Angels From Christ’s Resurrection Until His Ascension
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astonishment. Their companion spreads forth His hands in exactly the
same way as their Master used to do. They look again, and lo, they
see in His hands the print of nails. Both exclaim at once, It is the Lord
Jesus! He has risen from the dead!
They rise to cast themselves at His feet and worship Him, but He
has vanished out of their sight.... With this great news to communicate
they cannot sit and talk.... They leave their meal untasted, and full of
joy immediately set out again on the same path by which they came,
hurrying to tell the tidings to the disciples in the city.—
The Desire of
Ages, 795-801
.
On reaching Jerusalem the two disciples enter at the eastern gate,
which is open at night on festal occasions.... They go to the upper
chamber where Jesus spent the hours of the last evening before His
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death.... They find the door of the chamber securely barred. They
knock for admission, but no answer comes. All is still. Then they give
their names. The door is carefully unbarred, they enter, and Another,
unseen, enters with them. Then the door is again fastened, to keep out
spies.
The travelers find all in surprised excitement. The voices of those
in the room break out into thanksgiving and praise, saying, “The Lord
is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.” Then the two travelers ...
tell the wondrous story of how Jesus has appeared to them. They have
just ended, ... when behold, another Person stands before them.... Then
they hear a voice which is no other than the voice of their Master....
“But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had
seen a spirit. And He said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why
do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that
it is I Myself: handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones,
as ye see Me have. And when He had thus spoken, He showed them
His hands and His feet.”—
The Desire of Ages, 802, 803
.
A number of the disciples now made the familiar upper chamber
their temporary home, and at evening all except Thomas gathered here.
One evening Thomas determined to meet with the others.... While the
disciples were taking their evening meal, they talked of the evidences
which Christ had given them in the prophecies. “Then came Jesus, the
doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.”
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Turning to Thomas He said, “Reach hither thy finger, and behold
My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and