The Passion of Christ

The appearances of Christ to the Disciples


  Once again, the gospels offer four different accounts of these post resurrection appearances. As usual, my trusty guide is Geza Vermes' The Resurrection, but I'm  also going to have a good look at Duccio and his wonderful Maesta, in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena, which gives the most complete set of images.  Images are by Duccio unless labelled otherwise.
Appearances in Matthew:
To the eleven disciples on a mountain in Galilee. Christ had asked the women at the tomb to tell them to meet him there.  (Ch 28 v 16 - 18)

Appearances in Mark:
To two followers  as they were walking into the country. (Ch 9 v 12- 13)
To the eleven disciples at a meal. (Ch 9 v 14 - 18)

Appearances in Luke:
On the road to Emmaus (one unnamed  disciple with Cleophas) and later at a meal in Emmaus. (Ch 24  v13 - 32)

To all the disciples in Jerusalem, (Ch 24 v 33 - 49) where we are told that he had already appeared to Peter.


Jan Wildens: Landscape with Christ and his Disciples on the Road to Emmaus
Hermitage, St. Petersburg


Caravaggio: Supper at Emmaus.
National Gallery, London


Tintoretto:  The Supper at Emmaus.  
Szépművészeti Múzeum, Budapest

Appearances in John:
To all the disciples except Thomas, behind a locked door. (Ch 20 v 19 - 25)
A week later to all of the disciples including (doubting) Thomas. (Ch 20 v 26 - 31)
On the shore of the sea of Tiberias where Peter, Thomas, John and another disciple were fishing, along with others. (Ch 22)


Appearance behind the locked door.



Doubting Thomas.


Doubting Thomas: Anonymous sculpture c 1150
Monastery of Santo Domingo, Silos, Spain.




Konrad Witz: The Miraculous Draught of Fishes.
Musée d'Art et d'Histoire, Geneva


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