Key Post-Resurrection Utterances (The Gospels & Acts):
Have a look at what Jesus said as He physically appeared to over 500 people after His resurrection.
Apostle Paul writes:
1Co 15:3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
1Co 15:4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
1Co 15:5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.
1Co 15:6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.
1Co 15:7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.
1Co 15:8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
1Co 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
1Co 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
1Co 15:11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

1. “Greetings” / “Rejoice” (Khairete): In Matthew 28:9, Jesus greets the women returning from the tomb, often translated as “Greetings” or “Rejoice!”.
2. “Do not be afraid”: Also to the women, he said, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me” (Matt. 28:10).
3. “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Spoken to Mary Magdalene at the tomb (John 20:15).
4. “Mary”: Simply calling her name, resulting in her recognition of him (John 20:16).
5. “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father”: Further instruction to Mary Magdalene (John 20:17). Ephesians 4:8.
6. “Peace be with you”: A recurring greeting to the disciples in the locked room, calming their fear and fear (Luke 24:36; John 20:19, 21, 26).
7. “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you”: Commissioning the disciples (John 20:21).
8. “Receive the Holy Spirit”: Breathing on the disciples (John 20:22).
9. “Handle me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have”: Proving his physical resurrection (Luke 24:39).
10. “Have you here anything to eat?” Further proving his physical reality by eating fish (Luke 24:41-43).
11. “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!”: Rebuke to the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:25).
12. “Stop doubting and believe” / “Reach hither thy finger…”: Addressing Thomas’s doubt (John 20:27).
13. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”: A blessing to future believers (John 20:29).
14. “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? … Feed my sheep”: Three-fold restoration of Peter (John 21:15-17).
15. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…”: The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).
16. “But wait for the promise of the Father… you shall receive power”: Instructions before his ascension (Acts 1:4-8).

Common Themes:
The utterances served to establish that the resurrection was a physical, historical reality rather than a vision, to comfort the distressed disciples, and to shift their focus from mourning to their impending missionary tasks.

Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us obey the post resurrection commands of Jesus too and live out the hope of His calling to reach the nations with the love of Christ and show the enduring fruit of love.