “God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses.” Who is he referring to? The eleven. All the apostles, except the traitor, Judas Iscariot. Jesus appears to the apostles, both with and without Thomas present (Jn 20:19-29).
The witness to Jesus’ resurrection
We might reasonably add to that number the Virgin Mary and the women followers of Jesus, based on Acts 1:14, which reads, “All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” The women likely included Mary Magdalene, Suzanna, Joanna, Salome and Mary of Clopas, faithful disciples of the Lord who ministered to him. In fact, the Gospels record appearances to Mary Magdalene (Mk 16:9), other women (Mt 28:9) and two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk 24:13-35).
Additionally, the Apostle Paul, in his First Letter to the Corinthians, mentions that Jesus “appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once” (1 Cor 15:6). So while the exact total number of individuals who saw the risen Christ is not specified in the Bible, these accounts give us confidence in the testimony of the witnesses of Peter, the disciples, Mary Magdalene and the women who were the friends and followers of Jesus, and hundreds more.
Let us pray,
O God, who give constant increase to your Church by new offspring, grant that your servants may hold fast in their lives to the sacrament they have received in faith. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
