Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
www.suscopts.org
   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

Why didn't the disciples recognize Jesus when He appeared to them after the resurrection? Was He in a different heavenly body?

Also, in the same chapter, it says that His Father is Greater than Him. Is it because God the Spirit is greater than Jesus in the flesh? If He is in a heavenly body, then how come His Father is greater than Him?

The disciples were still in a state of grief and fear. They had not yet connected the prophecies about Jesus Christ (the Messiah) that He would suffer, die, and rise. The resurrection was more difficult for them to understand. They witnessed His death--not an unfamiliar event in the life of man, but the resurrection was unfamiliar to them, though He had foretold them.

Jesus Christ was in His glorified human body--not a heavenly body or in the form of a spirit. He showed them His hands and feet. The blessed apostle and disciple Thomas was told to put his finger into His side so that he would no longer doubt Jesus Christ's resurrection, but be assured that this is in indeed the Lord. The disciples at Emmaus did not recognize Him until they sat together to eat and He blessed the food. When our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to the disciples when they were in the upper room with locked doors, they thought they had seen a ghost. To assure them He was Jesus Christ their Master, He asked them for apiece of fish to eat. Again, by the sea, He sat amongst them and ate breakfast with them. Thus, Jesus Christ gave us many examples that His resurrected body remained entwined divine and human—never separating.

God the father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are one. When Jesus Christ referred to His Father as greater than Him, He was remarking about His Sonship in the flesh. Being in the human flesh, He was subject to suffering and death. Psalm 8:5 and Hebrews 2:7 talk about man, in general, but also in reference to Jesus Christ, in particular, being made less than the angels—not in His divinity, but in His human flesh, He was made subject to suffering and death, which not even the angels were subjected, but He accepted His humanity in order to redeem man.
Home | Ask A Question | Search Q&A