Why not appear to everyone?

by | Mar 26, 2016 | Theology | 0 comments

Why didn’t Jesus appear to everyone when he was raised, so everyone could, you know, know, it happened? Thomas Oden explains:

Jesus appeared to numerous witnesses (Acts 10:40-41). But why not to everyone, instead of some?

The resurrection in the sense is more rather than less like other historical events – seen only by some. What other historical event was ever seen by all?

Peter preached that “God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen – by us who ate and drank with him after he rose the dead” (Acts 10:40-41).

That this event was attested only by some, not all, humanity qualifies rather than disqualifies it as a historical event, for ironically an event alleged to be seen by all could hardly have been an event in ordinary history. When the decisive event comes, it comes quietly, personally, in low key, and like ordinary events it happens in the presence of some and not others.