[285]Some days thereafter he appeared on the shores of Galilee to seven of his disciples who had gone back to fishing.—­John 21:1-13.

[286]A little later he appeared to the eleven disciples on a mountain near Galilee.—­Matthew 28:16-20.

[287]A short time thereafter he again appeared to a company of more than five hundred of his followers, gathered by appointment, in Galilee. —­1 Corinthians 15:6.

[288]He again appeared to the apostle James only.—­1 Corinthians 15:7.

[289]Then he appeared for the last time on the side of the Mount of Olives to his disciples at the time of his ascension.—­Luke 24:50,51; Acts 1:6-9.

[290]The question will arise in the minds of many, Did he appear in a spirit body or a human body, and how did he get the body if it was not the one in which he was crucified?  We may be sure that he did not arise from the dead with a human body, because on one of these occasions he appeared to the disciples when they were in a room with the doors fastened. (John 20:19-26) The only answer is that now, as a divine being, he had the power to create a body and clothing and appear at any time and upon any occasion that he desired.  Mary supposed him to be a gardener; two of the disciples who walked with him thought he was a stranger in the community.  Again, none of the disciples recognized him by his body on the sea of Galilee; likewise on other occasions when he appeared unto them.  On all these occasions he was recognized by his actions, his words, and the familiar tone of his voice.  It was hard to convince Thomas, who declared he must have some more proof; therefore the Lord created a body having in it the marks of the nails in order that Thomas might be convinced.  And when he was convinced, Jesus said to him:  “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed:  blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed".—­John 20:27-29.

[291]The purpose of Jesus’ appearing to the disciples was that the fact might be fully established that he was resurrected and alive.  He had the power to create a fleshly body and appear in it and dissolve it at any time; and without doubt when he appeared to his disciples behind locked doors he created the body immediately in their presence and dissolved it when he disappeared.  To prove to them that he was a real body of flesh and bones he said to them:  “Handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have”. (Luke 24:39) This was not a spirit body, but a body of flesh.  The body with which he ascended on high and which he has in heaven is a glorious body which no man can look upon and live except by the miraculous power of Jehovah.  The apostle Paul states:  “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God”. (1 Corinthians 15:50,51) In addition to this, St. John says:  “It doth not yet appear what we shall be:  but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is".—­1 John 3:2.