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The
Story of Everything
An
abridged edition of The Urantia Book
Paper
190: Morontia Appearances of Jesus
Unsuccessful in their attempts to persuade the apostles that Jesus had risen, Mary Magdalene and the other women spread the news to the women gathered at Joseph's and to the men at Nicodemus's home.
David Zebedee and Joseph set out to inspect the tomb. They immediately went on to the Mark home and told the apostles that the tomb was empty. Only John Zebedee was faintly swayed. David declined to argue with the apostles. He took his leave of them saying, "You are the apostles, and you ought to understand these things. I heard the Master say that, after he should die, he would rise on the third day, and I believe him."
At half past nine that morning, a squadron of messengers assembled at the home of Nicodemus. David bid them to spread the message that Jesus had risen from the dead. Twenty-six runners set out to Bethany, Beersheba, Damascus, Sidon, Philadelphia, Alexandria, and other cities.
Jesus' family was staying in Bethany with Martha and Mary when David's messenger arrived with the news of the resurrection. As Jesus' brother James stood alone in front of Lazarus' empty tomb pondering what the messenger had told them, he became aware of a presence. He watched in amazement as a strange form appeared. Jesus said, "James, I come to call you to the service of the kingdom. Join earnest hands with your brethren and follow after me." The two brothers conversed for three minutes before Jesus said farewell. James rushed inside to tell the rest of his family what he had seen.
Two hours later Jesus appeared again at Lazarus's home, this time to almost twenty family members and believers.
The women assembled at Joseph's house were next to see Jesus. He greeted them: "Peace be upon you. In the fellowship of the kingdom there shall be neither Jew nor gentile, rich nor poor, free nor bond, man nor woman. You also are called to publish the good news of the liberty of mankind through the gospel of sonship with God in the kingdom of heaven. And I will be with you always even to the ends of the earth."
The Master next appeared to forty Greek believers who were staying at the home of Flavius.
Two brothers, Cleopas and Jacob, were walking outside of Jerusalem discussing the rumors of the resurrection when Jesus joined them on the road. He spoke to them at length. When they reached their home, the brothers invited Jesus inside. When they sat down to eat, they gave Jesus their bread to bless. He broke the bread and handed it to them. Suddenly Cleopas and Jacob realized who he was, and Jesus vanished. The brothers rushed to Jerusalem where they burst into the Mark home and excitedly told the apostles all that they had seen and heard.
Reports began to reach the Jewish rulers that Jesus had risen. The Sanhedrin called a meeting and decided that anyone who mentioned the resurrection would be banned from the synagogues. It was further suggested that the penalty should be death, but this didn't come to a vote because the meeting broke up in a panic. The Sanhedrin were about to discover that their problems with Jesus were only beginning.