The Passion: He Was Seen — Optanomai

Study The Word

1 Corinthians 15:5–8
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

After His resurrection, Jesus Christ showed Himself openly. He was seen. The Bible declares that He was seen by many. He appeared unto many. Glory to God! And that word there — that word “seen” — is the Greek word optanomai, which means He was seen with the optical eyes. Not in trances. Not in visions. Not in dreams. He was seen with the physical, optical eyes! This is incredible! These were not mystical experiences where people merely “felt” His presence. No! Jesus Christ appeared in bodily form. These were the apocalupsises — the manifestations — of Jesus Christ after His resurrection, where He appeared physically and was seen.

ὀπτάνομαι  optanomai  was seen  –  to look at, behold, to be seen with the optical eyes, to appear physically, a visible manifestation

Now look at the record. Mark chapter 16 gives us the eyewitness account. It says Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene — He appeared first to a woman! She went and told the disciples, but they did not believe. After that, He appeared in another form unto two of them as they walked into the country — and they told the rest, but they also did not believe. Then He appeared unto the eleven as they sat at a meal, and He upbraided them for their unbelief and the hardness of their hearts, because they believed not them which had seen Him after He was risen. Hey! Jesus rebuked them for their unbelief!

And it was not just the twelve. He was seen by above five hundred brethren at once! At the same time! Five hundred people saw Him at the same time. This was not a hallucination. This was not mass hysteria. This was Jesus Christ, the risen Lord, standing before them in His glorified body, being seen with optical eyes. The Apostle Paul adds that after all these appearances, he says, “And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.” Even Paul saw Him! Even the one who was persecuting the church — Jesus appeared to him too.

ἀποκάλυψις  apokalupsis  appearing  –  manifestation, revelation, disclosure, an unveiling of what was previously hidden

So when the gospel declares that He was seen, understand the weight of that statement. God did not leave the resurrection as a matter of faith alone. He provided infallible proofs. Acts chapter 1 says He showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days. For forty days and forty nights, Jesus was appearing unto them, teaching them things concerning the kingdom of God, and then He would lift up and be carried up into heaven and they would watch Him go! These are eyewitness accounts. These are real events. Jesus Christ was seen. He was seen with optical eyes. And the testimony of those who saw Him is the testimony upon which our faith now stands. Hallelujah!

Pray The Word
Heavenly Father, I thank You that the risen Christ was seen — not in visions or dreams, but with physical, optical eyes, by hundreds of witnesses. I thank You for the infallible proofs of His resurrection. My faith stands on the testimony of eyewitnesses who saw Him alive, and I believe with all my heart that Jesus Christ is risen and alive forevermore, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Speak The Word
My faith is built on infallible proofs! Jesus Christ was seen alive after His passion — seen with optical eyes by Cephas, by the twelve, by over five hundred brethren at once, and by the Apostle Paul. He showed Himself alive by many infallible proofs. I stand on the testimony of the eyewitnesses, and I declare that my Lord is risen and alive forevermore, in the name of Jesus Christ!