She stood on a stage to speak, just before me. I remember her well. Thick, light hair, a seasoned voice, and a face that reflected the layers of living, I had only begun.
The power of her testimony, no one could argue.
The story goes, she was sitting in a jail cell and Jesus appeared to her. She was radically converted. When she exited the jail, God redeemed everything that had been taken from her.
I had never heard any story in my life quite like it. Though I had my own dreams as a child of Jesus; I was taken back that one life could be completely changed by the power of one encounter.
Does that kind of encounter actually still happen in today’s world? And if it does, is it even Biblical?
GotQuestions warns us of visions of Jesus, saying Mormonism, Seventh Day Adventists and terrible cults begin by claiming they saw the resurrected Christ.
And most know, “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light”. (2 Corinthians 11:4) As a result, conservatives warn us from believing in anything not concrete, as literal.
In example, Cessationist, who generally believe revelation was only to validate Scripture, and visions and dreams cease to exist today.
But then, how do you explain former Muslim’s in closed countries, encountering Jesus in their bedrooms, in visions or dreams; consequently converting to Christianity completely, to the point of risking their lives?
I mean, to actually die? Or risk losing their spouse or children’s lives…for a dream? Being willing to betray their families? Their culture? Getting disowned by their parents, beaten or dismembered…for a vision of Jesus?
Does that sound realistic?
A few links stating miraculous visitations of Jesus, from around the globe include:
- A video from CBN, here.
- David Platt’s testimony, here.
- A more recent exposition here.
- And finally, a first hand account from a former committed, Hezbollah Fighter turns convert, you don’t want to miss, here.
I had believed a lie about the early disciples. That they were cowards prior to Pentecost. (Read full post here) However, after digging into Scripture further, I discovered…
It was the tangible presence of Jesus that entered their room, that prompted them to grow the church to the magnitude of what it is today.
It wasn’t just fire. It was revelation. It wasn’t just power from on high, but Jesus Himself who walked amongst those He loved and was the Bread of Man, that made them give their lives to the spread of the gospel.
And I wonder if sometimes, we can project our own, present day reality, on historical, Biblical encounters. Can we think Jesus just walked in Spirit, because it is easier for our carnal minds to understand?
However, Jesus himself said…
“See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, because a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you plainly see that I have.” (Luke 24:39 NASB)
Jesus was alive! He was resurrected! Spiritually and physically!
In 1 Corinthians 15:6, Paul says, “He (Jesus) appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time.” More than 500!!
So, we know Jesus walked in the flesh, after his resurrection; but what about after the time when He ascended into the heavens on the
Mount of Olives, in Jerusalem?
Did Jesus ever appear to people, like those who convert from Islam to Christianity claim? Was the lady I spoke with on that stage “making it up”? Can Jesus actually appear to people in the modern day world that we live in?
According to the Friends of Israel, John proved three truths about the incarnate Christ:
- Christ is God, coequal with and of the same substance and essence as God the Father.
- Christ possesses the attributes of omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence, immutability, and eternality that belong only to God.
- Christ is the eternal Son of God who took on human flesh and now exists as the God-Man.
But, let’s look at an account, post Jesus ascension…The Apostle Paul.
Paul had an encounter with Jesus on the Road to Damascus. (Acts 9) And in 1 Corinthians 15:8 Paul solidifies, “last of all he appeared to me also”.
He confirms this statement in 1 Corinthians 9:1…
“Am I not free [unrestrained and exempt from any obligation]? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our [risen] Lord [in person]? Are you not [the result and proof of] my work in the Lord?”
Paul solidifies, He has seen the Lord.
He also states His work is proof of His visitation and encounter with Jesus. This is important because Scripture tells us to not just judge a person’s words or testimony, but that we must look at the fruit of how a person actually lives. (Matt 7:20)
Let’s go back to 1 Corinthians 15:6, where Paul insists definitively, “He appeared to me also”.
That word “appeared” is ὤφθη (ōphthē), in the Greek, It means, “he appeared” or “he was seen”.
The word is used nine times in the New Testament in relation to the raised Jesus (Luke 24:34; Acts 9:17; 13:31; 26:16a; 1 Cor. 15:5–8 (four times); and 1 Tim. 3:16).
The word insights a revelatory appearance, not a conjured up notion by the one who witnesses Him. The sense is almost, ‘He let himself be seen’ (as opposed to something like ‘he was seen’).
1 Corinthians 9:1 sums it up…
Paul states in the Amplified version, “Am I not free [unrestrained and exempt from any obligation]? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our [risen] Lord [in person]? Are you not [the result and proof of] my work in the Lord?”
Did you get that? Paul stated, He saw Jesus, in person.
- The woman speaking prior to me who saw Jesus in prison testified, she saw Jesus in person.
- Islamic coverts who risk their lives converting from Islam to Christianity testify, they have seen Jesus in visions, dreams or in person…
According to Google, ὤφθη (ōphthē) is a Greek word, meaning “he appeared” and is used to describe both the physical and supernatural or visionary appearance of Jesus.
Still, whether in the flesh, a vision or dream, the testimony of those who have seen the Resurrected Christ will never contradict Scripture. Their witness will be confirmed by Christ’s abiding love in them and the sacrificial fruit seen in their lives.
Christ still reveals Himself to people today. Do you believe it? Have you been redeemed by the power of His great love?
